How to Straighten Your Hair Without Heat

Last Updated: July 9, 2022 Approved

Many people want straight, glossy hair but don’t want to deal with the heat damage that comes with most methods of straightening.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.} Luckily, there are several ways of straightening your hair that aren’t damaging and can even make your hair stronger. Start by changing the type of shampoo and hair products you use to those formulated to straighten hair. Once or twice a week, use a straightening mask on your hair to moisturize and weigh down your curls. If you have long hair, you can get straight hair overnight by putting your hair in jumbo curlers, which encourage your hair to follow a different hair pattern and get straighter.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Changing Your Hair Care Routine

1
Use a straightening shampoo and conditioner. You should begin the process of getting straight hair by reassessing the products that you use on a regular basis. If you don’t already, use a shampoo and conditioner that are meant to straighten and smooth hair. These products are formulated to heavily moisturize and weigh down curls for straighter locks.^{[2]
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Research source} Try to avoid shampoo that contains harsh chemicals, such as sulfates and parabens, as they can damage your hair.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.}
2
Use an extra-absorbent towel. Since you want to avoid using heat on your hair, it’s important to get the most out of towel drying. Instead of using any old towel, invest in an extra absorbent towel such as a microfiber towel. These towels are designed to absorb moisture and without causing frizz.^{[4]
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- Use a t-shirt to gently dry your hair as an alternative.^{[5]
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  Expert Source
  
  Christine George
  Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
  Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.}
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3
Refine your towel drying technique. It’s important to be gentle when towel drying your hair, as rubbing your hair together too roughly can cause frizziness. Hold the extra absorbent towel around the tips of your hair to absorb moisture and slowly work your way up your hair, absorbing as you go. Then gently tousle your hair with the towel, making sure not to rub the ends of your hair together if you have long hair.
4
Blow dry with cool air and brush. Blow drying your hair with hot air is not only damaging to your hair, it also creates frizz and encourages curls.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.} Instead of blow drying with hot air, towel dry and then blow dry with cold air going section by section while brushing with a flat paddle brush.^{[7]
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- Blow drying with cold air will take longer than drying with hot air, so be aware of that if you are in a hurry or are timing your morning.
5
Brush wet hair until it’s dry. If you don’t want to use a blowdryer, gently towel dry your hair and continue to brush it until it’s dry if you can. Brushing helps to separate your hair and remove moisture. Brushing also encourages straightening because it slightly pulls on your hair and helps it not curl up as it usually does.^{[8]
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- If you don’t want to continually brush, you can brush your hair in spurts, with 5-minute breaks between each spurt to let it air dry.
6
Use a smoothing product in your hair. Once your hair is almost dry, use a smoothing hair cream or mousse to discourage frizz and waves in your hair. Try to find a product that contains a natural smoothing agent like coconut oil or jojoba oil to relax your hair.^{[9]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Straightening Hair Masks

1
Make a milk and honey mask. Create a milk and honey mask by mixing 1 cup (236.58 ml) of whole milk or coconut milk with 1 tablespoon (14.78 ml) of honey. Apply the mask by using your hands to scoop up the mask and work it through the strands of your hair. Let it soak into your hair for 1 hour while you wear a plastic shower cap, then wash it out of your hair with water.^{[10]
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- Hair masks work best if you use them once or twice a week.
- This mask may be drippy, so it’s a good idea to apply it over the sink.
2
Make a milk and egg mask. Another variation on a milk mask is a milk and egg mask. Mix 2 cups (480 ml) of whole or coconut milk along with 1 egg in a large bowl, whisking to completely break up the yolk. Place the bowl in the sink or on a table and sit directly in front of it, then lean back and soak your hair in the bowl for 10 minutes. After ten minutes, take your hair out of the bowl without squeezing out the excess moisture from the mask and put your hair up in a bun if you have long hair. Wrap plastic wrap around your head and let the mask soak in for another 30 minutes, then unwrap and wash out the mask with cool water so the egg doesn’t cook.^{[11]
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- Wrapping your head with plastic wrap retains the moisture of the mask and the warmth encourages the mask to soak in.
3
Use a coconut milk and lemon juice mask. To create a smoothing coconut milk and lemon juice mask, combine 1 cup (236.58 ml) coconut milk, 6 tablespoons (88.72 ml) of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons (29.57 ml) of olive oil and 2 tablespoons (29.57 ml) of cornstarch in a microwaveable bowl and mix. Microwave the mixture for about 20 seconds and stir. Repeat until the mixture forms a smooth paste. Let the mask cool, then use your fingers to apply it evenly throughout your hair. Let the mask sit for an hour, then wash it out with water.^{[12]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Straightening Long Hair Overnight

1
Use hair ties to encourage straightening. Wet your hair, either from showering or from rinsing your hair briefly in the sink. Section your hair into 2 low ponytails and secure each ponytail with a hair tie near the base of your neck. Use another pair of hair ties to loosely tie the ponytails 2 inches (5 cm) below where the first ponytail ties are. Keep applying hair ties every few inches until you reach the end of your hair. In the morning, take out the hair ties to reveal your straightened hair.^{[13]
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- Try to tie the hair ties loosely, as tying them tightly may leave dent marks or crimps in your hair.
- If you have curly hair, this will help loosen your curls but won’t make your hair completely straight.
2
Use jumbo rollers to straighten your hair. Divide your hair into about 6 sections and wrap each section around a jumbo roller, rolling the sections up until you reach the roots. Secure the rollers against your head using large clips. The next morning, take the rollers out of your hair and comb. You should see that your hair is visibly straighter.^{[14]
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- Try to use plastic rollers as opposed to Velcro or foam.
3
Twist your hair into a bun. If you have hair that is nearly straight or only has slight waves, you can simply place your damp hair into a bun and let it dry. Towel dry hair, then create a ponytail. Loop the ponytail around the hair tie in a ballerina bun, secure it with a hair tie, and wait for the hair to dry. When your hair is dry, take your hair down and give it a quick brush.^{[15]
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4
Wrap damp hair around your head until it dries. Another way of encouraging straightness is to wrap wet hair around your head and secure it with bobby pins. Brush or comb your hair, then divide it along the central part into 2 sections. Take the left section and comb it over the top of your head toward the right section. Wind it around your head until you reach the end of your hair, then pin the section in place at the back of your head with bobby pins. Do the same on the right side, flipping the hair over to the left side and pinning it in place.^{[16]
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- After pinning your hair, place a silk scarf around your head to reduce frizz while you sleep and take down your hair in the morning.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I make my straightened hair last for a few days?

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

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Try sleeping with a satin pillow if you want to maintain your hairstyle for a couple of days and not have it go frizzy. Then the next morning when you take a shower, try not to use too much hot water so you don't frizz out your hair and dry it up.
Question

I do P. E every day, walk home and, have school for 8 hours. Will these methods work for that long?

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

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The humidity from walking home and sweating from P.E. will determine how long your straightened hair will last. If your hair is wavy or tightly curled, the humidity will definitely affect it and cause your curls to revert.
Question

So my hair is super curly and frizzy and I want it straight heatlessly. What should I do?

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

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Shampoo and condition your hair with products meant for smoothing and straightening hair. You should use hair ties to encourage straightening. It will help stretch out your curls. From there, use jumbo rollers, let your hair dry, take the rollers out, comb your hair, and it should be visibly straighter.