Straighten Hair Naturally

Many people love the look and feel of soft, straight hair. Unfortunately, many of the tools and products used to straighten hair, such as straightening irons, chemical straighteners, and many other hair products can irritate, or even damage, the hair and scalp. Luckily, there are many options to straighten your hair naturally, using many products you already have at home. While you will probably not achieve pin-straight hair using only natural processes, these techniques will help moisturize, relax, and straighten your hair without the damaging side-effects of chemicals or heat.

Steps

Straightening Your Hair with Hair Bands

  1. Wash and condition your hair. Use a gentle shampoo and heavy-duty conditioner to lock moisture into your hair. Avoid shampoos with surfactants or sulfates, as these can damage your hair.
  2. Squeeze excess moisture from hair using a towel. Do not rub the hair too hard as this can cause breakage and frizz. Simply squeeze sections of the hair with a towel to remove excess water.
  3. Use a detangling comb to comb through hair. These combs typically have wider teeth so they will detangle your hair without snagging. Follow with a finer-toothed comb to smooth the hair further.
  4. Divide hair into two pigtails. The pigtails should start near the nape of your neck; higher pigtails will cause more kinking in the hair as it dries. Secure with elastic hair bands.
  5. Wrap elastic hair bands in intervals along the pigtails. Every 2-3 inches, wrap an elastic hair band around each pigtail. Don’t wrap too tightly or you will create bumps in the hair as it dries. You should end up with what look like “striped” pigtails.[1]
  6. Wrap a silk scarf around your head. Secure with a few bobby pins. The silk will help keep your hair from tangling as it dries and will also help reduce frizz.
    • You can sleep comfortably in this style, or do it first thing in the morning if you don’t have anywhere to be for a few hours.
  7. Remove scarf, pins, and hair bands. Comb through with a wide-toothed comb. Avoid using a bristle brush, at it might encourage frizzing.

Straightening Your Hair with an Overnight Wrap

  1. Wash and condition your hair. The heavier, or more moisturizing, the conditioner you use, the more it will weigh down your curls and help your hair hang longer and straighter.
    • Do not towel-dry your hair. The friction from rubbing your hair against the towel will create frizz and encourage curling. Keep your hair soaking wet for the following steps.
  2. Rub a leave-in conditioner between your palms and apply evenly to your wet hair. This will add extra weight to bear down on the curls and prevent frizz. If you prefer to avoid commercial conditioners, consider applying a natural oil.
    • Thicker hair would benefit from a thicker oil, such as argan or olive oil. Thinner or finer hair would do better with a lighter oil, such as grape seed oil, or coconut oil.
    • Remember to start with a small amount of oil: in the math of hair, it's always easier to add than to subtract.
  3. Separate your hair into four parts, equally divided across your scalp. If your hair is particularly thick, you may need to divide your hair into six parts.
  4. Use a round natural-bristle brush to brush one section of hair. Brush this section so it is free of any tangles, making sure that the leave-in oils are evenly distributed.
  5. Brush this section down and across your scalp. Keeping one hand on your brush, use the other to gently insert bobby pins every {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} to secure the section of hair to your scalp.
  6. Continue to secure the section of hair across your scalp. Depending on the length of your hair, the section may wrap all the way across the side, bottom, and opposite side of your scalp. Use as many bobby pins as necessary to keep the section secure.
  7. Take the next section of hair and repeat the same process. Secure the hair to the scalp with bobby pins placed every two inches.
  8. Repeat until all sections of hair have been secured to the scalp. If your hair begins to dry, apply more water with a spray bottle, or by splashing water on your hair with your hands.
  9. Leave the bobby pins in overnight and go to sleep. If you find it uncomfortable to sleep with the bobby pins, try wrapping a towel lightly around your head to pad your scalp.
    • If you develop a headache, you may have placed the bobby pins in too tightly against the scalp. You may want to experiment with different brands to find ones which are the most comfortable against your head.
  10. Remove the bobby pins gently in the morning. Unless your hair is extremely thick, it will be mostly dried. Don’t pull too vigorously or you may damage your hair.
  11. Use a wide tooth comb to comb through your hair, removing any small tangles. Avoid using a brush, as it will increase volume and frizz.
    • If your hair is particularly dry or thick, you may wish to apply a second layer of a leave-in conditioner or oil to your hair, rubbing the product between your palms and smoothing evenly over your hair, from the roots to the tips.

Straightening Your Hair with Hair Rollers

  1. Shampoo and condition your hair. Avoid shampoos with surfactants or sulfates; if you can, use a product designed for dry and damaged hair. While applying shampoo and conditioner, avoid rubbing your hair together as this can cause breakage and frizz.
  2. Use a towel to gently press the excess water from your hair. Apply a leave-in conditioner or natural oil to wet hair, distributing evenly from root to tip. Comb through your hair with a wide-toothed comb.
  3. Work in two-inch sections. Use a tail comb to separate sections of hair. Place a large roller on the section of hair near the ends and wrap the ends up and over the roller. Roll the hair toward the scalp.
    • Use the largest rollers you can find. Velcro and mesh rollers often come in very large sizes. although if you plan to sleep in the rollers overnight, you may prefer to use soft foam rollers.
  4. Secure the roller at least one inch from the scalp. Use bobby pins or plastic clips to secure the roller. The weight of the roller hanging slightly from your head will help to straighten the hair at the base of your scalp, which will prevent too much body at your crown.
  5. Let your hair air dry. You can blow dry your hair if you’re in a hurry, but use the low setting to help prevent damage. Air drying the hair will allow the tension of rolling to gradually pull the hair straighter.
    • If you plan to sleep in the rollers overnight, wrap your head in a smooth scarf, ideally silk. This will help prevent friction between your hair and the pillow, which will lead to frizz and may dislodge the curlers.
    • Do not go to bed with your hair covered by a shower cap. Shower caps are made of plastic and are designed to prevent moisture going in or out. This will prevent your hair from drying overnight.
  6. Remove rollers once hair is completely dry. Do not pull the rollers out of your hair, as this may cause damage; gently unroll them and allow them to drop from your hair.
  7. Comb through with a wide-toothed comb. Avoid using a bristled brush, as it may cause your hair to frizz or fluff up. A detangling comb is a great option for this step.
  8. Rub a small amount of coconut oil between your palms. Smooth the coconut oil across your hair. This will help seal the hair cuticle and keep it smooth and shiny.

