How to Straighten African Hair Without Heat

For those rocking their natural hair, there may come moments when you want to switch things up, utilising your hair’s adaptability. Or perhaps you’re curious about the length of your hair and want to straighten it out, but you don’t want to do it with heat. After all, with repeated use, heat can make your hair dry and brittle. Damaged, even. It can also make your hair look dull and without lustre. Thankfully, there are other techniques on how to straighten African hair without heat.

How to straighten African hair without heat.

Below are other techniques you can use to straighten your natural black hair. But before that, we’ll start with the items you may need. They include:

• Shea butter
• Wide-tooth comb
• Olive oil
• A bottle filled with water
• Leave-in-conditioner
• Dangling brush

The above items will aid the task of straightening your hair.

Banding

This technique is quite simple and produces outstanding results, which is exactly what makes it great. Be careful when choosing your band though. You may want to use a band that wouldn’t cause hair breakage. Use satin cloth or thread.

       Procedure

• Divide your hair into two or more sections
• Then apply leave-in-conditioner together with either olive oil or shea butter.
• To make a ponytail, use a ponytail holder to hold the base of one of the sections.
• Hold the ponytail out so that it is straight and taut. Then wrap the satin cloth from the base of the ponytail to the root.

Bantu style

Image credit: Vox

The Bantu style was started by the Bantu people of eastern Africa. The style has since become widely practised among those who like to go natural because of its simplicity and its trendiness in stretching and even creating coils. For best results plan for generous drying. Plus, you should try to focus on the spot where each knot is completed.

Procedure

• Divide your hair into small numerous parts.
• Then wrap each section into a twist first, then knot it around the root of the section and pin in place.
• Release when it is dry. Your hair should have straightened.

Bunning

Image Credit: Curly Fit

Many only know bunning to be a way of wearing their natural black hair, but it’s got another use. A way of stretching your hair without the use of heat.

Maybe you’re looking to wear a style that requires you to stretch your hair, then bunning can do just that and more.

       Procedure

• Carefully untangle your hair. Sprinkle the water in the bottle all over the hair while doing it.
• Then comb the hair from below to the top of your hair.
• Trace your fingers into the hair and then form into a single bun.
• Don’t draw the band too tight, if you’re using one. This may cause breakage.
• Let the hair dry.

Wrapping

This style, effective in stretching your natural hair, requires time to dry. So unless you have some time on your hands, you may need to try another stretching technique. You will need 24 to 48 hours to dry it if your hair is thick or dense.

Procedure

• Partition your hair into four sections. Take care to untangle it.
• Keep hair as straight as you can while combing to the side. This way you’re preparing for the wrapping.
• For each section you’re combing to the side, use pins to hold that section in place along that side of your head.
• For the rest of the sections, repeat the procedure until you go around your head.
• Use a wig cap to cover the hair. Let it dry over eight hours or more. Release thereafter.

Conclusion

You don’t have to stick to a particular technique. Try others and then choose what works for your hair.

Read also: Five habits that are costing you your hairline

Source: BuzzFeed