Blowing out natural tresses can be tricky, but Alicia Keys’ stylist Tippi Shorter is a pro at going from curly to straight. The singer frequently goes back and forth between her fine, soft curls and a sleek mane, so we asked Tippi to give us to the tips to avoiding heat damage and achieving the look.
“[As] someone with natural hair, I would use a Boars Head paddle brush with a blow-dryer to get your hair dry,” Shorter advises curly girls. “The focus wouldn’t be to get it straight, but to get it dry and as smooth as I can. I would follow it with a flatiron.” The stylist loves the Bio Ionic One Pass straightening tool.
Those with fluffy tresses like Alicia should always protect their mane just before applying heat. “Leave-ins come in so many different forms. You have creams, liquids, gels and sprays. I would definitely suggest a spray for someone with very fine hair,” says Shorter. “You can dilute the spray with water. You would risk doing damage by not applying any product to your hair before styling.”
Shorter, who has a Rapunzel-length head full of curls that she frequently straightens, recommends Avon Advance Techniques Smooth & Shine Serum to cut down on frizzing in between washes. “I use it before I blow-dry, before I flatiron, before I wrap it and before I brush it! I keep a little bottle of serum in my purse.”

(Photos from left: Ethan Miller/Getty Images, Bennett Raglin/WireImage)