Does anyone know how to keep your hair from smelling burnt after straightening with a straightening iron?

[jenniferpakk]

I would like to know what products I can use to keep my hair from smelling burnt. Or maybe a different type of iron I can use. My boyfriend constantly complains about my burnt hair smell and I would love to have good smelling hair in general. My hair looks better straight. I have a short bob. So I need to straighten it. I am Korean so my hair is very thick and coarse like. My hair is in between curly and puffy so I need to straighten it. 😞

[joragroy]

@jenniferpakk 

Make sure you don't have too much product in your hair when you straighten it, as that could be a reason why your hair is smelling burnt. Also, it's best to let your hair dry before straightening. This also means letting any product, like heat protectant, dry. (If your hair is drenched after applying heat protectant, you're using too much!) If you don't have time to waste on air drying, it's best to blow dry your hair as much as possible before ironing in order to minimize heat damage. For damaged hair, I recommend using a shampoo and conditioner that advertises damaged hair repair. My favorite is by Pantene.

If your hair doesn't seem to have any heat damage, you might just need to clean your flat iron. Pour some rubbing alcohol onto a microfiber or cotton cloth and gently rub the length of the plates in a circular motion. Use Q-tips in the same way to clean the sides. Then, take a damp paper towel and run it over all areas of the plates and leave it out to completely dry before using. Use the straightener on medium heat so you can run it along the same section of hair a few times without exposing it to excessive heat.

If your hair is smelling burnt even on days that you aren't straightening it, take citrus fruit peelings (lemon or orange) and place them into a spray bottle. Add just enough water to cover the peels and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Spray onto your hair, paying special attention to the parts that smell extra burnt. You can then use your blow dryer on the cool setting to dry your hair or let it air dry if you don't mind waiting.

I hope any of these tips help!

[floridabeaut]

Always use a heat protectant. I use a thermal spray by CHI and then a frizz serum by redken. I would also recommend getting a different hair straightener maybe, I second the babylispro brand, as it’s the one I use as well. Never use the highest setting. Rough drying your hair first before straightening will also make straightening your hair easier! Hope you find what works for you!

[snoflakefaerie]

I always blow dry my hair as straight as possible first, and then straighten it with an iron. I also recommend using a heat protectant and decreasing the heat level on your iron. 

[Kim888]

@jenniferpakk what brand flat iron are you using/how old is it? I don't think it's a particularly good sign your hair smells burned after flat ironing (as someone who also does it regularly). It's possible a type of protector would help  Briogeo Farewell Frizz™ Rosarco Milk Leave-In Conditioner 5 oz/ 148 mL Drybar Hot Toddy Heat Protectant Mist 4.6 oz/ 130 g but if you have an older flat iron it might be time for a replacement. My fave brand is babyliss but i know the ghd brand is pretty popular as well