Hair Straightening

There are four main types of hair based on your hair’s curl pattern.

  1. Straight
  2. Wavy
  3. Curly
  4. Coiled

All types of hair can look beautiful. However, people who get bored with their hairstyle often try to change their look either by curling or straightening their hair.

hair types and subtypes based on curl patern

Hair Straightening Methods

In addition to changing your look, straightening techniques can make your hair appear shiny, frizz-free, and easy to manage.

There are two main ways in which you can straighten your hair – by applying heat or by using chemicals.

1. Heat Straightening

Straight hair looks elegant and glamorous. One way to achieve this popular sleek look is to apply heat. By applying heat, you can achieve a temporary sleek appearance. There are five basic hot tools for straightening your hair: blow-dryer (over a round brush), hair iron, hot comb, hot brush, and hot air brush.

Hair Straightening with a Blow-Dryer and Round/Paddle Brush

Hair Straightening with a Blow Dryer and Round Brush

Using this method, you can straighten hair with a flat paddle brush while blow-drying it. For shorter hair, a round brush might work better than a paddle brush. This simple way of straightening hair offers a sleek, straight look for up to 1 day and works best for straight and wavy hair.

Flat Irons

a beautiful young brunette straightening her hair

Flat ironing is a more effective hair straightening technique than blow-drying and straightening with a brush. Even naturally curly hair and unruly hair can be temporarily straightened to get a smooth and straight look. Modern hair straighteners have ceramic heaters, ionic technology, and multiple heat settings to minimize heat damage. It is important to use a heat protector before using any hot tool.

Hot Combs

hot comb with electric heater
Hot comb with the electric heater 1920s. Manufactured by Solar Electric Manufacturing Co. Source

A hot comb is made of metal and has been used to straighten unruly and coarse hair for many decades. It can be heated on the stove but the newer models are powered by electricity. Similar to a hair straightener it temporarily breaks the bonds in the hair making the hair look smooth and straight.

Hot Brushes

A hot brush is a combination of a hair straightener and a paddle brush. Unlike paddle brushes, hot brushes run on electricity and have a heated plate and bristles. They smooth the hair with heat while gliding through it, cutting down on styling time. Hot brushes are easier to use and add more volume than hair straighteners.

girl holding a hot brush

Hot Air Brushes

A hot air brush is a hybrid straightening tool that combines a hair dryer and a round hair brush. Hot air brushes blow hot air that dries your hair while bristles straighten and style it. They can be used on damp hair, offering the convenience of drying and styling hair at the same time. Blow-dryer brushes with ionic technology neutralize static and reduce frizz, leaving your hair with a lot of volume and shine.

straightening hair with a hot air brush

2. Chemical Hair Straightening

The most popular chemical straightening methods include

3. Hair Smoothening

Hair smoothing treatments don’t involve the use of harsh chemicals. Such treatments have recently grown in popularity and include hair Botox treatments, amino acid-based treatments, keratin treatments with collagen, and other gentle smoothing treatments.

beautiful dark-skinned woman with smoothened hair