What to Look for in the Best Flat Iron for Straightening Natural BlackHair?

a) The Right Plate Material

When it comes to flat ironing natural hair, ceramic plates make a great option courtesy of their ability to evenly distribute heat while minimizing damage to the hair. This plate material may heat up rather slowly but more evenly. It also requires less passes to straighten the hair, hence reducing heat damage. Having said that, if you have kinkier, harder-to-straighten hair texture, opting for titanium plates would help since they heat up quicker and transfer heat much faster than ceramic. 

b) Ion Technology

Ionic hair straighteners are designed to straighten and smooth the hair simultaneously while also improving its strength. This will give you a shinier, frizz- and damage-free finished style.

c) Adjustable Temperature Settings

We recommend you also opt for a flat iron model with adjustable heat settings so you can customize the temperature to your liking. On top of that, the safest and most effective temperature always depends on your individual hair type and texture, so having options is important.

d) Decent Closure Between Plates

Last but not least, it’s also important to go for a flat iron that has good, even closure between the plates so you can straighten your hair evenly. Suppose your current iron is becoming loose or has trouble closing properly, it’s about time to replace it. 

What Kind of Hair Straighteners are Best for Natural, African American Hair?

Both ceramic and titanium flat irons work well for this type of hair, but which one always comes down to your individual hair texture. Ceramic flat irons are perfect for swapping between straight and curly styles; while those with kinkier coils or hair that’s tough to straighten shall opt for flat irons with titanium plates. Be on the lookout for ion technology to ensure smooth, shiny, and frizz-free finish. Finally, it’s crucial to find an option with adjustable heat settings so you can easily achieve your desired look without damaging your hair. 

What is the Best Flat Iron Temperature for Natural Hair?

When it comes to the perfect temperature range to flat ironing black hair, once again, it varies from texture to texture. Say you have thick, coarse hair, you can go up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit; if you have thin, fine hair, we generally suggest you stay under 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 

What Do You Put on Natural Hair Before Flat Ironing?

We can’t stress enough the importance of applying a heat protectant before using any hot tool, including a hair dryer, hair straightener, and hair dryer brush. Heat protectants act as a barrier between the hot plates and your delicate tresses. We highly recommend using a serum-based heat protectant instead of a liquid spray. This is because natural hair reverts to curly when they’re wet. Some sprays are bound to wet the hair, causing a slight curl that can lead to burning or scorched hair, and you don’t want any of that.

Step-by-Step Guide to Straighten Black Hair

Now that you’ve read about all the products to use before flat ironing your precious strands, it’s important to know the exact method so you can achieve bone straight hair every time. 

Step 1: Shampooing & Conditioning

Before proceeding with the ironing, hop into the shower and thoroughly wash your hair with a good hydrating shampoo and conditioner. If you suffer from dry, damaged hair, we highly recommend a weekly deep conditioning routine to enhance your hair health.

After shampoo and conditioner, make sure you properly cleanse them off to avoid residue. If you start with your hair containing dirt and product residue, you’ll be pushing the grime to penetrate deeper into your hair cuticles, clogging them with filth and making them more susceptible to damage. 

Step 2: Apply a Heat Protectant

Let your hair air dry and add a heat protectant afterward to safeguard your strands from direct heat. It serves as a protective barrier against high heat hence mitigating damage. It’s also important to keep your temperature settings to medium or low to avoid excessive heat. To yield optimum results, keep your flat iron between 390 to 450 degree Fahrenheit.

Step 3: Section Your Hair and Begin to Flat Iron

If you want to avoid the awkward half-straight and half-curly look, make sure you section your hair properly with a clip before going in with a flat iron. Address each section of hair by first, combing it down and then moving on with the flat iron to press your hair down into long, sleek strands. To prolong your results, flat iron your hair strands only when it’s completely dry. 

To accelerate the drying process, you can wet wrap your hair under a bonnet hair dryer until your hair has absorbed all the moisture. This is especially helpful if you don’t want to blow-dry your hair. 

Say you go into flat ironing without fully drying your hair beforehand, it’ll lead to additional frizz and crooked straightening, and I’m most definitely sure you don’t want that.

Step 4: Use a Polisher, Serum, or Natural Oil for Aftercare

Adding nourishing oils or serums after finishing your flat-ironing routine makes a great aftercare. You can add a little weight to your locks with a polisher or serum if you prefer a glossier look. This will return some of the nutrients your hair and cuticle has lost during the straightening process and prevent the likelihood of tangling or any other “mishaps” that stops you from achieving the perfect straight hair look.

Step 5: Go to Bed with a Headwrap

You don’t want all that hard work to go down the drain. To retain your silk straight tresses throughout a good night’s sleep, we recommend wrapping your head with a silk or satin scarf, or even a bonnet before going to sleep. This will help retain all that moisture in your hair and wake up with the same beautiful hairdo just like the night before. By neglecting this important step, not only will you risk ruining your hard work and effort but will also make your strands more brittle and fragile due to friction.  

Bottom Line

Natural black hair is very unique and versatile as it offers ample styling options. But it’s also important to know how to take care of your hair as you indulge in the fun of experimenting with different styles. Beware of frying your hair!

To yield maximum results with any hairdo that you attempt to perform on your African-American hair, remember to follow through with the proper methods and choose only the best flat iron for black hair that caters to your needs. Not all hair straighteners will help you out and give you your desired look, so it’s paramount to be well-informed of the various options and technologies available.