How To Get Smooth Hair & Risks Of Chemical Treatments

Wondering how to get smooth manageable hair? Do not worry; we can help you. Daily combing and using thousands of different serums do not always seem to function when it comes to tangling and roughness. As a result, your hair may begin to look dull, unmanageable, and frizzy. However, it is not difficult to achieve smooth, frizz-free tresses. This article addresses the various techniques for hair smoothening at home. Keep reading to learn more.

In This Article

1. Ways To Smoothen Hair
2. How To Get Smooth Hair Naturally
3. Chemical Smoothing Hair Tips
4. Risks And Side Effects
5. Infographic: Natural Ways To Get Smooth Hair
6. Frequently Asked Questions
7. Key Takeaways
8. Illustration: Effective Ways To Get Smooth Hair

Ways To Smoothen Hair

Smooth, sleek hair can be achieved through various methods, ranging from natural remedies to professional treatments. Here are some effective ways to smoothen hair:

1. Conditioning Treatments

• Deep Conditioning: Use a deep conditioning mask once a week to hydrate and nourish your hair. Look for products with ingredients like argan oil, shea butter, and keratin.
• Leave-in Conditioner: Apply a leave-in conditioner to damp hair after washing to help smooth frizz and add moisture.

2. Natural Oils

• Argan Oil: This oil is lightweight and helps smooth hair without making it greasy. Apply a small amount to the ends of your hair.
• Coconut Oil: A little goes a long way with coconut oil. It helps reduce frizz and adds shine. Use it sparingly to avoid weighing down your hair.
• Olive Oil: This oil can be used as a pre-shampoo treatment to smooth and condition hair. Apply it to dry hair, leave it for about 30 minutes, then wash it out.

3. Heat Styling

• Blow Drying: Use a blow dryer with a nozzle attachment and a round brush to smoothen hair. Always blow dry in the direction of hair growth.
• Flat Ironing: A flat iron can help achieve sleek, straight hair. Use a heat protectant spray before ironing to prevent damage.
• Hot Oil Treatments: Heat some natural oil (like olive or coconut oil) and apply it to your hair. Cover with a shower cap and leave it on for 20-30 minutes before rinsing.

4. Chemical Treatments

• Keratin Treatment: A professional treatment that smoothens hair by infusing it with keratin, making it easier to manage.
• Relaxers: Chemical relaxers straighten and smoothen curly or frizzy hair but should be used carefully as they can cause damage if not applied properly.

5. Diet and Hydration

• Balanced Diet: Eating a diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and proteins supports healthy hair. Foods like salmon, nuts, and avocados are great for hair health.
• Hydration: Drink plenty of water to keep your hair hydrated from the inside out.

6. Proper Hair Care Routine

• Regular Trims: Trim your hair every 6-8 weeks to get rid of split ends, which can make hair look frizzy.
• Avoid Over-Washing: Washing your hair too frequently can strip it of natural oils, leading to dryness and frizz. Aim to wash your hair 2-3 times a week.
• Cold Water Rinse: After conditioning, rinse your hair with cold water to seal the cuticle and enhance smoothness.

7. Use the Right Products

• Sulfate-Free Shampoo: Use a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo to avoid stripping your hair of its natural oils.
• Anti-Frizz Serum: Apply an anti-frizz serum to damp hair to control flyaways and smoothen the hair’s surface.

8. Home Remedies

• Egg and Yogurt Mask: Mix an egg with yogurt and apply it to your hair for 30 minutes before rinsing. This mask adds protein and moisture.
• Banana and Honey Mask: Blend a ripe banana with honey and apply it to your hair for a nourishing and smoothing treatment.

9. Avoid Heat and Environmental Damage

• Protect from Sun: Wear a hat or use products with UV protection to prevent sun damage, which can cause frizz.
• Minimize Heat Styling: Reduce the use of heat tools to prevent damage that leads to frizz and roughness.

10. Silk Pillowcase

• Sleep on Silk: Sleeping on a silk pillowcase reduces friction, preventing hair from becoming tangled and frizzy overnight.

These methods, when combined or used according to your hair type and needs, can help you achieve smooth, shiny, and manageable hair.

How To Get Smooth Hair Naturally

1. Rinse With Cold Water

Rinsing your hair with cold water removes any frizz and makes the hair straight. After you wash and condition your detangled hair, rinse with cold water a few times. Pat dry your hair instead of drying it vigorously or scrunching it. You can also use a straightening or anti-frizz conditioner before rinsing your hair. The cold water will lock in the anti-frizz action of the conditioner and keep your hair smooth and conditioned.

2. Banana Packama

Banana is rich in carbohydrates, vitamins, natural oils, and potassium. It has antioxidant potential that helps fight free radicals (2). Using a banana in a hair pack will make your hair feel nourished and moisturized. It reduces frizz and soothes an irritated scalp with regular use. The benefits of banana can be enhanced by adding yogurt to it, which is also an excellent hair moisturizer.

