Straight Hair as the Lead: Flat Iron, Blow Drying, Brazilian Keratin or the YUKO System. What Will You Choose?

Temporary Hair Straightening

With a Flat Iron

Straightening your hair may not be rocket science, but it does have rules that must be followed. Otherwise, you'll never get nail-straight hair, and you what's worse, you can ruin it. Now - how do you straighten your hair?

Always use a heat protectant first before using a hair straightener. Apply the spray or cream to thoroughly detangled hair and brush it through the hair so that the straightener glides beautifully through it. Divide your hair into several sections and separate strands about 3-5 cm wide. Always start from the bottom and work your way up.

And now you can slowly go from root to tip. Ideally, just once for each strand, so you don't stress them too much with the heat. Finally, apply a small amount of hair oil or hair serum for smoothness and shine.

How to have straight hair without using a hair straightener? How about trying a hair straightening brush? It saves time, is gentler on hair than a hair straightener and creates naturally smooth hair. Sounds great, right? But there's a little catch. The hair-straightening brush will only straighten fine to medium thick wavy hair. Therefore, if you have thick and curly hair, stay true to the hair straightener.

Choosing a Hair Straightener

• By the surface of the hair straightener: ceramic (suitable for all hair types), titanium (for thick and unruly hair) and tourmaline (for dry and fine hair).
• Depending on the temperature setting: make sure the hair straightener has a temperature option that is ideal for your hair type.
• Depending on the width of the surface: narrow (up to 2.5 cm) are ideal for short hair and fringe styling, wider surfaces (over 3 cm) can handle long and thick hair.
• According to their features: ionising hair straighteners (regulate static electricity), steam hair straighteners (moisturise hair and prevent damage), straighteners with automatic shut-off for safety, quick heat straighteners or perhaps a swivel cord for easy handling.

Hair Straightening Tips from Hairdresser Kateřina Hamplová

1. Only straighten clean hair with no hairspray, gel or styling product on it. Products can burn onto the hair and damage it.
2. Do not straighten hair too close to the scalp. This will promote the hair getting oilier more quickly.
3. Hair must be completely dry before straightening. First, blow-dry them lightly with a hairdryer.
4. When straightening, try making gentle circular motions at the ends of your hair. This will give your hair a light finish that looks natural.

With the Help of a Hairdryer and Brush

How to have straight hair without a hair straightener? All you need is a hairdryer and a round brush. And actually a little skill. But once you learn, you'll love it. This method will straighten your hair beautifully and, as a bonus, give it super volume. Compared to straightening, it's a bit gentler, but again, you need to use a heat protectant in the first step. "Opt for a good quality round brush, ideally ceramic or ionising, which distributes the heat evenly and adds shine to the hair," advises Katerina Hamplová of Klier salon.

How to blow dry hair straight? First, blow-dry it so that it remains only slightly damp. Then attach a nozzle to the hairdryer to help direct the air more easily through the strands. Divide your hair into three sections (above the forehead, middle and bottom) and start from the bottom. Brush a strand of hair underneath your head and glide it downwards with the hairdryer. Make sure the hairdryer is not at a right angle to the hair. It must follow the direction of hair growth.

Take your time. Smooth the strands slowly and precisely. Finally, blow dry with cold air to lock in shape and shine. And voilà, a hairstyle that no longer requires styling is complete.

"Blowdrying" Tips from Our Hairdresser

1. Before blow-drying straight, use a small amount of strong-hold hair mousse to help straighten, add extra volume and hold hair in place all day.
2. For mega volume, try blow-drying your hair while bending over for a while. Once you've achieved the desired smoothness, straighten and style with cool air.
3. Finally, apply a drop of hair oil to the palm of your hand and gently comb through the hair with your fingers. You will give your hair extra hydration.

Permanent Hair Straightening

Brazilian Keratin

The main ingredient is of course keratin, which is a natural protein that forms the basis of hair, nails and skin. When you book into a hair salon for this treatment, you will first undergo a washing process with a special shampoo that thoroughly removes dirt, styling product residue and opens the hair cuticle to allow the keratin to penetrate more deeply.

Then the hairdresser will apply keratin to straighten your hair, strand by strand, so that not a single hair is forgotten. Finally, the hair is blow-dried and then straightened with a hair straightener heated to a high temperature (usually around 200 - 230°C). This locks the "keratin cocktail" into the hair structure and closes the cuticle. And the result? Smooth, shiny and straightened hair that is also protected against external influences.

Advantages: straight hair for up to 4 months, long-lasting shine and smoothness, no frizz, hair regeneration

Disadvantages: higher price, not suitable for fine and very damaged hair, the need to use special sulphate-free shampoos

Japanese Hair Straightening (YUKO System)

This method works on the basis of chemicals that transform the internal structure of the hair. After application, the emulsion is left to work, then the hair is thoroughly washed and finally straightened with a hair straightener.

Benefits: straightens curly and afro hair, perfectly smooth and straight hair, lasts 6-9 months

Disadvantages: time consuming (takes up to 6 hours), can dry and weaken hair, not suitable for damaged or lightened hair

Relaxers for Permanent Hair Straightening

So-called relaxing creams, which contain sodium hydroxide or guanidine, permanently disrupt the structure of the hair and straighten it. If you have Afro-textured hair or coily hair, the result will be tame waves with which styling will no longer be a problem.

Advantages: long-lasting effect (lasts until hair regrows), reliable taming of Afro hair

Disadvantages: chemical straightening of the hair, which can weaken and damage it

Which hair straightening method do you like? Be sure to consult with an experienced hairdresser for treatments that have a long-lasting effect, who will decide if your hair is in good condition and not in danger of being damaged.