Make Frizzy or Curly Hair Into Straight Hair

Sometimes we want what we don’t have, and if your hair is naturally curly or wavy, you may find yourself wanting to have straight hair, if only for a day. If you’re looking to straighten your hair, there are some important do’s and don’ts to keep in mind. Read on to find out more.

Steps

At Home

1. Wash with gentle shampoo and rich or smoothing conditioner. Straightening hair--particularly hair that’s naturally curly or frizzy--is hard on it, so you’ll need to prepare it with a gentle shampoo and a rich, smoothing conditioner.
   • Use gentle, sulfate-free shampoo to avoid stripping your hair of its natural oils. It’s going to need them for protection against the heat styling you’re about to do.
   • Use a rich, hydrating conditioner, and then, for extra protection, use a leave-in conditioner.
2. Dry your hair. If at all possible, avoid drying your hair with a blow dryer until your hair is damp or nearly dry to minimize damage.
   • Dry your hair using either a cotton t-shirt or a microfiber towel using a squeezing, blotting motion, not a rubbing motion, which causes breakage.
3. Apply a small amount of straightening product. You’ll only need a dime-sized amount at most--any more will weigh hair down and leave it limp.
   • Look for products that protect and moisturize hair, like blow dry primers, frizz-control sprays, or smoothing balms.
4. Blow dry your hair. Use a round bristle brush to pull your hair straight as you dry it.
   • Direct the nozzle down as you dry to help prevent hair from frizzing.
   • Get hair completely dry before moving on to flat ironing.
   • Be patient. This step may take some time, particularly if you have very curly hair.
   • If your hair is too curly to make the conventional brush-and-blow-dry method workable, you can try setting your hair in large rollers and sitting under a hooded dryer (if you have one) or setting the curlers before you go to bed at night and straightening with a flat iron in the morning.
5. Flat-iron your hair. Once your hair is completely dry, pull the top layer of hair into a temporary ponytail or bun, then begin straightening hair in 1-2 inch sections.
   • If you have a temperature setting on your flat iron, use the following as a guide: for fine or damaged hair, 250-300 degrees; for medium or average hair, 300-350 degrees; for thick or coarse hair, 350-400 degrees.
   • Use a comb to pull your hair taut and away from your head with one hand. With the other hand, iron the section of hair in one fluid motion from root to end.
   • Repeat if necessary until the section of hair is straight.
   • After you’ve straightened the bottom layer of hair, undo the bun or ponytail holding the top layer of hair. Then begin straightening the top layer, using 1-2 inch sections.
   • Don’t use a flat iron on wet or damp hair--it can literally break your hair.
6. Apply finishing serum or spray. Use a finishing serum to smooth hair and add shine.
   • Serums are generally best for coarser or thicker hair, while sprays are best for fine or normal hair.

At a Salon

1. Look into a Brazilian blowout. Brazilian blowouts, also called “thermal hair straightening” or “keratin straightening,” are professional chemical treatments that relax hair. The overall process of getting a Brazilian blowout takes an average of 90 minutes and is largely the same anywhere. It will usually look like this:
   • The stylist will wash and towel dry your hair.
   • He or she will then divide your hair into sections and begin applying the straightening product.
   • The stylist will next blow dry your hair, trying to make it as straight as possible.
   • Next, he or she will flat iron your hair to seal in the straightener.
   • Then the stylist will rinse the solution out of your hair and apply a conditioning mask.
   • He or she will then rinse your hair again and apply a smoothing serum and/or balm before blow drying your hair once again.
2. Set up an appointment at a salon that offers Brazilian blowouts. If you're not sure you want to get a blowout, start by setting up a consultation with a stylist who can lead you through the process and answer any questions.
   • Be aware going in that professional straightening treatments are expensive (anywhere from $175-$350, depending on the length and texture of your hair) and will take as long as three hours.
   • Also note that if you have very curly hair, a Brazilian blowout will smooth out your hair, but it won’t completely straighten it.
   • Despite some claims to the contrary, these treatments do damage hair.
3. Get appropriate hair-care products. Your hair will need some care after the treatment, though you shouldn’t feel compelled to buy expensive salon products; drugstore brands can work just as well.
   • Look for products that are gentle on hair and offer frizz-fighting benefits.
   • Don’t use any products that contain sulfates.
4. Take care of your blowout. After a Brazilian blowout, there are some general steps you should follow to maintain it (though your stylist may have different specifics).
   • Don’t put your hair up or in a clip during the first 72 hours after the blowout, and don’t tuck your hair behind your ears.
   • Don’t get your hair wet during the first 72 hours. If your hair does somehow get wet, immediately blow dry and straighten it.
   • Straighten hair at home as needed. As your hair grows, it will grow in curly again and you’ll need to straighten those portions at home.

Tips

• Look for styling products that don’t list water as one of the first five ingredients. Putting water on your hair will make it curl up again.
• It's normal for some hair to be more difficult to straighten than the rest.

Things You’ll Need

• High-heat blow dryer and/or flat iron
• Round brush
• Straightening product
• Hair serum (optional)

Related Articles

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• Relax (Perm) or Give Yourself a Texturizer
• Treat Dry, Rough and Wavy Hair
• Blowout and Straighten Kinky Curly Natural Hair
• Keep Your Hair Straight with a Perm As a Black Girl

Sources and Citations

See also

• Keep Your Hair Straight with a Perm As a Black Girl
• Straighten Your Hair Without Heat
• Straighten Your Hair Overnight
• Straighten Hair Without Frizz
• Straighten Your Hair
• Straighten the Back of Your Hair
• Straighten Your Hair With Hair Bands
• Make Hair Straight with a Curling Iron
• Straighten Hair Quickly
• Have Smooth and Silky Hair

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• Keep Your Hair Straight with a Perm As a Black Girl
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