• Straightening hair with a flat iron can create a stylish hairdo.straightening hair image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com
  
  Hair straighteners come in many forms, ranging from ceramic and thermal flat irons to curling irons and hair dryers. Essentially any heat-based hair tool can be a straightener if used in such a manner. Keep in mind that all hair textures are different so it may take some experimenting to see what gives you the best results.
  
  

Traditional Flat Iron

• Typically made of steel or aluminum, the traditional flat iron was the first of its kind since the 1960s when hair straightening was accomplished via a clothing iron. The traditional flat iron features metal plates which, if too hot, will easily damage hair. Their use has thus diminished in recent years due to growing beauty industry and public knowledge of this.
  
  

Ceramic Flat Iron

• Ceramic straighteners are the most popular type of iron and come in a wide range of sizes and prices. The iron plates are typically comprised of a metal such as aluminum or titanium and are coated in several layers of baked ceramic. The ceramic coating gives off negative ions which act as a neutralizing agent to the hair's positive ions. Hair is positively charged due to static electricity and chemical treatments which give it that brittle, dry look. The negative ions of the ceramic iron work to balance out the effect, in turn smoothing the hair shaft and closing the open follicles to produce a sleek, smooth and healthy look.
  
  

Hair Dryer

• Some women prefer not to use flat or curling irons due to the fact their extreme heat is damaging to hair, especially when the hair is color treated or already damaged. If you fit this description, a hair dryer may be a better option for you when straightening your hair. Hair dryers still blow heat onto the head but since it's only hot air instead of searing, ceramic plates such as those on flat irons. For best results apply a straightening mousse or gel prior to damp hair, then alternate using your fingers and a paddle brush to separate and smooth hair when drying.
  
  

Curling Iron

• Despite their name, curling irons are often used as a makeshift means to straighten hair. There is no real benefit to using a curling iron instead of a flat iron, but if you don't own a flat iron, the curling iron does the same thing. The hair is simply clasped into the barrel as the iron is drawn slowly down the hair. Once the end of the hair is reached, you can either flip the ends under or out depending on your preference.