Flat Iron 101: How to Straighten Hair Without the Damage

Anyone can hold a flat iron to his or her head and straighten hair to 2D proportions. But that's not a very modern way to do straight.
In 2015, covetable straight hair (like seen on Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid and Joan Smalls) doesn't hang lifeless from the head—instead, roots are aerated.
"Today's straight hair is not so flat to the head like it was in the past," explained Marc Mena, an E! Style Collective member and celebrity hairstylist. "There's more body and movement instead of the hair being stick straight."

To get the new straight look right—without frying hair—Mena offered these pro tips.

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Protect strands: It's hard not to fry hair with frequent ironing. To diminish damage, Mena suggested applying heat protectant, which can help add moisture and allow for a touch of body without the frizz.
Add shine: The heat from a flat iron often reduces shine. Fight the effect by using a straightening shampoo and conditioner, which can not only reduce frizz, but create high-shine strands as well.
Raise the roots: As Mena mentioned, ultra-flat hair looks dated. Before taking the iron to your hair, add volume to the roots with a few spritzes of volumizing spray equipped with heat protectant.

Set the right temp: Not all hair types should use the same heat settings. If your hair is fine, less heat is needed, while coarse hair requires more heat, Mena noted. Check your device's guidelines to find the best heat setting for your hair type.
Straighten at an angle: It may feel instinctive to pull the straightener directly downward after clamping a section of hair, but as Mena pointed out, this creates an overly weighted look. Instead, pull the wand outward and away from your body at a slight angle. This will help give ends a swingy movement.