How to Make Your Hair Straighter Without a Straightener

Last Updated: January 31, 2023 References

Straightening your hair with a flat iron or chemical straighteners can damage your hair over time. If you are tired of using these straighteners, there are other ways to straighten your hair. It may take a little more time and effort to straighten your hair without a flat iron or chemicals, but your hair may become healthier as a result.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using Large Rollers

1
Get some large foam or velcro rollers. You can straighten your hair just by putting in some large foam or velcro hair curlers. Choose rollers that are large enough for your hair to go around just 1.5 times for a large "C" curl.
- Your hair may not be pin straight if you have curly or textured hair, but it will look straighter.
- Get the largest curlers you can find. If possible, find some curlers that are about the same size as soda cans.^{[1]
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- If you are not opposed to using heat on your hair, then using large hot curlers can speed up this process. Otherwise, go for some foam rollers and be aware that you will need to leave them in for quite a while.
2
Wash your hair. You will need to start with damp hair, so you may just want to shampoo and condition your hair before you begin. If you do not have time to wash your hair, then spritzing it with a bit of water will also make your hair damp.
- Make sure that your hair is damp throughout, not just in a couple of places.
- Remember that your hair should be damp, not dripping wet. If you decide to wash your hair, dry it with a towel when you are done and let it air dry for about 30 minutes before you put it into the rollers.
- If you don't have time to air dry it, you can use a hair dryer to get it about 80% dry.
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3
Section off your hair. Using some hair clips, comb out your hair and divide it into two equal sections. One section should contain hair from the top of your head and one should contain hair from the back and lower sides of your head. Use a clip to secure the top section to the top of your head.
- Sectioning off your hair will allow you to put the bottom section of your hair into rollers first and then work on the top section of your hair.
- If you have extra thick hair, then you may need to divide your hair into three or four equal sections.
4
Put the sections into rollers. Start on the bottom section of your hair first, and put your hair into rollers. As you work, divide your hair into smaller, even sections that are the same length and width of your rollers. Start with the ends of your hair and slowly roll the roller towards your head and then secure it. After you finish with one section, move on to the next and keep going until all of your hair is in rollers.^{[2]
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5
Remove the rollers after several hours. The rollers will need to stay in your hair until your hair dries, which can take several hours if you have long, thick hair. If you put the rollers in your hair at night, then you can just sleep in them. Otherwise, expect to have them in for at least a few hours.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using a Blow Dryer

1
Start with damp hair. It is best to start with damp hair. You can wash and condition your hair and then dry it with a towel. Or if you are in a hurry, just spritz your hair with some water and comb it in.
- Remember that your hair should be damp, but not dripping wet.
2
Apply some anti-frizz serum. After washing and conditioning, apply a bit of anti-frizz serum or smoothing spray. This will help to ensure that your hair will stay smooth while you blow dry it.
- When choosing a smoothing product, find one that you can use without heat. Avoid products that are made for use with a flat iron or blow dryer set on hot.
- If you don’t have any anti-frizz serum, then you can just use a small amount of your normal conditioner on the ends of your hair.
3
Set your blow dryer to warm. You can dry your hair with your blow dryer using warm air instead of hot air if you are trying to minimize heat damage.^{[5]
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Research source} A warm setting will use a little bit of heat to straighten your hair with less risk of damage.
4
Blow dry your hair in sections. Use a brush to pick up a small section at a time. Make sure that you hold the blow dryer above your head and point the blow dryer downward to keep the hair cuticles flat. Use your brush to pull through and straighten out your hair as the air hits it.
- When you reach the ends of each piece of your hair, hold it taut for a few seconds.
- Keep going until all of your hair is dry and straight.
5
Finish your style with a blast of cool air. Set your hair dryer to "cool." Slowly work your way over your hair, blowing the cool air onto each section. This will close your cuticle and set your style.
- Most blow dryers have a cool air setting. The button may say "cool" or have a picture of a snowflake on it.^{[6]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Wrapping Your Hair

