If you weren’t blessed enough to be born with long, silky hair, you’re not alone. The hair straightening industry rakes in almost 600 million dollars a year because people are obsessed with gorgeous, sleek tresses. They look effortless, which is the point, but if you’re one who subscribes to purchasing hair straightening products, you know the struggle.
Obviously, the healthier your hair is, the easier it will be to straighten. Even if you didn’t end up with great hair genes, you can still strengthen and protect your hair with deep conditioners, masks, serums, and vitamins. If you’re straightening, you are somewhere on the continuum of slightly wavy to kinky curls and thank goodness there is a product out there for every type of hair.
Plenty To Choose From
You also have a lot of options in terms of how you want to straighten. You can go big with a Brazilian Blowout or you can hit your local drugstore hair aisle and grab a few things that can set you up for success. Hopefully. you have a great blow dryer, a quality flat iron, and some time to invest.
While there are a LOT of hair straightening products on the market, some are definitely better than others. Depending on your hair type and how much straightening power you need, the products will vary. We’ve tested a bunch, and here are some of our favorites:
At the top of our list is a historically respected name in the hair industry – Matrix. If you want to defrizz, volumize and hydrate all at once, this will be the best product in your arsenal. Perfect for any hair type, you can also protect your strands using this ultra-quality heat protectant cream up to 450 degrees. Thanks to its most active ingredient, shea butter, you will get a super sleek look that will last all day long. Any hair length can use this product, but it was made for medium to long hair, so the bond is strong and can withhold even the heaviest head of hair.
People are often pleasantly surprised when they realize this drugstore brand can produce such a great look. The shocking thing? People claim that when you use this product you can juice the rewards of ultra-flat, shiny hair for up to three days! If you’re either new to straightening or a seasoned veteran, you know how long it can take to achieve that perfect gloss. For $20, we’ll add a dollop of this on before blow-drying and straightening and enjoy the next few days off from hair straightening.
- Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3
Color-treated hair? Olaplex to the rescue! What was developed as a strengthening treatment turned into a hair straightening gold standard. This product repairs destroyed protein bonds and while its heavy-duty, can be used for all hair types. This perfector can be used a few times a week for silky, shiny, healthier hair.
This thermal-friendly treatment reduces breakage, tames frizz, and protects against humidity. All that time you spend blow-drying and straightening? Reduce it by half with this sent-from-above treatment. This scientifically engineered serum contains Morpho-Keratine which reduces breakage, smooths ends, and combats flyaways. It also protects those precious strands up to 450 degrees.
Need something on the cheap that still works and won’t weigh down your hair? John Freida has been a name in anti-frizz products for decades and his 3-day Straight Flat Iron Spray can deliver on its name. Break out the flat iron, because this magic potion is affordable and can give you three full days of fresh, straight hair without damage or looking greasy.
Your straight-haired friends envy those lush, heavy curls but if you want to take a day off from being a swirl queen, this is the product that will instantly nourish your locks and straighten it out. Smoothing, protecting, and providing plenty of shine, this product looks like it came from an apothecary and delivers the extra TLC your curls need. It can define even the most coarse hair and have you straightened to perfection.
Conclusion
There is pretty much a product that will help you straighten your hair for any hair type. Some are denser than others, so if you have very fine hair, just use your product sparingly. If you’re going to the trouble of spending time to straighten, you may as well invest in a product that can maximize your look and prolong the life of your straightened hair.
