Hair Straighteners for Curly Hair

If maintained properly, curly hair can be very beautiful and charismatic. However, dryness and lack of moisture can easily make this type of hair brittle and frizzy. A hair straightener is the ultimate hair accessory, for both men and women, who want to get rid of dry and frizzy curly hair. Hair straighteners can completely transform the lifeless curls to sleek straight hair.

Types of Hair Straighteners

There are different types of hair straighteners, though the most commonly used are a type of flat iron, known as a hair iron. Let's take a look at some of the more commonly used hair straighteners for curly hair.

Hair Iron
Hair irons, or flat irons, actually come in three types - curling irons, straightening irons, and crimping irons. Curling irons are used for creating waves and curls, while straightening ones are used for exactly the opposite reason. Crimping irons, on the other hand, are used for creating crimps. The flat irons used for removing curls rely on the application of heat. For straightening a portion of hair, it has to be placed between the two iron plates of the hair straightener and then heat is applied to the hair. Application of heat breaks down the hydrogen bonds of the hair cortex that create the curls. However, these hydrogen bonds can reform again, once the hair comes in contact with water or moisture. Therefore, it is only a temporary solution to the problem of curly hair.

The plates of flat iron are usually made of aluminum with a ceramic coating. Ceramic flat iron straighteners are one of the best hair straighteners for curly hair. They use ceramic ions along with infrared technology to straighten hair. This hair straightener is ideal for moderate to extreme curls. However, it cannot provide a permanent and long-lasting solution, as hair curls will return after a wash. Excessive use of these hair straighteners can cause hair damage due to the application of heat, which is, however unavoidable. The cheaper flat irons are more likely to damage hair, as the poor quality coating applied on the aluminum plates easily wears off and causes extensive mechanical damage like hair breakage, thinning of hair, etc.

Chemical Hair Straightener
Chemical hair straighteners basically use certain chemicals like sodium hydroxide and guanidine hydroxide for hair straightening. These chemicals can break hair curls easily and very quickly. You just have to apply them on hair and comb gently and your curly hair will transform to smooth and straight hair. The main advantage of chemical hair straighteners over other types is that their application is simple and less time consuming as compared to their counterparts. This secures them a place among the good straighteners for curly hair. However, the main disadvantage is that some chemicals can cause dryness of the scalp skin as well as eye or skin irritation. Therefore, it is very important to follow necessary precautions while using chemical hair straighteners.

Thermal Reconditioning
Thermal reconditioning is a new technology that relies on application of heat to straighten hair. It provides a long-lasting solution to the problem of curly hair and is one of the best hair straighteners for thick curly hair. In thermal reconditioning, a corn starch chemical is applied on the hair, after which an iron straightener is used for applying heat on the hair strands. The result of thermal reconditioning can last up to 6 months. But the hair straightening session may require several hours.

Though the different types of hair straighteners for curly hair can help to you get the desired hairstyle, excessive use can cause extensive damage to the hair strands over a period of time. For example, excessive use of heat may result in thinning of hair shaft, which makes them brittle and more prone to breakage. Hair splits may also be frequent due to overheating of hair strands. Therefore moderation is required while straightening your hair. Proper hair care is also important to repair the damage caused by the process of hair straightening.