Even though they look beautiful naturally loose, curly hair is often difficult to style and style differently. Straightening curls can be very difficult to do as well as maintain. However, with the right preparation and protection of your hair, the straightening process can be done in as little as an hour or two, and the results can be maintained for several days while making your hairstyle easy to manage.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Washing and Preparing Curls
Step 1. Use shampoo and conditioner
To make the straightening process easier, wash and condition your hair before using the straightener. This will leave your hair clean so it can be left loose for a few days while being softer to straighten. Try using an anti-frizz shampoo, or a softening shampoo and conditioner.
- Start giving conditioner from the ends of the hair to the middle of the stem. Do not apply conditioner to the hair roots. Next, take a wide-toothed comb and use it to detangle your hair. This will make it easier for you to brush your hair after you wash it, as curls get tangled easily. Leave the conditioner for a few minutes before rinsing it off.
- When showering, use lukewarm water to wash your hair. Hot water can damage the hair cuticles and make them dry or frizzy. When you're done removing shampoo and conditioner residue from your hair, rinse your hair briefly with cold water. This rinse will make your hair shine as well as help straighten your hair.
Step 2. Apply conditioner to the hair shaft
A leave-in conditioner can help moisturize your hair as well as strengthen and shine it. When you're done showering, run a leave-in conditioner into your hair, avoiding the roots. This conditioner will also help protect your hair from drying out when straightened with a heater.
Step 3. Dry the hair with a microfiber cloth
To make the drying process easier, use a microfiber cloth or an old T-shirt to remove any excess water from your hair. Gently squeeze the water out of the hair with a cloth until it no longer drips. Don't rub the cloth into your hair as this can tangle it, and try not to curl your hair as this will make it curl even more.
Step 4. Comb your hair
Use a wide-toothed comb and start combing from the ends of the hair to the roots. Don't use a hairbrush, as it often twists the hair shaft, making it more prone to breakage.
If you're combing your hair while you're in the shower, this should be a lot easier. If your hair is still very tangled, consider spraying a detangler on your hair before you brush it
Step 5. Spray heat protectant onto hair
Several heaters will be used to straighten your hair, so you'll want to protect your hair from the damage it can do. You can use a serum, spray, or gel. Products that have an anti-frizz effect and are specifically designed for hair straighteners are the best choice. To get the best protection, apply this heat protectant product to all parts of the hair evenly.
You can use argan oil if you are looking for a natural product. This oil is perfect for thick or coarse hair. Try to avoid silicone products as they can weigh down your hair and make it look limp (unless this is what you want. However, if you want to make your hair look bouncy, avoid these products)
Part 2 of 3: Drying and Straightening Hair
Step 1. Dry your hair with a round comb
This step may take a while as you'll need to make sure your hair is completely dry before straightening it. Use a round comb to pull the hair as it dries. Point the blow dryer at the comb at a distance of about 15 cm to avoid overexposing the hair to the heat. Do this step until the hair is completely dry.
- To provide the best protection for your hair, do not turn the dryer on to the highest temperature. We recommend using medium and low temperatures to prevent the hair from overheating. The cold air on the hair can make it shiny, so spending a long time is worth it.
- Be sure to point the mouthpiece of the blow dryer down while using it. Avoid pointing the blow dryer up from under your hair as this can tangle it.
Step 2. Part the hair
You may need to divide your hair into three or four sections according to thickness and length. Start by dividing the bottom and top layers of hair. After separating the bottom layer, twist the top hair and use bobby pins to hold it above your head.
- You can part hair to the thickness you want, but only about 2 inches (5 cm) of hair can be passed through the straightener. Keep this in mind when you part your hair.
- When you're done parting a section of hair, let the other layer of hair down and twist the rest up. Continue parting until all of your hair is loose.
Step 3. Use the right hair straightener
Some people find it difficult to straighten their hair simply because they use the wrong straightener. Ceramic straighteners are suitable for normal hair as they can help soften hair. However, for curly hair, a straightener with gold or titanium plates is the best choice. Titanium can help make curls look straight and neat.
- Titanium straighteners are also suitable for those who often straighten their hair. This type of straightener is resistant to very high temperatures and corrosion so it can withstand long-term use.
