Generally y’all, it doesn’t matter what everybody else is likely to be doing (or fascinated with what you’re doing), you’ve acquired to go together with your finest thoughts regarding what is definitely finest for you. And as you may inform by the title of immediately’s dig in, what I’m referring to, this time, is being completely positive with selecting to be pure, and whereas additionally having straight hair on the identical time.
What these ladies are referred to as are “straight naturals,” and I’ve discovered it to be the most effective factor for me and my hair for a very long time. It’s principally as a result of, though I don’t select to make use of relaxers anymore, I do discover it simpler to model and preserve my hair when it’s straight (by way of different strategies that we are going to get into in only a second).
Part of what impressed me to speak about this extra in-depth was testing a YouTube video that popped up into my feed some time again. The channel is Shell Talks Hair, and the subject was “The Best Styling Routine for Natural Hair.” In it, she talked about a few of what it takes to be a straight pure and, effectively, since we’re nonetheless in the summertime season, I believed that it might be a good suggestion to share a couple of hacks that may enable you to out within the midst of all the warmth and humidity, if being a straight pure is what you select to do.
So, let’s dig in. Beginning (and ending) with a few different straight naturalistas and their suggestions, together with 10 of my very own that I’ve personally discovered to make being a straight pure fairly superior and (comparatively) straightforward — even when it’s scorching as literal hell open air.
1. Make investments
in a Actually (REALLY) Good Hair Dryer
If you happen to’re going to make the choice/dedication to be a straight pure, you completely can not skimp in your hair dryer. Since it will be enjoying such a pivotal function in stretching out your tresses, you wish to just remember to go along with one that may get the job accomplished with as little injury and drama as doable.
The one which I personally use is the CONFU Hair Dryer Skilled Ionic Salon Blow Dryer; that’s as a result of it dries my hair hella quick with out a variety of pulling and tugging (plus, the value was cheap). Alternatively, if cash grows on bushes in your world, first, can I come and reside with you? Secondly, you may wanna cop a Revair Reverse-Air Hair Dryer. Though it prices a couple of hundred bucks, the individuals I do know who personal it say that it’s effectively definitely worth the funding.
Another choices that you simply may wish to take a look at are featured in InStyle’s “The 8 Best Hair Dryers for a Blowout Minus the Damage, Tested & Reviewed” and Cosmopolitan’s “8 Blow Dryers for 4c Hair That I’m Obsessed With for My Natural Curls” articles. One other tip is to go to YouTube and put “best blow dryers for natural hair” within the search discipline. Naturalistas are filled with scorching hair hacks on that app.
2. Watch
the Hell Outta Some Silk Press Tutorials
Though I might think about myself to be a straight pure, actually, all I do is blow out my hair (take a look at “One Thing About Fall Is It’s The Ideal Season For Blowouts”) and go on about my life. Nonetheless, if you need yours bone straight to the purpose the place it appears such as you’ve relaxed it, a silk press (which is a styling approach that mixes blow drying with flat ironing) might be gonna be your finest wager.
And if you wish to preserve a couple of cash in your pocket by avoiding seeing knowledgeable stylist, YouTube additionally has every kind of DIY tutorials for the approach on there. Some examples are positioned right here, right here, right here, right here and right here. Oh, and there’s no level in figuring out tips on how to do a silk press when you don’t have an acceptable flat iron.
3. Strive
a Hair Straightening Shampoo
It’s sort of wild how, again within the day, shampoo was pushed as merely one thing that acquired your hair clear. Lately, although? There appear to be all types that may do every kind of stuff. Take hair-straightening shampoo, for instance. Though it’d sound like nothing greater than a advertising and marketing ploy, really, what might make them a sensible choice if you wish to be a straight pure is the truth that they include extra silicones and polymers than customary shampoos do.
It is a win as a result of they “weigh down” the hair a bit and likewise cut back frizz in order that your cuticles are smoother for an extended time period. If you happen to’d like to present hair straightening shampoo a shot, an inventory of among the finest ones are positioned right here.
4. Use
a Silicone-Primarily based Conditioner
Talking of silicone, when you’ve at all times puzzled if it’s one thing that you must strive, as an individual with excessive porosity hair myself, probably the greatest issues that has occurred to me and my hair is a silicone conditioner (the one I exploit is right here). My hair is softer, the detangling course of is far simpler and the way in which that it reduces blow drying time whereas additionally retaining my cuticles flat — GIRL! The rationale why silicone is ready to do it’s because they’re made up of a mix of artificial oils and waxes that assist to maintain your hair hydrated for an extended time period. Plus, they cut back humidity which is at all times the nemesis on the subject of attempting to maintain hair straight/stretched for longer durations of time within the hotter seasons.
That’s to not say that silicones are the holy grail for everybody as a result of they will generally be too heavy for finer hair strands. Additionally, when you don’t use a clarifying shampoo occasionally, they will really block your tresses from receiving extra of the moisture that it wants (from say, humectants).
Backside line, take a look at silicone conditioners out to see if it’s match for you personally. As for me and my home, although, they’re probably the greatest issues ever!
