Natural hair can be versatile, but one of the biggest challenges faced by people with natural curly or coily hair is maintaining straight hair. Whether you want a sleek, smooth look for a special occasion or desire to wear your hair straight regularly, the right products are crucial. Using high-quality straightening products will help you achieve and maintain a straight look while preserving the health of your natural hair.
In this article, we will explore the best products that can keep natural hair straight, how they work, and what benefits they offer.
1. Heat Protectants
Heat is often necessary when straightening natural hair, but it can also be damaging. This is where heat protectants come into play. They form a barrier between your hair and the heat, preventing it from drying out, becoming brittle, or suffering from breakage.
How Heat Protectants Work
Heat protectants contain silicones, proteins, and other ingredients that coat your hair strands. These substances reduce the direct impact of the heat from styling tools like flat irons or blow dryers. Additionally, they lock in moisture, ensuring that your hair stays hydrated and shiny even after heat application.
Popular Heat Protectant Products for Natural Hair
CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray: A lightweight spray that offers superior heat protection while leaving hair silky.
TRESemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray: This affordable heat protectant is designed to keep your hair soft and smooth under high heat.
2. Smoothing Shampoos and Conditioners
A key foundation for maintaining straight hair is using a smoothing shampoo and conditioner. These products work to soften and reduce frizz, which makes the process of straightening easier and more effective.
How Smoothing Shampoos and Conditioners Work
Smoothing shampoos and conditioners are formulated with ingredients like keratin, silk proteins, and natural oils. They hydrate the hair, smooth the cuticles, and reduce frizz, making it easier to style hair straight. Regular use of these products helps in maintaining the straightened look for longer periods.
Recommended Smoothing Shampoos and Conditioners
OGX Ever Straightening + Brazilian Keratin Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner: Infused with keratin and coconut oil, this duo softens and smooths hair, helping it stay straight and frizz-free.
L’Oréal Paris Elvive Smooth Intense Frizz Taming Shampoo and Conditioner: This set is designed to combat frizz and smooth hair for up to 48 hours, making it easier to achieve straight styles.
3. Anti-Frizz Serums and Creams
Frizz is one of the biggest obstacles to maintaining straight hair, especially for those with natural hair textures. Anti-frizz serums and creams can help you fight this battle and keep your hair looking sleek and smooth.
How Anti-Frizz Products Work
Anti-frizz products typically contain silicones or oils that coat the hair and seal the cuticle. This helps to lock in moisture and keep humidity from penetrating the hair shaft, preventing frizz and flyaways. These products are best used before styling and as a finishing product to smooth out any remaining frizz.
Top Anti-Frizz Serums and Creams
John Frieda Frizz Ease Extra Strength Serum: A cult favorite, this serum tames even the most stubborn frizz and leaves hair shiny and straight.
Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream: This cream is lightweight yet effective in keeping frizz at bay while providing nourishment for your hair.
4. Straightening Creams and Balms
Straightening creams and balms are specifically designed to assist in the straightening process. These products can be applied before blow-drying or flat-ironing your hair, ensuring that the straight style holds for longer.
How Straightening Creams and Balms Work
These products work by temporarily loosening the curl pattern of your hair. They often contain silicones, keratin, or protein complexes that strengthen the hair and make it more manageable. When combined with heat styling, straightening creams and balms create a longer-lasting straight finish.
Best Straightening Creams and Balms for Natural Hair
Kiehl’s Heat-Protective Silk Straightening Cream: This lightweight cream protects hair from heat while giving it a smooth and sleek look.
Mizani Thermasmooth Smooth Guard Smoothing Serum: Ideal for coarse or thick natural hair, this serum helps to straighten hair and maintain a smooth finish.
5. Hair Oils
Hair oils are essential for locking in moisture and adding shine to natural hair. Certain oils also have smoothing properties that help keep hair straight and frizz-free for an extended period.
How Hair Oils Work
Hair oils are rich in fatty acids and vitamins that nourish the hair. They also help to seal the cuticles, which prevents moisture loss and keeps the hair smooth. Some oils, like argan oil and coconut oil, can even provide mild heat protection, making them great to use before or after heat styling.
Top Hair Oils for Straightening Natural Hair
MoroccanOil Treatment: Infused with argan oil, this treatment softens, smooths, and gives hair a radiant shine while controlling frizz.
OGX Renewing + Argan Oil of Morocco: This oil helps to keep natural hair straight while adding moisture and shine to prevent dryness.
6. Blow-Dry Sprays
Blow-drying is an essential part of straightening natural hair, and using a blow-dry spray can make the process quicker and more effective. These sprays are designed to speed up drying time while providing smooth, frizz-free results.
How Blow-Dry Sprays Work
Blow-dry sprays typically contain lightweight silicones and other conditioning agents that reduce frizz and protect the hair from the heat. They can cut down on the time it takes to blow-dry your hair, which helps minimize heat exposure and potential damage.
Recommended Blow-Dry Sprays
Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Spray: This spray reduces drying time by up to 50% while providing heat protection and smoothing benefits.
Redken Pillow Proof Blow Dry Express Primer Spray: A heat-protectant and time-saving blow-dry spray that protects hair from heat and prevents frizz.
7. Keratin Treatments
Keratin treatments are a long-term solution for those who want to keep their natural hair straight for an extended period. These treatments involve applying a keratin solution to the hair and then sealing it with heat. The result is straighter, smoother hair that can last for several weeks to months.
How Keratin Treatments Work
Keratin is a protein that is naturally present in hair, and keratin treatments work by replenishing this protein in your hair strands. The treatment helps to smooth the hair cuticle and relax curl patterns. While keratin treatments are often done in salons, there are at-home versions that can provide similar results.
SEE ALSO: How to Keep 4C Hair Straight in Humidity?
Popular Keratin Treatments for Straightening Natural Hair
Brazilian Blowout Acai Anti-Frizz Smoothing Treatment: A salon-grade keratin treatment that leaves hair smooth, straight, and frizz-free for up to 12 weeks.
OGX Ever Straightening + Brazilian Keratin Therapy Smoothing Treatment: An at-home keratin treatment that helps to straighten natural hair and maintain smooth results.
8. Finishing Sprays
After straightening your natural hair, using a finishing spray can help lock in the style and keep your hair sleek. These sprays add shine, control frizz, and provide a light hold to ensure your hair stays in place.
How Finishing Sprays Work
Finishing sprays contain ingredients that provide light hold and add shine without weighing down the hair. They also form a barrier to protect your straightened hair from humidity, preventing it from reverting to its natural texture.
Best Finishing Sprays for Straightened Natural Hair
Oribe Superfine Hair Spray: A light-hold spray that adds a glossy finish and keeps hair smooth without making it stiff or crunchy.
Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Hairspray: This finishing spray controls frizz and adds shine while keeping hair protected from humidity.
Conclusion
Maintaining straight hair on natural textures requires the right combination of products. From heat protectants to smoothing shampoos, anti-frizz serums, and finishing sprays, these products help ensure that your hair remains straight, shiny, and healthy. Whether you want a short-term sleek look or a longer-lasting solution like a keratin treatment, choosing the best products for your hair type is essential. By incorporating these products into your hair care routine, you can achieve and maintain beautifully straight natural hair while minimizing damage and frizz.