Name something more complicated than trying to effortlessly get your hair to look sleek, straight, and shiny, especially when it's none of those things. Yeah, we're trying to look for an answer too. Ever so often, the urge to achieve poker straight hair consumes us, but using hot styling to straighten our hair strips it of moisture, causes breakage, and leaves the mane looking like a frizzy mess. Over time, blow-dryers, ceramic straighteners, and hot curling irons can cause so much damage, that even the most carefully styled hair looks dry and coarse. So, if you want to go with something that’s a little more hair-friendly to attain perfectly straight, smooth, and shiny hair, you've come to the right place. Read on to know a few heat-free tips you can use to get straight locks, while retaining hair health.
- Don’t skip conditioners
- Don’t over-rinse hair
- Sleep on a silk pillowcase
- Use a cotton t-shirt to dry hair
- Watch what you eat
Don’t skip conditioners
There's nothing that the right conditioner can't do, and that includes giving you straighter hair! Use the Tresemme Keratin Smooth Conditioner, which will help repair hair damage in your tresses, and nourish each strand to leave hair gorgeously straighter, smoother and more manageable. With tangle and frizz-protected hair, your heat-styling tools are bound to be a thing of the past. Take it up a notch by using it with the Tresemme Keratin Smooth Shampoo, since the powerhouse duo will additionally control frizz for up to 48 hours too!
Don’t over-rinse hair
It’s true for one very simple reason: while over-rinsing may make you feel squeaky clean, it can actually strip your hair of its natural oils and dry out the cuticles, leaving your mane looking dry and frizzy. A healthier option is to rinse your hair using cold water! Once considered an urban myth, experts have confirmed that a blast of cold water can add shine and minimise excess frizz. Basically, cold water seals in the cuticles, which keep your hair shaft laying down, resulting in shinier, straighter hair.
Sleep on a silk pillowcase
While plonking your head on your pillow for a good night's sleep may seem like the easiest choice, there's a method to the madness. You may feel like royalty, but a satin or silk pillowcase is the best choice for your hair when it comes to catching up on your beauty sleep. With a smooth fabric that allows your hair to slide across surfaces more easily, a satin or silk pillowcase will cut down on friction while you sleep and give your hair a straighter, frizz-free appearance in the morning.
Use a cotton t-shirt to dry hair
Speaking from personal experience, t-shirt drying can make all the difference between limp, frizzy hair, and shiny, straight hair. Towels have rough grooves that cause friction and frizz up the hair; on the other hand, cotton t-shirts don’t cause frizz and absorb water quickly, making for smooth hair even without styling. Alternatively, you can also use a microfiber towel for similar results.
Watch what you eat
Healthy, shiny and straight hair starts from within. That sounds cheesy, but a long-term commitment to a well-balanced diet can make a huge difference in the way your hair looks in the long run. Whether you take a multivitamin or consume it through food, consider a diet full of vitamin A, vitamin C, silica, and omega-3 fatty acids to support shiny hair growth.
Main image courtesy: @aslisona
Written by Nishtha Bhalla on Jul 23, 2021
Nishtha is a freelance writer who loves all things beauty, fashion, culture, and lifestyle. With content covering a variety of topics, she brings a holistic, nuanced perspective to her writing. In her free time, she can be found watching reruns of The Office, reading anything she can get her hands on, and experimenting with astrology.