How To Care For Straight Hair - smartesthairstyles.com - Straight hair can often be easy to maintain, but there are some techniques to keep in mind when trying to keep it looking its best. You should shampoo and condition your hair according to its thickness and consider whether your hair is naturally straight or chemically straightened when opting for other styling and conditioning techniques.
1. Shampoo and condition
Shampoo and condition medium to thick straight hair 2-3 times a week. Naturally straight hair of medium or thick texture can be shampooed 2-3 times a week or every other day if you are very active.
Use a regular shampoo, moisturizing shampoo or color-treated shampoo when using color in your hair.
Shampoo naturally fine, straight hair every day when it's greasy. One downside to naturally straight, fine hair is that it can quickly become greasy. The natural oils from your scalp move through your hair faster when it's straight, and this can give it a greasy look. If this is the case for you, wash your hair every day or at least several times a week.
For best results, use a shampoo labeled "volumizing" or "light."
Only apply conditioner to the ends if you have fine, straight hair. Naturally fine, straight hair can easily be weighed down by conditioner. For this hair type, use a light or volumizing conditioner and only apply to the ends. This helps reduce split ends while relieving the top sections of your hair from the extra weight of the conditioner.
Shampoo chemically straightened hair sparingly. Chemically straightening or relaxing your hair makes it more prone to dryness than non-chemically treated hair. Because shampooing further dries your hair, you should wash your hair as infrequently as possible.
If your hair gets dirty between washes, you can use a dry shampoo as an alternative to washing it more often.
Use a moisturizing shampoo or a shampoo specifically formulated for straight hair for the best results.
Maintain chemically straightened hair daily. While you should rarely shampoo chemically straightened hair, conditioning is often a must. Use a moisturizing conditioner or conditioner for straight hair every day by applying under the roots and rinsing out with lukewarm water while in the shower.
Use a deep conditioner once a week if your hair starts to look particularly dry.
Use deep conditioners and sulfate-free shampoo on relaxed Afro-textured hair. Chemically straightened hair with an afro texture is particularly prone to dryness. Use deep conditioners and leave-in conditioners to keep your hair hydrated and shiny. Sulfates in shampoos dry out the hair during cleansing, so avoid those as well.
If a deep conditioner needs to be rinsed out, be sure to rinse it out in lukewarm rather than hot water. Using hot water can further dry out your hair.
Use shampoos and conditioners that are chemical-free. Certain chemical ingredients are not good for any hair type, including straight and straightened hair. Ingredients to avoid include sulfates, parabens, fragrances, triclosan, and polyethylene glycol.
These ingredients have been shown to be too harsh on the hair and scalp (sulphates and fragrances), carcinogenic (parabens and polyethylene glycol) or linked to immune system problems (triclosan).
Look for products that are labeled as sulfate and paraben free and are naturally scented with an essential oil.
Cut back on shampooing if dandruff appears. Sometimes frequent washing of straight hair can cause dandruff because while shampoo removes oils from your hair, it also dries out your scalp. The first thing to try when you get dandruff is to reduce how often you wash your hair.
If you wash your hair every day, reduce it to 2-3 times a week.
If trying doesn't help, look for shampoos and conditioners that are specifically designed to treat dandruff. In most cases, the label will say "anti-dandruff." Products containing tea tree oil are also known to help with dandruff problems.
Wear a shower cap on days you don't wash your hair. Wetting or rinsing your hair when you're not applying shampoo or conditioner in the shower can dry out your hair quickly. Put your hair under a shower cap while bathing or showering if you're not going to wash it that day.
2. Style naturally straight hair
Get your hair trimmed every 4-6 weeks to remove split ends. Straight hair is the hair type most prone to split ends or ends that look frayed, dull, and dried out. Combat split ends by trimming your hair regularly or every 4-6 weeks.
If you can't trim as often, try other techniques to prevent split ends, such as:
If you're adept at using scissors on your own hair, you can also try trimming your own split ends.
Wear your hair in a bun or braids to hide split ends. Sometimes split ends are unavoidable with straight hair. To hide them, style your hair in a bun or braid. If your hair is too short for a bun or braids, try small clips instead to twist your hair in multiple places all over your head.
