Styling with a flat iron is so much more than plugging it in and passing it over your locks. Before you even start, you have to shampoo and condition your hair first, so that you’ll have manageable hair that can respond well to styling and remain healthy afterwards. Use hydrating shampoos and conditioners that will prepare your hair for sexy styles, and while your hair is still wet, use a thermal spray or heat protectant to place a buffer between your locks and the heat.

Next blow dry or air dry your hair completely before getting your flat iron out. You can now move on to straightening, flipping or curling your hair.

What’s the best temperature? If you have thick, course or curly hair, a heat setting of around 350-400° F should work great for you. However if your hair is fine, damaged or chemically treated use a temperature of below 300° F, though you should start with the lowest setting and work your way up as you go along. For normal hair, 300-380° F is recommended.

For flipping your hair, use the same technique as you would for straightening except that when you’re nearing the tip of the section, turn the flat iron in the direction you want the flip to be and slide the iron along. For curling, you’ll need a flat iron with rounded or curved plates, like the Karmin G3. First clamp a one inch section of your hair close to your scalp with the flat iron and give it one and a half turns in the direction you prefer. Hold the angle firmly and pull the flat iron through the length of the strand while keeping the iron in position. Now just repeat for the other sections!

Remember, you can practice and experiment as much as you want as long as you take care of your hair and your flat iron at the same time. Keep it clean from hair products so that it can last longer without damaging your hair.