I used to be scared of putting heat anywhere near my natural hair. I’d had relaxed hair since I was 12. It wasn’t until I was 29 that I decided to do the big chop. However, I missed my straight hair and wanted it back without using chemicals.
Watching people on social media with their healthy, straight natural hair convinced me to begin this journey. If you’re like me and want straight natural hair, then you’ll have to heat-train your hair.
Heat training is the process of using heat tools like a flat iron or blow dryer to temporarily stretch out your natural curl pattern. This allows for more styling versatility while still prioritizing the overall health of your hair.
Start with Healthy Hair
This is non-negotiable! If your hair is damaged, dry, or brittle, heat-styling is a no-no. Heat works by temporarily changing the structure of your hair, and if the structure is already compromised, the heat will only make things worse.
The Fix: Before you start heat training, take some time to baby your hair.
- Trims: Get rid of those split ends!
- Deep Conditioning: Pump your hair full of moisture.
- Protein Treatments (If Needed): If your hair feels mushy, a protein treatment can help restore strength.
Get Yourself the Right Tools
Once your hair feels healthy, you’re ready to take on the heat!
Okay, having the right tools makes a HUGE difference when heat training. Start with a ceramic flat iron – seriously, it is way gentler on your hair than those super-hot titanium ones. Make sure you can adjust the heat, so you can find what works for YOU.
And please, don’t skip the heat protectant! It protects your hair from heat damage. My go-to’s are Tresemme Heat Tamer Spray and Chi Silk Infusion. If you like, a blow-dry cream adds moisture and makes your hair easier to manage – I love the OUAI Leave-In Conditioner & Heat Protectant.
It’s All About Balance – Moisture AND Protein
When you’re using heat tools on your hair, you need to make sure you’re using both moisture and protein-based products.
Your hair needs both to be healthy and to give your hair strength and moisture at the same time. So for moisture, I absolutely love the Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoo – it adds a ton of moisture and hydration.
For protein treatments, my go-to is the Aphogee Keratin Two-Minute Reconstructor. It’s amazing against heat and chemical damage which is great for heat training.
Always follow up any protein treatment with a moisture-rich deep conditioning mask, like the Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Mask. Just pay attention to your hair – if it’s feeling overly dry, add moisture, and if it’s feeling limp or mushy, add protein.
You don’t need to blast your hair with the highest heat setting every time! Think about your specific hair type.
Turn That Heat Down
I have medium-density hair, and I find that 410 degrees Fahrenheit works well for me without causing too much damage.
But if you have finer hair, you might want to go even lower. The key is to experiment and find the lowest temperature that still gives you the results you want.
Less heat means less damage!
Don’t Stress About Using Heat All the Time
Heat training isn’t about having pin-straight hair 24/7! The goal is to have options, to switch up your style while keeping your hair healthy.
So, if you don’t want to heat train every month, that’s fine! Maybe you do it a few times a year, or just for special occasions.
The most important thing is not to overdo it, because using heat too often leads to damage. Find a schedule that works for you and your hair!