Natural, curly hair is beautiful, yet it is nice to change things up. You can straighten natural hair without damaging it if you know the right techniques. But first, it’s important to learn why modern straightening does more harm than good.
Stylists see it every day – dryness, breakage, dullness and split ends. High heat is the main culprit. Blow dryers and straighteners make hair fragile.
Daily heat styling is not good for your hair.
Heat styling is fine when:
Done on occasion.
You follow hair protection techniques.
Don’t worry. You’ll learn how to straighten natural hair without heat to keep your mane healthy below.
Hair styling recommendationsvary from person to person. Your hair may be naturally healthy. But for most people, it’s best to straighten your hair once or twice a week at most.
Over-straightening leaves hair dry, brittle and weak.
Preventing long-term damage is possible with the right techniques. You can enjoy straight hair without risking its health.
Straight hair begins with preparation and careful consideration of the techniques you use. Below, we will share how to straighten hair without damaging it, starting with one of the most overlooked tips.
Flat ironing your hair before using a natural shampoo andrice water conditioner is a recipe for disaster. Wash and condition your hair well before straightening. Use products that reduce breakage.
Styling products moisturize your hair follicles and limit heat damage.
A thermal heat protectant will stop hair breakage and control frizz. Flat irons reach 400°F and cause significant damage to hair follicles. Leave-in treatments:
Create a protective barrier between the heat and your hair.
Seal in moisture to avoid drying out your follicles.
Offer straighter, smoother hair.
Apply treatments after washing for best results.
A top tip on how to straighten hair without damage is to use low heat or cool air settings on your styling tools.
Most blow dryers have a cold air blast option. If yours doesn’t, use the lowest setting to dry your hair.
Gentle heat or cool air will minimize damage.
It’s tempting to use a straightener on damp hair to save time. But doing so will cause even more damage.
Hair can absorb up to half its weight in water.
Using hot tools when your hair is wet will boil the water molecules in your strands. This can cause immediate and long-term damage.
Always make sure your hair is bone dry before using a flat iron.
Use a balanced deep conditioner, like ourrice water hair mask, to replenish moisture. Flat irons dry out your hair. Hair masks will rehydrate your hair and add smoothness.
Masks with keratin will strengthen your hair by adding protein. Try using a mask with protein from time to time to add strength.
You don’t need a flat iron to get sleek, shiny locks. There are easy ways to straighten natural hair without heat. Some of the most effective techniques are:
Wrapping is a healthy way to straighten hair, but it may take some practice to perfect this method.
To try this hairstyle:
Separate the top section of your hair (where it parts).
Use a fine-toothed comb to comb it flat.
Hold your hair taut. Wrap this section of hair around your head, toward the opposite side of your head.
Pin your hair tightly.
Repeat for each section of your hair.
Wear a hair turban to protect your hair.
Wrapping can be tricky to master. However, it’s also the least damaging way to straighten hair.
Blow drying can be a safe way to straighten hair — if you use the cold setting. Cold air minimizes heat damage.
It also:
Seals your hair cuticle to prevent split ends.
Reduces frizz.
Soothes your scalp.
If you don’t have time to wrap your hair, try using your dryer’s cold air setting to get straight hair without damage.
With the right technique, you can easily straighten your hair without heat damage. Stretching, hair wrapping, cold air drying and braids are the most popular methods. But if you follow our guide, you can straighten your hair while minimizing damage.
Products like our rice water hair mask and conditioner will keep your hair moisturized to recover from heat damage.
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