The most popular method of hairstyling today is thermal styling, which uses blow dryers, brushes, flat irons and curling irons. It requires minimal time and makes hairstyling a breeze, especially when your schedule is tight. If you are going for a look that is casual, then thermal styling is surely one of your best options. 

When thermal styling, it is important that you protect your hair from excessive heat. Blowdryers, flat irons, pressing combs and curling irons have been manufactured so that the temperature is maintained at a level that is safe for most hair. Flat irons, pressing combs and curling irons should always be tested on a piece of white paper towel to check the temperature, which ensures that you do not damage your hair. If the paper towel scorches after about five seconds, you will need to let your tool cool before using it on your hair.

There are many styling products on the market today that are formulated to prepare the hair and protect it from the heat of thermal styling tools. When blowdrying, try Redken's Satinwear 02, with a drop of Glass 01 -- it smells wonderful and leaves the hair soft and silky. When flat ironing, pressing and curling, use Redken's Iron Silk 07 -- it not only protects the hair from heat but it also leaves the hair soft, silky and frizz free. The Redken product line is great because their products are formulated to be used on all hair textures, and are very effective. Of course, there are other lines out there, however, the Redken line remains a favorite. The most important thing to remember about product usage is to use them sparingly, and you will get good results every time and your hair will thank you for it.

There are eight guidelines to follow when blowdrying, flat ironing, pressing and thermal curling:

1. Always use a heat-protective styling lotion or other styling product before any heat-styling process. Heat-protective products reduce friction and form a protective barrier against mechanical damage and the drying effects caused by heat. Also, remember that excessive blow drying can cause hair to lose its elasticity---the ability to stretch---or create split ends.
2. Always towel blot your hair to eliminate excess water, prior to using the blowdryer, which saves you both time and energy. 
3. There is an art to blowdrying -- dry the hair on the high setting, move to the medium setting for styling and set style with cool air. When following this process of high-medium-cool, you will find that the hair retains the desired style longer. Also, when flat ironing, pressing and thermal curling, it is imperative that your hair is entirely dry before styling.
4. Your hair grows in a natural pattern and when blowdrying it is important to style and dry in the direction of this natural pattern, rather than against it. Blowdrying in the hair's natural pattern will help to bring out the natural sheen of your hair when it is dry, and will prevent split ends and damage to your hair.
5. Always, always, always, keep  the dryer three to five inches from the hair and constantly move the dryer back and forth to reduce the potential of both hair and scalp damage from heat.
6. Damaged and bleached hair are fragile; therefore, use caution when blowdrying your hair in either one of these states. The greater the degree of chemical damage, the more apt the hair is to breakage, friction and heat damage, which is why it is so important to remove as much water from the hair with a towel. Damaged and bleached hair should be dryed on the medium setting and styled on the low setting, with the style set on the cool air setting. Be particularly gentle when using a round brush on damaged and bleached hair.
7. When flat ironing, pressing or curling your hair, always remember to test the temperature of the tool by using a white paper towel. Never use your fingers or bring the tool to your noise to test it. Remember, burned hair will break and fall out; therefore, be particularly careful when pressing coarse and overly curly hair.
8. Hair must be completely dry before flat ironing, pressing and curling. Never attempt to press wet or damp hair. It will simply revert to its original state. Avoid pressing chemically damaged hair, and remember to condition your hair often to protect against breakage, dry scalp, split ends and dull appearance.

Many hairstyles can be created when using thermal styling techniques. So the next time you are running short on time and are looking for a more casual, quick method of styling your hair, consider thermal styling as your styling option.