How to Straighten Hair: 11 Flat Iron Tips for Perfectly Straight Hair (2025)

Sleek, shiny, straight hair can make a major impact. It's the kind of style that somehow manages to look chic with everything from a great dress to your lazy Sunday sneaks and joggers, and it works at every hair length.

Want to get the look? We talked to hairstylists to find out exactly how to straighten hair like a pro. From prep work in the shower to finishing touches, these rules of thumb give you the best way to straighten hair without causing unnecessary damage (we are working with high heat, after all!).

1. Prep for Straight Hair in the Shower

Let's get one thing clear: no shampoo or conditioner will give you straight hair, but hair care items labeled "smoothing" may be able to help prepare the strands for the process by providing major moisture.

Hair that's dried out and brittle before you even start with the straightener is the culprit behind frazzled hair that won't lie flat. "Take a paddle brush to comb the conditioner through," suggests stylist Sarah Potempa (who's worked withLea Michele), "then rinse your hair gently. Once you're out of the shower, don't towel dry like crazy! That will enhance the natural curl. Instead, pat downwards gently."

As an alternative to the traditional terrycloth towel, which promotes frizz, try the super-softDevaTowel as the microfiber material helpsto promote sleek strands.

2. Rough Dry Your Hair

"The blowdryer is what's really the most damaging to the hair," says Tim Rogers, the creative director for Living Proof. "So that makes all the difference when you're trying to get a sleek finish."

If you do use a dryer out of the shower, Sarah suggests rough drying (which is a technical term for shaking the dryer back and forth over the head) until it's 80% finished. "But it's important to keep the nozzle facing downwards the entire time, otherwise the hair will frizz," she notes. The next 20% is up to you. You can apply your product then let it air dry, or, "Blow it out smooth for the best result," Tim says. "It gives the hair more direction and shape."

3. Use the Right Brush

As for your brush, Sarah insists on using herboar bristle and nylon mix. "Nylon would cause static on its own, which is why plastic brushes are difficult to use," she explains. "The boar bristle helps to smooth and polish." (P.S.: You know those fancy Mason Pearson brushes)? This is basically the same thing, for almost $100 less.)

4. Wait Until Your Hair is Bone Dry

"If you see steam or you hear a sizzle, stop and evaluate the situation," says Harry Josh, the stylist behind the sleek hair of models like Taylor Hill. "Hair should be bone dry when you straighten."

If you're certain that the hair is dry, it could be that product build-up is the culprit. "You need to be selective about what products you use before you flatiron," insists Sarah. "You should avoid applying anything to dry hair, which is what makes straightening different than curling. Because the iron clamps down on the hair, there's nowhere for the product to go. You're essentially boiling the product into the follicle, which isn't a great idea, especially when it contains alcohol."

5. Use a Thermal/Heat Protectant

OK, so you don't want the hair to sizzle. But how are you supposed to get runway-ready strands without the help of a little something? "Living Proof's Straight Spraycoats the hair with a molecule we patented known as OFPMA," Tim says. "You can use it on damp hair, which is great, and it protects up to 450 degrees and resists humidity, so it dramatically reduces the frizz factor." Plus, it's made without oils and silicones, which could ultimately weigh the hair down. If you have thicker or coarser hair, you could still use argan oil to help moisturize your hair and add more shine.

Living Proof Perfect hair Day (PhD) Heat Styling Spray

6. Monitor Your Temperature

Always protect your hair by avoiding too-hot temperatures."The 450-degree setting was designed specifically for in-salon, professional keratin treatments," Tim says. "It wasn't meant for consumers. But now, everyone can use it, which makes the at-home process faster." Obviously, this comes at the expense of your hair's health. "Coarse hair does need a higher heat," says T3 stylist Jeanna Pizzollo. "But fine hair and especially damaged or color-treated hair should stay in the safe zone of 300 to 350 degrees." The brand's SinglePass Luxe Iron won't let you go above 410 degrees, and its tourmaline and ceramic plates heat evenly so that you don't have to run your hair through the iron more than once.

T3 Lucea 1'' Professional Straightening & Styling Flat Iron

7. Take It One Section at a Time

"You shouldn't be randomly grabbing fistfuls of hair," says Sarah. "The iron won't be able to get to pieces that are too thick, and you don't want to unnecessarily reapply heat." Instead, she suggests creating sections so you can easily track your progress.

How to Straighten Hair: 11 Flat Iron Tips for Perfectly Straight Hair (2025)
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