My hairdresser said the best way to still have volume when fat ironing hair was not to do the roots. So I start about an inch to two inches from the roots to the ends. After drying my hair) I don't know if that will work, though, since your hair is naturally curly.

You WILL need product if you have frizz. No way to get around it. But, I don't buy the Chi products any longer. They are too expensive and there are products in the ethnic hair section that are much cheaper and have the same ingredients. Look for products without alcohol. They should contain Cyclomethicone, Dimethiconol, and Dimethicone, and are clear in color.

My process goes like this:
Leave-In conditioner (root to ends) and something like Chi Silk Infusion or something that I mentioned above from the ethnic hair section I put it half way down the shaft and to the ends.

I let my hair air-dry as much as possible -- heat of a hair drier will make it Frizz. I try only to finish it off with the drier.

I do use the Revlon Ceramic (2") on about half of the highest heat. You may not need the 2" if your hair isn't thick. Remember heat=damage. Do small sections at a time. I do need to flat iron the roots even though they are relaxed, because my hair is so coarse and curly.

Once it's done, I only need to get it wet and wash twice weekly (use a shower cap). I sleep with it on top of my head (think Pebbles), and it only takes a minute to brush out and iron any kinks in the morning. To keep the shine in-between washes, I put a little of the Silk-like products on the ends.

I HATE Iron Guard. It made my straight hair very coarse and seemed to do more damage than good.

Really? It seems to work pretty good for me so far. Maybe we just have different hair composition? I only put one product in my hair - silk drops - and that's it. These past couple times, I used the silk first and then misted with the iron guard and it's still all good.

.....Kelly :)

So thanks to this thread I caved and bought one. I've been debating buying one for months. :) I got the Remington Wet2Straight 2" wide. I rushed home to test it and love it so far. It has 30 heat settings so it's easy to find the right temp for my hair.

My hair is super thick and course. Growing up my hair was stick straight but when I was 15 I started noticings random hairs with even courser texture. Plus more and more strands have been growing in as anything but straight. I also have damaged hair, from nutrition issues I'm sure. I rarely blow dry or put product in my hair and haven't colored in 8 years. I also don't consistently use any one shampoo so I know there's not a "Pantene is evil" issue. 'k, now I'm rambling. :)

Question: What are some tips for making ironing/curling/drying my hair easier? I get bored and physically tired. I'm taking a break now because I got too tired. :( That's always been my downfall with my hair. I don't have the stamina to be high maintence. ;) Well, that and my mom never knew what to do with my hair when I was young since her hair was always just too long to be a boy cut. A ponytail was an ordeal. :yikes:

I went to bed with wet hair and no product Sunday night, and woke up Monday morning to something Christian from Project Runway would call "a hot trannie mess." Thankfully I busted out my $30 Revlon hair straightener (it has jade plates, I got a super deal on it at Rite-Aid). I managed to get it under control in a few minutes and I to wear it again today. I've got fine wavy hair that frizzes when it gets humid so I usually blow dry it somewhat straight and avoid the flat iron.

SoCalGirl I have had decent luck with putting product on my hair right out of the shower, letting it air dry a bit, and then doing the blow dry or flat iron. That way the product can work in and my hair isn't soaking wet so I am using less heat and doing less damage. With your hair type that method may not work as well.

SoCalGirl, I get bored doing my hair too. I've been showering at night and blowing my hair out then, and tying my hair back in a really loose ponytail to sleep. Then in the morning I just need to straighten it so it takes less time.

When I do it all in the morning, I try and take breaks - I'll shower, then wrap it in a towel and scrunch dry while I put on my lotion, then I'll let it air dry when I eat breakfast. After that I'll blow out whatever is left (I've been using Smooth Infusions Style-Prep from Aveda beforehand) and then go eat breakfast. After that I'll straighten my hair, and I am lazy and never do a perfect job. ;)

I have really thick, wavy hair, so one thing I really liked about straightening my hair was the loss of volume. I started out with both a HOT [Helen Of Troy] Tools straightener ($30 online, but I paid about $50 at my salon) that has gold-ish heat plates. And then I got a Wigo, too, I'm not sure why, as I think the HOT tools one works better. I use Graham Webb Super Stick Straight which I LOVE as a hair product, and then straighten from the roots down. So, briefly: HOT Tools and Graham Webb, all the way!

Giving this a quick bump because of a recent discovery.

I have a Chi (that I apparently should have bought on ebay, crap, I paid retail! :eek:, but I agree with others, I have definitely gotten my money's worth), but I unfortunately left it behind accidentally when I was recently out of town. I'll be able to get it back when I go back through there soon, but needed something to get me through until then.

My hairdresser had recommended the flatiron by Bedhead and said Target sells them. So I ran by Target, picked up the Bedhead but started glancing at other products. Knowing I'm getting my Chi back, I decided to take a risk and pick up a Remington Wet to Dry (or something to that effect), paying $23 compared to $70 for the Bedhead.

Best almost 50 bucks I've ever saved. I'm very, very impressed with that iron! And I don't even have to blow dry my hair first, saving time!

So for anyone that doesn't use a hair straightener often enough to make sense of paying for the most expensive ones or for anyone on a budget, I would highly recommend that Remington. Ok, now I really have to get back to work. :(

^^ That's what I use. I can't afford a Chi (and I straighten often) but I love my Remington Wet to Dry. I blow dry first anyway (I have a roundbrush attachment and so you don't need two hands, you're basically just brushing your hair with this blowdryer, I love it) and then go over it with the iron and it works great!!! Best one I've used yet (this will be number 4) and sooo cheap!

I'm going to ditto on the Remington Wet to Dry. It makes my hair so amazingly soft and shiny.


However, I am also very lazy about my hair, and maybe use 5 times year.

*bump*

I've had a ceramic iron that I got from Sally's for about $40, & liked it well enough. I happened to use my friend's Chi over the weekend & loved it! She told me that she got it on folica.com. I'm thinking of getting the one that comes with the pouch, serum, & thermal guard for $100. My friend's Chi also had little teeth along the edges to eliminate the combing step, but I haven't seen that one pictured on the site. They also have the Chi without the extras for about $72. Any suggestions?

http://www.folica.com/CHI_Original_1__d4857.html

I noticed that it is being compared to Solia. Has anyone ever used this brand?

I have a Sedu hairdryer! It is WONDERFUL! My hair is very fine but curly and I straighten it daily. If it's pretty dry, I don't even have to straight iron it since the hairdryer is so good. I use a Chi to get any pesky frizz and kinks around my face.

I have this, and I love it, but I definitely love when I go to the salon and they use the CHI on me - my hair is so soft after it's like I never had curly hair to begin with.

I do believe the PHI is made by the same people, and it does the same things for my hair.

When I finally start working I'm definitely going to invest. Fewer passes over my hair = a huge time saver in the morning!

Sigh, I know. It's a good flatiron, but nothing ever works as well as the ones they use in the salon.