If I Straighten My Curly Hair Will It Go Back To Normal

Clients with natural hair sometimes ask “if I straighten my curly hair will it 

go back to normal?”  For some us, after wearing the same hairstyle for some time, there comes an urge to change up one’s look.  It may be for a special event or just out of boredom but if you are like me, change is always exciting!

When straightening curly hair, care has to be taken to ensure it retains its texture.  In order to do so, the

following is necessary:

• Shampoo and condition the hair

• Apply a blow dry product or straightening cream

The product must be for blow drying or straightening.  A heat protectant spray is not for blow drying. I have seen a lot of clients who damaged their hair because they assumed it does the same job.  Heat protectant spray is only applied when the hot iron is being used.

• Have a proper haircut

This helps to keep the style longer.  For those of you who want to keep those frayed ends and keep straightening your hair, damage is all you will get.

• Straighten hair

Check the temperature of the iron is suitable for your hair.  Certain hair types, e.g. 4C hair takes high temperatures to straighten.  If your hair is a 4A for example,  lower the temperature and change to what works for you.  Partings should not be too thick.

 This step is important, because an extremely hot iron will over-straighten the hair.  Even on 4c hair, an overly hot iron will singe the ends.   When you go back curly, the ends will hang straight. 

Also, if your hair is gray, using a hot iron will give the hair a yellow cast.  Using a shampoo for gray/blonde hair is helpful to remove it.  However, this will happen with continued use of hot irons. 

For those wondering  “if I straighten my curly hair will it go back to normal?”, it will do so if you are mindful of the steps mentioned above.

By Paula Barker, Silkie Locks Hair Design

Books:  “Talking Hair”, “Filling My Head” & Dreadlocks, A Hairstylist’s Manifest