Straightening Natural 4C Hair: All You Need To Know!

Last Updated on September 10, 2022 by The Blessed Queens

Learning how straightening natural 4c hair works can be a bit stressful when your hair doesn’t want to cooperate! But hopefully, these tips will help you out!

Straightening Natural 4C Hair: All You Need To Know!

What are the best methods to straighten your natural 4c hair?

Before picking an option and applying heat, make sure you prep your hair.

Start by washing your hair thoroughly with shampoo and conditioner to make the straightening process easier.

(Tip: Use a deep conditioner or treatment if you’re prone to dryness. Moisture is key to a smoother finish.)

Once your hair is clean, apply a nickel-size amount of heat protectant (we like TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray, HSI Professional Argan Oil Heat ProtectorBrigeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection Heat Protectant Creme or ) through the damp strands.

Whether you prefer serums, sprays or creams, it’s important not to skip this step as it prepares your hair for the heat and prevents future damage or frizz. It also keeps your hair shiny and soft (and who doesn’t want that?).

Now that your hair is ready, you can decide which option works best for you.

1. Flatiron

When purchasing a flatiron, look for one with customizable settings. You want to keep your iron at the lowest setting required to straighten your hair (most irons go up to 450 degrees, but reaching for at least 360 degrees is beneficial). Flatirons like Babylisspro Nano Titanium Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron, HSI Professional Glider Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron, and CHI Tourmaline Ceramic Hairstyling Iron all have a wide range of settings and make it easier to be in control.

How to flatiron your hair:

1. Heat up your iron, start sectioning off your hair and apply your protectant product.
2. Grab a section and clamp the hair tool as close to the root as you can and gently glide it down the mid-lengths and ends. (Option to use a fine-toothed comb with the iron to get a sleeker look.)
3. Go over each section once or twice more. If you hear sizzling or smell something burning, you probably want to dial the heat down a bit before resuming.
4. After you’ve straightened every section, finish the look with a hydrating serum or humidity-resistant gel like Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel, DevaCurl Frizz Free Volumizing Foam or It’s A 10 Miracle Leave-In Plus Keratin to keep the flyaways at bay and prevent frizz from forming.

It’s important to note that if your hair is already pretty damaged to start, the flatiron might not be the best choice.

2. Blow-Dryer

Using a blow-dryer to straighten your hair will give you a more voluminous look.

Similar to the flatiron, you’ll want to pick a blow-dryer that lets you control the heat settings. The Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer and the DevaDryer have customizable settings and come with a nozzle attachment made for achieving a straighter style.

How to blow-dry your hair straight:

1. Prep your hair with a heat protectant and divide into sections.
2. Turn your dryer on a cool-to-medium setting.
3. Use a round bristle brush or a Denman brush to avoid tangles.
4. Hold the dryer two to three inches from your head and glide the brush (and the heat) down from root to tip. You want to brush your hair up at the crown (for added volume) and down for the rest of your hair (for optimal smoothness and shine).

3. Rollers

The best way to use rollers is to apply them to wet hair. When it comes to finding the right rollers, it’s all about the texture of your hair and the look you’re going for.

The thicker your hair, the bigger the roller should be (a bigger roller means a looser curl).

There are a ton of options like Conair Xtreme Big Curls Hairsetter (it heats the rollers for you), Conair Magnetic Rollers (a great preparation for straightening with the help of pins) and Drybar High Tops Self-Grip Rollers (which use Velcro instead of pins and are perfect for women with shorter hair).

How to use rollers to straighten your hair:

1. Prep wet hair with a heat protectant and section it off.
2. Roll up each section and secure rollers in place with pins if needed.
3. Once you finish rolling your hair, let it air-dry or use a hood bonnet on low/medium heat for 30 minutes to an hour (depending on your hair texture and length). If your hair is on the thicker side, you might want to consider using a hood bonnet for the best results.
4. Wait until your hair is completely dry before removing the rollers (for both techniques).

The best part about rollers is that you can use a flatiron or blow-dryer to straighten your hair even more afterward. If not, you can leave your hair curled or brush it through to maintain volume.

A few things to keep in mind

Regardless of which straightening approach you to decide on, make sure to wrap your hair with a satin or silk scarf before you go to bed.

This will protect your newly smoothed strands from any friction while you sleep (which can cause it to curl back up). You can also use a bit of dry shampoo on your roots to keep your style fresh for the rest of the week.

Another thing to consider: Depending on your hair texture, the products, and tools you use, and whatever the weather is doing at the moment (hello, summer frizz), a method that works well for your friend might not be right for you.

Everyone’s hair is different so experiment with the hair tools outlined above to find what works best for your hair.

There you have it, Straightening Natural 4C Hair: All You Need To Know!

What method do you use to straighten your natural 4c hair?

What to read next? I’ve got you, girl!

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Xo, Queen