A straightening iron can be an excellent tool, especially for those with wavy hair rather than extremely curly hair. If you do have very curly hair, I recommend using a blow dryer and a round brush on your hair first, followed by a straightening iron.
A straightening iron works much like a curling iron except that instead of curling your hair around a barrel, you place sections of hair between two flat pieces of hot metal irons. Use the iron on individual sections of dry hair. When you have finished straightening all of your hair, use a flat paddle brush to comb through it and spray on an anti-humidity spray to seal in the style.
At the Salon
As anyone who has ever had their hair blown dry after a haircut knows, stylists are masters at achieving the smooth, straight styles many women crave. Many salons also offer more permanent straightening solutions in addition to their blow-drying skills. Salon solutions will be more expensive than at-home solutions, but are a good option for special occasions or for semi-permanent straightening.