Straight hair is in. And people with curly or wavy hair will pull, blow, iron, treat or do practically anything else to get straight hair. That 
can’t be good for your hair health, right? Some treatments aren’t even good for your personal health as Del over at Are You A Beauty recently reported in her piece about the Brazilian hair straightening system.
We here at the Beauty Brains thought it would be helpful for you to know the 7 most common ways to straighten your hair and the pros and cons of each.
Seven Ways to Straight Hair
1. Hairdressings & Silicone Creams. This is a classic hair product based on oily materials like petrolatum, mineral oil, and lanolin. Silicone creams work the same way but contain materials like dimethicone or cyclomethicone. Apply the product all over your damp hair and comb straight. The oils coat your hairs preventing them from curling up when they dry. The most famous of these types of products is VO5 Hairdressing
Evaluation: Incredibly effective on all types of hair. Non-damaging and relatively inexpensive. The downside is that your hair will feel greasy, get dirtier faster, and can look weighed down. The effect will last until you wash out the product.
2. Brushing and blow drying. As hair dries, it tends to curl up. This is a direct result of the water content and the chemical bonds existing in the hair fiber proteins. If you can hold your hair straight with a comb and blow dry it, it will hold that position. It’s a bit like using an iron to straighten the wrinkles in clothes.
Evaluation: This method is simple, moderately effective but depends heavily on the skill of the person doing it. It’s much easier for a stylist to do than for you to do it on your own hair. It is slightly damaging, will not work on extremely curly hair, and frizzes out in humid weather. It will leave your hair feeling more natural than hairdressings or styling products. So, if you don’t want to spend much money, get a good hair dryer
3. Flat Iron. If you have really curly hair and the blow-drying + combing method doesn’t work, try using a flat iron. After washing your hair, you comb it and use a flat iron to get it dry and straight. It uses the same principle to get your hair straight but it is more intense and effective on nearly all hair types. Here’s a short video showing how to straighten hair with a flat iron.
Evaluation: Flat irons will work with almost any hair type. If you know what you’re doing it can be done relatively quickly. Unfortunately, it is more damaging to your hair than a blow dryer and will frizz out when humidity is high. Once you’ve bought your flat iron
4. Styling products. If you don’t like the greasy feeling of hairdressings and don’t want to take the time required for flat ironing, then styling product straightening might be for you. These products coat the hair with polymers that rigidly hold the hair straight. Things like hairsprays, gels, mousses, and putties can all be used.
Evaluation: Styling products are effective but require some skill in applying and shaping your hair. They will hold the hair straight better than the blow drying or flat iron methods. The effect will last only until the products are washed out. The primary downside is that your hair may not look and feel natural.
5. Brazilian Hair straightening. This method is the hottest new hair styling treatment in salons. It even made it into a story in the New York Times. Your stylist applies a keratin protein formula and uses a flat iron to get your hair straight. Theoretically, the protein will crystalize on your hair and keep it in a straightened state. You are then encouraged not to wash your hair as frequently because you’ll reverse the effect.
Evaluation: This procedure works but at $150 it hardly seems worth it. If you wash your hair a few times the protein will come right off and your hair will return to it’s natural, curly state. There’s also the issue of a significant amount of Formaldehyde being included in the formula. It shouldn’t be a problem for you but I certainly wouldn’t want to be the stylist who gets exposed many times a day. This procedure works but you can get the same effect using a flat iron, styling products and less frequent hair washing.
6. Japanese straightening system. This is a more permanent way to remove the curls from your hair. At >$500 per treatment, it is the most expensive of all the methods outlined here. For the Japanese straightening system the stylist applies a special formula all over the hair. Then they use a flat iron and neutralizing solution to get the hair straight. With proper care the effect should last for 6 months.
