How can I straighten my hair permanently without a straightener?

To turn your wavy or curly hair into a bone-straight 'do, stylists typically look to chemical treatments and hot tools. And while options like Keratin and a Brazilian blowout certainly get the job done, overtime, they can be detrimental to your hair health. There are, however heat-free methods that allow you to straighten your hair naturally—damage-free!—using everything from milk to flat wraps at home. Of course, they don't work for everyone (they're best for folks with wavy or fine hair) and the results won't be quite as sleek as using a relaxant and a flat iron, but if you are looking to try straightening your hair the natural way, here are the most effective options.


If you're skipping the heat and chemicals, set your expectations.

You can certainly straighten your hair at home without heat, but it won't be easy. "All of these methods take time and aren’t perfectly straight techniques,"says Aaron Grenia, the co-founder of IGK Hair and Salons. Celebrity stylist Orlando Pita, founder of Orlando Pita Play, concurs: "Sure, it's possible but it's important not to get your hopes too high, particularly if your hair is extremely curly to begin with."

Ready to go? After you shower, try this.

It might conjure up images of your grandmother, but good old fashioned rollers are still worth using! "A wet set is the best way to straighten your hair naturally, especially if you have very curly or coarse hair," says Pita. "Start by applying a light spray or mousse at the roots and comb through, making sure your hair is tangle-free. (You can try these detanglers.)

Next, apply foam or velcro rollers around the head to damp, not wet, hair. Rollers can be used across all hair types and textures. Place big rollers at the crown. By playing with the size of the rollers, you can create a bump at the root or a nice curve at the bottom, depending on the desired look. Make sure hair is completely dry before removing rollers," encourages Pita.

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How can I straighten my hair permanently without a straightener?

How can I straighten my hair permanently without a straightener?

Not into rollers? You can also opt for a leave-in conditioner post shower to "hydrate your hair and protect it from frizz," says Grenia. Next, he recommends parting your hair, brushing it straight, then letting it air dry for five to ten minutes before brushing it straight again. "Repeat until your hair is dry, adding more leave-in conditioner if needed. This method takes time and won't get you perfectly straight, but it helps you avoid heat styling." A brush specially designed for damp hair, like the Wet Brush, is a good bet.

You can also naturally straighten your hair overnight.

Start by showering, then comb or brush through your wet hair. Next up: the flat wrapping technique. "Take your damp hair, and comb sections flat to your head. Wrap your hair around your head until all the length is up, and pin it tightly with bobby pins," says Grenia. Then, wrap a silk scarf to cover and protect your hair from frizzing during sleep." When you wake up, your hair will be smoother and straighter. Pro tip: use a satin pillowcase too, in order to reduce friction. Here are some great options.

Feel adventurous? Give milk a go.

"Coconut milk is supposed to be the best for a 'milk mask,' but most milk (besides almond) can work work," says Grenia, noting that the heavier the milk the better. "Leave it in like a conditioner for about ten minutes, rinse, and then let it dry naturally." Grenia cautions that this method works best for wavy hair, and doesn't provide the same straightening benefits for curly hair. "It will just soften the curls," he says.

But, will these techniques work permanently?

Unfortunately, no. But, there's always hair botox!


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Nadine Jolie Courtney is a lifestyle writer whose work has appeared in Town & Country, Robb Report, and Angeleno; a graduate of Barnard College, her fourth book, All-American Muslim Girl, was named a Kirkus Best Book of 2019. She lives in Santa Monica, California, where she posts too many photos of her daughter on Instagram.

This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Why destroy your hair with heat and styling tools when you can straighten it with some basic home hacks involving kitchen components? The first question that pops into your mind is how to straighten the hair naturally?

Straight hair will always be fashionable. Many people desire the classic, smooth, and ultra-chic look of straight hair. Particularly when your hair is frizzy and unmanageable most of the time. However, over-styling your hair or choosing permanent straightening might damage your tresses(1).  Natural hair straightening techniques may take a little longer to show effects, but they will make your hair feel and look amazing. We have compiled a list of the top 10 natural hair straightening techniques you can try at home. Keep scrolling.

How To Naturally Straighten Your Hair At Home 

  1. Coconut Milk And Lemon Juice For Hair Straightening
  2. Hot Oil Treatment For Hair Straightening
  3. Milk Spray For Hair Straightening
  4. Eggs And Olive Oil For Hair Straightening
  5. Milk And Honey For Hair Straightening
  6. Rice Flour And Egg Mask For Hair Straightening
  7. Banana And Papaya Mask For Hair Straightening
  8. Aloe Vera For Hair Straightening
  9. Banana, Curd And Olive Oil For Hair Straightening
  10. Apple Cider Vinegar For Hair Straightening

Note: These remedies will not give you pin-straight hair. However, they will help calm frizz and make your hair smooth and healthy, making it look straighter.

