This expert hair straightening guide is the only one you’ll ever need

There’s a big difference between hair that’s been straightened with care and a rush job done in five minutes (or less if the bus is coming). And while we’re sure the top knot you’ve been wearing since day one of lockdown is incredibly stunning, the sleek glass hair look (as seen on the likes of Lucy Hale and Olivia Culpo) remains our number one hair goal – and unfortunately a quick glide through the top layers in the morning just isn’t going to cut it.

We often blame a lack of time for our haphazard styling skills, but really, a few extra seconds, combined with some high tech and insider tips is all that’s needed to ensure the glossiest straighten of your life. Just ask Dyson Australia’s Styling Ambassador, Damien Rinaldo, who shares his number one tips in the only hair straightening guide you’ll ever need.

Make sure your hair is completely dry

A mistake many of us often make when straightening is trying to style while the hair is still damp. “It has to be 100 per cent dry,” says Damien, who suggests to “blast dry [first] to create volume; the Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer and smoothing nozzle attachment is a great way to start this process.”

The hair dryer's intelligent heat control helps prevent extreme heat damage and hair overheating. Less damaged hair reflects more light in a single direction, so hair appears shiny, bringing your glass hair goals within reach. 

Try splitting your hair into sections and blow-drying straight using a downward direction – this way half of your styling work will already be done. “Take care and give yourself a bit of time to coach yourself and perfect the technique,” says Damien. Eventually, it will become part and parcel of your routine.

Pay attention to tech

The tool you choose to straighten with will have a significant impact on the finish of your style, not to mention the overall health of your hair with long-term use. 

The Dyson Corrale™ is the only hair straightener of its kind, with flexible manganese copper alloy plates that gather the hair for enhanced styling with less heat.

It also features the same intelligent heat control as the Dyson Supersonic™, where the integrated sensor system regulates the temperature of the plates 100 times a second, so you never exceed your set temperature.

And as if that wasn’t already enough to set it apart, it also has cordless functionality. Yep, that means no cord to get in the way of your styling, whether the aim be super straight, curls or waves. Plus with a full charge, it’s ready to squeeze into an already-full overnight bag. It’s a game-changer.

Consider your hair type when choosing a heat setting

The Dyson Corrale™ has three different heat settings (165º, 185º and 210º), and while many of us have the habit of going high from the get-go, Damien says to consider your hair type when setting the temperature.

“I tend to choose to sit on 185º and work up or down from there,” he explains. “For most hair types that is a perfect temp, but [for example] on extremely coarse hair I would go up to 210º, and for fine hair I would lower to 165º.”

Turning down the heat on conventional hair straighteners might reduce damage, but it also affects styling. However, by gathering hair, the flexing plates of the Dyson Corrale™ let you achieve the same style with less heat. For less hair damage¹, reduced frizz and fewer flyaways.

Section for styling ease

Similar to nailing a flawless fake tan, a sleek straighten comes down to prep. “A heat protection [should] always be used and minimal passes is [ideal] for optimum health,” says Damien.

Sectioning the hair before straightening is also key; the thicker the hair, the more sections you’ll need. “Depending on how thick the hair is, [I’d recommend straightening in] one inch [sections] for normal thickness, and for coarse hair I would even sometimes go down to one or two cm width sections. For fine hair you can do a whole side in 2-3 sections.”

Damien says when straightening with the Dyson Corrale™ it’s quite obvious once it’s gone over a section, leaving a silky finish, “but to be more organised, I would work from one side to the other”.

Golden advice for a glass finish

If you’re after a glass finish that rivals the ultra-sleekness of celebrity hair, don’t be tempted to turn up the heat.

Instead, Damien says to alter your sectioning slightly, working your way forward in 1-2cm segments. 

“Usually, when I want to get rid of frizz, I would use a more silicon-based product to control it to give a smoother result but you will achieve this look with or without a smoothing product with the Corrale™,” he says.

That’s right, super sleek hair just got super simple.

1 Thermal damage measured by hair strength, when creating an equivalent straight style using minimal heat. Tested on flexing vs solid plates.

Main image credit: @jourdandunn

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