Introduction
Curls are beautiful, but sometimes we like to straighten them and style them. Now, straightening curly hair is one big task as there are many curly hair straighteners available in the market from which we have to choose. However, the process of straightening is a little simple, if you follow a process and keep in mind some of the important things.
So, how to straighten curly hair? And what are all the things to keep in mind? The first thing is to understand your hair type and to understand your curly hair needs. Curly hair is susceptible to heat damage, so adopting protective measures and utilizing the right products is vital.
Let’s now understand, how to straighten curly hair and what mistakes to avoid while straightening curly hair.
Check out the blog-
12 Tips For Safely Straightening Your Curly Hair
Straightening your curly hair can be a fun way to switch up your look, but it’s important to do it safely to minimize heat damage. So, how to straighten curly hair. Following are the ways to do it-
1. Preparing Curly Hair
a. Wash your curls with shampoo and conditioner-
It is necessary that you wash your curls first with cleansing shampoo and then with hydrating shampoo. After the shampoo session, switch to a hydrating deep conditioner.
Make sure to use shampoo which is sulfate and chemically free.
b. Detangle curls-
When you apply conditioner, try to detangle your curls at that time with the help of your fingers. This way your curls become detangled and also do not become frizzy.
c. Use Leave-in conditioner-
After you have washed your curls with shampoo and conditioner, remove the excess water from the curls. Then, take a leave-in conditioner and apply to hair strands. This helps to make the curls soft and smooth.
d. Apply heat-protectant-
Now, is the turn for a heat protectant. Applying heat protectant helps protect the curls from heating tools and reduces damage. It also keeps curly hair textures in good condition.
e. Blow-dry your hair-
After the heat protectant is applied, you need to blow dry your hair by using a diffuser. Blow drying helps in straightening hair. This is one way how to straighten curly hair.
f. Divide hair into sections-
For straightening hair, it is necessary to divide your curls into even sections. Dividing into sections helps to keep the curls sorted and makes styling easy.
2. Taking Care of Curls while Straightening
After your curls are prepared for straightening, now it is your turn to follow some other steps to ease the process of straightening.
g. Use moderate heat setting-
It is necessary to use a heat setting at a moderate temperature, this is necessary to protect the curls from heat damage. Using a high heat setting damages hair strands, and using a low heat setting does not give the desired result.
h. Choose flat iron-
Before, choosing any of the iron straightening, it is necessary to understand your hair type and then to choose your heating plate type.
i. Try the chase method-
If you feel, that the iron machine is not able to straighten your curls, then switch to another heating tool. This is called as Chase method.
Learn more: Youtube
j. Limit the straightening sessions-
Avoid straightening your curls very frequently, this helps to protect your curls from the heating damage and also reduces hair breakage.
h. Use a serum to lock the moisture-
Now, is the time to apply some anti-frizz serum to lock the hair moisture. If you wish you can also use some volumizing spray to make the straightened curls bouncy.
i. Sleep on a satin pillowcase-
After, you are satisfied with your straightened curls, now is the time to protect it from friction. For this, sleep on satin pillowcases, this helps to reduce the friction in the curls and protect it from frizz.
5 Must-Have Straightening Curly Hair Tools
After your curls are prepared for straightening, let’s see what are some must-have curly hair tools. How to style curly hair-
1. Wide Toothed Comb-
This is important to detangle curly hair, without causing hair breakage and frizziness. Unlike fine-toothed combs, which can stuck in the curls and create frizz, wide-toothed combs glide through curls gently.
2. Blow Dryer-
An ionic blow dryer is essential for preparing curly hair before straightening. Ionic technology helps break down water molecules, allowing hair to dry faster while reducing frizz and heat damage.
3. Heat Protecting Spray-
Using heat-protecting spray is a must, to protect the curls. This product forms a protective barrier around the hair shaft.
4. Straightening Brush–
A straightening brush combines the benefits of a brush and a flat iron, allowing you to straighten your hair while detangling it simultaneously.
5. Flat Iron for curly hair–
This is a must-have product for straightening curls. When choosing a flat iron, look for one with ceramic or titanium plates, as these materials distribute heat evenly and reduce the risk of hot spots that can damage hair.
Hair Straightening Mistakes to Avoid
In the above sections, you have seen how to straighten curls, what tips to follow, and some of the straightening curly hair tools. But, still, there are many chances to do mistakes while straightening curls.
Let’s see what are some crucial mistakes to avoid when straightening curly hair, ensuring you achieve sleek, shiny results without compromising the health of your curls.
