Q&A for How to Straighten African American Hair

Yes, but don't go over the same shaft of hair too many times. This can make your hair start to get brittle.

Try the wash, blow dry, then straighten method. It's the same for me too!! Just don't forget to oil your scalp and use heat protectant so your hair isn't damaged or dry.

Japanese hair straightening a cream that goes on your hair. It stays in your hair for a while, then it is washed out, leaving your hair straight. This treatment is permanent to a certain extent; any new hair that grows will retain its natural texture.

Actually, yes! Coca Cola contains phosphoric acid. This means that the solution of Coca Cola has a very low pH level (Coca Cola Classic has a pH of 2.5). As an acidic solution, when applied to the hair, it causes the cuticle of the hair to contract (or tighten) and will make the hair appear smoother and shinier.

I have the same hair type and length. When I flat-ironed my hair, it fell down between my shoulder blades. I would recommend using something to hold it back, as it gets in your face and eventually becomes annoying.

Try to do it in small sections so you can get it as straight as possible. If you do large sections, you may not straighten all the strands of your hair.

Yes, and it may appear straighter that way but if you do it too frequently you could experience heat damage.

Do sections, and do the comb-chase method. This way, your ends will be super straight, and your hair shouldn't be so stiff.

Put it in bushy ponytail, or just wear it out in an Afro, or your natural curls.

You can apply conditioner to your hair. Before you wash it out, comb it until it's straightened or smooth.

No. Your hair will continue to grow out your natural texture.

Condition you hair at night, make sure it's damp, not wet. Tie it in a ponytail and cover it with a shower cap, plastic bag, or cling film.

Wash it, part it into small sections, and then flat iron the small sections one by one. Make sure to de-tangle your hair when it is still wet, so the flat iron doesn't burn it. But dry it afterwards, so the hair doesn't burn off in the flat iron in another way.

1-4 hours depending on how much hair you have. If you don’t have that much hair, maybe 1-3 hours or less but if you have lots of hair, 4+ hours is possible.

While straightening, if it feels even slightly dry, add more heat protectant. You could also put leave-in conditioner on your hair at the start of the process.

Keep it damp, not dripping wet or very dry: something in between. But it is not recommended to straighten wet hair, as it damages easily.