Evaluation: The high price of this procedure has kept most people away from repeat procedures. While we haven’t been able to see the exact formula the description of how it’s applied sounds suspiciously like a hair relaxer. The fact that a neutralizing solution has to be used suggests a bond-breaking, chemical reaction. Kudos to the inventor for convincing people to spend that much money on a less harsh version of a hair relaxer. This procedure will permanently get rid of those curls but it’s expensive and incredibly damaging to your hair.
7. Relaxer. If you want straight hair there is no more effective method than getting your hair relaxed. In this procedure a caustic chemical is applied to your hair and a chemical reaction occurs. The hair is then physically straightened and a neutralizing formula is used to reform the chemical bonds in the new straight shape. You can even do this to your own hair at home using a product like Affirm relaxer
Evaluation: There’s no doubt about it that this method will permanently take the curls out of your hair. It will also be more effective and cheaper than either the Brazilian or the Japanese systems. However, it will also be the most damaging treatment you can do to your hair. Your hair will break more easily and will feel dry. Eventually, your curly hair will grow back so you’ll need to continue to relax hair if you want it straight.
We get so many questions here at the Beauty Brains demonstrating that everyone wants what they don’t have. People with straight hair want curly hair, those with curly hair want it straight. Fortunately, clever cosmetic chemists have come up with ways to give people whatever they want.
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I have curly hair and I (finally) like it. Trying to straighten it just made me feel frustrated and fake. I can honestly say I no longer want to straighten my hair, and man, is it a relief. And look how much I’m saving on products, processes, and procedures!
i have wavy hair and as a girl straight was in. back then ways to staighten were to actually iron it, VO5, or older straightening irons that more burned it than straightening it. after years of fighting the wave i gave in and accepted it. i have had more compliments on it in its natural state than i ever did when i straigtened it. it is healther, softer, and way easier to style, takes less time, and i am 48. people say i look like i am 30.
I use a cocktail of calming cream and a silicone product. Works pretty well on my naturally curly/greying hair.
As a teen I had my hair chemically straightened which was kind of awful and certainly not completely successful.
I have curly hair and almost nothing works. I have a very hard time straightening it. I will have to try some of these.
STOP telling those of us that are curly that we need to “fix” our hair by straightening it!! There is nothing WRONG with curly hair, and those of you who are curly and think it makes you ugly, STOP IT NOW. Learn to love your curls, and your curls will love YOU!!
It’s pretty sad what people will do to have hair that’s “in.” Curly/wavy hair is beautiful – too bad some people can’t see this.
This is why most girls are so insecure. To be ‘in’, you have to have straight hair, be underweight, and destroy yourself completely. I’d rather have healthy, natural curly hair and not be stylish than fried straight hair. Just sayin’.
I would recommend reading the October Allure articel on Brazilian hair straightening. It’s dangerous to the person getting it and the stylist. There was even a reported death in Brazil from it. Just be happy with your curls. My hair is stick straight and won’t hold a curl for longer than a few hours. Be happy with the fact that you can make it straight by blow drying it when you want, but still go back to curly.
Um… Okaaaaaaay.
Well, Great post. Ilyana Lanai did it and got great results. She also said she used the Formaldahyde-free brand.
I get relaxers and my hair is fine. There’s nothing wrong with straightening hair and nothing wrong with wearing it curly, kinky, coily or nappy. Hair looks great regardless.
Jeez
Hairs My Story.com
I have curly hair and like the fact that I can style it either way with two entirely different looks when I’m done.
I do have to say that the results from styling my hair straight seem more consistent. It looks identical each time I style it straight. However, when I go curly, it’s unpredictable. I can have some great hair days but also some bad hair days. And forget going to bed with it curly and expecting it to look reasonable in the morning. It’s always a mess!
At least, that’s my experience.
Kate:
Go for it! I bet you look wonderful either way. At the end of the day, ladies… its just hair.
Hairs My Story.com
I’m a curly-head with no particular feelings for or against straightening my hair. I don’t do it anymore because I finally have a cute, low-maintenance curly cut, and I’m too cheap to go to a hairdresser for the necessary procedures.
