Do you REALLY know how to use a hot tool?

There's something so beautiful about smooth, shiny hair. You flip on the TV and actresses flood your screen with their luscious locks blowing in the breeze. You open up a magazine and the model's hair looks like glass. Instagram is filled with beautiful images of long thick straight strands, and wavy I-woke-up-this-way goddesses. You're mesmerized as you stare at the images, then you catch a glimpse of your mane and you're shot back to reality and you just sit there like "What did I do to deserve this mess of tresses??......"

Social media and television can cause us to have a deflated sense of self worth. But let's get one thing clear, it's not real. Nope. Not one bit. Almost all of the models and actresses have extensions. Plus they employ a beauty brigade that would cause the average woman to go bankrupt. So cut yourself a break and be proud of what you were given.

But for those who absolutely choose to accept the mission of creating these looks. let me give you a few pointers.

• Cut your damn hair. YES YOU READ THAT CORRECTLY. Get your hair trimmed regularly, and often. This cuts off any current split ends and helps keep more split ends from forming. Your hair is like grass, its perfect after a fresh cut, but as it grows, each strand grows at a different rate. So if you trim often, the ends will remain even and smooth out beautifully. Plus using a hot tool ultimately will cause some damage. So your stylist holds the key to your long, healthy hair.

• Products are your friends. Using the proper heat styling products don't just protect your hair, they also offer humidity resistance, and allow the iron to glide over the hair providing a consistent result. A straightening balm will help smooth out during the blow dry. Heat-styling sprays and serums are usually applied to dry hair and help protect against the high temperatures.

• Not all tools are created equally. Hot tool performance can vary tremendously. For instance, ceramic irons cool down slightly when they touch the hair. This is great for a first time user who may not have their technique and motion perfected. Titanium irons maintain a consistent temperature , allowing a smooth finish from root to end. Type of iron used is 100% up to the user.

• Technique is everything. You need patience and practice. Its not as simple as slipping a chunk of hair between two hot plates and running the iron down the hair. Hair should be blown dry semi smooth and then sectioned off with clips. You should be working with 1/2 inch sections (give or take depending on hair texture and thickness). Too thick of a section and you will have redo the section over and over, potentially damaging the hair. Too thin of a section, you risk burning the hair. A flat iron should be passed evenly over the hair without stopping. And exercise caution when ironing over the ends, they are the most fragile!. A curling iron, or wand, should always be used from the root to midshaft first, then glide the tool down, finishing with the ends.

• You wouldn't iron a silk blouse on a wool setting. For the love of all things holy, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE turn the temperature of your iron. Most hair should not be ironed above 350 degrees. Especially if your hair is colored or highlighted. A heat tool that is too hot will lighten color and could potentially singe your hair right off. Trust me, I've witnessed the aftermath and no amount of deep conditioning can repair that damage (see the first pointer on how to fix).

So....... how many of you are guilty of improper use of your flat iron or curling iron? Need a product or tool recommendation or more guidance? Hit me up!

Until then, keep your hair game strong!