How to Straighten Short Curly Hair

Last Updated: June 20, 2021 References

If you're hoping to straighten your curly, short hair, there are simple methods that will help you do so without taking up too much time. Start by washing your hair with shampoo and conditioner that contain smoothing effects, and then brush out your curls so your hair isn't tangled. Use a blow dryer to start the straightening process, and finish it off using a hair straightener for super sleek locks. If you'd rather not use heat to straighten your hair, use the wrapping technique by wrapping sections of your hair around your head and securing them with pins.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Washing Curly Hair

1
Use shampoo and conditioner that helps smooth your hair. When you go to wash your hair, look for shampoos, and especially conditioners, that say they have smoothing effects. This will help your hair straighten more easily and will give it a sleeker, shinier appearance.^{[1]
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- Visit your local big box store or grocery store to find shampoos and conditioners marketed as “smoothing” or “straightening.”
- Using a conditioner after you shampoo will add moisture to your curls so they don’t frizz as easily.
2
Pat your hair with a microfiber towel to prevent frizz. Aggressively towel drying your hair by rubbing the towel back and forth over your hair will cause your curls to frizz.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.} Instead, use a soft microfiber towel or a T-shirt to gently pat your hair. This will absorb extra water without activating the curls or causing unnecessary friction.^{[3]
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- Pat your hair in small sections to get the most moisture out of it.
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3
Brush through your curls using a paddle brush or comb. Do this right after you've washed and conditioned your hair so it's still damp.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.} Getting rid of any knots or tangles before it dries will help create a smoothing effect to make it easier to straighten.^{[5]
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- Take your time brushing out your curly hair to ensure you detangle each section.
4
Apply a smoothing cream, straightening balm, or leave-in conditioner to help straighten your hair.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.} If your hair is super curly and you’re worried it will frizz when you blow dry or straighten it, squeeze out a dollop of smoothing cream or spray some leave-in conditioner. Apply the product to your hair, rubbing cream onto each strand or spraying the product evenly.^{[7]
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- Look for a leave-in conditioner or smoothing cream at your local big box store or beauty store.
- Pay special attention to the hair around your face, as these sections are often the ones that frizz the most.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Blow Drying Your Hair

1
Clip back your hair into sections to make drying it easier. Section your hair into 2-4 clumps, depending on whether your hair is thin or thick. For example, you might clip up the top section of your hair so you can blow dry the bottom section first if your hair is thin. Use large hair clips or hair ties to section your hair into manageable chunks.^{[8]
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- Thicker curly hair might need 3-4 sections, with the top half of your hair being 1-2 sections and the bottom half separated into 2 sections.
2
Set your hair dryer to a cold setting to reduce frizz. Avoid using the heat setting on your hair dryer and instead set it to “cool” or “cold” air. Cooler air may take a little bit longer to dry your hair, but it will help ensure your hair doesn’t frizz and instead stays sleek and curl-free.^{[9]
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3
Brush 1 in (2.5 cm) sections of hair out using a round brush. Place the round brush up under each section near your roots while pulling the brush down the length of hair. Having the round brush under your hair as you’re blow drying it will help create volume as you dry and straighten your hair.^{[10]
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- Consider using a round boar bristle and nylon brush for the best results.
4
Point the hair dryer’s nozzle downwards as you dry your hair. As you’re pulling the round brush down each section of hair, point the hair dryer blowing cool hair downwards on each length of hair. This keeps your hair from frizzing and creates a smooth look. Move the hair dryer down the length of hair as you move your brush down too.^{[11]
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- Pointing the hair dryer upwards at each section will encourage your hair to frizz and curl.
- Make sure to blow dry every section thoroughly, as leaving a section damp can also lead to frizz as it air drys.^{[12]
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  Expert Source
  
  Christine George
  Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
  Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.}

