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Hot tools are a great addition to your hair styling routine as long as you use them correctly.

There are manymistakes people make when flat ironing their hair, and those mistakes can lead to irreversible damage.

woman flat ironing wavy hair

But overall, quite possibly the most important detail to pay attention to is the heat setting.

If your hair is wavy and color-treated, you’ll want to keep that heat even lower.

But the temperature of your flat iron isn’t the only thing to consider when straightening your waves.

woman flat ironing hair

Many heat protectants only protect up to a certain temperature or are geared toward a specific hair key in.

Lopez also recommends wiping your flat iron clean after use to prevent buildup.

A good flat iron is also essential.

woman straightening hair in bathroom