You Will Need

• 1 ripe banana
• 2 teaspoons yogurt

Procedure

1. Mash a ripe banana and add two teaspoons of yogurt to it.
2. Blend it to get a smooth paste so that no chunks of the banana remain.
3. Apply this all over the hair, starting from the tips and work up until the crown.
4. Rinse off after 45 minutes with a shampoo.

3. Vinegar Rinse

Apple cider vinegar has been in use as a natural hair rinse for a long time now. Our hair has a pH of 5.5, but the shampoos and conditioners we use are strongly alkaline (3). Although there is no scientific evidence, anecdotal evidence suggests that apple cider vinegar helps maintain the pH balance of our scalp while cleaning the build-up that might have formed from the excessive use of products. Rinsing your hair with the vinegar will close the cuticles of your hair and make it smoother, softer, and shinier.

You Will Need

• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup water

Procedure

1. Dilute apple cider vinegar with water.
2. Use this as the final rinse after washing your hair and leave it on.

4. Hot Oil Treatment

A hot oil massage once a week will not only give you healthy and smooth hair, but it will also help you de-stress. Use oils, such as coconut, olive, sweet almond, jojoba, castor, lavender, rosemary, and thyme, to massage your hair (4), (5), (6), (7). You can also use the combination of these oils for better results.

You Will Need

• 2-3 tablespoons of oil, depending on the length of your hair

Procedure

1. Massage your scalp with the oil and apply it to all of your hair.
2. After massaging your scalp, wrap your head with a warm towel. This creates an environment that allows for maximum penetration of the oil.
3. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then wash off the oil with shampoo for glossy hair.

5. Use A Shampoo For Your Hair Type

A shampoo cleanses your scalp and also makes your hair smooth and soft. However, you should always use a shampoo that is suited to your hair.

Another safe idea to cleanse your hair is to use natural ingredients.

1. Make your own natural shampoo by boiling dried Indian gooseberry (amla), shikakai, and reetha.
2. Let it boil until you get a soapy solution.
3. Use this to wash your hair at least twice a week to get shiny and smooth hair.

6. Careful Combing

Go easy on the brushing. Combing or brushing your hair too much will cause friction, which will make your hair frizzy. Restrict combing your hair to a bare minimum, and never do it when your hair is wet. Wet hair is more prone to breakage. A good combing schedule involves detangling your hair before a shower with a wide-toothed wooden comb and then combing it once or twice a day to style and get rid of tangles.

7. Proper Conditioning

The right conditioning treatment can work wonders for your hair and make it smooth and silky. Make it a point to deep condition your hair at least once a week. Leaving a little conditioner on your hair can make it appear smooth, radiant, and tangle-free. This is completely harmless as long as the conditioner is not in contact with your scalp.

You can also use leave-in conditioners and serums, which are very useful to achieve that smooth and frizz-free look. Leave-in conditioners are especially beneficial for people with curly hair.

8. Take A Break From Heat

Straighteners, curling irons, and blow dryers may be the best solution for instant styling to make your hair appear smooth. But the regular use of these hot styling tools is extremely harmful for your hair. The heat from these tools damages your hair, making it coarse and frizzy and stripping off its natural sheen (8). However, if there are days when you cannot do without styling, remember to use a heat-protecting spray or serum. It will help reduce the damage from the heat by forming a protective shield around your hair.

9. Blow Drying Techniques

Always try to dry your hair naturally. But if you are in a hurry, you can blow dry your hair. However, make it a point to use a good quality big-toothed round brush with a ceramic base. Use the cool settings of your blow dryer as this leads to less damage. Hold the blow dryer 15 cm away from your hair and move it constantly so that it doesn’t blow at one section of hair for too long (8)

10. Say No To Chemicals

Do not use products that contain sodium lauryl sulfate or ammonium laureth sulfate, as both of them are industrial cleansers and very harsh on your hair. These are ingredients that most shampoos contain. Research has shown that these chemicals cause heavy hair fall and thinning of hair (1). Instead of sulfate shampoos, use shampoos with natural and organic ingredients, which are not harsh on your hair. They lock in the moisture, thus giving you smooth and soft hair.

11. Trimming Is Important

Trimming is the most important thing to do if you want to maintain hair that is healthy and smooth. It helps remove split ends and damage that would otherwise spread up the hair shaft, causing frizz and dryness. Trim your hair every four to six weeks

12. Mayonnaise Mask

Treat your hair by giving it a deep conditioning treatment once a week. Mayonnaise is a rich source of L-cysteine, which is an amino acid and a powerful antioxidant, which is also found in eggs. Using this hair pack regularly stimulates healthy hair growth.

You Will Need

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons mashed avocado

Procedure

1. Mix the mayonnaise and avocado until the mixture becomes fluffy.
2. Apply the mixture to your hair from the roots through the length of your hair.
3. Pull your hair to the crown and cover your head with a shower cap.
4. Keep it on for an hour and rinse off with shampoo.

13. Onion Juice Hair Pack

Onion juice is a commonly used home remedy that is popular for boosting hair growth. Anecdotal evidence suggests that its rich sulfur content may also help prevent hair thinning and breakage, resulting in smoother and more manageable hair. This makes it ideal for individuals dealing with frizzy tresses.

