If you have wavy or curly hair, we’re willing to bet that your bathroom cabinet is stocked with curl-defining creams and nourishing leave-in treatments designed to help define your natural texture. But there’s also a good chance that sometimes, you want to rock straight hair for a change of pace. On those days, your normal stylers probably won’t provide the benefits you’re looking for. Instead, you’ll need to use straight hair styling products that help fight frizz, tame flyaways, and smooth your hair. Here, we’re sharing tips on the best way to straighten your hair, plus a look at some of our favorite hair straightening products to get the job done.
How Do You Straighten Wavy or Curly Hair?
Straightening textured hair involves using hot tools—usually, a blow dryer, flat iron, or both—to help temporarily flatten waves and curls. High temperatures can damage your hair if used improperly, so adopting the right approach is key.
Start by washing your hair with a hydrating shampoo and conditioner to help nourish your strands. After exiting the shower, gently squeeze your lengths to remove excess moisture. Once your hair is damp but no longer sopping, work a hair straightening styling product throughout your hair to help smooth your strands. We highly recommend opting for one that offers heat protection to help shield your strands from damage.
Next, blow dry your hair straight with a round brush. Make sure it’s completely dry before reaching for your flat iron. From there, you can part your hair into a few equal sections and straighten it by running the flat iron through each section until your hair is straight. Use the lowest heat setting you can to straighten your strands without having to go over the same section of hair multiple times. Finish off your look with hairspray, finishing spray, or a smoothing serum, if desired, to add shine and tame errant flyaways.
5 Hair Straightening Products To Try
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Pureology Smooth Perfection Shampoo
Set your straight hairstyle up for success with this smoothing shampoo. The creamy, concentrated formula helps detangle hair and tames frizz for sleek-looking strands. Plus, it’s color-safe and equipped with patented anti-fade technology, so you don’t have to worry about it stripping your salon color.
Pureology Smooth Perfection Conditioner
Post-shampoo, nourish your strands with this moisturizing, shea butter-infused conditioner. Apply a dime-sized amount (or more, depending on your hair’s length) to your mid-lengths and ends, then let it sit for up to two minutes. Gently detangle your strands with your fingers and rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
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Matrix Mega Sleek Iron Smoother
This unique heat protectant is designed for use on dry hair (which means you don’t have to hop in the shower and lather up prior to straightening your hair if you don’t feel like it). The leave-in formula helps protect against high heat damage and smooths coarse, unruly hair to perfect your straight hairstyle. It also helps shield against humidity and provides lasting style memory so you don’t have to worry about your hair frizzing up if the weather takes a turn.
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Mizani Press Agent Thermal Smoothing Styling Serum
Prep your curls and coils for your at-home silk press with this leave-in serum. The rose water-infused formula moisturizes hair, tames frizz, and protects against temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit for a silky-smooth finish. You can use it alone or layer it with other styling products for added hair benefits—just be sure to apply the lightweight formula to dry rather than damp strands.
Kérastase Discipline Keratine Thermique Heat Protectant
Professional keratin treatments are a great way to score straighter, smoother hair, but they’re also pretty pricey. If you’re not ready to commit, try adding this straight hair styling cream to your lineup. It’s made with a morpho-keratine complex and helps improve manageability while reducing breakage to promote smooth, silky hair. The leave-in also helps protect against temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, so it’s great for use before blow drying or straightening your strands.
Next Up: How Hot Is Too Hot? The Optimal Temperature for Hot Tools
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