It can be super frustrating when your hair reverts back to its straight nature immediately after curling it. This happens to lots of people and can occur for numerous reasons, but it’s often due to the temperature of your curling tools and the products and techniques you use.
With that in mind, we introduce 5 things that you might be doing wrong, which could be affecting the result of your chosen curling method.
Reason 1. Wrong temperature
If you use a heat-based curling method to curl your straight hair, the temperature of the device is crucial. Many people mistakenly apply too much heat to their hair, often in excess of 350F, which can damage the strands and also suppress the cuticles.
Excessive heat in a curling iron or hair dryer can lead to the hair shutting its cuticle, which results in flat hair that’s unable to hold a curl. That being said, using a curling iron with too little heat can also cause issues. If there isn’t sufficient heat, the curling iron won’t be effective.
Therefore, if you’re going down the heat styling route, our advice is to use a tool that has adjustable heat settings. For instance, the Laifen Swift Special is an ionic hair dryer with a diffuser attachment, which you can set to the medium temperature setting.
This enables you to blow dry your hair with the diffuser to achieve curls that are well-defined and bouncy. What’s more, you won’t risk drying your hair out, helping it to retain its moisture content and reducing the impact of frizz and breakage.
Reason 2. Wrong products
There are so many haircare products out there that it would be futile for us to go into depth about the best and worst products for holding curls. That being said, using heavy, oil-based shampoos and conditioners can affect your curl pattern, as they weigh the hair cuticle down and prevent it from holding a bend.
This is also true of products that contain silicones, which are the worst culprit for weighing down your hair and causing it to lose its shape. Our advice is to look for light shampoos and conditioners that have been specifically designed for people with curly or wavy hair.
This way, you can be sure the product has the best ingredients to hold a curl pattern. You can also consider rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar to try and remove some of the heavier silicones and other products from your hair before switching to more appropriate shampoos and conditioners for your desired hair type.
Reason 3. Wrong technique
The way you wash and style your hair can also make a big difference to the definition of your curl pattern. One of the biggest issues comes from the way you rinse your hair. If you don’t thoroughly rinse the shampoo and conditioner from your hair, you could leave behind an oily residue that doesn’t mix well with the heat applied by your blow dryer or curling iron.
Also, when styling your hair and using a curling iron or blow dryer, remember to leave your curls to cool down completely before touching them. Jumping in too soon will limit the effectiveness of your styling and can cause your curls to straighten out.
Reason 4. Wrong hairspray
You might think that applying any hairspray to your hair after curling it will help to hold the pattern in place, but this isn’t necessarily true. You need to consider the formula of the hairspray you’re using to ensure that it’s complementary to your chosen hairstyle.
Specifically, make sure you use a dry hairspray as a wet spray will cause the curls to fall down. For curls and waves of all shapes and styles, look for a dry, texturized hairspray that will hold them in place. You can buy dry hairspray online, and it’s an essential product if you want to keep those curls in place throughout the day.
Reason 5. Wrong hair type
Depending on your hair type, it might not be suitable for curling. For instance, 1A, 1B, and 1C hair types are not suitable for curling, no matter the products and tools you use to style your hair.
If you have naturally straight and sleek hair, a perm might be the only way to add curls, as the process changes the texture of your hair via a chemical process.
Another thing to consider is that your hair might be too long or too short to hold curls effectively, so a trip to the salon might be required. You can then speak to your stylist about the look you’re seeking to achieve, and they will help you make the necessary adjustments before adding curls.
The verdict: Why does my hair go straight after I curl it?
As illustrated, there are several potential reasons why your hair goes straight after curling it:
- You’ve set your curling iron or blow dryer to the wrong temperature setting.
- You’re using the wrong products, specifically those that are heavy and oil-based.
- You’re not rinsing your hair properly and are using the wrong curling technique.
- You’re using a wet hairspray rather than a dry one.
- Your hair type isn’t well suited to the curling process.
We hope this article helps you identify your issue and enables you to rectify the problem. In most cases, slight changes and a trip to see your stylist should be enough to achieve the bouncy curls you desire!
