Question: I want straight hair but I worry that longer, hotter blow-drying will be damaging. What do you suggest?

David Groshen of David Groshen's Salon East Answers:
To get stick-straight strands, all you need is practice and patience, says David Groshen, owner of David Groshen's Salon East in New York City. "Master these four steps, and blow-drying is east."" First, choose the right products. If your hair is fine, you want to avoid anything that could weigh it down like creams or gels. And all hair types should avoid products with isopropyl, ethyl, or methyl alcohol - they dry the hair too quickly, making styling more difficult.

The second step: Divide your hair into four main sections, secure each section with a clip, and divide each again into as many subsections as needed. "The trick is to make the sections thin enough so the heat penetrates; otherwise the hair below will remain damp, " says Groshen.

Step three is to blow-dry. Point the nozzle downward and pull hair taut to stretch the hair shaft. Groshen tells us to "think of the cuticles of your hair as tiny shingles: You want to direct the heat in the right direction so each one is smoothed down."

Step four: Finish with a blast of cool air (your blow dryer should have a "cool" setting) to seal cuticles. The best straightening products are Phytodefrisant Relaxing Balm, $15; Wella Liquid Hair Restructurizer, $14.99.

Return to Article Index