(ThySistas.com) One of the great things about being natural is the versatility that comes along with it. You can go from curly to straight in no time and enjoy the great looks in between.
While most naturals have few troubles with the curly part of maintaining their natural hair, that’s not always the case when it comes to straightening it. It takes time, the right method, tools and more to make sure your blow out and flat iron lasts. So let’s talk about that.
It can be frustrating when you put effort into straightening your hair, only to have it sweat out, succumb to the elements, or not last past the first few days. The good thing about it is that there are tips you can employ to help your press last a little bit longer. Here are just a few. 
Clip Your Ends
Black women don’t like to cut their ends and I get it. But doing so will greatly improve the look and longevity of your press. Split ends can hide in curly hair, but they are easily seen when straightened. Trimming your ends is a good practice and you will see a difference when your hair is straight and when it’s curly.
Use Denman Brush
The results of your blow-drying will great impact the results of your flat ironing. With that, using a denman brush (round bristle head) along with a blow dryer is the best way to dry your hair before a press. The cylinder shaped brush works wonders for prepping your hair for straightening. This will take more time because you should section your hair in fours and do each area one by one. It will, nonetheless, be worth it.
Use an Ionic Blow Dryer
Speaking of blow-drying your hair, to get the best results, an ionic dryer is the way to go. One of the toughest parts of your hair to get to cooperate when straightening are your cuticles. Getting them to lie flat and give great shine is hard, but not so much with an ionic dryer. Remember, when it comes to doing your hair and getting the desired look, you need more than just products and a good technique. You cannot go wrong with an ionic blow-dryer.
Use a Ceramic Flat Iron
Now that you have the blow-drying done, you need to have an effective flat iron. Please know that not all flat irons are created equal, so if you want to really get bone straight hair, use a ceramic iron. Rusk and FHI have some amazing ones. Also, for best results use a mini flat iron, as they work better on curly and short hair. Furthermore, working in smaller sections allows the iron to glide through every inch of your hair.
These are basics tips but trust me when I say that they work. Doing your own hair will save you money for sure, but you also want to maximize your time and efforts by using the right products, methods, AND tools so keep these suggestions in mind.
Staff Writer; Rasheda Abdullah