I flat iron my hair most every day. I have wavy/curly hair also. I don't use any special cream or protectant. I use a straightening brush (aka magic brush in my house) as I blow dry my hair. I spray some root boost to give some lift at the crown. It gets it pretty straight, then I just go over it quickly with the flat iron. I clip up my hair and dry it in sections, starting at the bottom, then when it's all dry I flat iron it in sections.

I have a CHI flat iron and use it pretty much all the time since I cut my hair off. I use CHI's heat protector 44 Iron Guard after blow drying. When I was searching for one I made sure the first or second ingredient wasn't alcohol. This does have alcohol in it but it's down the list more. I don't want my hair getting all funky and dried out. If you're not flat ironing everyday you shouldn't have to worry about too much damage. When I had longer hair (all my life) I used a curling iron or hot rollers everyday and I never had problems with my hair looking damaged or dry. Never used a heat protector. But, I also could control the setting on my iron so it wasn't scorching. My CHI has one setting and although it's to be safe it gets much hotter. I've really burned my hand on it. I'm just keeping an eye out and at some point I'll probably change up my cut or my styling a bit.

Is your hair glammed up yet?

Here is a link that might be useful: Iron Guard

DD called while I was reading this. She suggested a 1" may take you a long time to 'do' your hair if it's long but you will certainly have have more control than you can have with a 4" flat iron.

When I asked her about flat irons, she cracked up. "Mom, what will you going to do with a flat iron?", "It's not for me. It's for AuntJen." "Aunt Jen? Who is Aunt Jen?" "She is my home decorating girlfriend.", "Mom, you are such a goof."

Hey, I just knew she'd have a 1" flat iron and she does. She says her teen boys uses it sometimes. Oye.

I also have curly/wavy hair and occasionally straighten it. I guess I do it something like terriks, using a blow dryer & brush and then only have to use the flat iron on the top layer. You will be thrilled with the better control with the smaller iron; I know I was when I finally made the switch.

I use Nexxus heat protection spray.

I recently started with menopausal hot flashes, which make my face sweaty (yeah, it's pretty) and then my bangs curl up! D'oh! Just when I had them perfect! So now I heavily spray them (just the bangs) with hair spray in an attempt to prevent that.

Now that humid weather is starting I won't bother to flat iron - you can't fight Mother Nature - and just be my curly headed self for the next few months. It's nice for the change of pace.

Thanks for the product and straightening suggestions! Terriks, I guess I've been living under a rock or something, but I never knew such a thing as a straightening brush even existed! (I ordered one from Amazon today. :-)) I may make a trip to Ulta this weekend and see what they have in the way of thermal protectant. Since my hair is heavily highlighted now, I think I would probably benefit from such a spray. At any rate, I guess it couldn't hurt.

Golddust -- too funny! Did your DD think some long-lost auntie had come to surface in the family? LOL!

I use Silk Infusion by Chi. My hair is very fine, frizzy, and kinky curly. This is the best product I have ever used for straightening. Doesn't weigh my hair down, My flat iron in 3" Babyliss.

Hey Auntjen!

I have a Chi, too. Mine came with some sort of protectant that I use sometimes. Sometimes I use Moroccan oil and I have something by Goldwell, too. I try to mix up my products on my hair.

I have very thick wavy hair so by the time I blow it all dry & flat iron, I swear I am having menopausal hot flashes. Not good to apply make-up on a sweaty face - it just drips right off!! So, now I wash my hair before bed & let it air dry over night - I feel it also saves it from some damage, too.

Smiles:)

Scoot over, I'm under the rock with you. lol. I finally bought a big one last year, my hair is shoulder length and has a few waves, but not much, and it's very thick.

I used the iron once, and it looked okay, but I just don't have the patience to stand there and do it!

Oh, since it did flatten the hair, it got dirty a LOT sooner than it normally does. I only have to wash my hair a couple of times a week unless I've been sweating.

I just blow dry my hair upside down after I wash it, and use my fingers when I'm done to keep the bottom part curled under, and it looks pretty good!

I just blow dry my hair upside down after I wash it, and use my fingers when I'm done to keep the bottom part curled under, and it looks pretty good!

Okay, I seriously hate you! LOL!!

I wish I had easy hair like that. My hair has a mind of its own. I never know what it's going to do if left to its own devices. I have to do something to my hair every day before I leave the house, or I might frighten small children. Because my hair is thick, it's actually quicker for me to blow dry and straighten my hair than to let it air dry. Air drying takes more than an hour. I've got my system down so that it takes less than 15 minutes to style my hair - and that includes blow drying. I cut down on my drying time by wrapping my hair in a microfiber turban thingy after my shower. I make myself a smoothie and drink that while I put on make up. By the time I take my hair out of the turban it doesn't take too long to dry it.

AJ, buying the Chi was the best move you could make. I think it is a miracle product. It quite literally changed my daughter's life--really, it's that good. She went through plenty of irons till she finally got a Chi. It works beautifully on her kinky, not curly, hair. Leaves it stick straight.

Now, if you want to do something semi-permanent I suggest checking out the Brazilian keratin treatment. She is doing that too now and combined with a chi session after hairwashing she has the straight hair she dreamed of. Best of all, the BK treatment is not damaging like a permanent or the Japanese thermal treatments. Expensive but she gets 3-4 months' worth of straight hair. Well worth it for her.

I already forwarded my daughter the link for the straightening brush. Quite intriguing!

Ann

My Chi arrived yesterday so I had an opportunity to use it on my hair before coming to work this morning. I love it! It's so easy to use! It seems to glide down the hairshaft much more smoothly than my old flatiron did and quickly and easily takes out the residual "bend" from my hair that I'm usually left with after blowdrying. I haven't yet invested in thermal protectant, but I'll pick some up at Ulta or Sephora this weekend. I also haven't yet mastered the skill of using the Chi on my bangs (which are long and sideswept) -- it makes them a little too sticky-outy for my liking, but I would imagine there are some flick of the wrist tricks I can practice using when I have more time.

I've heard of the straightening process you mentioned, Ann, and will admit I'm intrigued! But since I like to sometimes wear my hair curly/wavy I think I'll just stick to flatironing for now. I hope your daughter loves her hair after having it done! :-)

At the opposite extreme, how do you go about keeping the waves IN? My hair is *slightly* curly/wavy, in some places more than others, and I would like to wear it au natutrel in the TX humidity, but can't seem to get past the frizzed look. I've tried various 'curly' products, too. Is there a certain cut that's needed also? ;o)

Patty_cakes, I have a problem with frizzing when I go au naturel in this icky high Texas humidity too. The stylist who did my hair earlier this week told me these three things:

(1) Long layers are better than all one length;

(2) Comb through hair while washing, but once you're out of the shower don't comb hair again until after it's dry (and air drying is preferable to using a diffuser). The more you touch your hair as it's drying, the more likely it is to frizz; and

(3) Mix leave-in conditioner with a good quality gel for better curl definition (instead of just using gel on its own, which can get "crunchy").

I have a 1" Chi and love it. Makes a huge difference in straightening hair over a cheapie straightener. I have to blow my hair straight then quickly flat iron it to get straight hair.

As far as how to have nice curls, I recently visited the Ouidad salon in NYC and was taught a "rake and comb" technique. You can get great curls using it! Go to ouidad.com to see the video for how to do this. Also for curly hair, don't wash every day; 3 times or so each week would be enough according to other curly hair experts at the Ouidad salon. It'll be less frizzy this way.