Hair straighteners - does hair have to be washed/wet every time?

[WingedVictory]

Hello, all.
I am wondering about hair straightening, and can't find a discussion which isn't about the straighteners themselves (GHD versus non-GHD, it seems!)! Is it necessary to have washed the hair before straightening, and/or does it have to be wet or blowdried? Also, is it necessary to have a protective oil or serum while straightening?

Many thanks in advance for the answers to these basic questions!

P.S. My hair is long and pretty straight, but I want to be able to smooth it.

[rimmer08]

do not use straigetners on wet hair please!!! frazzles the hair and the straighteners. i use a protective spray with mine after i havedried my hair

[Cyb]

I straighten mine when its filthy

[BelleDameSansMerci]

Only use on dry hair. Necessity for protective serum/cream/stuff depends on your hair type. I use mine when my hair is clean/dirty/in between.

[WingedVictory]

Thank you for the quick replies!

[mamazon]

i have a set of GHD's thanks to my lovely dp and father christmas

i have used them on slightly damp hair a couple of times but you really shouldn't. i always use a heat protect spray and heat protect shampoo and conditioner.

but yes you can use them whenever. clean dirty or absolutly thick with grease!

[cookielove]

there are specific hair straightners, that u can use for wet hair. Not sure on the brand though, i recommend ghd's they are fab

[yojojo]

i had some of those straighteners for that you are supposed to be able to use on wet hair and they were horrible, my hair was so crispy after i used them.took them straight back.

[RoseWater]

I never use mine on wet hair - I straighten freshly washed and dried hair if I'm going out and often straighten hair if I haven't got time to wash it.

You're supposed to use a heat protection spray before you straighten your hair but my hair is pretty tough so I don't always.

[kissmummy]

ooooh, a hair straightening virgin! if you've never used them before you're in for a big treat. i used to have to get my hair professionally blow dried to look nice. no longer! GHDs are worth the money....

[WingedVictory]

Hahaha at virgin comment.

Actually, my hair is rather virginal: long, all the same length, near-black and uncoloured (apart from the natural white coming in from about 20 y.o.!) No doubt some hairdressing student would love to have a go at all these same-length ends, but I steer clear of that sort of thing. And of hairdryers. And of Product. But I had it blowdried after a cut, a while ago, and really liked the new consistency, so have been wondering about it ever since...