With the variety of styling tools available to us today, doing your own hair at home has become a cost efficient way to achieve the professional results that used to require a weekly standing appointment with your stylist. Though doing your hair at home has its benefits, it can be dangerous if you do not take the proper precautions to protect your hair from damage and breakage. It's important to remember that just because it looks lovely doesn't mean that it was done correctly. Managing and maintaining your hair's health is crucial, especially when using heat tools like a flat iron. Here are seven common mistakes to avoid when straightening your hair:

1. Flat Ironing Wet Hair

Never and I mean never flat iron your hair while damp or wet. When you run wet hair through a flat iron, the water produces steam that bubbles within your hair shaft. That is the sizzle that you hear and not only does it dry your hair out, but it also causes it to weaken, frizz and very possibly break off. Once your hair fully dries, it won't even be as straight as it would had you dried it properly before straightening. So it's a total lose/loses situation.

2. Skipping the Blow Dryer

You may be tempted to skip the blow dryer and let your hair air dry to avoid too much heat exposure. While that definitely works for some, for others it may actually cause you to use more heat while straightening than you would have if you would have taken the time to blow your hair out first. An ionic hair dryer will give you a smooth finish and less frizz, so you can use a lower heat setting when you straighten and you won't have to keep running over the same sections of hair repeatedly to get the sleek look you want.

3. Using the Wrong Heat Setting

Every hair type has a designated heat range that should be adhered while styling. Thinner or straighter hair requires a much lower temperature than hair that is coarse, thick or curly. Many flat irons either have no adjustable temperature dial (stay away from those) or allow you straighten your hair with temperatures as high as 450 degrees. Always use the lowest temperature setting possible to achieve the style that you want to prevent your hair from frying.

4. Flat Ironing Too Often

Using heat on your hair every day is a big no no. It's okay to use a flat iron a few times a week if need be, but there are techniques that you can use to maintain your style without having to touch it up every day. If your hair is curled, set it in pin curls at night to hold the style while you sleep. You can also use rollers or flexi rods to achieve the same effect. If your hair is straight, try sleeping with your hair tied back in a ponytail, or wrapped around your head secured with bobby pins. When you wake up, all you have to do is brush it out and go.

5. Not Properly Moisturizing

Properly moisturizing your hair crucial, especially if you are working with heat. Heat will dry hair out, which can lead to split ends and breakage if you don't condition it. Natural oils such as La Muse Beauty's Argan Oil repairs and protects your hair from damage buy infusing it with important vitamins and nutrients to keep it strong. Moisturizers also add bounce and shine to give you a polished finished look straight from the pages of Glamour.

6. Not Detangling Thoroughly

Whether you're blow drying your hair or straightening it, it's important to thoroughly detangle your hair before you begin styling. Take a section and comb or brush from the ends to the roots to work out any kinks and knots. Styling your hair without detangling it first can cause pulling and breakage and won't give you the sleek result you're going for. Using a moisturizer, oil or leave in conditioner will make the process easier. Take the time to comb through your tangles and save yourself a lot of drama later.

7. Not Using a Heat Protectant

Heat protectants create a barrier around your hair that minimizes damage from styling. Skipping the heat protectant leaves your hair susceptible to split ends and weaker hair shafts. As with all hair products, it's important to pay attention to the ingredients in your protectant to assure that they work with heat and not against it.Hair La Vie also helps protect against heat by rebuilding hair from the inside out with natural vitamins and nutrients, such as vitamins A & E, biotin and horsetail herb which strengthen and help revitalize damaged hair.