Wet Hair vs. Dry Hair: When to Use a Flat Iron

There are many tools these days that help to make your hair look shiny and healthy. Apart from the shampoo, conditioner, styling gel, hair oil, and other products that we may use, a flat iron probably has a uniquely important place of its own. A flat iron is a go-to tool for styling your hair, straightening it, or making it look smooth and sleek. It is no wonder, then, that so many of us just cannot survive without our flat irons!

Depending upon the type of hair you have, and your day-to-day hair routine and styling needs, you may use your flat iron differently from any other person. Generally speaking, most of us wash our hair and then use the flat iron to style or straighten it. But do you wait for your hair to dry before using the flat iron on it? Or do you use the iron on wet hair? Is one way better than the other? You will find differing views about this, which can cause confusion in your mind about the right way, or right time, to use a flat iron. Lets’ take a look into using a flat iron on wet vs. dry hair.

Using a Flat Iron on Wet Hair

As I mentioned before, you can find varying information about using a flat iron on wet hair. Simply put, hair straightening irons should never be used on wet hair. And there is a good scientific reasoning behind this. Every single strand of your hair is made up of three parts- the innermost part called the medulla, the middle layer called the cortex, and the protective, outermost layer called the cuticle. Now when you wet your hair, it can absorb up to thirty percent of its own weight in water. Applying a heated hair straightener to this wet hair means that the absorbed water inside your hair turns into gas. This means it expands and needs to get out. So it bursts out explosively from the inner part of your hair, shattering the hair.

Think of this as similar to popping popcorn. Doesn’t sound like a very good idea with your hair, does it? This happens to hair right up against the heated ceramic plates of your flat iron. Over time, damaged hair increases, and you end up with brittle, dry, unhealthy hair which should just be chopped off. While hair straighteners these days are very good quality and come with technologies never seen before (check out HSI Professional’s ceramic tourmaline ionic flat iron picked as the best flat iron by many publications), they cannot prevent damage to your hair if used incorrectly.

Even though it may be tempting to get done with your hair quickly during the morning rush and use your flat iron while your hair is still wet, all you are doing is gravely damaging your hair in the long run. What’s more, some people even experience electric shock when putting an electric flat iron on wet hair.

Using a Flat Iron on Dry Hair

Using a hair straightener on dry hair is the best way to use this tool. Unlike wet hair, dry hair does not get damaged by using a flat iron. However, that still does not mean that the damage to dry hair is zero. Regular use of a flat iron, especially if using it incorrectly, can still cause damage to your hair. Some things to keep in mind when using a flat iron are – not having the heat up too high or else your hair can get burnt, always using a heat protectant prior to styling or straightening hair to minimize heat damage, and limiting the use of a straightener to once or twice a week. Another great idea is to buy a hair straightener that is appropriate for your hair and is a top quality product.

All our HSI Professional Flat Iron options are designed using the latest technology and provide years of service. And to top that, they come at very affordable prices. Our flat irons use HeatBalance technology, ceramic tourmaline plates, reflexive floating plates, and other great features that allow you to quickly and easily straighten your hair. For a complete list of flat irons by HSI Professional, visit our website today.

Styling or straightening your hair with a flat iron is a great convenience. Make sure you use this tool in the right way so that you can get the maximum benefit out of it without damaging your hair.