There are some days when you want your hair to be smooth, sleek, and shiny—and one of the quickest ways to achieve that is by straightening your hair. The only problem? Using a flat iron or other hot tools can cause damage, especially if you use them incorrectly or too much. Not to mention, the process of safely straightening your hair is tedious—you need to apply heat protectant, be gentle on breakage-prone areas, and use the right temperature for your hair type. So, it’s understandable if you’ve previously found it overwhelming and skipped some steps.

So how often can you straighten your hair without damaging it, and how do you properly heat style your hair in order to avoid breakage? We spoke to two hairstylists to find out. Keep reading for everything you need to know about straightening your hair without damage, including tons of expert tips and tricks.

• Jason Lee is a hairstylist, colorist, and the founder of Mela & Kera.

• Aaron Grenia is a hairstylist and the co-founder of IGK Hair Care.

How Often Can You Straighten Your Hair Without Damage?

Like most things, the amount of heat styling your hair can take without damage will vary by your hair type, the condition your strands are in, and your technique. Usually, it’s best to straighten your hair a maximum of two or three times per week, but it really depends. Technique goes a long way, whether you prefer wearing straight styles more often than not or are working with preexisting damage.

In general, straighter, finer strands are more prone to damage, so if your hair falls into that category, you’ll want to minimize how often you straighten it and keep the temperature low. Wavy, curly, and coily textures will need a somewhat higher temperature for