How to Make Your Hair Stay Straight All Day

Co-authored by Jenny Tran

Last Updated: February 25, 2023 References

Keeping your hair sleek all day long can be a challenge, especially if you have naturally wavy hair. Keeping your hair straight starts right when you wash it by using smoothing shampoos and conditioners, and there are always numerous options for smoothing products. There are several other ways to help keep your hair looking straight, such as using a boar bristle brush, blow drying your hair on a low setting, and straightening your hair in small sections.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Shampooing and Conditioning Your Hair

1
Use shampoos and conditioners that help straighten hair. Look for shampoos and conditioners that have lots of vitamins and minerals in them, giving your hair refreshing nutrients that will help smooth it out. These are usually marketed as smoothing, sleek, or straightening products.
- Look for ingredients such as wheat proteins, pro vitamin B5, or hedera helix extract.
- Take the time to comb the conditioner into your hair while in the shower, using your fingers or a wide-toothed comb. This can get rid of tangles and encourage straightness.
2
Try a straightening balm or serum for sleek hair. Rub a few drops of a straightening serum onto your hair while it’s still wet. Make sure you distribute it evenly throughout your hair, either with your fingers or with a brush. Once the serum is spread out, you’re ready to blow dry your hair.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Jenny Tran
Professional Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.}

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3
Apply mousse to your hair before drying it. Squeeze out a dollop of a light or straightening mousse at least the size of a ping pong ball and apply it to your hair. Pull your fingers through the strands of your hair to evenly distribute the mousse from your roots to the ends. Use a hair dryer and a brush to straighten your hair out.
4
Opt for an anti-frizz product to tame your hair. Anti-frizz hair products have silicone in them, which helps seal the moisture into your hair. If you have hair that tends to poof out or get frizzy, look for an anti-frizz spray or cream.
- Most anti-frizz products you can apply to either damp or dry hair.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Drying Your Hair

1
Avoid harsh rubbing with your towel when drying your hair. Pat and squeeze your hair dry with a soft towel rather than ruffling or intensely rubbing your hair dry to prevent frizz from occurring.
- Avoid using terry cloth towels and instead look for t-shirt or microfiber towels.
2
Rough dry your hair when using a blow dryer. If you're using a blow dryer, move the head of the blow dryer from side to side instead of focused directly on your hair. This will cause less damage to your hair and help prevent frizzing.^{[2]
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3
Invest in a brush with boar bristles to help style your hair. A brush made of plastic bristles can cause your hair to split and break. A round brush with a mix of nylon and boar bristles is best for blow-drying straight hair.^{[3]
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4
Set your hairdryer on the lowest setting. The hotter and stronger the air flowing from the hairdryer, the more likely you are to have frizzy, fly-away hair after you are done drying. Be patient and use the least abrasive settings to achieve smooth hair.
5
Point the hairdryer downward away from your roots when blow-drying. This encourages the hair to dry in a straight direction and prevents frizz. You can use a brush or comb to guide your hair as you dry it.^{[4]
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- To save time, use a round brush to help style as you dry. This should straighten your hair enough that you won't have to use a flat iron afterward.
6
Use the cold air setting to set your straightened hair. Make sure the air intensity is also on the lowest setting possible and guide your hair with a thick brush, combing on the inside of your hair with the bristles pointing toward the blow-dryer.^{[5]
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7
Ensure your hair is completely dry before leaving the house. If your hair has excess moisture in it when you go outside, it’s going to start to frizz. Dry your hair completely before leaving the house to keep your hair nice and straight throughout the day.
8
Try out an ionic blow dryer to help reduce frizz. Ionic blow dryers have the ability to break down water molecules, allowing your hair to dry faster. It's also much healthier for your hair, creating a smooth and conditioned look.^{[6]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Using a Flat Iron