Straightening Your Hair with a Coconut Milk Mask

  1. Gather your ingredients. Coconut milk is high in fat, fiber, and nutrients like vitamin E that make it excellent for moisturizing hair. Combined with the super-moisturizing power of extra virgin olive oil and the acid of lemon juice, this mask will help relax hair.[2] People with artificially colored hair should avoid using lemon juice on their hair, as it will cause color to fade more quickly.
  2. Whisk together 1 cup coconut milk and {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} extra virgin olive oil in a medium saucepan. In a separate bowl, mix 3 tablespoons cornstarch with 4 tablespoons of lemon juice until a smooth slurry forms.
  3. Whisk the slurry into the coconut milk mixture. Over medium heat, whisk the mixture constantly until it thickens. Once it reaches the consistency of a bottled conditioner, remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
  4. Distribute mask throughout hair. You can use a pastry brush or a paintbrush to make application easier, or just use your fingers to work the mask evenly throughout your hair. Make sure your hair is coated thoroughly with the mask for best results.
  5. Cover your hair with a shower cap. If you don’t have a shower cap handy, you can also wrap your hair with plastic wrap. Wrapping your hair will help it retain heat, which will assist in relaxing curls.
  6. Apply heat. If you have a hairdryer, use it on the low setting until hair is warm. Alternately, you can warm a damp towel in the microwave and wrap the warm towel around your hair.
  7. Wash with gentle shampoo and warm water. Avoid shampoos that have heavy surfactants or sulfates, as they will roughen your hair’s cuticles and undo the moisturizing and smoothing action of the mask. Follow with a deep conditioner.
  8. Comb straight. Use progressively finer combs to completely detangle and gently stretch your hair.
    • Coconut milk is different from coconut water (which is thinner) and cream of coconut (which is sweetened and thickened). Make sure to purchase the right stuff!
    • This mask will relax and loosen curls, but if you have very curly hair it may not entirely straighten your hair. However, the extra moisture provided by the mask will also help protect your hair if you use heat appliances.

Straightening Your Hair with a Banana Mask

  1. Gather your ingredients. Bananas are full of hair-friendly nutrients like folate and vitamin B6, and their high sugar content helps keep moisture locked in hair. Olive oil helps seal hair cuticles, while milk has proteins and sugars that also help strengthen and moisturize hair. This color-safe mask will deep-condition and help relax your hair.[3]
  2. Peel and mash 2-3 ripe bananas in a medium bowl. You can use a fork or potato masher to mash the bananas. For a smoother mix, use a blender or food processor. Mash until there are no remaining chunks of banana.
  3. Add 2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and 2 tablespoons of honey. Mix thoroughly. The mask should be about the same consistency as bottled conditioner.
  4. Distribute the mask evenly throughout dry hair. This mask is a little runny, so it is probably best to work over the sink or even in the shower to avoid mess. Make sure to smooth the mask all the way down to the tips of your hair.
  5. Cover hair with a shower cap. You can also wrap your hair in plastic wrap or even a grocery bag. Allow mask to sit for one hour.
  6. Wash out with gentle shampoo and warm water. Thoroughly rinse your hair! This mask is quite sticky, so make sure your hair is entirely rinsed out. Follow with conditioner.



Tips

  • If you have naturally very curly hair, it is extremely difficult to completely straighten it without the use of heat, electric straighteners, or chemical straighteners. Naturally straightening your hair is a wonderful alternative, as it focuses on increasing moisture levels of the hair and scalp, but is rarely as effective as using a blowdryer, straightening iron, or a professional straightening service.
  • Natural straightening is better than electric straightening.

Electric straightening might make you lose hair and also damage it.

  • Few people have naturally pin-straight hair. The easiest way to give the impression of beautiful, healthy hair, regardless of curls, is to avoid frizz and maintain your hair in good condition. Weekly deep conditioners and hot oil treatments are a wonderful way to maintain healthy, shiny locks.
  • Speak with your hairdresser about the most effective hair style for minimizing body, and encouraging a straighter style. All hair is different, and the right haircut can dramatically affect the way your hair hangs, moves, and curls.
  • The heavier your hair is, the easier it is to straighten. Longer styles mean more weight to weigh down your hair and keep it straighter.

Warnings

  • Hair is delicate. Although much safer and gentler than heat or chemical straighteners, the repeated use of bobby pins and curlers, particularly if you pin and curl your hair very tightly against the scalp, can cause skin irritation and potential hair loss.

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://blog.freepeople.com/2014/10/naturally-straight-hair/
  2. ↑ http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/retexturizing/do-natural-hair-straightening-treatments-work/
  3. ↑ http://www.crunchybetty.com/smooth-n-silky-banana-milkshake-hair-mask
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