1
Section your hair to make it easier to dry. Divide it into 4 quadrants by first creating a part down the middle, then dividing it ear-to-ear. You can then make smaller sub-sections that are about the size of your brush. This makes your hair dry more quickly and more evenly.
- You can use hair clips to hold the sections you aren't working with out of the way.
2
Apply an anti-frizz serum or smoothing product over your hair. This will help create a softer, smoother texture once your style is complete. It will also provide light control.
- You may want to choose a product that's labeled for straightening.
- Look for a product that you can use without heat. Don't use a product that says it's for use with a flat iron.
3
Dry your hair on a "cool" setting. Set your blow dryer on "cool," then dry your hair until it's almost dry. Work through each section of your hair, starting at the bottom and moving to the top.^{[7]
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- It may take longer to dry your hair on the cool setting, so be patient.
- You can also let your hair air dry, but it might result in a frizzier result, depending on your hair type.
- You can also wait and dry your hair after you've wrapped it. However, it may take longer.
4
Divide your hair into sections. First, pin back the hair at your crown, saving it for last. Then, create a part in your hair. You will have 3 sections of hair at this time.^{[8]
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5
Wrap the hair around your head.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Noël Reid-Killings
Celebrity Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 25 November 2020.} Pull small sections of hair from the narrow side of your part, then wrap them in the direction of the rest of your hair so that all of your hair is going in the same direction. Each piece of hair should be wrapped around your head until you reach the end of that section.^{[10]
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- Continue wrapping your hair until all of your hair is wrapped.
6
Wrap the hair at your crown last. Unclip the hair and brush it smooth. Then blend that hair into the rest of your hair using your brush. Smooth it down as you wrap the hair around your head.^{[11]
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- Your hair should be smoothed slick around the diameter of your head.
7
Place a hair pin every 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) around your head.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Noël Reid-Killings
Celebrity Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 25 November 2020.} This will hold the wrapped hair in place until your style is set. You can use hair clips or hair pins, depending on your preference.
- If you are sleeping on the wrapped hair, which is the easier method, you should use hair pins, as they are more comfortable.
8
Sleep with your hair wrapped. It will finish drying while you sleep, resulting in smooth, straight hair. If your hair is already dry when you go to bed, you can cover your hair with a silk scarf to prevent tangles and frizz.^{[13]
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- You can also sleep on a silk pillow case.
- If you want a faster result, you can dry your hair with a blow dryer on a "cool" or "warm" setting.
9
Let down and brush your hair in the morning. Remove the pins and unwrap your hair. It should look straight and smooth. Run a brush through it to remove any tangles and smooth down flyaways.^{[14]
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- If you are in a hurry, let down your hair after it's dry. It's best to blast it with your blow dryer to ensure the style has set.
- You can add more control by spritzing your brush with a light hold hair spray and then brushing through your hair.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Combing Your Hair to Straighten It

1
Get a medium or fine-toothed comb. To comb your hair straight, you will need to use a medium or fine-toothed comb, depending on the thickness of your hair. This method is good if you will have some time to keep combing your hair until it dries.
- Keep in mind that this method will only work on straight or wavy hair.
- For example, if you are going to be riding in a car or bus for a while, then you might want to try combing your hair straight.
- You can also use a brush if you prefer, but it might result in wavier hair.^{[15]
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2
Shampoo and condition your hair. You will need to start with damp hair, so you may want to wash your hair to get started. If you don’t have time to wash your hair, then just spritz on some water and comb it through.
- Make sure that your hair is damp, not dripping wet.
3
Apply anti-frizz serum. Applying a bit of anti-frizz serum is optional, but it may help to make your hair even straighter and prevent it from becoming frizzy. You can also use some leave in conditioner or just a small amount of your regular conditioner applied to the ends of your hair.
4
Comb your hair. Use a comb to distribute the anti-frizz serum or conditioner and get rid of any tangles. To straighten your hair with comb, allow your hair to air dry and comb it every few minutes as it dries.
- As you comb your hair, start at the roots and move downwards. When you reach the end of your hair, hold each section taut for several seconds.^{[16]
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- You can speed up this process by sitting in front of a fan, but you will have to comb your hair non-stop until it is dry if you use a fan.^{[17]
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- Keep combing until your hair is completely dry and straight. Keep in mind that you may have some waves, but your hair should be much straighter than usual when you are finished.

Expert Q&A
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Question

What is the best temperature to flat iron natural hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

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You want to use the lowest temperature that you can. If you have fine or damaged hair, set the temperature to 300 degrees F or less. If you have thick, coarse hair, you may raise the temp up to 400 degrees F. Be aware that at 450 degrees F, hair starts to melt.
Question

What will happen if you straighten your hair when it's wet?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

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You can damage your hair severely if you are using a straightening iron on it when it's wet. You may even cause breakage. This is also an electrocution hazard.
Question

What strengthens hair follicles?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

You can't change the shape of your hair follicles. The follicle is the indentation in the scalp that your hair grows out of; its shape is genetic.