As for Brazilian hair straightening, I found online that there’s a lot of debate over the pros and cons of the process.
According to Time Out New York, Advanced Keratin Treatment is the only Brazilian straightening solution available now that contains a theoretically healthy level of formaldehyde — 0.2% or below:
One hairdresser’s blog says that the “formaldehyde-free” Brazilian hair straightening system actually uses 2% ether, which is an anesthetic that can cause lung irritation and nausea.
My take on it? Do some research, be careful, and don’t hurt yourself for your hair!
To strength the hairs we can use this but if we have curly hairs it looks beautiful. Using ‘minutecurls’ we can make our hairs curly.
Great article !!! nice ways are given to strengthen the hairs..
Hey.
Do you have any suggestions for frizzy hair?
I have tried alot of shampoos & conditions such as Garnier,Pantene and Sunsilk but nothing seems to be working.
I have to straighten my hair 5 days a week to stop it being frizzy, whereas everyone else already has straight hair and only have to tie it back! So unfair!
WOW! I for one happen to be naturally skinny and thin because i EXERCISE! AAAAANNNNNDDDD, I have gorgeous naturally straight hair! All I use is straightning conditioner! YAY!
I was fine with my wavy hair, until people began to harass me about it. I am so self concious about my hair now. I went out and bought a 200 dollar flat iron just to get people to leave me alone. It still doesnt work on humid days, I walk the whole day thinking i look horrible. Although people have stopped making fun of my hair, i still feel it isn’t good enough. Anyone have suggestions for keeping your hair style during humid days?
Regarding Lauren’s comment, I sugguest on humid days you blow dry your hair brushing it staight then use a flat iron. And if you want to wear your hair wavy without the frizz, I suggest you deep condition it over night. First wash and use a regualar condtioner. Then apply the deep conditioning treatment. Leave the treatment in over night by sleeping in a shower cap. This will give your hair the added moisture it needs and prevent it from being so frizzy.
Well i have naturally thick, curly hair and i have to say;; MAKE THE MOST OF IT!
Loads of people on here have said it themselves.
I tend to go highly outragous with my hair and LOVE IT! ( i get compliments about it too)
A good thing to do is to wash/wet your hair then put them in rags/rollers overnight, they look lovely in the morning.
and for frizzy hair i recommend: Glossing serum from ‘The body shop’
whats ironic is that ppl with straight hair wants curly hair..n ppl with curly hair wants straight hair..lol..for me i naturally have straight hair n i always try to make it curly..lol
I have curly hair too. I just spent over an hour straightening it the other day with a flat iron. While it looked wonderful straight and was a nice change, it was hot and alot of work.
I have a question, do you think for an interview – which looks more professional, curly or straight?
I appreciate the feedback!
@dvg
Great question but not really a beauty science question. It’s a perfect question for the Beauty Brains forum however so I started a topic thread there. Check it out to see what the rest of the community says. You can read it here
japanese straightening is a relaxer, but it uses thio, not the hydroxides which is MUCH better. it’s a lot of money, but the maintenance is not much. i had super curly hair, which could never be straightened and tangled a lot. everyone says make the most of what you have, yeah so i straighten it. i have tight curls, tighter than most of the pro curl ppl on here i bet. but, depending on the brand, you still have to blow dry it after washing to seal the cuticle, but you don’t REALLY have to, many women just airdry anyways lol. oh ps, it is like pin straight, sorta wavy depending on what you get, FOREVER, but the new growth is what keeps you going back. there are many brands and it can cost $300 (@ prive in BH) and up. it just depends. you can be a hair model and get it for free too. look on the makers’ website lol. it does sound like a rip, but trust someone who had it done in sept, it rocks harder than relaxers and any method.
