How to straighten every texture of hair at home (including tight curls)

The promise of silky smooth hair without a trip to the salon was enough to convince most (read: all) of our teenage selves to invest in a hair iron. This trusty friend may have seen you through your growing up years, but if you’ve been facing uneven finishes and unruly flyaways due to the scorching heat of the summer, don’t shoot the messenger quite just yet—the problem likely doesn’t lie with your hair iron, but rather with the way you’re using it.

We looked to Ayesha DeVitre, who has been championing fuss-free sleek hairstyles for Ananya Panday for her Student of the Year 2 promotions, in addition to her usual work with Janhvi Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan and more. The celebrity hairstylist firmly asserts that the one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work for ironing all types of hair. She says, “Allow the type of finish you’re trying to achieve dictate the prep. If your hair is very fine, ironing it can make it fall flat. Try blow-drying it first with a round brush to encourage volume and movement. Likewise, for extremely curly hair, blow-dry the length first for a long-lasting hold during the humidity of the summer.”

It’s a universal truth that different types of hair require varied forms of care. Regardless of where your hair lies on the spectrum, here’s a multi-purpose guide to help you ace that salon-smooth finish.

How to straighten your hair if you have thin, fine hair

1. Fine hair can look limp once straightened if it’s already weighed down by a heavy conditioner. Look to leave-in conditioning sprays instead.
2. Start by gathering your hair right above your ears, twist it into a bun and secure with a clip.
3. Brush through with a detangling brush to remove any knots, and opt for a quick spritz of heat protectant spray before introducing the flat iron to your hair.
4. Fine hair warrants wider sections to be worked over at the same time, so divide your hair into sections with your fingers and run it over with a flat iron.
5. If you’ve got any stubborn kinks or curls towards the roots, work it over a few more times with the flat iron till you get the desired result.
6. To avoid having the hair fall limply down the sides and blunt ends, opt for a gentle wave by slightly curling the hair iron at the ends.
7. Repeat the same procedure on the remaining sections until you reach the top of your head. Brush your bangs forwards with a paddle brush and work it over with the flat iron, slightly twisting it midway through the length to have your hair frame your face better it’s down.
8. Once done, comb your hair into your preferred parting, and seal the style in place with a finishing hairspray.
9. To add that final boost of volume, use a four-pronged backcombing tool to gently tease the hair at the crown of your head into a natural lift.

How to straighten wavy hair

1. Begin by applying a root-lifting cream to damp hair with your fingers, followed by a quick spritz of voluminising spray.
2. Once hair is dry, use a duckbill clip to gather it from around your temples and secure it out of the way.
3. Apply heat protectant spray, held at arm’s length, before beginning work on the remaining sections.
4. If you have coarse hair, start by using smaller sections for a meticulous finish and gently run a heated flat iron over the length. If your hair leans towards the straighter side in its natural side, you can choose to avoid the roots to ensure that your hair doesn’t fall flat.
5. While working over the minute sections, bend your wrist as you reach the ends to create a natural-looking curve with the hair iron, instead of pulling it straight down.
6. Release more sections from the bun once you’e done.
7. When you reach the uppermost layer at the back of your head, change your angle to encourage movement. Instead of pulling it downwards, angle the flat iron and naturally bend your wrist to ensure that your hair has some bounce.
8. Once you reach the bangs at the front of your head, divide it into minute sections. Holding the hair directly upwards, start the flat iron at the roots and lift it straight up as you go. While the hair is still hot, backcomb it gently away from your face to have your bangs naturally frame your visage.
9. Check your mane in the mirror once for any errant bits that may have been left out, and if your hair is dry, opt for a lightweight oil for a polished finish

How to straighten curly hair

1. Begin by dividing your hair into a middle part, and then clip a quarter of each section on either side of your head into Princess Leia-inspired buns.
2. Turn your attention to the lower quadrants of your hair. Work small sections with a paddle brush, followed closely behind by a flat iron.
3. Since coarse air requires greater compression, maintain a firm grip on the hair iron, holding it as close to the heated plates as possible without burning your fingers.
4. Repeat the process by gradually releasing small sections from the hair buns on either side.
5. Keep the bangs area for the last—for optimal distribution of heat, brush this area forwards so that it covers your face, and evenly apply heat from the roots till the end.
6. When done, brush your hair into your go-to parting and finish off with a long-lasting hairspray for better longevity through the day.

Also read:

5 times we wanted to copy Meghan Markle’s hairstyles for summer days out

Celebrity hairstylists decode 3 easy summer hairstyles for wavy hair

If you’re washing your hair like this, you’re doing it wrong