- 1). Wash your hair with a shampoo that is cleansing and removes oil and build-up. Because those with thick ethnic hair find it easier to manage when they skip a day or a few days between washings, it is important that your shampoo is particularly thorough.
- 2). Apply a deep conditioner and leave it on for the amount of time indicated on the label, which is often several minutes. Because thick ethnic hair can take more heat than other hair to get it straight, you want the extra moisture a deep conditioner to keep your hair from drying out and becoming damaged. Wash out all the conditioner before styling your hair.
- 3). Apply a styling product to your hair while it is still damp. The best products for those with thick ethnic hair are those that contain silicone, which weighs down hair and helps it keep its style, especially when straightened.
- 4). Use a blow dryer to gently dry your hair. Invest in a blow drier that has multiple heat settings, so you can use a medium heat setting to dry your hair while detangling it with a wide-toothed comb. You are merely drying your hair so you can style it with heat in later steps, so you do not need an excess of heat in this stage of the process. Using too much heat can cause unnecessary damage to your hair and makes it even more difficult to style.
- 5). Use a hair straightening iron with multiple heat settings to straighten your hair, working with small portions at a time. Do not use an excess of heat to style your hair; use only enough heat to achieve a straight style. If you smell your hair burning or singeing, you are using a setting that is too high.
- 6). Avoid ironing your hair on a daily basis. To do this, wear a silk scarf to bed each night to preserve your hairstyle between washing and styling. By wrapping your hair in a silk scarf before bed, you decrease the chance your hair becomes unnaturally creased while you sleep, in addition to reducing the friction between your hair and your pillow, which can cause frizz.
- 7). Avoid using harsh chemicals on your hair such as straighteners, relaxers or dyes. These chemicals can cause your hair to become brittle and damaged, making it more difficult to style properly.
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