Do you use a flat iron or hot comb?
Flat iron.
If you use a flat iron, what brand?
Babyliss Pro Ceramic @ 230 degrees Celsius (446 degrees Fahrenheit)
What products do you use in addition to the heat?
I think my whole prep started from DCing with a strengthening conditioner (GPB) and shampooing off with a strengthening shampoo (Garnier Fructis) then conditioning with CHI Infra Thermal Protective Treatment. Then I stretched my hair w/o heat using Curlformers. Then I would take a stretched section, spray with John Frieda Frizz Ease Heat Defeat Spray to wet it for my Wet-to-Dry flat-iron pass. Then I sealed it with John Frieda Frizz Ease Thermal Protection Serum for my second pass.
How often do you straighten your hair?
Seems it's once every two years or so, but I really don't have a schedule. I just do it when I feel like it. Did it in April 2009. Prior to that, did it at the end of 2006. And prior to that December 2004. That was the first time I straightened my natural hair since my transition from relaxed hair which started in August 2001.