1. Coconut Milk And Lemon Juice For Hair Straightening

Straighten hair naturally with coconut milk and lemon juice

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need

  • ¼ cup Coconut Milk
  • 1 tbsp Lemon Juice

Prep Time

Overnight

Processing Time

30 minutes

Process

  1. Combine the coconut milk and the lemon juice and mix well.
  2. Refrigerate the mixture overnight.
  3. In the morning, apply the mixture to your hair, from the roots to the tips.
  4. Leave it on for about 30 minutes.
  5. Wash off with cool water and a mild sulfate free shampoo.

How Often?

Once a week.

Why This Works

Lemon juice helps straighten your hair. In combination with coconut milk, it conditions your hair while giving your scalp a vitamin C boost (2). This mask will leave your hair feeling silky and soft, and you will notice that your hair is smoother right after the first treatment.

2. Hot Oil Treatment For Hair Straightening

Straighten hair naturally with a hot oil treatment

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need

  • 1 tbsp Castor Oil
  • 1 tbsp Coconut Oil

Prep Time

2 minutes

Processing Time

45 minutes

Process

  1. Combine the oils and heat the blend for a couple of seconds until it is slightly warm.
  2. Apply the oil to your scalp and hair.
  3. Once your hair is completely saturated with oil, massage your scalp for about 15 minutes.
  4. Leave the oil on for an additional 30 minutes.
  5. Wash your hair with cool water and mild sulfate free shampoo.

How Often?

Twice a week.

Why This Works

Castor oil conditions and repairs your hair like no other ingredient. It helps control frizz while leaving your hair feeling soft and hydrated. Using this ingredient helps smooth out your hair and add shine.

3. Milk Spray For Hair Straightening

Straighten hair naturally with a milk spray

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need

  • ¼ cup Milk
  • Spray Bottle

Prep Time

2 minutes

Processing Time

30 minutes

Process

  1. Pour the milk into the spray bottle.
  2. Spritz your hair until it is saturated with milk.
  3. Leave the milk in your hair for about 30 minutes.
  4. Rinse with cool water.

How Often?

1-2 times a week.

Why This Works

The proteins in milk help fortify the shafts of your hair, controlling frizz and making your hair appear straight (3).

4. Eggs And Olive Oil For Hair Straightening

Straighten hair naturally with eggs and olive oil

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need

  • 2 Whole Eggs
  • 3 tbsp Olive Oil

Prep Time

2 minutes

Processing Time

1 hour

Process

  1. Whisk the ingredients together until they’re well combined.
  2. Apply the mixture to your hair.
  3. Leave the mixture on for about an hour.
  4. Wash your hair with cool water and mild sulfate-free shampoo.

How Often?

Once a week.

Why This Works

Eggs are packed with proteins which help nourish and smoothen your hair while olive oil is an excellent hair conditioner (4), (5). Combining these ingredients will give you soft, frizz-free hair.

5. Milk And Honey For Hair Straightening

Straighten hair naturally with milk
and honey

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need

  • ¼ cup Milk
  • 2 tbsp Honey

Prep Time

2 minutes

Processing Time

2 hours

Process

  1. Mix the milk and honey until they are well combined.
  2. Apply this mixture onto your hair until it is fully covered.
  3. Leave the mixture on for about 2 hours.
  4. Wash your hair with cool water and a mild sulfate-free shampoo.

How Often?

Once a week.

Why This Works

While the proteins in milk help nourish and fortify your hair, the honey acts as an emollient which helps seal moisture in, further controlling frizz (3), (6). This mixture will help make your hair super smooth and shiny.

6. Rice Flour And Egg Mask For Hair Straightening

Straighten hair naturally with a rice flour and egg mask

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need

  • 1 Egg White
  • 5 tbsp Rice Flour
  • 1 cup Fuller’s Earth
  • ¼ cup Milk

Prep Time

5 minutes

Processing Time

1 hour

Process

  1. Combine the ingredients until you get a smooth mixture. (You can add more milk in case the mixture is too thick, and more fuller’s earth if it is too thin.)
  2. Cover your hair with the mask.
  3. Leave the mask on for about an hour.
  4. Rinse with cool water and a mild sulfate-free shampoo.

How Often?

Once a week.

Why This Works

All the ingredients in this pack work together to eliminate buildup and leave your hair feeling smooth and squeaky clean. The pack nourishes your hair, eliminates dirt, and repairs damage, giving it a healthy and straight look.

7. Banana And Papaya Mask For Hair Straightening

Straighten hair naturally with a banana and papaya mask

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need

  • 1 Ripe Banana
  • 1 big piece of Papaya

Prep Time

5 minutes

Processing Time

45 minutes

Process

  1. Make sure you have equal parts of papaya and banana.
  2. Mash the ingredients together until the mixture is free of lumps. (Optionally, you can blend them together to get a smooth paste.)
  3. Apply this mixture onto your hair.
  4. Leave it on for about 45 minutes or until the mask is dry.
  5. Wash off with cool water and a mild sulfate-free shampoo.

How Often?

Once a week.

Why This Works

Banana and papaya work together to improve the tensile strength of your hair while nourishing and conditioning it. This mask will give you soft and shiny hair that looks and feels healthy.