I have done every hair trick in the book to get my hair straight, since i was a little girl. Four years ago i came across a website, http://www.beautydeals.net and i found a flat iron. The Farouk Chi. OH MY GOD! Best $109 bucks i’ve ever spent. I have seriously curly, gloria estefan curls going on…and this not on made my hair straight, but made it soft. As i kept using it, it actually looked like it was reducing my breakage and humidity was NEVER A PROBLEM! I dont know what it is! Now mind you, if i were to go out at night and it was really cold, my hair would frizz, humidity my hair frizzes. Not ONCE after i got this flat iron. I can curl, wave, do everything to my hair with this iron. I still have it and it works great.
I am a stylist and the Japanese Hair Straightening System straightens hair permanently, you only have to straighten the re-growth. When done by a stylist who is knowledgeable in how to do this procedure, hair can look healthier than before.
I have naturally straight(with a few waves) hair but it got really damaged from blow drying it everyday. So I started taking showers at night and letting my hair air dry and then I would straighten it in the morning. Recently it has gotten really wavy, bad wavy from air drying. I dotn really want to blow dry it again and staighting it takes longer and really damages it. I just dont know what to do…
What about wavy hair? Wavy hair is impossible to deal with when you want to keep it short and have absolutely no desire of growing it out (even though that’s the only way it looks good on its own).
I don’t wish to damage my hair. I don’t want to deal with wavy hair that I like better when it’s short and a little straighter.
So I’m stuck . . .
Yes I agree straighten hair can be cute
but it is so boring. curly hair gives
you an edge, it makes you stylish and bouncy and fun. if your naturally curls
are puffy as mine, just find some products at your hairdresser that makes them enhanced and perfect.. not liek an afro.
Is there a chemical that will prevent hair reverting to a curly or frizzy state after it has been treated with a hot flat iron. If so, for how long and at what level of humidity would it stop. For instance, would 90% humidity be a level that it would stop working on a moist day. Thanks
LADIES,
JUST THINK, WHAT IF THERE WERE NO RELAXERS. PERMS. FLAT IRONS. OR STR8N CREAMS OR TOOLS? WHAT would you do then with your hair? Accept the way God created it to fit you OR go BALD because you arent strong enough or choose to accept whom you are individually from inside and out? Why go through something so much when in the end it still your hair natural state can never be permanately changed?
Once people learn to accept whom they are and the things they cant change life would go by much lighter and waaay easier. And the more crucial basics of life will be focused on instead of vanity and shallowness. Learn to be fearless in your appearance, because 1st God didnt create ugly, people do. And second you were made by God, no man can create anything better than the almighty.
I have straight hair.. but I love to curl my hair sometimes.. I love curly hair.. that’s why I’m always confused why people that have curly hair want to make their hair straighten
I have very curly, frizzy hair and I am not “fine” with it. I don’t like the way it looks. Period.
I straighten my hair using the Japanese method. It’s expensive, but I save up and do it twice a year at a “good” salon. My hair is not damaged; it feels fine and does not break easily. It is also much easier to style; I can blow-dry it myself, at home, and get good results.
If you like your curly hair, great. If you don’t like it, not liking it is not a neurosis or sign of low self-esteem. Getting what you want may be expensive but, if you’re willing to and can pay the price, then go for it. I wouldn’t wear my hair curly again unless I was completely broke or lived on a planet without hair salons.
I used to have straight hair and wanted it curly, like my mom. but then I decided to get layers and cut it shoulder length to try and bring out some curl, and OH BOY, if I had only known!!!!!!!! Now my hair is AWFUl, period. It is all wavy and sticks out in ALL the wrong places and I can NOT go out of the house without curling it (doesn’t look good at all) or staightening it with my Conair hot iron. I LOVE the results when straightening, but it takes about an hour to do so and I really wish I had a faster alternative. Wish I had never ever cut it!! WAA haha
but anyways there seems to be no going back to my beautiful naturally-straight hair, so I am trying to find a good straightening shampoo to maybe try to return it to its original state or maybe help tame it. Or any suggestions, please!! 
I have very thick hair, but it does obey when I flat iron. 
