How to Straighten Your Curly Hair

Many women seem to have a “grass is greener” view of their hair. When their hair is straight, they want it to have more body. Meanwhile, many women with curly locks yearn for their hair to be long and luxurious. The truth is that there is room for all types of styles, and true hair beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But if you are a woman with curly hair and you grow envious of seeing all the models with long flowing hair on magazine covers, there is hope that you can enjoy that desired look too.

When dealing with curly hair remember to keep calm and don’t do anything rash. Frustration can lead to over-treatment which in turn leads to an increase in frizz and split ends. Curly hair needs to be treated like straight hair in terms of proper washing, combing, and drying. You will always want to keep your hair moisturized and provide it with proper nutrients via a good conditioner. Make sure to avoid over-washing as stripping curly hair of its moisture will only serve to make it less manageable. When you keep your hair healthy this will allow you the luxury of having more options than simply sporting all that curly hair.

With a nice nourished head of hair on your head you’ll be ready for the next step. This is when you will decide which technique you’d like to use to straighten your hair. The two main methods are blow drying and using a straightening iron. Both apply heat to your hair to achieve the desired effect. But more importantly, neither of them should be done to excess. The intense heat can be incredibly damaging so you’ll have to pick and choose the times you want to have straight hair. In order to curb the effects of the heat, you can apply products to your hair that maintain moisture.

Before you straighten your hair, take a relaxing shower and make sure your hair is thoroughly clean. Then pat your head dry to prepare it for the next step. Blow dry your hair evenly in small increments so that heat is distributed evenly. You may need clips to keep hair in place so that you can concentrate on one section at a time. Some women like to brush their hair while they blow dry, but you can also use your fingers to do the guiding and straightening. Find the best way that allows you to maintain focus on what you’re doing, making sure not to let the dryer get to close to your hair. If the blow drying process does not work alone then you may have to bring in the straightening iron. Find an iron that fits your hands and allows you the best manoeuvrability since you might be working with a large area in terms of hair volume. The technique for an iron will be similar to using a blow dryer. Keep the treatment specified and concentrated. Let the straight hair build upon itself rather than trying to do your entire head in one fell swoop.

And never forget about the importance of clean hair in general. Dirty greasy hair not only looks bad, but it feels that way too. Moreover, a build up of oil on your hair can lead to other problems such as acne on the face and around the hairline. If you have long hair, it’s important to keep it out of your face as much as possible. When it comes to how to get rid of acne, keeping hair clean is absolutely essential if you notice breakouts in areas where hair touches your face.

The final thing to remember is that curly hair is not as bad as you may think. There might be pressure to straighten it, but rest assured that there are women out there who would love to have the bounce that you do. And it's not like a major health problem brought on by high cholesterol foods that makes you have to exercise. So when the mood strikes by all means try a new straight look, but during the times in between, appreciate your curly hair for its unique attributes. In the end, as long as you maintain a healthy regiment of hair upkeep you will be in the best position to try out more styles.