In this day and age, men are just as concerned with their hair as women. They no longer visit barbershops for an $8 haircut, but book reservations weeks ahead with their favorite stylist. With more and more men opting for longer hair instead of the traditional clipper cut, the use of a flat iron can be quite a necessary tool.

Some might think it’s too girly to use a flat iron, but it is the best device to straighten hair to achieve many of the trendiest styles for men. (Those with unruly, curly or thick hair will need to use a flat iron to achieve most of these styles.) If you’re new to the whole flat iron craze, its best to know exactly what you’re in for.

Given it has come a long way from the scary torture devices of the past, flat irons of today are safe, gentle on you hair and are the fastest way to straighten hair. You can either buy a regular ceramic or a more expensive tourmaline flat iron. Tourmaline flat irons have a gemstone mineral built into the plates that are said to have ionic and infrared properties that make your hair smoother and straighter.  Prices vary from the low $50s to the $200 range, but it’s usually wise not to skimp when choosing one.  For extra short hair, choose a flat iron with plates ½” to 1” thick.  

Okay, I have My Flat Iron, Now What?

For starters, hair must be dry before you can use a flat iron (unless you buy one that dries the hair while it straightens). Don’t max out the temperature button on the flat iron because you don’t want to use more heat than necessary. Normal hair can be heated at around 360-380 degrees.

Once hair is dry, use a fine comb to get all the tangles out of your hairs to create a smooth surface. Then, create small sections of your so that you won’t miss any hair. Once you have a manageable section, press the hair between the plates close to your scalp, and maintaining gentle pressure, slowly draw the iron down to the tips of your hair. If you are trying to go for the spiky look, apply some product to keep the spikes in place and then run the flat iron over to get them straight.

Since men aren’t exactly known for taking care of their stuff, it’s best to note that flat irons aren’t things you can just throw around. It’s a great piece of equipment and not exactly cheap to replace, so it’s recommended that you take good care of it. And don’t forget to turn it off after you’re done…you don’t want to burn your house down!

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