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Can you straighten damp hair using an ordinary straightener?

We get it - styling your hair can be a long process, and it can be tempting to skip a few steps and get the straightener out while your hair is still wet, right? You're going to need to blow dry it anyway, so may as well cut out the middleman and just use a hair straightener instead. But is that safe for your hair, and if so, then why do we bother with blow dryers at all?!

Using a normal flat iron is definitely not safe for damp hair! This can open up your hair to a world of damage and leave you with frizz for days. However, all hope is not lost - it's still possible to straighten damp hair as long as you're using a specific straightener. While ordinary straighteners are a no-go, advanced wet to dry stylers can help make this dream a reality.

What happens if you straighten damp hair with a normal hair straightener?

Not to be dramatic, but straightening wet hair with a normal flat iron is one of the worst things you can do for your hair. You can risk intense heat damage when using a normal flat iron on wet hair because the hot plates can reach temperatures in the 200 degrees C. This heats up the moisture on top of your hair and makes it too hot, removing the internal moisture from each strand and damaging it in the process. Think frizz, dry hair, and split ends. No thanks!

But what's the difference between straightening wet hair and using a blow dryer? They both apply heat, so why can you use one and not the other? Well, a blow dryer applies hot air from a distance rather than the clamping the heat onto the wet strands, creating significantly less damage than a flat iron would.

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How to straighten wet hair the right way

The traditional way of straightening wet hair is blow drying your hair with a round brush and a concentrator nozzle attachment. However, most people don't want to give themselves a full blowout every single morning, so if you'd rather have a few more minutes in bed before having to get ready, let us introduce you to a wet to dry hair straightener. It can apply heat without the intense damage normal flat irons do, saving you a lot of time in the long run.

You might have a few horror stories of your own about wet to dry flat irons, but this technology has advanced incredibly in recent years. Here are a few tips on how to get wet hair straight safely.

Use a styling tool designed for wet hair

Professional styling tools are your best friend when you don't want to damage your hair when straightening it. Not to toot our own horn, but our 2-in-1 hot air styler, the ghd duet style is an excellent example. The duet style is the result of two decades worth of product innovation and testing to make sure it's the best it can be for our customers. It uses an airflow of 150 degrees C and a low plate temperature of 120 degrees C, treating your hair with a gentleness that many wet to dry styling tools don't. 

We're proud to say that the duet style dries and removes surface moisture without affecting the internal moisture of the strands, keeping the hair styled and soft no matter what you put it through for the rest of the day. Working in a humid space with lots of moisture in the air? No problem - your hair is ready for just about anything now. Using a styler with air-fusion technology is one of the best ways to prevent damage from styling wet hair, and most of our customers agree.

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Always use heat protectant products when straightening damp hair

No, heat protectants aren't a placebo, and yes, they're essential when styling wet hair. We have an excellent selection of heat protectant products suitable for all hair types, so don't skip the prep work!

Some people wonder why they would add more moisture to their already damp hair before flat ironing wet hair, and we've wondered the same! But heat protection is a vital addition to this process as it uses both protectant polymers and conditioning agents to smooth the hair and keep it protected against damage. Not only that, but ghd's heat protectants can also strengthen the hair fibres to leave the hair stronger and more resilient to heat than it was before you began styling it - talk about a package deal!

Finish off with hair oil

Hair oil is always a good idea after using heat on your hair, but we find it essential for those who straighten wet hair. Our Sleek Talker is perfect for use with the duet style, offering up to 72 hours of soft and smooth straight hair. The oil replaces any moisture that the straightener removes, leaving it healthier - and you happier in the long run.

But why stop there? You can even use the hair oil as a heat protectant, creating a thermal barrier to protect from heat before it's been applied. This makes Sleek Talker a perfect partner in crime for your duet style. Trust us, the next time you straighten your hair will be an entirely new, better experience.

Learn more about the science behind the ghd Duet style

Overall, it's imperative that you use the correct wet to dry hair styling tool to straighten wet hair. Otherwise, you're opening yourself up to a lot of heat damage and frizzy hair in the future. Our ghd duet style uses air-fusion technology, aerodynamics, and smart plates to prevent any heat damage, making sure you can straighten your wet hair without concern - and it look good doing it, too. There's plenty of science that goes into creating a state-of-the-art wet to dry styler, and you can learn more about the science behind the ghd duet style now.

Happy reading, and enjoy a revolutionary change at the start of each day!