(I can’t do the expensive treatments at salons 
)
I have thick naturale curly hair, its realy burnt and i did the japnese straightner and its still burnt straight yes looks great the first 2 weeks then I wash it and its not pin straight like I expected, 2 months later I deep conditioned it and blow dried it at the salon looked great for 1 week but I wash it and conditioned it and its awful still burnt should I just deep condition it atleast 1 a week at the salon n blow it out? Desperate for beautiful healthy hair.
I’ve done the japanese process 4 times. The last time was the best. My hair was super straight. I guess it depends on the time of the treatment. Yes it is expensive but I save so much time.. My hair takes about 3 – 5 minutes and it is dry and straight. I have super curly frizzy hair. It takes me about 30-40 minutes to make it look ok and if it is humid outside, forget it.. it looks like I did not do anythin with it. If you can afford it.. best investment in your self/time.
You know, another thing you can do is simply to get a soft-curl perm. It doesn’t straighten your hair, but it makes it much more managable.
But like everyone says, don’t fight your curls; sometimes it’s easier just to work with them than against them.
I use a flat iron most of the time that I want to straighten my hair; if you do this though, make sure you’re using a good quality one that won’t hurt your hair. Tourmaline, Jade, Ionic are really the best kinds… you don’t need a CHI straightener either. Just get one that has a warranty of at least 2 years or more. =D
Good thing wavy hair full of body is “in” in 2008. Dead straight hair that simply sits on one’s head is now looked at as unattractive and boring. Teasing is back in with teenagers, to make hair appear as if it has more body. Almost everyone is styling their hair so that it’s lifted up more now, whether it be spiking for guys or just more body for girls.
Well I don’t have curly hair or straight hair I have wavyish curly hair. It’s not that I’m trying to feel in or anything, it’s just that personally I would like it straight either that or just plain curly. But it can’t be either so it looks like a mess unless I spend time trying to make it look decent. I usually go by using the flat iron method but I’m afraid of damaging my hair, specially because it looks nice right now. Sometimes I can’t help to think that hair is SUCH a drag!!!
i prefer curly hair..it enhances beauty..hahaha..
I have wavy hair that is about 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches long (kinda short!) and i just get my hair as flat and forward as possible and wear a well fit baseball cap tightly for a few hours every now and then removing and brushing forward and flat for a cheap and very nice straight do!
Oh and by the way, they are only making this post for people that WANT straight hair, obviously, so stop hating them for it! some people want straight hair, like me, i look hot as hell with straightened hair!
I don’t CARE what’s ‘in’ these days. What I do care about is the severe dryness (no matter what I put in it), frizz, not being able to go out when it’s cold, not being able to go swimming like a normal person or get on water rides at theme parks. THAT’S what I care about. What kind of a life is that? I’m sick of my stupid hair. I’ve had about a dozen different relaxers done, none of them worked. I had a straight perm done, and the curl came back after 9 days. I have used, in my lifetime, 5 different kinds of flat irons, and none of them worked. I’ve had 3 Japanese thermals done in 1 year, and all 3 times it did not work. So, what kind of a life is that? A life where I run the flat iron through my hair so often that it literally starts smoking. And STILL doesn’t get the curl out!!!!!!!
yea…..my hair is straight….I want it
silky and shiny. By the way, don’t fight pplz! It’s just hair! Like I always say: Be beautiful. Be yourself….for once, like that’s gonna happen1 joking! but I’ll post sumthin that will help later…..wait 5 weeks.kk? Ohh…I’m Josie. That’s wat it will say kk?
Straightening Hair Tips
Use a mild shampoo and strong conditioner so that the hair is well protected. You must keep off from any heat -styling tools so as to prevent any damage to the hair. Regular deep conditioning of the hair can give it a healthier bounce and shine. Use good detangling products and wide -toothed comb for the hair after a straightening treatment.
Who want to add a bit of shine – Add a drop of silicone serum and watch the tresses bounce. A little care will go a long way in maintaining the straightened tresses.
