How To Straighten Your Hair At Home: Tutorial & Natural Ways

Right hair products, dexterity, and patience are all you need to achieve a sleek mane.

Reviewed by Madison Dufour, Barber & Cosmetologist
July 29, 2022 By Arshiya Syeda

How To Straighten Your Hair At Home: Tutorial & Natural Ways

Why visit a salon when you can straighten your hair at home! Sounds unrealistic, right? Well, it is true. You can straighten your hair without any hassle by using the right products and ingredients at home. This article talks about everything you need to know about straightening hair at home and how to do it the best possible way. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started.

In This Article

How To Get Permanently Straight Hair At Home

Step 1: Use A Clarifying Shampoo

Make sure that you have clean hair so that the straightening products can work effectively. Wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo to eliminate dirt, grease, and any buildup. Even if your hair is shampooed, wash it again immediately before the treatment.

Step 2: Apply A Retexturizing Cream

Separate your damp hair into sections and comb it. Apply the retexturizing cream gently to each section, coating every hair strand evenly. Clip up each section on your head and then move on to the next. Cover your hair with a shower cap.

Depending on the product recommendation and how curly your hair is, leave it on for about 45-60 minutes. Once the time is up, rinse your hair with warm water and ensure no product residue.

Note: Retexturizing creams react with the hair keratin bonds, breaking them down and rearranging them to soften and stretch the hair. Hence, be gentle with your hair at this step to prevent breakage. Also, do not apply the cream close to your scalp, as it can cause burns.

Step 3: Blow Dry And Straighten Your Hair

Blow dry your hair after it is 40-50% dry. After it has dried completely, straighten your hair with a flat iron. Divide your hair into sections and straighten one section at a time. Spend enough time to straighten your hair without missing any spot because this is how your hair is going to remain until it grows out.

Note: Do not blow-dry wet hair. Wet hair is porous and more vulnerable to damage. Allow your hair to air dry until it is about 65-70% dry, then use a blow dryer on a low setting held 15 cm away from your strands.

Step 4: Apply A Neutralizer Cream

Apply a neutralizing cream, commonly called a relaxer, to your hair. Apply it in the direction of your hair, as straight as possible, and leave it on for not more than 10 minutes. This product locks the keratin bonds so that your hair stays straight.

Step 5: Rinse Your Hair

Wash your hair only with warm water. Do not use any shampoo. You can air dry or blow dry your hair to make your curls super straight.

Note: Your hair might look flat and limp initially, but it will regain its bounce after a few weeks.

To get straight hair at home using natural ingredients, check out the next section.

DIY Remedies For Straightening The Hair Naturally

1. Coconut Milk And Lemon

The lemon juice and coconut milk combination is an acid and alkali blend that can change your hair texture and affect its waviness. This mask will leave your hair feeling silky, smooth, and soft right after the first treatment.

You Will Need

¼ cup of coconut milk
1 tablespoon of lemon juice

Directions

Mix the coconut milk lemon juice well.
Refrigerate this mixture overnight.
In the morning, apply it to your hair from the roots to the tips.
Leave it on for at least 30 minutes.
Wash your hair with cool water and a mild sulfate-free shampoo.
Repeat this once a week.

2. Olive Oil And Egg

Eggs are packed with proteins that can help nourish and smoothen your hair. Olive oil helps condition your hair (1). These ingredients help enhance your hair health and keep frizz at bay.

You Will Need

2 whole eggs
3 tablespoons of olive oil

Directions

Whisk the ingredients to form a smooth paste.
Apply this paste to your hair.
Leave it on for about an hour.
Wash your hair with cool water and a mild sulfate-free shampoo.
Do this once a week.

Note: DIY remedies for straightening the hair will give you results over time, only if used consistently. Also, natural ways of hair straightening may not be a permanent solution.

Let us find out how long at-home straightening treatments last.

How Long Do Straightening Treatments Done At Home Last?

Depending on the method you choose for straightening your hair at home, the results will differ.

If you have straightened your hair at home naturally, the results may not be quick and long-lasting. Also, heat styling devices like flat irons and straighteners will keep your hair straight only until you wash it.

However, hair straightening at home with chemical relaxers gives long-lasting results until the new hair starts growing. This process is budget-friendly and less time-consuming than straightening your hair at the salon.

Hair straightening has a few side effects, which are discussed in the next section.

Do Straightening Treatments Damage The Hair?

Yes. Chemical hair straightening can lead to the following issues:

Frizzy hair
Dandruff
Hair breakage
Hair thinning and weakening
Split ends
Dryness

Note: The chemicals in hair straightening products might irritate the eyes, nose, and skin.

Make sure to take care of your hair after the treatment to prevent these side effects. Now, lets take a look at what you should avoid for 72 hours after permanent hair straightening.

Rules To Follow For Three Days After Straightening

Do not rinse or shampoo your hair.
Stay away from heat styling tools.
Do not use strong hair care products.
Do not go for a hair cut.
Protect your hair from the sun and pollution.
Use a wide-toothed comb to detangle knots.

Follow these tips to prevent any hair damage and failed results.

The right products and their correct usage are all you need to know to permanently straighten your hair at home. Follow every step in the same order as stated above, starting from cleansing your hair with clarifying shampoo to rinsing it after applying a neutralizer cream to avoid damaging your hair and get effective results. You can also use the DIY recipes listed above to straighten your hair naturally by nourishing and smoothening it without using any heat styling tools and commercial hair products. However, the results may not be as effective and long-lasting as the method using chemical relaxers. Unfortunately, these relaxers may have a damaging effect on your hair in the long run.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is keratin or straightening better?

While keratin treatment makes your hair smooth and manageable, permanent straightening provides you with pin-straight hair. Therefore, it depends on the individual’s preferences.

Can aloe vera straighten hair?

The enzymes in aloe vera make your hair smooth and manageable. But it may not straighten your hair permanently.

Key Takeaways

You can straighten your hair at home with retexturizing creams that break down the keratin bonds to impart a smooth and straight look.
DIY methods like coconut milk and lemon, olive oil, and egg can also yield visible results.
The results of natural hair straightening methods may not be too drastic, but the damage is the bare minimum.

Sources

Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Read our editorial policy to learn more.

1. Ethnopharmacological survey of home remedies used for treatment of hair and scalp and their methods of preparation in the West Bank-Palestine
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5499037/

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