How Do I Use a Straight Iron to Flip Hair?

Flip your hair with a straight iron using the same techniques as hairstyling professionals.

Photo: Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images

Flip hairstyles have become a popular trend for fashionistas. Flipped locks lend a fun, flirty and feminine vibe that perks up and freshens your usual style, quickly spicing up your look. A flip can be of any length and can be worn with layered or blunt haircuts. When hair is flipped, it is styled by curving the strands outward, just short of forming curls, for an upturned effect. A flat iron makes an ideal styling tool. Flip the script on your usual style and make your look pop!

1.

Comb your hair to detangle it.

2.

Apply a thermal leave-in conditioner to protect your hair from any potential damage from heat styling. Pay extra attention to the ends of your hair where damage such as split ends can occur. Comb through your hair again to distribute the conditioner evenly.

3.

Apply a thermal styling cream, gel or mousse formulated for your hair type. Comb through your hair again. This step will help each section of hair that you flip to hold equally well for a uniform look.

4.

Section a small parting about 1 1/2 inches wide and about 1/2 to 1 inch thick. Hold the rest of your hair out of the way with a clamp or clip.

5.

Place the lock of hair inside the iron. Position the iron at the base of your hair, near the roots, but not touching the scalp. Gently close the iron and slide it down the length of your hair. Just before you reach the end of your hair (the last 1/4 inch for very short hair; the last 1 1/2 inches for longer hair), rotate your wrist outward and away from your head. Continue sliding the iron until the lock of hair is released. Remove your hair clamp or clip and section another lock of hair, replacing the clamp or clip to hold your hair out of the way as you work. Repeat until all of your hair has been flipped uniformly.

6.

Spray your hair with a flexible holding hairspray to set your new flip hairstyle. Now you're ready to rock your new look with confidence!

Things You'll Need

 

1.Mirror

3.Thermal leave-in conditioner

5.Straight (or flat) iron

7.Flexible hold hairspray

2.Comb

4.Thermal hair styling cream, gel or mousse

6.Hair clamp(s) or clip(s)

 

Tips & Tricks

 

To determine the best temperature for your hair, test the iron by cutting a few inconspicuous strands. Hold them between the plates for five seconds. If the hair singes or becomes brittle, the iron is too hot. If your iron has a temperature dial, warm your iron to a lower medium setting (about 250 F) and try it on your hair. Increase the temperature gradually (in 50-degree increments) until you have reached a level at which your hair becomes smooth without burning or breaking. On average, this is around 300 to 350 F.

Keep the sections to be ironed small to minimize heat damage and permit better styling. When sections of hair are too thick, more than one pass is needed to style your hair.

Avoid applying heavy pressure to the plates of the straight iron. Squeezing can overstress your hair fibers and result in a pleated or creased look.

 

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