How to Keep Natural Hair From Reverting After Straightening

Are you tired of spending hours straightening your natural hair only to have it revert to its curly state within a few hours?

Achieving a sleek and straight look can be a transformative experience for individuals with natural hair. However, the challenge lies in maintaining that straightened style for an extended period without the hair reverting back to its natural texture.

In this guide on how to keep natural hair from reverting after straightening, we will explore effective techniques and strategies to help you keep your natural hair straight and combat the tendency to revert.

By implementing these tips, you can enjoy the versatility of straightened hair while preserving the health and integrity of your natural tresses. Let’s dive in and discover how to maintain your straightened hairstyle with confidence and ease.

What Are the Benefits of Straightening Natural Hair?

Before we delve into the techniques for maintaining straightened hair, let’s first understand why one would want to straighten their natural locks.

1. Versatility: One of the main benefits of straightening natural hair is its versatility. With straight hair, you can experiment with various hairstyles that may not be possible with curly hair.
2. Length Retention: Straightened hair tends to appear longer than its curly counterpart due to less shrinkage. This gives the illusion of length and can help individuals trying to grow out their natural hair.
3. Easier Maintenance: Managing curly or coily hair daily can be time-consuming and challenging for some individuals. Straightened hair is often easier to maintain, requiring less time and effort.
4. Heat Protection: Heat-styling tools such as flat irons and blow dryers are often used to achieve straight hair. These tools protect the hair against external elements like humidity and pollution.

With these benefits in mind, let’s move on to the techniques for maintaining straightened natural hair.

What Will You Need?

To effectively keep your natural hair straight after straightening, you must have a few essential items at hand. These include:

• A good quality flat iron or blow dryer
• Heat protectant spray or serum
• Moisturizing leave-in conditioner
• Satin scarf or bonnet

Once you have these items, you can start implementing the techniques for maintaining straightened hair.

10 Easy Steps on How to Keep Natural Hair From Reverting After Straightening

Step 1. Start with Clean Hair:

Before attempting to maintain straightened natural hair, starting with clean hair is essential. Thoroughly shampoo and condition your hair to ensure that it is free from buildup or product residue.

Use a clarifying shampoo to remove excess oils, dirt, or styling products that might weigh down your hair and interfere with the straightening process. After washing, gently dry your hair or use a microfiber towel to absorb excess moisture without causing frizz. Remember, a clean slate is essential for achieving long-lasting straightness.

Step 2. Apply a Heat Protectant:

Before using any heat-styling tools, applying a high-quality heat-protectant product to your hair is vital. This step helps to create a protective barrier between your strands and the heat, reducing the risk of damage such as dryness, breakage, or split ends.

Choose a heat protectant spray, cream, or serum explicitly designed for your hair type and ensure it is evenly distributed from roots to tips. Not only will this preserve your hair’s health, but it will also aid in locking in moisture, ensuring a smooth and sleek finish during straightening.

Step 3. Use the Right Tools: 

Investing in high-quality heat-styling tools is essential for achieving and maintaining straightened hair. Look for flat irons or blow dryers with adjustable temperature settings, allowing you to use the appropriate heat level for your hair type. Ceramic or titanium flat irons are popular options as they distribute heat evenly and minimize potential damage. Additionally, ensure your tools are clean and in good condition to prevent snags or uneven results.

Step 4. Work in Small Sections: 

When straightening natural hair, divide it into small, manageable sections. Working in smaller sections ensures that each strand is thoroughly straightened and reduces the need to repeatedly pass the flat iron over the same area. This can help minimize heat exposure and preserve your hair’s health. Use clips or hair ties to keep the non-working sections out of the way as you straighten your hair.

Step 5. Finish with a Lightweight Serum: 

Once you have straightened your hair, apply a lightweight serum or oil to lock in the sleekness and add a healthy shine. Choose a non-greasy product designed to combat humidity. Apply it evenly throughout your hair, focusing on the ends to prevent dryness and frizz. This final touch enhances the straightened look and provides an additional layer of protection against environmental factors that may cause your hair to revert.

Step 6. Wrap Your Hair at Night: 

Wrapping your hair is an effective method for maintaining your straightened style while you sleep. Use a satin or silk scarf to wrap your hair flat against your head, securing it to prevent friction and frizz. Alternatively, you can use a satin or silk bonnet or sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase to protect your hair overnight. This helps keep your hair smooth and prevents it from puffing up or reverting to its natural texture.

Step 7. Avoid Humidity: 

Humidity is one of the biggest challenges in keeping natural hair straight. To minimize exposure to moisture, avoid spending long periods in humid environments whenever possible. If you need to go outside on sweltering days, consider wearing a scarf or hat to shield your hair from the moisture in the air. Additionally, anti-humidity hair products can create a barrier that helps protect your straightened hair from reverting.

Step 8. Limit Physical Activity: 

Engaging in rigorous physical activities can cause perspiration, which may lead to moisture buildup and ultimately disrupt the straightened look of your hair. To maintain sleekness, limiting intense physical activities, especially those that may cause excessive sweating, is advisable.

If you do participate in activities that could make you sweat, consider tying your hair up or using a sweatband to help minimize the impact of sweat on your straightened hair. Additionally, properly cleanse and dry your scalp afterward to avoid any potential buildup of sweat or oils that could affect the straightened style.

Remember, balancing your desire for physical activity with hair maintenance is essential for keeping your straightened hair looking its best.

Step 9. Reapply Heat Sparingly: 

Excessive heat can damage your straightened natural hair over time, so it’s essential to use heat styling tools sparingly. Instead of relying on daily heat styling, embrace low or no-heat styling techniques to maintain your straightened hair. Try twist-outs, braid-outs, or other protective hairstyles that don’t require heat.

When using heat styling tools, always use a heat protectant spray or serum to minimize the potential damage caused by high temperatures. Remember, less heat means healthier and more resilient hair in the long run.

Step 10. Protect Your Hair During Showers: 

Moisture from showers can cause your straightened natural hair to revert to its natural texture. To prevent this, always protect your hair by wearing a shower cap designed to block out humidity and water. Consider wrapping your hair in a silk or satin scarf underneath the shower cap to create a double barrier for additional protection.

Avoid exposing your hair to steam by taking cooler showers or ventilating the bathroom. These steps will help ensure your hair remains smooth and sleek for as long as possible.

Following these steps, you can straighten your natural hair without causing significant damage.

Will My Natural Hair Revert After Straightening?

It depends on various factors, such as hair type, texture, and the straightening method.

Generally, natural hair tends to revert to its original state, especially when exposed to moisture or humidity. This is because the natural curl pattern is an inherent hair characteristic.

While temporary straightening methods like heat styling or chemical relaxers can temporarily alter the hair’s texture, the hair will gradually return to its natural state as new hair grows. It’s important to note that excessive heat or chemical treatments can cause damage to the hair, affecting its ability to revert wholly.

Proper hair care and maintenance can help minimize damage and promote healthy hair growth.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while natural hair can be temporarily straightened, it will eventually revert to its original state.

This is a natural process and not something that can be permanently altered without causing damage. It’s essential to embrace and care for your natural hair rather than constantly trying to change its texture.

By understanding your hair type and using proper techniques and products, you can confidently rock straight and curly styles. Remember to always prioritize the health of your hair above temporary changes in appearance. 

Hopefully, the article on how to keep natural hair from reverting after straightening has provided valuable information and tips that will help you achieve your desired look without causing harm to your hair. So, love your natural hair and embrace its versatility!  Keep experimenting with different styles and methods of caring for it, but always remember to listen to what your hair needs in order to stay healthy.