Straight hair is back – here's how to do it, plus all the nostalgic '90s inspo you need
Super sleek, shiny straight hair is timeless, but it can be tricky to nail. Straight hair can be associated with lack of volume, limpness and split ends. So, here's your guide to achieving a truly sleek, silky finish, without the need for a salon visit.
In this article:
- What you need to achieve straight hair
- Straightening curly hair
- Straightening afro hair
- Straightening wavy hair
- Straightening fine hair
- Straight hair inspo
What you need to achieve straight hair
For those who want to fake a poker straight look, invest in a great straightening iron that's suited to your hair texture and length. Or, if you're a dab-hand at an at-home blow dry, then a great styling brush will suffice – allowing you to create sleek, straight hair styles with the greatest of ease.
You'll also want to find a great heat protection spray. It's one of the main things that hairdressers recommend to their clients. Why? Because, not only does it prevent damage and allow hair to grow, but it also helps maintain colour – ensuring hair looks vibrant and healthy until your next appointment. For best results, why not try a blow-dry cream that will protect hair from high heat while preventing humidity-induced frizz throughout the day.
Whether you have naturally flat hair, or big coils, or if you choose to use hair extensions, wigs or weaves, slick straight hair is very achievable. We asked COLOR WOW’s International Creative Director Dom Seeley, Creator and Celebrity Hairstylist Mikai McDermott, and Celebrity Hairstylist and founder Sam McKnight for their best tips to achieve the ultimate sleek straight hair. Regardless of your hair types, there are a few things you should remember: “it's all about your prep. Use haircare that is going to nourish as sleek, straight hair is all about polish and shine.” says Sam McKnight.
Straightening Afro Hair
Afro hair is probably the hardest hair type to straighten, but achieving your own silk press from home is more than achievable even on 4C coils and doesn't require you burning off your curls permanently. “Use a really hydrating shampoo and conditioner. Your hair needs to be properly hydrated, otherwise it will not straighten well and you will not get a very good silk press.” says Mikai McDermott. Post wash Mikai also recommends leaving the heavy oils and heavy leave-in conditioners behind, instead “use a nice silking mist”. She recommends a dime size amount of the Farouk Systems CHI Silk Infusion 355ml, £44.99, Sephora.
Mikai also reminds us: “Don't use your straighteners any higher than 190º celsius if you want to avoid heat damage.” Now, to be able to reach every strand and avoid too many passes with the straighteners – which can also cause even further heat damage – she recommends, “parting your hair in very small sections using a metal tail comb to chase through your hair. Use the chase method.” Lastly, don't forget this important step to make your silk press last: “when you're finished wrap your hair in a circular motion to set the silk press.” says Mikai.
Straightening Curly Hair
“For this hair type you need a lot more control as your aim is to transform the hair from thick and course to smooth, straight and silky. This hair type is on the harder side as it holds such a wide range of textures and curl patterns. You really want to make sure the hair is hydrated as this hair type can frizz easily.” Dom suggest saturating damp hair with a product like the Color Wow Dream Coat, £12.50, Look Fantastic and blow-dry it in to activate.
The brush you use it's also important, Sam says: “A great brush will ensure your hair doesn’t tangle and you don’t lose the will to blowdry half way through. Go for a round brush for curly or wavy textures to smooth.”
Dom adds: “With curly hair you need high heat high speed with maximum tension from your brush making sure to hit the roots on all sides of the sections you are blow-drying to decrease the frizz and make sure the roots are smooth as it will prolong your style.” He then suggest going in a with straighteners or flat iron to lock everything in. “Really smooth the texture and cuticle down, finishing off your blow-dry if you prefer an even sleeker result.”
Sam adds: “When I’m styling hair backstage or on a shoot and I know sometimes hair needs a little more hold to stay sleek and straight so I always mist Sam McKnight Modern Hairspray, £22 on each section before straightening. It has heat protection up to 230degrees celsius and the light layers of hold give hair beautiful shine and it lasts.”
Straightening Wavy Hair
“Wavy hair is a little resilient but easy to pull straight with a little heat and a round brush or paddle brush to loosen and soften the wave. As the hair has a medium density it's great as it's also had a more balanced weight distribution so when the hair is styled straight it holds and listens well. You want medium to full heat and medium to full airflow on your blow-dryer to reshape the hair from wavy to straight.” says Dom Seeley. Sam agrees, adding: “Use a heat protecting mist to prep, style and protects. You want a styling product that helps to smooth the cuticle for beautifully, glossy and healthy-looking hair.”
Time to break up with frazzled strands.
Dom Seeley also recommends going in with hybrid serum and oil that helps seal split ends and gives incredible shine. “If the hair is on the dryer side, it's great as it will help hydrate the hair but never leaving it feeling heavy or greasy. Think of it as a blow-dry aid as it has three types of heat protection too and can be used pre blowout and post blowout. All while protecting from UV rays as well.” As for the application step, Sam suggests blowdrying with a concentrator nozzle. “Its focus the air to smooth the cuticle. Point the nozzle down the hair. Never go up the hair and it roughens the cuticle creating fluff or frizz.”
Straightening Fine Hair
Although much easier, there is still a few tricks needed for that ultimate sleek straight do from naturally finer and thinner hair. “Less is more with product as finer hair can fall flat and people tend to wash it more often in their routine because of this issue. Typically this hair type has more flyaways as the hair has little weight so I would use Color Wow's Extra Mist-ical Shine Spray by Color Wow, £26 as it's super lightweight and great to be used alongside your flat iron.”
Both Sam and Dom suggest that using a paddle brush for this hair texture is fine. Dom adds: “Blow-dryer on medium to low speed and medium to low airflow as you don't want to disturb the hair. A paddle brush or vent brush to help with the drying or if you want volume, use a round brush all-over. No need for tension as it's a more delicate hair type so low tension is enough, you just want enough to make the hair dry and straight. Then it's your choice if you need to flat iron as this hair type can fall straight easily so maybe flat iron if you want to neaten, tidy or refresh.” Sam also suggests adding a nourishing cream to tame flyaways. “If you hair is fine use Sam Mcknight Happy Endings Nourishing Balm 80ml, £36, Space NK, it doesn't weigh hair down.”
Now, it's time to look to the celebs for some straight hair inspiration: from J-Lo's ultra-precise straight chop, to Naomi Campbell's extra long, extra straight hair, to pomaded pixie crops to choppy bobs, sleek side-sweeps and rainbow hair, it may be straight but it's anything but boring.
Does your natural hair needs a little straightening out? Don't worry, we've rounded up the very best hair straighteners for all hair types and budgets.
For more from GLAMOUR's Beauty Writer Shei Mamona, follow her on Instagram @sheimamona.