How to Straighten Hair Without Frizz

Co-authored by Michael Van den Abbeel

Last Updated: July 22, 2024 References

Ever tried to straighten your hair but ended up with a frizzy mane instead? Straightening your hair is fairly easy, but there are a few tricks that you can do to ensure that it stays frizz-free. Keep in mind, however, that you must also set realistic expectations for yourself, and that getting a completely frizz-free style is just not always possible, especially if the weather outside is humid. Still, there are a few things you can do, such as letting your hair cool down, that may help maintain your style for a little bit longer.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Using the Right Products and Equipment

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1
Get the right product based on your hair type. Use shampoos and conditioners that contain the word "smoothing" or that are designed to fight/prevent frizz. They will give your hair extra moisture, and prevent it from becoming too dry. Dryness can often appear as frizz.^{[1]
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- When conditioning your hair, apply it to the ends first, as they're likely the most dehydrated. Comb the conditioner through your hair, then rinse it out well.
- Product build up can also cause frizz. Once a month, wash your hair with a daily clarifying shampoo to remove the buildup.
2
Skip the nylon brush and use a boar bristle brush instead. If you can't get one, try to find one that's at least a boar bristle and nylon mix. Plastic brushes tend to cause static, which leads to frizz. Boar bristle brushes help polish and smooth your hair better.^{[3]
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- Choose a round brush over a flat brush. The round brush will apply more tension to your hair, which helps create a smoother result.
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Expert Source

Michael Van den Abbeel
Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Interview. 7 January 2019.} You can also apply a little bit of moisturizing oil into your hair while it is still wet. This will help nourish your hair and keep it smooth while you straighten it. After you are done straightening, you can apply a little bit of oil to smooth down any remaining frizz.^{[5]
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Use a flat iron with ceramic plates and avoid ones made from steel. Steel plates can damage your hair by tugging and pulling on the strands. If you have curly hair, however, you may need something tougher; in this case, choose a gold or titanium flat iron.^{[6]
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- Don't get anything that is wider than 1½ inches (3.81 centimeters). If the flat iron is too wide, you won't be able to reach the roots of your hair.
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Make sure that you are using the right finishing products. You should also give your hair time to cool down before you apply it. Avoid products that contain too many silicones. Instead, you can apply a drop of oil to your hands, and then smooth it over your hair. For extra hold, spray your brush with some light hold hair spray, then pass it through your hair.^{[7]
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- If you apply some oil or serum, go for a natural product. Apply it on the ends of your hair first.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Straightening Your Hair

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^{[8]
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Expert Source

Michael Van den Abbeel
Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Interview. 7 January 2019.} If you can, use a specialized shampoo and conditioner that's meant for smoothing hair and taming frizz. Make sure that you do this well ahead of time, as your hair will need to be perfectly dry before you straighten it.
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Towel dry your hair. When you towel dry your hair, don't rub the towel vigorously across your hair; this will only bring out your hair's natural curl and give you more work.^{[9]
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Research source} Instead, gently pat and squeeze your hair dry with an absorbent towel, preferably microfiber. Microfiber towels are much gentler on the hair because they don't rip or tear your hair, like regular towels can.^{[10]
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Research source} Ripped, torn hair can look frizzy.
- If you don't own a microfiber towel, use a t-shirt to dry your hair. It will provide similar results.
Chris McMillan, Celebrity Hairstylist

Prevent heat damage. "Avoid frizz. Damaged hair is more prone to frizz, so if your hair is curly, skip the blow-dry and comb a lightweight conditioner through damp hair. Then scrunch the ends, and let hair air-dry."
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Apply some straightening cream or smoothing cream. A heat protectant of sorts would also be a great idea. Apply the cream throughout your hair, focusing on the ends, which tend to get dry/damaged the most. If you have thin hair or short hair, you will probably only need a dime-sized amount. If you have thick hair or long hair, start with a quarter-sized amount.
- Don't apply too much! Doing so will weigh down your hair and cause it to become limp once dry.
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Use the right technique when blow-drying your hair. Always point the nozzle downwards towards your hair; this will help the cuticles on your hair to lie flat. Pull a round, bristle brush through your hair as you blow dry it. This will help straighten it and give you less work later on.^{[11]
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- Before you dry your hair, divide it into sections that are about the size of your brush.
- Don't keep the hair dryer pointed at 1 section of hair for more than a second at a time. Keep it moving while you dry your hair.
- Consider switching between the hair dryer's hot and cold settings to give your hair a break from all that heat.
- You can shake the hairdryer to help your hair dry faster, but always keep the nozzle pointed down.^{[13]
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- Never flat iron your hair while it is wet. Doing so can damage your hair. Always blow dry it first (or let it air dry).
It will be much easier to work with smaller sections than huge chunks of hair. You will also get a sleeker, smoother result. Start by dividing your hair into quadrants. Then divide each quadrant into sections that are about the size of your hair brush.
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Set your flat iron to the right temperature. Even with a heat protectant, high temperatures can damage your hair—and damaged hair often looks frizzy.^{[14]
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Expert Source