1
Apply a heat protecting spray to your hair before straightening. This not only protects your hair from the heat, but also encourages your hair to adhere to the straightness of the flat iron.
2
Opt for a ceramic-plated flat iron. Flat irons with ceramic plates are much better for your hair, causing less damage while straightening more efficiently. Check to see if your flat iron has a ceramic plate, and if not, consider investing in one that does.^{[7]
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3
Choose 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) sections of hair to straighten at a time. If you try to straighten a big clump of hair at once, it’s not going to work as well. Separate your hair into 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) strands when you go to use the flat iron and your hair will end up much straighter.^{[8]
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- If you try to straighten sections that are too large, the hair closest to the plates will straighten, but the pieces in the middle will not.
- Use even smaller sections if you have thick or coarse hair. Go for chunks that are about 0.5–1 inch (1.3–2.5 cm) wide.
4
Straighten your hair before you go to sleep, if possible. Straightening your hair at night before bed will provide time for your hair to cool and adjust to being straight before it’s exposed to the outdoors (and possible humidity). You can touch up any frizzy spots the next morning.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Combating Humidity

1
Apply smoothing hair oil to straightened hair. Once you've straightened your hair, use a dime-sized drop of smoothing oil to keep the humidity and frizz at bay. Argan oil and coconut oil are commonly used and work well. Anti-frizz products such as serums or balms are also good options.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Jenny Tran
Professional Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.}
- Apply the oil to the ends of your hair to roughly half-way up each strand.
- Avoid applying oil to your roots.
2
Use an umbrella when going outside for an extended period of time. Rain might ruin those perfectly straight locks, so having an umbrella handy when you leave the house is a good idea. Using an umbrella when it's humid and hot outside will help prevent frizz too.
- Use an umbrella when it's humid outside to help keep out moisture. The shade the umbrella provides will also allow you to sweat less, creating less hair frizz.
3
Brush your hair using a wide tooth comb throughout the day. Wide tooth combs have longer, more spread apart teeth, meaning they're great at detangling and won't break your hair as easily. Keep a wide tooth comb in your purse or car for times when you need a quick hair fix that won't result in frizz.^{[10]
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4
Use hairspray to keep your hair in place. Spray hairspray over your hair once it's been straightened and is completely dry. Run a brush through your hair to distribute the hairspray, locking down any fly-away hairs.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Jenny Tran
Professional Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.}
- Avoid medium or strong-hold hairsprays, which will stiffen and harden your straightened hair.
5
Bring hair clips to secure your hair when needed. If you're traveling to and from a destination out in the humidity, it's easiest to use a hair clip or pony tail holder to briefly tie up your hair to help keep out the moisture. You can undo your hair again once you get to your destination, and it will have stayed much straighter.
6
Wear a shower cap if you're taking a shower without washing your hair. Covering your straight hair with a shower cap of some sort will prevent moisture from creeping in, meaning you'll have less frizz.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How do I make my hair less frizzy after straightening?

Jenny Tran
Professional Hair Stylist
Jenny Tran is a Hair Stylist and the Founder of JT Hair Lab by Jenny Tran based in the Dallas, Texas metro area. With over seven years of professional hair styling experience, Jenny specializes in hair coloring, haircutting, and hair extensions. JT Hair Lab is an authorized carrier of R+Co and of Milbon and is committed to using products with quality ingredients.

Jenny Tran

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

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Apply a smoothing hair oil to your straightened hair to reduce and prevent frizz. You can also try spritzing your hair with hairspray and smoothing it down.
Question

I have really thick hair. What can I do to keep it straight all the time?

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

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Depending on your hair's texture and health, you may be able to straighten your hair with heat about once every week. Make sure you always use a heat protectant product and continue to follow the steps above!
Question

Can I use a blow dryer to straighten the hairs that stick out?

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

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Yes! Use a round brush to grab hold of the strands, then blow dry the strands using your blow dryer's nozzle attachment.

Warnings

Always use a heat protectant on your hair before straightening it.

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Make sure your hair is 100% dry before using a flat iron to avoid damage.

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