How Often Can You Straighten Curly Hair?

Who doesn’t like their hair curly? They are super chic and bounce around well. I love my curls but sometimes we frequently desire to vary things up with a completely different appearance. 

Consider straightening your hair and heat-rolling or styling your curls. 

But remember, if you occasionally consider going for the straight appearance for something different, be aware that there will be consequences. How serious are those repercussions exactly?

According to stylists, it relies on the products and tools you use in addition to the techniques. Every time you flatten textured hair, it requires time, intensive treatments, and plenty of sensitive, loving care for your curls to recover. 

Why does hair straightening cause damage?

Hair straightening can cause damage to your hair because of the high temperatures used to style the hair. 

When you use a straightening iron or flat iron, it heats up to temperatures that can exceed 400°F (200°C). This heat can cause the hair shaft to become dehydrated, leading to dry and brittle hair.

The heat from the straightening iron can also damage the cuticle, the outer protective layer of the hair shaft. This can cause the hair to become frizzy, split, and break off. 

In addition, the heat can also damage the proteins in the hair, which can lead to weakened hair and breakage.

Chemical straightening treatments, such as relaxers or perms, can also cause damage to your hair. These treatments work by breaking the chemical bonds that give your hair its natural shape and structure. 

However, the harsh chemicals used in these treatments can weaken the hair and make it more prone to damage.

To minimize damage, it’s important to use a heat protectant spray before using a straightening iron and to avoid using high heat settings. 

It’s also a good idea to limit the frequency of straightening or chemical treatments and to use deep conditioning treatments regularly to keep your hair healthy and moisturized.

How do your curls alter after being straightened?

Your hair is made up of clusters of nourishing protein called keratin, which serves as the building block for your hair.

A hair straightener works by applying excessive heat to your hair, which breaks the links in your hair and weakens its structural integrity making your hair look straighter by changing your curls. 

Depending on the thickness and density of your hair, straightened hair on natural curls only lasts for about two to three weeks before the curls return to their natural state. 

Yet, the extreme heat from a hair straightener can damage your hair irreparably and change the way your hair naturally curls.

In addition to not adhering to the proper curly hair nourishing routine, forceful blow-drying and heat styling of your priceless mane follow.

This frequently results in heat-damaged hair that takes a lot longer to recover from and bounce back from when it is curly. Your curl pattern can be damaged by chemical treatments and excessive heat styling, leaving it looking stringy and lifeless.

How to straighten your curls without harming them?

There are two ways you can straighten your curl. First is the natural curl that you can obtain without using any heating equipment. 

1. Attempting heat-free, natural straightening techniques

Your head should be tightly covered in wet hair. Wrapping your hair around your head while it’s wet may work for hair that has medium to loose curls. Part your damp hair down the centre and comb it. 

From back to front, comb the left section of your hair all the way around your head, pinning it in place along the way. Repeat the procedure on the other side too. Sleep with a scarf covering your hair to add an extra layer of protection while letting it air dry.

2. Use elastic hair bands all the way down your ponytail as you sleep

Create one or two low, loose ponytails with wet, combed hair. Every inch down each ponytail, loosely fasten additional elastic hair bands to prevent denting of your hair. Put the bands in your hair at night and take them out in the morning.

Now let us tell you about some safe ways to straighten your curls. 

3. Reduce how frequently you use heat

Disulfide bonds, which are the chemical linkages that give your hair its texture, are broken down by heat to straighten hair. Your hair may not become as curled as it once did if these ties are regularly broken. 

In closing, the following are some of the most significant leave-in treatments to take into account before straightening your hair:

You must utilise heat sparingly—once every two months at most—in order to avoid this. And by “once” every two months, we mean that there should not be several touch-ups in the days that follow a large straightening. 

You shouldn’t require more heat styling if your hair is properly prepped and you take precautions to keep your style.

4. Blow drying

 Use a hair dryer with a diffuser attachment to dry your hair while gently pulling it straight with a brush or comb.

5. Flat iron

Use a flat iron with ceramic or tourmaline plates, and set it to a low or medium heat setting. Take small sections of hair and slowly glide the flat iron down the length of each section.

6. Roller setting

Set your hair in large rollers while it’s still damp, then sit under a hooded dryer until your hair is dry. Remove the rollers and brush your hair out.

7. Hot comb

Use a hot comb with a protective heat shield, and slowly comb your hair from root to tip.

8. Keratin treatment

This is a professional treatment that can help to temporarily straighten and smooth curly hair. It involves applying a keratin-based solution to the hair, then using heat to seal it in.

Regardless of which method you choose, it’s important to use a heat protectant spray or serum to help prevent damage to your hair. 

Also, make sure to properly condition and moisturize your hair, as heat styling can cause dryness and breakage.

What you must do for curly hair care before, during, and after the straightening process is as follows: 

9. Before straightening your hair

Using a heat protectant to shield your curls from the heat is a good idea. You should also never straighten your hair without doing so.

The use of heat-protective serums and oils is necessary for a natural and healthy curl pattern. A requirement because using too much heat when styling your hair might damage it over time.

10. While straightening hair

Avoid over-styling your hair. Over-styling never works when it comes to straightening your hair with heat tools like a hair straightening iron, hair styler, and hair rollers. 

Straightening your hair should be done slowly and carefully because rushing it will result in more damage than good. Don’t forget to follow all the instructions when straightening your curls.

11. After straightening hair

Here are some hair care suggestions that will help you restore the bounce to your curls now that you’ve nailed the straightened hair look. 

Wash and deep condition your hair to remove buildup. Give your hair a reset by cleaning it of any buildup, oils, and debris before beginning your straight to curly hair journey.

It might be difficult to clean and condition curly hair since considerable buildup frequently accumulates at the roots.

See also: Which Hair is Better: Straight or Curly?

To conclude

You probably already know that daily heat styling is not advised. Depending on how healthy your hair is, you can safely straighten it occasionally.

If your mane is already damaged, dry, under-conditioned, or in any other unfavourable condition, often straightening it will probably make matters worse. 

A good rule of thumb is to take into account how your hair has been treated; if it has recently had chemical straightening or colouring, it is best to avoid using heat on it for at least a few weeks.