How to Straighten Thick, Curly Hair Without Damaging It

Thick, curly hair can be an unmanageable mess! However, you don't want to damage it by excessively straightening it into manageability. The best way to deal with this is by straightening as little as possible (a couple times a week, at most).

EditSteps

EditGetting Started

1. Invest in a good flatiron. The most important thing you can do for your curly hair if you want to straighten it well is to get a really good flatiron. Find one that has multiple heat settings, so that you can experiment and find the heat setting that best straightens your hair.^[1]
   
   
   • Your flatiron should last about ten years, but you don't want one that has been around since the Dark Ages.
   • Curly-haired girls will want to look for gold or titanium plated flatiron, because these are better for your hair.
2. Make sure your flatiron is the right size. You want one that has wider plates that range in size from one and a half inches to two inches wide. This lets you cover more surface area in less time.^[2]
   
   
   • You should also be wary of the weight of your flatiron. You're going to be dragging it through your hair frequently and straightening takes time. You're not trying to end up looking like a bodybuilder because your flatiron is too heavy.
3. Wash and condition your hair. When you straighten your hair, especially hair that is thick and curly, you need to wash it first. This prepares your hair for the straighten process. It's good to use gentle products because you're about to put your hair through a process that is tough on it.
   
   
   • Use a smoothing conditioner to get your hair on the right track before you begin straightening it.
4. Dry your hair so that it is damp with a towel. It's best to use a microfiber towel or a t-shirt as a towel. These are gentler on the hair cuticle and lead to less frizz when you have thick curly hair.
   
   
   • Getting your hair to the damp stage before blow-drying it means that you spend less time blow-drying it so that it isn't as damaged as it could be.
5. Apply heat protector when you’ve finished showering. You're looking for something that helps to product your hair while you're straightening. Because of the oils in this product you need to apply it two and a half inches from your scalp.^[3]
   
   
   • A little goes a long way, so use only a very small amount (little more than a drop of product).
   • Apply from the bottom of your hair up, using your fingers as a comb.
   • If absolutely possible, find a heat protector that doesn't have oils or silicone and can protect your hair from frizz.
6. Blow-dry your hair first. Because you can burn your hair if you try to straighten it when it's wet or damp you need to blow-dry it first. With a round-bristle brush pull your hair as flat and as straight as possible while you blow-dry it.
   
   
   • Alternate between your blow-dryer's hot and cool settings so that you are in less danger of overheating your hair.
   • Remember that this can take awhile when you have thick, curly hair. You really do want to make sure your hair is completely dry before you start to straighten it.
   • Keep the nozzle facing downwards as you blow-dry to cut down on frizz.

EditStraightening Your Hair

1. Section your hair. This does not mean that you are randomly grabbing fistfuls and hair and trying to straighten those. When you have sections that are too thick the iron can't straighten them properly and you will need to reapply heat which is more likely to cause damage to your hair.
   
   
   • When you create sections it is easier to keep track of your progress. So split your hair into the middle at the back and bring it forward. This gives you two sections. Because you're trying to straighten thick, curly hair you'll need to separate it into at least four sections. Two on top and two on the bottom.
   • Make sure the rest of the sections are clipped out of the way when you are working on one of them.
2. Pick the right heat setting. Because your hair is thicker and curlier you're going to need a higher heat setting. While you still probably won't want to go all the way up to 450 degrees, you'll need to do a little experimenting to see what temperature works best to straighten your hair.
   
   
   • If your hair is color treated as well as thick and curly you will need to stay in the safer zone of 300 degrees to 350 degrees.
3. Straighten the bottom sections of your hair first. You want to clip the top two sections on the top of your head so they're out of the way. Divide the two sections you've already created on the bottom part of your hair into smaller sections, about one to two inches wide.^[4]
   
   
   • Use a comb or brush to pull a section of hair as taut as possible with your one hand, while smoothing your flatiron along that section with the other hand.
   • You start at the roots of your hair and move the ends of your hair in one fluid smoothing motion.
4. Avoid going over the same sections more than once. This rule isn't set in stone, especially for thick, curly hair, but the more you avoid going over your sections more than once, the less damaged your hair is going to be in the long run.
   
   
5. Finish up with some smoothing product. This will give you the smooth, polished look and cut down on frizz as much as possible. It's good to have a smoothing product that resists humidity, if you're living in a place where that's an issue.
   
   
   • Serums are the best choice for thick hair.
   • It's also a good idea to apply it to your hair after it's cooled down from the straightening process. Coat a brush with product and brush it through your hair for an even application.

EditTroubleshooting Thick Hair

1. Add volumizing spray if your hair is too flat. Sometimes people have a tendency to over-straighten their hair, especially if they have thick or curly hair. If this happens then the best thing to do is add a little volumizing spray to your hair to perk it up a bit.
   
   
2. Tamp down on frizz with product. Frizz is the bane of every curly girl's existence. This is especially true if you live somewhere that has lots of rain or humidity. Product is your friend. Use it.
   
   
   • There is some debate about silicon based serums. Some say they are the best thing ever and some people swear that they make their hair too greasy. You'll have to decide what works best for you, silicone or no silicone.
3. Split super curly hair into quarters horizontally rather than thirds. This can make your hair a lot more manageable when you're straightening it and it will help you to get those pesky back portions of your hair.
   
   
4. Stop if you hear your hair start to sizzle. Two things can cause your hair to sizzle when you're straightening it. One, your hair is not completely dry. If this is the case, cease with the straightening and get with the drying.^[5]
   
   
   • If your hair is perfectly dry it could be that there is excess product build-up in your hair. Make sure that you're selective about which products you put in your hair (it's a good idea to avoid alcohol based products).

EditVideo

EditTips

• A good tactic for kids going to school is to straighten your hair the day before and do touch-ups in the morning, otherwise you may not make it to school on time.
• If you prefer to towel dry, use an old T-shirt instead of a towel to avoid hair breakage (frizz).
• Avoid excessive amounts of heat or chemicals as you will damage your hair.
• Try not to straighten your hair so much that it has NO life left, leave a little curl to the ends so you don't look like you have a wig on.
• Invest in a good quality straightener, otherwise you may have many, many bad hair days.
• You may want a dryer with an iron switch, as it will help prevent the dreaded "static head".

EditWarnings

• If you repeatedly straighten your hair you will damage it, no matter how careful you are. Consider wearing your curls naturally.
• Never ever put a flat iron on top of a towel, it will slowly burn.
• Never use a flat iron on wet or damp hair. You will burn your hair and cause irreversible damage
• Do not towel dry. This tangles your hair and will make it curl.
• Do not leave a flat iron unattended. It can burn a house down.
• It’s best to avoid straightening your hair more than once or twice a month, because too much more than that and you will damage your hair no matter what heat treatments and techniques you use.^[6]

EditThings You'll Need

• Round Brush
• Blow Dryer
• Flat Iron
• Heat-Protection Spray
• De-frizz serum or cream
• Wide-tooth comb
• Conditioner
• Shampoo
• Towel
• Oil sheen or grease

EditRelated wikiHows

• Make Pin Straight Hair
• Straighten Hair Quickly
• Flat Iron Hair
• Follow the Curly Girl Method for Curly Hair
• Completely Straighten Thick Unruly Hair
• Quickly Straighten Hair for School
• Flat Iron Hair Without Causing Damage

EditSources and Citations

• Videos provided by YoursNaturally11

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