If you are using a straightening iron to straighten your hair, use it with care, and use it sparingly. It can be very damaging if used often.
Blow-drying Hair Straight – Always use a protective product when styling your hair straight. Good tools are essential – use a blow-dryer with a strong air flow, not just a very hot one. If blow-drying hair straight regularly, use a treatment, weekly, to prevent your hair from drying out and frazzled ends.
Having your hair colored and using a straightener could result in damage to your hair. It’s not that either of these are dangerous or damaging by themselves, but when they are combined, they can be simply too much for your poor old hair to handle.
Try booking a consultation with a straightening specialist and getting an opinion on whether a straightener would work with what is already on your hair. A professional hairdresser will often take what is called a “test strand” (basically a clipping of your hair) and pop it in to a bowl with the chemical straightener to assess its ability to remain in good condition. If the result is that you should not try this on your hair please take this advice.
For a temporary blow out of straight hair, the most effective way for a perfect finish is to apply straightening balm to each section as you go. A large paddle brush will give you poker straight hair, and a round brush will give you a softer curved finish.
With the most hair straightening products on the market today you can’t permanently relax or straighten your hair if:
It has been permanently colored/tinted with a high volume strength peroxide or bleached. Even if only a little is left in the ends of your hair you will need to have it cut out first! Semi or non-permanent colors do not affect the ability to straighten hair chemically.
You swim in chlorine water often
You have fine blonde hair. It can be done but can look dry and damaged and frizz easily.
Here are my tips on hair straightening for people with wavy or slightly curly hair that want it straight but still healthy:
Wash with a regular shampoo that will remove buildup or at least prevent it.
Use a good conditioner that won’t weigh hair down but still will condition it.
Once out of the shower, wring hair out until it doesn’t drip anymore, then dry as much as possible with a towel.
Apply a little bit of straightening gel before blow drying and in between towel drying.
Blow dry by taking sections at a time and with a flat brush- it takes a while to master exactly how to straighten accurately but it’s worth it.
Use a little bit of gel or cream or something to keep it straight and non-frizzy.
It should last for about 2 days, depending on temperatures.
*****PLEASE READ IF YOU WANT STRAIGHT HAIR********
I have naturally curly hair, it isn’t to curly but I use a flat iron to straighten it almost every day but im going to get it cut this Saturday and I was wondering if what would be best to do? My Mom loves my curls so she doesn’t want them gone permanently but I would like to get rid of them for at least a couple of months and I have read many articles but I still cant decide WHAT I NEED TO DO???
The thing about people wanting curly that really gets me is that most of them have no idea for what they are wishing They want the cute curls that seem low maintenance. Most don’t see how annoying and time consuming it can be to have curly hair. They don’t want the constant tangles and the frizz and the dryness that often accompanies curls. They don’t realize that there are soooo many things you can’t do when you have curly hair, like combing it with anything but a wide tooth comb and only when it’s wet and how conditioner is an everyday thing. I went through a phase in high school where I believed that my curls were ugly and gross and i spent lots of money on a relaxing treatment and an expensive straightener and destroyed my hair. By the time I realized how ridiculous I was being, my hair was so damaged that it was poufy and frizzy.
I have really straight hair and I was googling a way to curl it but after reading your guys’ experiences, I’m happy with my straight hair. I had no idea so many people straightened their hair!! I always thought my hair was sort of blah because it wasn’t ‘chinese straight’ but now i realize a lot of people iron it. I feel sort of deceived!
i would KILL for naturally straught hair like you, Sidra Ahmed, my hair is so M.A.D that people tease me about it at school, and i’m useless at straightening my own hair, so my stepmum karen does it for me, but i want to learn to do it myself,so thats why i’m googling it!!! :p
After washing, my hair is completely out of control. I love curls, but mine are frizzy and disastrous as well as tangled and unattractive by all means. I straighten my hair with a flat iron, but I don’t want to risk damage. I’ll have to try very safe methods to achieve a desired result.
I rather have straight hair. It’s so much better