Try a layered haircut or bob to add volume to your hair. Straight hair can often look like it lacks volume and bounce. If you want your hair to look thicker or bouncier, ask your barber for a layered cut or a bob. If you like your hair long and a bob is too intimidating for you, your stylist can give you suggestions on what type of layered cut would look good on you.
Look at pictures online or in hair salon style books to get more ideas for layered cuts and bobs.
Add volume by blow drying your hair upside down. While blow-drying too frequently can dry out your hair, blow-drying can work wonders on thin straight hair to temporarily add volume. After washing and conditioning your hair, stand with your head down and use a round brush while applying the air to your hair while it's upside down.
Apply a pea-sized amount of lightweight mousse near your roots for an extra volumizing effect when trying this technique.
If you notice your hair becoming dry or damaged, reduce the frequency of blow-drying to 1-2 times a week and add heat protectant to your hair before blow-drying. Lowering the temperature setting on your blow dryer can also reduce damage.
Try braiding your hair at night to add waves. Another way to temporarily add volume to your hair is to add waves to it. Get natural waves in your hair by braiding it when it's wet for the best effect, although braiding it when it's dry also works.
Sleep with your braids overnight and take them out in the morning to see the new waves in your hair.
Make sure your braids are dry before detangling them. If this is not the case, you can use a hair dryer.
Be sparing with gels, mousses and hairsprays. Many products weigh down most straight hair. If you must use these products, use small, pea-sized amounts of gel or mousse, or a few quick spritzes of spray, and use ones labeled volumizing or lightweight.
Products containing alcohol can contribute to dry hair. Alcohol is most commonly found in hairsprays and some gels. Try to avoid products containing alcohol.
3. Care for chemically straightened hair
Avoid dry heat and hot water. Chemically straightened or relaxed hair is particularly prone to drying out. Avoid blow drying, using curling irons or flat irons, and washing your hair in hot water as often as possible. Use lukewarm water when washing and rinsing your hair to reduce hair drying.
If you must blow dry your hair, try using a heat protectant spray before drying it.
Comb your hair with a wide-toothed comb before brushing. To protect your ends from split ends and breakage, use a wide-toothed comb to remove tangles before brushing your hair. Start detangling at the bottom and work your way to the roots. If your hair is wet or particularly tangled, apply a leave-in conditioner before combing to prevent your hair strands from breaking.
A wide paddle brush is the best type of brush for chemically straightened hair.
Find products specifically designed for chemically straightened hair. Chemically straightened and relaxed hair often requires special moisturizing shampoos, conditioners and deep conditioners. Try to use these products as often as possible to ensure your hair is getting adequate moisture.
Protect relaxed Afro-textured hair with oils and heat protectants. If you use any type of heat on your relaxed hair, work an oil through your hair with your fingers before using. There are oils specifically formulated for relaxed hair, but regular kitchen-grade olive oil will work, too.
For heat protectants, look for non-alcohol based ones, as these can further dry out your hair. Heat protectants enriched with keratin proteins are the best choice.
Fix split ends with a trim every 4-6 weeks. Similar to naturally straight hair, chemically straightened hair is also prone to split ends. Try to get your hair trimmed every 4-6 weeks to keep split ends at bay.
If you can't get your hair trimmed as often, take other preventive measures against split ends, such as:
Protect your hair from breakage with scarves and hats. Chemically treated and relaxed afro textured hair is more susceptible to sun damage than untreated hair. When spending time in the sun, protect your hair with a stylish hat or scarf.
Relaxed afro-textured hair also tends to break up in your sleep, so try wrapping your hair in a scarf overnight. For best results, choose a silk scarf.
Use hot oil remedies for hair that looks dry. Your hair can become dry when chemically straightened or loosened, even if you take preventive measures. Hot oil treatments can be used up to once a week for dry, damaged hair.
Look for hot oil products that are specifically designed for chemically treated or relaxed hair.
Hot oil products can differ in terms of application techniques. Follow package directions for best results.