You Will Need

• 1 medium-sized onion
• 2 teaspoons honey

Procedure

1. Blitz the onion into a paste using a mixer.
2. Strain the pulp well to extract its juice.
3. Add the honey to the onion juice and mix well.
4. Apply the concoction onto the scalp and hair.
5. Leave it on for 1 hour, then rinse it off with cold water and a mild shampoo.

You can also smoothen your hair with chemicals. However, this method is expensive and can have damaging side effects on your hair (1). If you want to smoothen your hair chemically, ensure that your hair is healthy and hydrated and not over-processed. It is always a good idea to consult a stylist before you get a treatment done. Pre and post care is crucial for healthy, smoothened hair.

Chemical Smoothing Hair Tips

14. Traditional Relaxers

Relaxers are used to soften and calm the natural texture of the hair. They are suitable for people with wavy or slightly curly hair. However, they do not work well with extremely curly hair (1). Relaxers fix frizzy textures and smoothen the hair shafts. The effect loses out once the chemicals fade out in four to six months.

15. Chemical Smoothing

This technique uses a lot of chemicals to break the natural bonds of your hair (1). The hair is then washed with a smoothing solution and straightened. This procedure takes four to five hours, and the effects last for about three months. Regular touch-ups are required to maintain smooth, straight and lustrous hair. It is not meant for colored hair.

Puja Mondal, a blogger, underwent a hair smoothing treatment and shared what to expect from it. About the usual duration of this treatment, she writes, “The time depends on a couple of things like hair texture, thickness and also length. Obviously, it is going to take much longer if you have extremely core and thick hair. My appointment took almost 5 hours as my hair is long and colored (i).” She adds, “If you want your hair to look pin-straight then you may have to go to the salon for touch-ups after every 4 to 5 months.”

16. Thermal Reconditioning

Also known as Japanese straightening, this technique is suitable for bulky, loose to medium curls, but not for very tight curls (1). The hair is repeatedly washed with a chemical solution, which helps break the inner bonds. Then, each strand is reshaped. Finally, the neutralizer is applied to achieve a smooth, silky, and straight look. This technique permanently changes the structure of your hair, and regular touch-ups are required every five to six months, depending on the growth rate of your hair. It is not suitable for colored or processed hair. Here is a detailed post on Japanese straightening.

17. Brazilian Keratin Treatment

This technique has widely gained popularity due to the use of keratin, which is less harsh on hair. It smoothes the surface of the hair but does not permanently break the bonds. This treatment controls frizz by maintaining the volume and texture of the hair (1). It is safe for colored hair and is suitable for all hair types from waves to tight curls. Here is a detailed post on Brazilian Keratin treatment.

Risks And Side Effects

When using chemical treatments to smooth your hair, make sure they don’t contain formaldehyde (1). It can burn the scalp and eyes. Some products claim to have unactivated formaldehyde, which might be activated by the other chemicals in the product. When using regular straighteners, make sure you use keratin straighteners as they do less damage to the hair (1).

Infographic: Natural Ways To Get Smooth Hair

Smooth and silky hair is everyone’s dream and there are several techniques to help you achieve it. There are chemical techniques as well as natural styling tips. Out of all these options provided to you, the natural ways are the safest as they do not cause any damage and improve your overall hair health.

Check out the infographic below to learn the most effective natural ways to get smooth and sleek hair.

Here’s the infographic on “Natural Ways To Get Smooth Hair.” It features simple and visually appealing graphics along with short descriptions of each method. I hope you find it helpful!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is my hair so rough after washing it?

Your hair might feel rough after a wash if you are shampooing too often, using a shampoo that’s not right for your hair type, or not using conditioner adequately or properly.

2. How do salons make hair so soft?

Professionals working at salons know the right way to wash hair and use well-formulated products. They also apply different techniques to soften and smoothen hair.

3. Is smoothing good for dry hair?

Smoothing can be good for dry hair as it can help to tame frizz and make hair look sleek and shiny. But it is also advised to use a mask, oils, or overnight conditioner to help with the extra moisture. Using a minimum heat or low heat setting when blow-drying hair is important to prevent damage.

4. Does smoothing help hair growth?

There is no scientific evidence to suggest that hair smoothing can help with hair growth.

5. How often should I wash my hair to keep it smooth?

You can wash frizzy hair twice or thrice a week as it is important to restore moisture. Washing hair too frequently can strip the hair of its natural oils and cause dryness and washing hair too less can lead to buildup and scalp irritation

6. Can a healthy diet help to keep my hair smooth?

Yes, a healthy diet can help keep hair smooth by providing the necessary nutrients like protein for healthy hair growth.

Key Takeaways

• You can improve hair health by using a sulfate-free shampoo, deep conditioning, and avoiding heat styling equipment.
• Prevent hair damage by trimming split ends every four to six weeks.
• Utilize a wide-toothed comb, but never brush it while your hair is wet.
• For chemical smoothing, you can opt for thermal reconditioning or Brazilian keratin treatment.