Women spend hundreds of dollars and endless amounts of time in salons turning their natural curls into sleek, straight styles. Natural curls are gorgeous, but if you prefer a straight look than look no further! There is no longer a need to spend excess time and money to achieve a sleek style. Anyone can get the look they long for in the comforts of their own home with the right products, tools, and this guide!
The Products
The most important start to any style should always begin with healthy hair. Clean, moisturized hair will frizz less and be easier to straighten. This begins with choosing the right products for your hair type. The options can be overwhelming, but knowing what you need and can afford ahead of time makes shopping a lot easier. Keep these tips in mind when shopping for your hair products, and don’t forget to first check your bathroom cabinets for options already at hand!
- Choose a shampoo and conditioner specifically formulated for your hair type. This is a very important first step in improving the health of your hair as well as making your locks more manageable and easier to style as you wish.
- Choose a deep conditioner for added moisturizing to use once a week. I keep saying it because it’s so true – healthy hair is the first step to great style!
- Choose a heat protectant. They are available in spray, gel, and balm form. Make sure you use it every time you blow dry, flat iron, or curl your hair.
- Choose a brush. A flat, square brush works best for longer hair types A round brush is optimal for shorter, textured styles.
Straightening curly hair involves the frequent application of direct heat. Investing in a deep conditioner and a heat protectant might seem like frivolous “extras” but they are just as, if not more, important as shampoo and conditioner!
The Blow Dryer
Once the hair is clean and moisturized, the next step is drying it. The right blow dryer will make the straightening process a breeze, where as the wrong blow dryer will have you wishing you had just stayed curly! A dryer with both low and high heat settings is preferred, but the most important feature is a cool shot. The cool shot seals your follicles and allows the style you’ve created to lock in. The is an essential step for hair that tends to be resistant to straightening.
An ionized dryer is well worth the money also. This type of dryer uses millions of ions which bond to the hair in order to drastically reduce drying time. You might hear that and think, “Oh, sure…” but just try it once and you will be a believer! If you can dry your hair quicker you can eliminate frizz and heat damage. As an added bonus, ionized dryers leave your hair super shiny!
Now that you’ve picked out your dryer, let’s start using it!
- Apply a light coat of the thermal leave-in product to the entire length of your hair, carefully avoiding the roots.
- Begin at the nape of the neck and separate your hair into small sections.
- Using a brush, take one inch strands and pull straight. Hold the dryer at a downward angle and make sure the nozzle remains at least six inches from the strand.
- Once the section is completely dry, apply the cool setting until hair has cooled down. Remember to part your hair the way you prefer when drying the top sections.
- Continue with these steps until the entire head is dry.
Don’t worry if you finish these steps a little far off from the desired look – the next section will put the finishing touches on your ‘do!
The Flat Iron
There are many different options available in flat irons . The first specification to look for is ceramic plates. This is the gentlest yet most effective way to flat iron your hair, and often provides the best results. Even better than ceramic coated plates are 100% ceramic plates, which are the most advanced material available to date. Ceramic plates remain at a consistent level of heat and distribute heat evenly throughout the plate.
The second specification to consider is size. If your hair is short or thin, choose a 1” flat iron or smaller. If your hair is longer and thicker, try a 1” to 1.5” iron.
Now that you’ve chosen your iron, it’s time to complete the look!
- Lightly apply a thermal leave-in product again, avoiding the roots. Balms and serums tend to work best for dried hair.
- Section your hair off as you did while blow drying.
- Gather a section of hair to match the size of the iron. Place the flat iron at the roots, carefully avoiding the scalp, and slowly pull the flat iron to the ends of the hair. If you hair is especially thick or coarse, you may need a second pass. Remember to hold the hair taunt until it has cooled to hold the style in.
- Continue this until all of your sections have been straightened.
Now look in the mirror and admire the new you! Enjoy your new style, and remember – practice makes perfect! Once you get the hang of your routine, it won’t take you long at all to go from curly to straight!
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Thanks to Melissa for writing this article for Misikko!
