How to Permanently Straighten Your Hair Naturally

Co-authored by Gina Almona and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: July 18, 2022 References

Do you wish there was a way to tame your curls or waves without using any harsh chemicals? While natural treatments won’t make your hair stick-straight permanently, there are a lot of ways to maintain a sleek and stylish look. You can either apply product to your hair or find a style where it dries straight. We’ll walk you through a bunch of different options so you can find the one that works best for you so you can rock straight hair any day of the week!

1

Wrap your hair around your head to straighten it overnight.

Pinning your hair to your head keeps it from getting tangled while you sleep. Take your hair and part it where you normally would with a brush or comb. Pull a section of hair straight out so it’s tight and pull it tightly toward your part. Secure your hair on the back of your head with some bobby pins. Keep wrapping sections of hair on the sides of your head and let your hair dry completely before removing the pins.^{[1]
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- Wrapping your hair keeps your locks straight while they dry so they don’t have a chance to develop curls or get tangled. It also works if you want to straighten your hair overnight.
- You may still notice some curls or kinks in your hair since wrapping doesn’t ensure you get stick-straight hair.
- To straighten your hair more effectively, use a setting lotion.

2

Dry your hair in large rollers to keep your hair straight.

Rollers help train the curls out of your hair while it’s drying. Choose rollers that are about the same diameter as soda cans so you don’t need to overlap your hair on them. Comb out a section of your hair that’s the same width as the roller and wrap the strands tightly around it. Then just clip your rollers in place with bobby pins and let your hair dry completely. When you remove your rollers, you’ll have nice straight hair.^{[2]
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- You can also wear your rollers overnight if you want to have straight hair in the morning.
- Rollers help straighten out your hair but it probably won’t be stick-straight.

3

Secure scrunchies around ponytails to tame your hair.

Using multiple scrunchies keeps your hair under control while it dries. Gather your hair into 1 or 2 long ponytails and secure them close to your head with thick scrunchies. Pull your hair tight so it’s straight and add another scrunchie every 1 inch (2.5 cm) down the length of the ponytails. Leave your scrunchies in your hair until it’s dry before taking them out.^{[3]
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- Your hair probably won’t be perfectly straight after using scrunchies. If you notice curls or waves in your hair, try tying the elastics looser or leaving less space between them.
- Keep the scrunchies loose enough where they don’t kink your hair, but tight enough that they won’t come undone.

4

Wear your hair in a bun if it’s mostly straight.

Buns remove some waves, but won’t work on really curly hair. Start with your hair damp so it’s easier to work with. Tie your hair up into a ponytail at the crown of your head and secure it with an elastic. Pull your ponytail tight and twist it in one direction into a rope. Wrap the ponytail tightly against your head so it forms a bun and secure it with another elastic until it’s air-dry. After that, just let your hair down and it’ll be straighter than before.^{[4]
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5

Pat your hair dry with a towel to stop frizziness.

Rubbing your hair with a towel only makes it more tangled and out of control. Instead, pat your head gently and press down to absorb the most water from your hair. Tug the ends of your hair down gently to help form a naturally straight shape.^{[5]
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- While you can dry your hair with a blow dryer, it could potentially damage your hair.

6

Turn heat-styling tools to the lowest setting if you use them.

You won’t damage your hair as much using cool or low temperatures. You can always use a blow dryer or flat iron to straighten your hair, but the heat makes your hair weak and frizzy. When you use a heat styler, use the lowest setting possible to see if it works for you. If they don’t work properly, turn up the heat slightly. Use the lowest setting that gives you results so you don’t stress your hair more than you need to.^{[6]
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- Shake blow dryers back and forth across your hair to help distribute the hot air more evenly.^{[7]
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7

Use products made for straight hair.

Specialty products help you maintain straight styles for longer. Rather than using shampoo or conditioner made for curly or wavy hair, stick to products that help keep hair under control. When you’re buying any shower or styling products, check the label to see it’s made for straight or sleek hair. Whenever you want to rock a straight style, use these products to tame your locks so they don’t get really frizzy.^{[8]
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- Some things you may need include smoothing spray, hair serum, or heat protectant.

8

Straighten and moisturize with milk.

