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How Do I Straighten Hair Naturally?

Andrea Cross
Andrea Cross

Getting your curly hair straight can be difficult, especially if it is dry and brittle. Chemicals and the high levels of heat from styling appliances can damage hair further, causing it to break. Luckily, there are ways to straighten hair naturally without the use of chemicals or excessive heat. These methods include home hair treatments and the clever use of elastic bands.

A good way to straighten hair naturally is to use products around the house that, normally, you would eat. If it's good for the inside, it's good for the outside. There are several popular remedies for curly hair that all use similar ingredients. One of these is hot oil treatments as oil tends to relax the hair and make it softer. For this method, apply olive, castor, or coconut oil to your hair and scalp using however much it takes to coat the entire length of your hair.

Hot oil treatments can be used to straighten hair naturally.
Hot oil treatments can be used to straighten hair naturally.

Put a towel in the dryer, and heat it up. Once it is nice and hot, wrap it around your hair. If you want to avoid getting oil on the towel, first wrap your hair in either plastic wrap or place a shower cap on your head. Leave the oil on for as long as possible — a few hours if you can — then shampoo and condition as normal. Oil treatments are excellent for dry hair and will give smooth, soft, and shiny results.

Oil treatments should be washed out of hair completely.
Oil treatments should be washed out of hair completely.

Another popular concoction to straighten hair naturally is milk and honey. Take one third to one half of a cup of milk, depending on the length of your hair, and to it, add approximately half a teaspoon of honey. It is easiest to apply this mixture using a spray bottle due to the watery consistency of the milk. Crushed strawberries can also be added for extra nutrients. Spray the mixture over your hair, and comb it through, making sure all the strands are saturated.

People with curly or wavy hair should look for a straightening shampoo that contains moisturizing ingredients.
People with curly or wavy hair should look for a straightening shampoo that contains moisturizing ingredients.

Put on a shower cap or plastic wrap, and allow the milk to soak into your hair for at least half an hour. Rinse, shampoo, and condition as normal. Use this method several times a week to gradually straighten hair naturally. A variation of this is to use coconut milk along with the juice of half a lime and to let the mixture sit overnight before applying. Like before, it helps the mixture to penetrate the hair better if you apply some heat, so wrap a hot towel around your head, or use your hair dryer.

African-American hair can generally benefit from less shampooing and more conditioning treatments.
African-American hair can generally benefit from less shampooing and more conditioning treatments.

Finally, the construction of a clever ponytail can help to straighten hair naturally. Once you have washed your hair, comb it out while it is still wet. Gather all the hair into a single ponytail at the nape of your neck, and secure with an elastic band. Continue wrapping elastics all the way down the length of the ponytail, approximately two to four centimeters (one to one and a half inches) apart. Once dry, remove the elastics, and enjoy your much straighter, and still healthy, hair.

Discussion Comments

Spotiche5

@raynbow- I think that if you blow dry your hair the right way, you can make it appear straight without too much damage. It is definitely better than using harsh chemicals that make your hair very dry and brittle.

First of all, you will need to wash and rinse your hair. Since you said that using too many hair products makes your hair look oily, make sure that you rinse it thoroughly after using shampoo and conditioner.

Next, remove excess water from your hair with a fluffy bath towel. This will decrease the amount of time you will have to spend using your hair dryer.

Finally, once you start using your hair dryer, put it on a low heat setting. Continue blow drying and straightening your hair by using a fine-toothed comb as you dry it. Once dry, simply spritz your hair with hair spray to keep its new, straight appearance in place.

Raynbow

Using too many hair products makes my hair look oily, so I would never attempt to use any type of oil to straighten it. What is the best technique to blow dry your hair straight without using oils or heavy products?

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    • Hot oil treatments can be used to straighten hair naturally.
      By: thelosteyeball
      Hot oil treatments can be used to straighten hair naturally.
    • Oil treatments should be washed out of hair completely.
      By: Roman Gorielov
      Oil treatments should be washed out of hair completely.
    • People with curly or wavy hair should look for a straightening shampoo that contains moisturizing ingredients.
      By: Piotr Marcinski
      People with curly or wavy hair should look for a straightening shampoo that contains moisturizing ingredients.
    • African-American hair can generally benefit from less shampooing and more conditioning treatments.
      By: and.one
      African-American hair can generally benefit from less shampooing and more conditioning treatments.
    • When straightening brittle or damaged hair, a natural product is often less harmful than a chemical one.
      By: Laurent Hamels
      When straightening brittle or damaged hair, a natural product is often less harmful than a chemical one.
    • Some natural hair straighteners are formulated for use on naturally curly hair.
      By: indiraswork
      Some natural hair straighteners are formulated for use on naturally curly hair.
    • Combing hair while wet can help it keep a straighter shape as it dries.
      By: Ian 2010
      Combing hair while wet can help it keep a straighter shape as it dries.