Hannah Pool 

The new black

Hannah Pool: After last week's lesson in the art of hair drying, I thought it time I offered some advice on ceramic straighteners.
  
  


After last week's lesson in the art of hair drying, I thought it time I offered some advice on ceramic straighteners. I make no apologies for not having tackled them before - the backlash against bone-straight hair can't come quickly enough: I like my hair with its Afro personality intact. But as I'm in a minority (albeit a growing one), and as ceramic straightening, done properly, is the lesser of two evils (evil number one being chemical straightener), you might as well do it properly.

I have had my hair dried straight once (I lasted one evening before I washed it and welcomed back my curls; no photographic evidence exists, so it's as if it never happened), and it was done by Errol Douglas, who is always amused at my reluctance to be more adventurous, but that's superstar hairdressers for you. "Seriously smart users have two pairs of straighteners," he says. "Tiny pairs for applying at the roots at exactly the right angle, and a larger pair for smoothing out the rest of the hair."

"Hair straighteners will 'lock-in' the straight look achieved by a sleek blow dry, and minimise any environmental frizzing such as wet weather," Douglas adds. "Apply a very light protector or conditioner to protect European hair, and a shine spray or light hair dress cream or wax for Afro hair [Keracare is a good range]. Divide the hair into clean sections one inch in depth, and comb through. [But avoid brushes, which can create static.] Now glide the straighteners over the section. Maintain a flow and never stop halfway down a section. Aim to straighten the roots as near to the scalp as possible, obviously avoiding burning the scalp. Pull the hair slightly to create a slight tension, and apply the straighteners at an angle to get a more secure grip."

Douglas preaches caution, however: "Avoid the over-straightened look, and, if possible, don't apply more then once over the same section of hair. Better to have a good, firm grip first time than to keep straightening and so make the hair flat and dull. It's always best to keep straightening for important occasions and to keep your hair in peak condition."

 

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