How do you use a flat iron?

I have short hair, im a guy, and I have a Conair flat iron (model CS4WC), couldnt find it on the internet, but theflat  iron looks something like this: http://www.ebonyline.com/coceto.html

I tried using it once, and I dunno if I used it wrong, but it did more hurt than any good.

Whenever I take a shower, my hair is so smooth and so straight (perfect) for like 10 mins, but as it dries it turns a little wavy (curls a bit at ends too), dry and coarse. After an hour my hair is dry, somewhat coarse and little wavy and just overall hard to manage.

On this occasion I used the straightener after a shower, and just pulled it through my hair, and what it did is accelerate the process i described above, in a matter of minutes my hair was dry and coarse (ok it made it a little straight, but very slightly and it didnt last long).

In the past the only products that have every helped me even a little were using that Loreal Vive Smooth Intense Shampoo Conditioner combo, that makes my hair a bit more smooth, and also using the cream by  Salon Selctives control[d] substance, that gives me some more smoothness and  control. But these products only help me a little.

I was hoping a flat iron would be the one thing to give me straight hair, but it seems this didnt work. So tell me, is it the iron? or the way I used it? Or do I got no hope? Any help is appreciated thanks.

dont use it on wet hair. thats so damaging. wait till your hair is dry, and then section out a really small section close to the nape of your neck, then clamp the iron down close to the scalp, and run the iron down the section. it will take some practice,and experementation but eventually youll get the hang of it.