Hair straightening help!!?

okay, my hair is really thick and way curly like soo curly. it goes just above my neck when its curly and down to like mid-shoulder blades when its straight. i straighten it frequently, but its really hard because its soo thick and curly. is there anything i can do to speed up the hair-straightening process?? if it helps at all, i have a revlon straightener.. one of those thick ones. i have 2 others- a really thin revlon one and one for wet hair. anyway, thanks in advance and please give me any ideas you have, even if you dont know theyll work. thanks!!