5. Rinse
Your Hair with Cool Water
Though you may assume that the way you rinse your hair isn’t actually that large of a deal, there’s really some science out right here that claims in any other case. The truth is, when you go for rinsing your hair in cool water, it seals your hair’s cuticles in order that they lie flat which reduces frizz. One other perk that comes with cool water is it really helps to lock in moisture (and moisturizing elements) for an extended time period. So, though scorching water may really feel completely wonderful in your scalp, it does are likely to dehydrate it in addition to your hair. So…for the well being of your hair and scalp — and in order that your hair stays straighter for an extended time period — rinsing your hair in cooler water actually is the easiest way to go.
6. Apply
a Warmth Protectant
Regardless of how a lot I like making use of warmth to my hair, I’m not blind to the truth that, if I’m not cautious, it will probably find yourself doing extra hurt than good to my strands. That’s as a result of, when excessive temps (or consistently making use of heating instruments) hit hair strands, it will probably severely dehydrate them and that may result in breakage. That’s why, as a straight pure, considered one of your best possible mates must be warmth protectant. I’ve shared earlier than that hair professionals say that in case your locks are on the thicker facet, you’d be higher off making use of a cream as a substitute of spray. Whereas that could be true, I’ve been rocking with L’Oréal Paris’s Superior Coiffure Smooth It Iron Straight Warmth Spray for a minute now and I’ve not one grievance.
7. Permit
Your Hair to Air Dry Earlier than Blow Drying. Attempt to Do 1-2 Passes Tops with the
Flat Iron.
There’s no level in being a straight pure if that’s solely going to be the case for a couple of months as a result of you find yourself damaging your hair a lot that you find yourself needing to cut all of it off. And so, even when your blow dryer is all issues fantastic, it’s nonetheless a clever apply to permit your hair to air dry, at the least 40-50 p.c earlier than making use of any warmth. That’s how one can considerably cut back the probabilities of overheating/frying your hair.
Talking of hair frying, on the subject of that flat iron of yours, if you need bone straight hair, attempt to preserve your hair sections comparatively small and slowly cross the iron by each. If you happen to do that, 1-2 passes actually must be sufficient. Do greater than that and it’s one other technique to make your hair susceptible to wreck, breakage and cut up ends.
8. Easy
Your Hair Out with Some Jojoba Oil
Regardless that I deep situation the heck outta my hair, I can inform an actual distinction every time I coat it with a little bit of chebe butter or a service oil like jojoba oil. Jojoba oil is bomb on a couple of ranges. It strengthens your hair. It helps to scale back breakage. It moisturizes your hair and scalp (with out making your hair really feel too greasy). It reduces cut up ends. It helps to make your hair strands thicker. And it additionally reduces frizz and provides sheen, in order that your straight pure is as easy and smooth as ever.
9. Apply
a Go away-In Conditioner on Your Ends at Night time
Only recently, I used to be speaking to somebody who was telling me that her hair by no means grows previous her shoulder blades. Now, though genetics completely play a job in hair size (and extra vital, hair size pace), if her hair continues to develop out from her scalp, technically, that implies that it ought to get longer with time. Y’all, the rationale why our hair tends to hit development plateaus is as a result of our hair breaks off (or we lower it) rattling close to as quick because it grows out.
And that’s why, one other surefire tip is to use a dab of a leave-in conditioner to your ends at evening. Not solely will it shield the oldest components of your hair however once more, the extra hydrated/coated your hair is, the simpler it’s to keep away from frizz — and if you need straight hair, you’ve acquired to keep away from frizz in any respect prices.
10. Spray
Some Oil Sheen on Your Locks
Aight, so some of us who I’ve a whole and whole perspective with proper now are the Bronner Brothers. The backstory is that this: I’ve acquired a sneaky suspicion that considered one of my all-time favourite merchandise, their Shea Butter Conditioning Spray, is discontinued as a result of it actually took me two days to seek out some cans that didn’t value over 20 bucks (I’m not exaggerating). SMDH. I personally adore it as a result of, as soon as I end styling my hair, it’s the sort of spray that offers my hair shine. As a bonus, it circumstances my strands very well for the remainder of the day too.
Anyway, now that I’m attempting to simply accept that seasons could also be altering on the subject of my “get me right” product, I feel that I’ll have discovered a stable different. It’s the Fantasia IC Shea Butter Sheen Spray. Though it’s not precisely just like the Bronner Brothers model, it’s nonetheless fairly good. Moreover, I feel what I’m coming to understand is it’s the shea butter within the spray sheen that’s really giving me what I’m in search of. Backside line, positively land on some in need of oil sheen. It’s the icing in your straight pure look, little question.
____
Is it simpler to have chemically relaxed hair within the summertime? Eh, in all probability (I imply, why lie?). Is it inconceivable to maintain your pure curl sample and nonetheless be a straight pure proper by right here, although? Completely not.
Observe the following tips and you may have (fairly) smooth hair — the type which you can swap again to curly at a dime if/while you really feel prefer it.
One thing that the relaxed ladies merely can’t do, chile. #justsaying
Let’s make issues inbox official! Join the xoNecole e-newsletter for love, wellness, profession, and unique content material delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured picture by Shutterstock