Milk weighs your hair down to make it look straight. You can use any type of milk, but whole milk works the best. Pour the milk into a spray bottle and spritz it right onto your hair. Start from the roots and work down toward the ends, combing the milk into your hair. Lightly tug the ends of your hair straight down over the next 20 minutes before rinsing the milk out and shampooing.^{[9]
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- Milk also contains proteins and whey to strengthen your hair follicles and stimulate hair growth. While it won’t make your hair perfectly straight, it will help tame curls and waves.
- Use milk in your hair up to once a week.
- You can stir in 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of honey to help add extra shine to your hair.^{[10]
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9

Use aloe to soften and straighten your hair.

Aloe restores your hair so it’s soft and straight. Fresh aloe works best, but you can use store-bought gel too. Just slice open 3 leaves and scrape out all the pulp. Mix it with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of water and rub the mixture into the ends of your hair. Let it sit for around 10–15 minutes and then after that, just wash it out with your regular shampoo for straighter hair.^{[11]
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- Aloe doesn’t guarantee your hair will be stick-straight.
- If you want to add fragrance to your hair, try mixing a few drops of rosewater into your solution.
- You can apply aloe 2–3 times every week.

10

Tame curls and frizz with an egg mask.

Eggs straighten your hair and give it some shine. Beat an egg in a bowl to mix up the whites and yolk. Get your hair damp and brush the egg through your hair with your fingers, working all the way from the roots to the ends. Then, put your hair up into a bun and let it dry for about 15–20 minutes. Then, just rinse your locks with cool water and wash the eggs out with your regular shampoo.^{[12]
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- Eggs add protein to your hair, but they may not make your hair completely straight.
- If you have dry or brittle hair, only use the egg yolks. If your hair feels oily, then only apply the egg whites.
- Avoid using hot water to rinse the eggs out since you could accidentally cook them.
- Only use an egg treatment once a month.

11

Relax your curls with almond milk.

Give almond milk a try to strengthen and straighten your hair. If you want to make a simple straightening cream, mix ¹⁄₂ cup (120 ml) of almond milk, 2 teaspoons (9.9 ml) of olive oil, and 3 tablespoons (24 g) of cornstarch in a pot. Set the pot over low heat and keep stirring the almond milk until it thickens up. Massage the cream into your hair once it’s cool and put your hair up in a shower cap for 20 minutes. Then just rinse your hair out with warm water and shampoo so you can enjoy your straight ‘do!^{[13]
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- The vitamins in almond milk help soften your curls while making your hair stronger. However, it won’t give you perfectly straight hair.

12

Get rid of waves with cornstarch.

A cornstarch paste detangles your hair so frizz and waves disappear. Mix together 2 cups (470 ml) of water and 2 tablespoons (16 g) of cornstarch and bring it to a simmer until it thickens into a paste. After the mask cools to the touch, apply it to your hair in sections from the roots down to the ends of the strands. Let your hair dry for about 20–30 minutes before rinsing and washing your hair and enjoying your straight hair.^{[14]
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- Your hair still may look a little curly or wavy after your first treatment. You can reapply a cornstarch solution once a day to help control your curls even more.

13

Try coconut milk for straight, sleek hair.

Your hair absorbs coconut milk to help detangle it. Organic, full-fat coconut milk works the best for straightening your locks. Add ¹⁄₂ cup (120 ml) of coconut milk and 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of fresh lemon juice into a jar, and seal it tightly. Put the jar in your fridge and let it separate overnight. The next day, work the creamy white liquid on top of the jar into your hair. Then, apply the clear liquid from the bottom of the jar. Wrap your hair around your head with a towel or silk wrap for 1 hour before washing it out.^{[15]
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- Your hair will absorb the fats from the coconut milk so curls and waves are more weighed down and straighter. However, coconut milk won’t make your hair stick-straight.

14

Consider a salon treatment for stick-straight hair.

Salon treatments get rid of curls, but can damage your hair. While they’re not completely permanent, these treatments are still effective for up to a few months. Unfortunately, a lot of treatments use acids or chemicals that could lead to hair damage, so use them at your own risk.^{[16]
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- Keratin treatments, also known as “Brazilian blowouts,” are when stylists coat your hair with a solution before blowing it dry and straightening it with a flat iron. However, keratin solutions usually contain formaldehyde or acids that can be hazardous.
- Perm treatments usually use ammonium thioglycolate, which could damage your hair or cause allergic reactions.

Warnings

Chemical straighteners typically contain formaldehyde, which could irritate or damage your skin.^{[19]
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