Michael Van den Abbeel
Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Interview. 7 January 2019.} Don't use the highest setting; instead, set the temperature somewhere between 300 and 350°F (150 and 177°C). If you have thicker hair, you can use a higher temperature, but using a gold or titanium plated flat iron would be better.^{[15]
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Research source} Avoid going past 420°F (215°C), as this is when the keratin in your hair breaks down, which can lead to split ends and damage; remember, damaged hair often looks frizzy.^{[16]
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- Some research has shown that the ideal temperature for straightening hair is 365°F (185°C).^{[17]
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EXPERT TIP

“Never use a straightening iron on damp hair. You should only straighten completely dry hair that has been misted with a thermal protector.”

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
7
Work in small sections, and use the right technique when straightening. Use a brush to pull a 1 to 2-inch (2.54 to 5.08 centimeters) wide section of hair as taut as you can. Use your free hand to clamp the flatiron down onto the section, close to your roots. Pull the flatiron down the length of your hair in a single, fluid motion. Repeat 1 to 2 more times, if necessary.
- Avoid using a comb; use a good, bristle brush instead. Combs tend to cause too much static and split-ends on dry hair.^{[18]
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- If you pull your hair taut, you won't have to pass the flatiron over it more than once or twice. If you find that you have to pass over your hair repeatedly, you might not be pulling it taut enough.^{[19]
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Once that section is smooth, repeat the process on the next section of hair. Once the entire bottom layer of your hair is down, undo the clip, and let down the rest of your hair. Continue straightening your hair using the same technique.
- If you have very thick hair, let down another one-fourth or one-third of your hair instead.
Ideally, you should use only a spray, but thicker hair might need a little bit of oil or serum to smooth down any frizz.^{[20]
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Research source} To avoid using too much product, apply some spray to your hairbrush, them gently comb your hair. Use your fingers to apply some serum or oil to the ends of your hair, where frizz tends to happen the most.
10
Give your hair time to cool down before stepping outside. This is especially important if it is very hot or humid out. As your hair cools, the style will begin to set. If you rush out too soon, your hair will be more likely to frizz up again.^{[21]
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- As an alternative, you can put your hair dryer on the "cool" setting and set your style that way. Just lightly blow cool air onto your hair. This will close your cuticle.^{[22]
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  Expert Source
  
  Michael Van den Abbeel
  Professional Hair Stylist
  
  Expert Interview. 7 January 2019.}

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Question

Can you straighten hair when it is damp?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

You should not use a straightening iron on damp hair. You should only straighten completely dry hair that has been misted with a thermal protector.

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What strengthens hair follicles?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

A proper diet and appropriate shampoo routine strengthen follicles. Massage and biotin supplements can also be very beneficial.

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Question

What helps with frizzy hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Treating hair gently, using the right styling products, and using styling techniques that unify texture all reduce frizz. If you have straight hair, this means smoothing and brushing. If you have curly hair, touch it as little as possible.

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Tips

Sizzling is not a good sign during straightening. If you hear sizzling, stop and evaluate your hair. Is it perfectly dry? Did you use too much product? Both of these are common culprits for sizzling.^{[23]
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To ensure that your hair is perfectly dry before you straighten it, consider washing it the night before.^{[24]
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If your hair is still' frizzy after straightening it, consider blow-drying it straight instead, and then using a flatiron to smooth down any stubborn spots.^{[25]
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Warnings

Never, ever straighten wet hair. Doing so can damage your hair.^{[26]
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Never apply product to dry hair before straightening it. When you clamp down onto your hair with the flatiron, all that product has nowhere to go, and gets boiled into your hair as a result.^{[27]
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Some days, you just have to accept that your hair will be frizzy after you straighten it. This tends to happen the most on rainy or humid days.^{[28]
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