How to Straighten Your Hair

A prerequisite to any straightening procedure is to wash and condition your hair. If you are using any method that involves heat, it is important to use thermal heat protection products to keep your hair healthy. While considering different hair straightening techniques, one deciding factor will be the period of time for which you want it to remain straight. The following are the many different options on how to straighten your hair.

How to Straighten your Hair with a Straightening Iron
Straightening irons or flat irons are the most popular choice for temporary straightening. They are inexpensive, and produce poker straight silky hair. I recommend ionic ceramic flat irons, which are much kinder to your hair than metal irons. Straightening with flat irons usually lasts a day or two, or for some people, until they wash their hair. Here's how it's done: The first thing to do is to allow the irons to heat up to the desired heat. In the meantime, you could apply a heat protecting product to your hair, and if your hair is of the stubborn variety, then a cream straightener. Brush your hair and section off your hair, by taking the top hair (approximately all the hair above the temple level) and piling it on top of your head. Take a small section of your hair, and put it between the paddles of the iron. Try to start from close to the root, but keep a safe distance from the scalp. Now clamp down with the irons on the section of hair, and slowly bring it down to the tips of the strands. Repeat this technique with all the upper section, once you've completed the lower portion.

How to Straighten your Hair with a Blow Dryer
Most women blow dry their hair on a fairly regular bases, so I'm sure they are familiar with how to do this. This is a good option, if you want to straighten your hair without a straightener. However, it is likely to work only if you have wavy or slightly curly hair. Most people say that flat or paddle brushes (those with a rubber cushioned wide flat base and wire or nylon bristles) work best while blow drying. Run the brush from root to tip, while focusing the nozzle of the blow dryer on the hair, away from the scalp. If you find the rest of your hair getting dry while you straighten a particular section, you should rewet it before using the blow-dryer on it. For tight curls, you could use a product that controls frizz and curls.

How to Straighten tour Hair Properly (Permanently)
If you like the straight hair look, and are tired of styling your hair twice or thrice in a week, you should consider permanent hair straightening, using a home reconditioning product. As there are many different kinds of products available, the duration for which they keep your hair straight also differ, but it will be significantly longer than temporary straightening. While some products are mild and will work to straighten relaxed curls, stringer ones are needed for tightly curled hair. The only challenging part is application, and you may need a friend's help to get all your hair coated.

How to Straighten your Hair Naturally
If you want to straighten your hair the easy way, this home remedy is recommended by some. Fresh coconut extract is said to work as a hair straightener. It can be collected by grinding fresh coconut in a blender, and they straining it to collect the milk. Squeeze one lime into the extract, stir and refrigerate it for a while. Once you see a creamy foam floating on it, apply it to your hair and scalp. Wrap your hair with a wet hot towel for about half and hour. Then wash out your hair with shampoo. While this concoction is said to control curls, it is definitely a great natural conditioner.

The above descriptions on how to straighten your hair are cost effective options as compared to getting your hair straightened at a salon. The effectiveness of these straightening methods will depend on the texture of your hair, so it is best to try each one out, before settling on what works best for you.