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using a Hair Straightener

1
Dry your hair thoroughly before using a hair straightener. If you use a hair straightener on your hair while it’s still damp, it can cause damage and burn your hair. Touch your hair to be sure it’s completely dry before straightening it.^{[13]
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- If you hear a sizzling sound when using the straightener, this means it’s still damp and needs to be dried more.
- If you’re not sure whether your hair is completely dry or not, it’s best to use a hair dryer on your hair for a couple minutes just in case.
2
Spray a heat protectant on your hair so it doesn’t get damaged. Apply the heat protectant to your hair thoroughly before straightening it, otherwise the straightener may cause damage to your hair. Lift up the top layer of your hair while you’re spraying to be sure you cover all of your hair evenly.^{[14]
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- Consider brushing through your hair again after you’ve sprayed the heat protectant to help distribute it evenly.
3
Split your hair into 2-4 sections to make straightening it easier. Put the top section of your hair into a bun on top of your head so you can easily straighten the bottom layer, or clip your hair into different sections to make it more manageable. Starting with the bottom layer will make it easier to ensure you straighten every piece of hair.^{[15]
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- After you’re finished straightening a section of hair, you’ll be able to easily take down the next section to straighten.
4
Run the straightener over sections of hair while pulling the hair taut. Take a 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) section of hair and pull it downwards with your fingers to make it rigid and straight. Clamp the heated straightener around the section of hair starting at your roots and slowly run the straightener down the length of hair. Do this 2-3 times per 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) section of hair so each strand is super straight.^{[16]
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- Avoid holding the straightener on your hair without moving it for more than a few seconds, as this can burn your hair.
- Keep your hair straightener’s temperature under 350 °F (177 °C) to avoid causing damage.
5
Straighten a pixie cut or men's cut by starting close to the roots. If your hair is super short, you'll want to try to start straightening as close to your roots as possible. Swipe over each strand of hair a couple times with the straightener, bending the straightener towards the ground to create a softer end to your hair.^{[17]
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- If your hair is long enough, clip the top section away from the hair in front of your face to easily straighten the front.
- Use a set of mirrors to help you see the back of your hair when straightening, if necessary.
6
Apply a finishing product to your hair to keep your hair straight. This could be something like an anti-frizz serum or a spray that adds shine and nutrients to your hair, or even a hairspray to keep stray hairs in place. Spray or rub the finishing product on your hair evenly, combing it through your hair using a brush or comb if desired.^{[18]
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- Spray hairspray on your hair and use your hands to flatten stray hairs, or squeeze out a dime-sized amount of anti-frizz serum and rub it throughout your hair.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Wrapping Your Hair to Avoid Using Heat

1
Dry your hair using a cold air setting until it's mostly dry. Plug in your hair dryer and set it to a cold air setting. Use this to dry your hair section by section until it's almost dry but still a bit damp. Brush through your hair as you dry it using cold air to help start the straightening process.^{[19]
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- Many times, using a blow dryer on the cold air setting while brushing through your hair continuously will straighten your hair.
2
Brush through your hair to ensure it's untangled. Once your hair is mostly dry, brush or comb through it for a minute or two to make sure there aren't any knots or tangles in your hair. Keeping it as straight and smooth as possible as you go to wrap it around your head will help ensure your hair dries straight.^{[20]
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- Use a comb or boar bristle brush to straighten your hair as much as possible while brushing it.
3
Wrap sections of your hair around your head and pin them in place. Take a damp section of your hair and wrap it around your head as far as it will go, pulling it tight. Use a large bobby pin (or several) to pin the strand of hair in place so it won't move. Do this to the other sections of your hair until all of your hair is wrapped around your head.^{[21]
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- To keep your hair from frizzing if you're sleeping on your wet hair, cover your head with a silk scarf or sleep on a satin pillowcase.
4
Use a head scarf to cover your hair if it's too short to pin. If you have a pixie cut or men's cut that's too short to hold bobby pins, brush your hair thoroughly using a boar bristle brush. Once you've flattened your hair using the brush, cover your head with a satin head scarf and secure it with a knot at the back or bottom of your head.^{[22]
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- Make sure the satin scarf is tight against your head so it won't move around at all.
5
Wait for your hair to dry before removing the pins or head scarf. The next morning, or several hours later if your hair is super short, remove the head scarf and pins carefully. Once all of the bobby pins have been removed and your hair has been brushed through, it should be straight!^{[23]
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- If you remove the bobby pins and head scarf and notice your hair is still damp, wrap your hair around your head again and cover it with the scarf to let it keep drying.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can I straighten my short hair at home?

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Christine George is a Master Hairstylist, Colorist, and Owner of Luxe Parlour, a premier boutique salon based in the Los Angeles, California area. Christine has over 23 years of hair styling and coloring experience. She specializes in customized haircuts, premium color services, balayage expertise, classic highlights, and color correction. She received her cosmetology degree from the Newberry School of Beauty.

Christine George

Master Hair Stylist & Colorist

Expert Answer

Avoid shampoos that contain harsh chemicals such as parabens or sulfates. These products are hard on your hair and can cause damage. Also, avoid straightening your hair every day, as this can cause damage.
Question

How can I avoid frizz in the drying process?

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Christine George is a Master Hairstylist, Colorist, and Owner of Luxe Parlour, a premier boutique salon based in the Los Angeles, California area. Christine has over 23 years of hair styling and coloring experience. She specializes in customized haircuts, premium color services, balayage expertise, classic highlights, and color correction. She received her cosmetology degree from the Newberry School of Beauty.

Christine George

Master Hair Stylist & Colorist

Expert Answer

Avoid touching your hair with a cotton towel. When blow-drying, the reason hair tends to frizz is because not all the moisture was removed from your hair. So when you blow dry your hair, you have to make sure your hair is 100% dry.