8. Aloe Vera For Hair Straightening

Straighten hair naturally with aloe vera

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need

  • ¼ cup Coconut Oil/Olive Oil
  • ¼ cup Aloe Vera Gel

Prep Time

2 minutes

Processing Time

40 minutes

Process

  1. Warm up a quarter cup of either coconut or olive oil.
  2. Combine the oil with aloe vera gel and mix well.
  3. Apply this mixture to your hair.
  4. Leave it on for about 40 minutes.
  5. Wash the mixture out with cool water and a mild sulfate-free shampoo.

How Often?

Once a week.

Why This Works

Aloe vera is packed with enzymes that help keep your hair smooth and soft while promoting hair growth. The ingredient penetrates your hair shaft, hydrating it and smoothing out frizz and kinks.

9. Banana, Curd And Olive Oil For Hair Straightening

Straighten hair naturally with banana curd and olive oil

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need

  • 2 Ripe Bananas
  • 2 tbsp Honey
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 2 tbsp Curd

Prep Time

5 minutes

Processing Time

30 minutes

Process

  • Blend or mash the bananas until they’re completely free of lumps.
  • To the mashed bananas, add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
  • Apply this mixture onto your hair.
  • Leave it on for about half an hour.
  • Wash the mixture out of your hair with cool water and a mild sulfate-free shampoo.

How Often?

Once a week.

Why This Works

This straightening hair pack doubles as a deep conditioning treatment which helps improve the quality and texture of your hair. It will help get rid of most of your frizz while also making your hair straight and strong.

10. Apple Cider Vinegar For Hair Straightening

Straighten hair naturally with apple cider vinegar

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need

  • 2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1 cup Water

Prep Time

2 minutes

Processing Time

2 minutes

Process

  1. Dilute the apple cider vinegar with water and set it aside in a jug.
  2. Wash your hair with a mild sulfate-free shampoo and condition.
  3. Pour the diluted apple cider vinegar through your washed and conditioned hair as a final rinse.
  4. Do not rinse your hair any further.

How Often?

Once a week.

Why This Works

This apple cider vinegar rinse is great for getting rid of excess oil, dirt, and buildup from your hair. It helps dislodge any dirt from your cuticles, smoothing them down. This gets rid of any frizz and leaves your hair looking straight with a healthy sheen.

Most of us who have wavy or curly hair keep figuring out how to acquire smooth straight hair. Straight hair is versatile, controllable, and lends itself to various hairstyles. So why wouldn’t we want it? The difficulty is that we can not achieve this without putting our hair through harsh chemical treatments, going to the salon for a blow-dry, or straightening it with a straightener every day. Moreover, most of these treatments are only temporary and can harm your hair in the long run. That is why straightening your hair naturally at home is the best alternative! With these home remedies, you can bid farewell to frizzy hair and welcome to smoother, straighter, and healthier hair.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my hair becoming more straight?

Anecdotal evidence suggests that a combination of genetics and hormones may play a role in your hair becoming more straight.

Is it better to straighten hair wet or dry?

You should straighten your hair after your hair is dry to avoid any damage to your hair.

Which oil makes hair straight?

You can use coconut oil or olive oil in combination with aloe vera or eggs to help give your hair a healthier and straightened appearance.

Is it OK to put oil in your hair before straightening?

No. Avoid using any oil before straightening and ensure that you completely dry your hair before doing so.

Sources

Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Read our editorial policy to learn more.

  1. Effects of chemical straighteners on the hair shaft and scalp: a review
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35058079/
  2. Vitamin C
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17173758/
  3. Protective effect of conditioner agents on hair treated with oxidative hair dye
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29316174/
  4. Egg whole raw fresh
    https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171287/nutrients
  5. Topical Application of Oleuropein Induces Anagen Hair Growth in Telogen Mouse Skin
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4462586/
  6. Medicinal and cosmetic uses of Bees Honey – A review
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3611628/

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Arshiya Syeda is an editor at StyleCraze. Prior to that, she was a content writer and combined her writing and... more

Dr. Rekha Yadav is a certified trichologist from the International Association of Trichologists, Australia. She established her hair and scalp... more

How can I make my hair permanently straight naturally?

Natural Ways To Get Permanent Hair Straightening At Home.
DIY milk spray..
Castor and coconut hot oil treatment..
Coconut water and lemon juice..
Eggs and olive oil mask..
Banana and papaya mask..
Aloe vera hair mask..
Rice water rinse..
Apple cider vinegar rinse..

Can I straighten my hair without heat?

"Your best bet for non-heat hair straightening is with Velcro or silicon rollers using a process called wet-setting," Jordan says. After you wash your hair, towel it as dry as possible, and then apply a medium-hold mousse.

Can we straighten hair naturally?

Here's how to use it – Take one tablespoon of honey, and mix it with milk to soften and straighten the hair. The combination can also be put in a spray bottle. Spray the hair with this solution after shampoo, leave it on for two minutes, and rinse with plain water.