Whether you have curly, wavy and frizzy hair or just want to give your locks a sleeker and more polished look, a hair straightener is the ultimate lifesaver. While you might think that every teen knows how to use a hair straightener, it's not as easy as it seems. There are a few things to keep in mind when using a hair straightener to ensure you get the best results while keeping your hair happy and healthy.

Never (never!) use hot tools, including the hair straightener, on wet or even slightly damp hair. If you do, you will literally burn your hair and cause serious damage to it. While it's tempting to save some time and skip the blow-drying, it's definitely not worth the risk. In addition, you run the risk of receiving an electric shock if you use power tools on wet hair.

Your best hair styling routine involves washing, blow-drying and then straightening your hair with a hair straightener. We fully understand that this may seem too time-consuming and unrealistic on a busy morning before work. In this case, you may want to wash your hair the night before and let it air dry – it will save you a few precious minutes of sleep in the morning.

However, it is essential to use hair straighteners only on clean hair. Dirt, sebum (the natural oils produced by your scalp), dry shampoo, and other products cause buildup on the surface of your hair. That would inevitably make it heavy and all your attempts to style it will be futile.