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

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

Use hair styling tools such as a blow dryer only after your hair 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 alkaliⁱ  XAn alkali is a base that can dissolve in water. It is the basic, ionic salt of an alkaline earth metal or an alkali metal. 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 hair treatment.

You Will Need

• ¼ cup of coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice

Directions

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

Cole, a vlogger, shared her experience of using coconut milk, olive oil, lemon, and cornstarch to straighten her hair. After wrapping her hair in a duran for a few hours and then blow-drying it, she was amazed with the results. She said, “It made it super straight (i). ”

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

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

Quick Tip

A styling hack for DIY natural hair straightening methods is to have long straight haircuts. Such cuts get weighed down and lay flat longer after straightening treatments.

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 as opposed to chemical treatments.

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 relaxersⁱ  Xchemical relaxers are chemical lotions or creams used to loosen tight curls or straighten hair by breaking the disulfide bonds. 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.

Quick Tip

Also, avoid moisture exposure of any kind after the straightening treatment. No sweating or sauna sessions for at least 48 hours after the treatment.

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

Infographic: 2 DIY Recipes To Straighten Hair At Home + Maintenance Tips

There’s nothing more gorgeous than a sleek, straight, silky, smooth mane. But why damage your hair with harsh chemicals when you can easily straighten it with natural remedies? In the infographic below, we have listed 2 DIY recipes to straighten your hair at home and 5 thumb rules to keep in mind to ensure your hair stays straight and healthy for a long time. Check it out!

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Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

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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.

How many days does chemical straightening last?

Chemical straightening is permanent but you might require touch-ups every 6-12 weeks due to your natural hair growth.

How many hours does it take for permanent hair straightening?

Depending on your hair type, length, thickness, and condition, the straightening process might take between 2-4 hours.

Can I color or dye my hair after permanent straightening, or will it cause damage?

You can color your hair after 2 weeks of permanent straightening to give your hair some time to recover before exposing it to more chemicals.

Can permanent hair straightening be done on all hair types, or are there certain hair textures

that may not be suitable for this treatment?

Permanent hair straightening can be done on curly and textured hair. The process might end up causing more damage to any other hair types, especially to thin hair types.

How can I avoid or fix common problems with at-home permanent hair straightening, such as uneven results or hair breakage?

You can go for repair treatment at the salon or try at-home natural treatments like an oil soak, hair mask, or tea rinse to soothe and hydrate your strands.

How do I choose the right straightening products and tools for my hair type and desired results?

You should look for products that contain sodium hydroxide, ammonium thioglycolate, and sodium thioglycolate in the relaxers to get the best straightening result.

Unlock the secret to sleek, straight locks from the comfort of your own home! Watch this video to unveil game-changing permanent hair-straightening treatment that will transform your mane.

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Madison DufourBarber & Cosmetologist

     

Madison Dufour is a licensed and practicing barber and cosmetologist with 10 years of experience, as well as an entrepreneur running several hair businesses, including MadisonD Barbering and The Exquisite Find Hair Blog. After working behind the chair for several years, she felt the calling to start the non-profit Barber in a Bag that teaches basic hair cutting skills in...more

Arshiya SyedaSenior Editor

 

Arshiya Syeda is a senior editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer and combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care. She holds a bachelor's degree in literature and psychology from Osmania University, Hyderabad, and a post-graduate diploma in psychological...more

Ramona SinhaEditor

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal. She also did a certificate course in dermatology offered by the Novosibirsk State University...more

Swathi ESenior Beauty & Lifestyle Writer

Swathi has a postgraduate degree in English literature from The English And Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and over two years of experience in writing on health and lifestyle. She also has a diploma in English journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Kottayam, and is a certified skincare coach. She writes on skin care and aims to present well-researched...more