- Use a straightener with a maximum width of 4 cm. Larger straighteners are great for styling hair, but will complicate the straightening process.
- When choosing a hair straightener, don't be afraid to spend more to buy a better option. A good hair straightener can be used for years. So, avoid spending IDR 200,000 to buy a hair straightener. Also, never use straighteners with ordinary plastic or metal plates. These plates don't distribute heat well, so the time it takes to straighten your hair will be longer.
Step 4. Use a hair straightener
Once you've parted your hair, you can begin to straighten it in sections. Start from the front of the hair until it reaches the opposite side of the head. To straighten your hair, take a 2.5 cm thick section of hair and pull it tight. Next, pass the straightener from the roots to the ends. Do this step until all of your hair is straight.
- When straightening your hair, try to straighten only part of it at a time. Here, the key is hair tension. The tighter you pull your hair, the faster it will straighten.
- If your hair makes a hissing sound during straightening, it means that your hair is not completely dry. Get a blow dryer and dry it completely before you try to straighten it again.
- If you can, use the low temperature option on the straightener. The highest temperature option is actually designed for professional salons and can be damaging if the hair is not properly protected. Try to use a temperature between 150 and 180 degrees Celsius.
- Sometimes moving the straightener with the comb can help. Take a comb, then move it from the roots of the hair to the ends. While combing, move the straightener to follow the movement of the comb. This method is useful for preventing tangles when straightening hair.
Part 3 of 3: Finishing and Maintaining the Hairstyle
Step 1. Give the finishing touches
When you're done straightening your hair, you can give it the finishing touches you need. If you want to curl your hair at the ends, take a straightener and apply it to the ends of your hair, moving them in an arc. You can also straighten your bangs, or bend the ends of your hair outward. Make it any style you like.
Step 2. Make hair even more shiny with serum
To keep your hair in shape and give it shine, spray or apply serum along the length of the hair shaft. This product will help reduce frizz and unruly hair while making it softer. You can also spray lightly with hairspray at the roots to keep them from tangling throughout the day.
Step 3. Keep hair straight
After doing everything to straighten your hair, you may want to keep the results as long as possible. To prevent hair breakage, try not to straighten it every day. Straighten your hair about once every three days and then repeat this process again on the straightened hair. To maintain straight hair, you can do the following:
- Use dry shampoo when your hair starts to get oily. If you want to keep your hair straight for a few days without washing and repeating the straightening process, apply dry shampoo to the roots when your hair starts to look greasy. You can also use baby powder to remove oil or reduce shine.
- Keep hair from getting wet. Curls can return to their original shape when exposed to water. So try to avoid moisture or water. When showering, use bobby pins to hold it in place then wrap it in a towel or shower cap to keep it away from moisture.
- Don't touch your hair too often. If you want to keep your hair straight for a few days, chances are your hair will get a little frizzy and return to its original shape. To prevent this from happening, use a straightener every day on the problem area. You don't have to straighten your entire hair or pin it into sections. Simply straighten the outermost layer of hair that is starting to curl again.
- Continue to use hair serum. Serums can help soften hair and prevent frizz. Every day after straightening your hair, or when you wake up, apply the serum to your hair. Then, lightly spray hairspray on the roots to prevent them from becoming unruly.
- Hair bun on the last day. If your hair looks very oily, you can take advantage of this last day to put it in a bun. You can also wear a bandana or pin the front of your hair back as this is probably the most damp and oily part of the day.
Step 4. Done
Step 5.
Tips
- Check the humidity level before straightening your hair. Try to straighten your hair in the lowest humidity level. Heat-treated curls are more prone to tangling in high humidity.
- If you don't have enough time in the morning, try to straighten your hair the night before, go to bed, and style it in the morning. Satin or silk pillowcases are suitable for preventing static electricity and frizz while sleeping.
- Don't forget to turn off the straightener when you're done! The plates can burn other objects that are close to them and pose a risk of harm.
- If you don't want your hair to look too straight, use a straightener to bend your hair inward or outward at the ends. To do this, gently bend the straightener as it approaches the ends of your hair. This style will make your hair look more natural.
- If your hair is thin or fine, use a hair volumizing spray to keep it from looking limp after styling.