1. Not drying hair completely-
Many times people, do not dry their hair completely and start using a heating tool to straighten the curls. This leads to severe damage, as the heat from the straightener can cause curls to disrupt, resulting in frizz and hair breakage.
2. Improper heat settings-
It is not recommended to use heating tools, at a high temperature setting. Also, using a straightener set to too low may not yield the desired results. Therefore, you need to understand a perfect temperature range that lies between 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Overusing styling products-
Applying too many styling products before straightening can weigh down your curls and lead to a greasy appearance. It’s essential to use a minimal amount of lightweight products that provide hydration and protection against heat.
4. Not dividing hair-
Dividing your hair into proper sections helps to keep your curls sorted and gives even results. It makes the curls more manageable and gives you an effective straightening.
5. Skipping heat protectant-
Just like leave-in conditioner is a must to keep the curls defined and bouncy, similarly, it is necessary to apply heat protectant on your curls before using heating tools. A good thermal protectant creates a barrier between your hair and the heat from styling tools, reducing the risk of frizz and dryness.
6. Ignoring regular trims-
A good and regular trimming of your curls helps to keep them fresh and also reduces the split ends. Neglecting to trim your hair every 8-12 weeks can lead to more significant issues down the line, including increased breakage when straightening.
7. Using heating tools too frequently-
Straightening your curls too frequently is not recommended. As using heating tools again and again causes hair to frizz and dry. Different curl types may react differently to heat and products; therefore, tailor your approach based on whether you have loose waves or tight coils.
Other Beneficial Tips to Straighten Curly
Some other beneficial tips to straighten curly hair, that will minimize the damage are-
- Always know your curl type-
All curls are different and they require different hair care. Understanding your curl type can help you decide the approach you should follow to straighten curly hair.
- Heat sensitivity-
Curly hair is often more susceptible to damage from heat styling. Always prioritize lower heat settings and protective products.
- Healthy hair practice-
Maintain overall hair health by incorporating deep conditioning treatments regularly, staying hydrated, and avoiding excessive chemical treatments.
FAQs on straightening curly hair
1. What are the best techniques for straightening curly hair?
If you wish to straighten your curly hair, you need to follow these steps-
- Start by shampooing your curls properly
- Detangle your curls either with a finger or a wooden comb.
- Apply heat-protectant- this is a must step.
- Use a blow dryer to dry your curls.
- Choose a flat iron with a ceramic coating to straighten the curls.
- Divide your hair into small sections, for proper straightening.
2. How can I minimize heat damage when straightening my curls?
When straightening curls, you must be very careful as applying a heating tool to your curls, may damage the hair ends. Choose the following steps, to minimize heat damage-
- Always use a heat protectant
- The heating tool set to be at a minimum
- Avoid going to the same section again and again
- Take some breaks between straightening sessions
- Deep condition your hair
3. What products should I use before straightening my curly hair?
All your curls need is immense hydration and nourishment. Some of the products to use before straightening curls are-
- Moisturizing shampoo and conditioner
- Leave-in conditioner
- Heat protectant
- Anti-frizz serum
4. How do I detangle curly hair before straightening?
The best way to detangle curls before straightening is to always start with damp or wet hair.
- Then, use a wide-toothed comb to detangle curls.
- Use detangling spray, if the curls are tangled much.
- Be patient while detangling curls.
Detangling curls when the hair is dry causes too much of hair breakage and also split ends.
5. What should I do after straightening my curly hair to maintain its style?
It is also necessary to maintain your straightened curls after you have used the heating tool on it. Some of the things are-
- Try to avoid moisture. Humidity and sweat can cause your straightened hair to be disrupted.
- To avoid, frizz in the curls, wrap your hair to protect it from friction.
- Use silk pillowcases to protect the straightened curls.
6. Can I straighten my hair without using a flat iron?
Straightening curls without using flat iron is little tricky and it all depends on your curl type. Some of the methods to straighten your curls without using flat iron are-
- Blow drying curls with a round brush – This helps to create a smooth, straight look, especially after looser curls.
- Wrapping hair- If you wrap your damp hair, and keep it overnight or for 2-3 hours, chances are your curls may become straight.
- Hair banding- This involves tying sections of hair with elastic bands to stretch the curls.
7. How to make curly hair straight naturally forever?
Well, this is a little tricky. In the above blog, we have seen how to straighten curly hair. But if you wish to have straight hair forever naturally, everytime you wash your curls, you will have to tie them in a band and make them straight. Orelse, the next thing is to chemically straighten your hair.
