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Home • Growth • Hairstyles • Straightening

How To Straighten Hair Without Heat

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How To Straighten Hair Without Heat
By NaturallyCurly · Updated November 22, 2016
curly hair using rollers
PICTURED: BEAUTY WITH MJ

We don’t typically talk about straightening our hair, but we know that versatility is one of the top reasons curlies love their hair. Unfortunately, a common way of flattening our strands is by sticking them between a straightener or using hot air and brushing them out. Applying heat is our enemy… it’s easily one of the most damaging routines for hair. While heat may make hair straight and temporarily sleek, it also strips it of its natural moisture. Hair that is over-heated can become so dry and brittle, that it leads to loss of curl pattern, increased breakage and, in some cases, loss of entire strands.

While many believe that heat damage is caused by repeated use of heat tools, the truth is that just one use can cause permanent damage. But have no fear! We have compiled 4 methods for efficient no-heat straightening. Note that most of these methods work best for Type 2’s and 3’s. You may not get the stick straight results that you do with a flat iron, but at least your curls will bounce back damage-free afterwards!

The Wrap Method

When hair is still wet and freshly combed, split it into sections and pin them individually against your head, ensuring they are flat and tangle-free. When finished pinning, put a head wrap or scarf around your head to ensure the hair stays in place and secure it with bobby pins. To avoid frizz, use a silk scarf to eliminate any friction between the hair and material. As Natalie says in her tutorial, make sure you allow yourself at least 6 hours to let your hair fully dry before taking it down and revealing sleek, straight hair!

The Elastic Method

The toughest part about this method is finding your all your lost hair ties that you swore grew legs and ran off. When you do find them and your hair is wet, comb out any tangles and apply a frizz-free product. Put your hair in a ponytail low enough to avoid any pulling. Then, start sectioning the ponytail with additional hair ties in small increments of about an inch apart. Make sure you use soft hair elastic ties to avoid hair breakage. Note: this method is similar to “banding,” which is how you can stretch Type 4 hair to make it longer. This same “banding” method works to actually straighten Type 2 and 3 hair.

The Curler Method

While using curlers for straightening hair may seem counterintuitive, it can actually help flatten hair while you sleep. For this to work, make sure you use large, wide curlers and roll them very tightly so no curl is allowed in the hair. Start by spraying hair with straightening spray and make sure hair stays wet throughout the process for the best results. We love Beauty With MJ’s tutorial on this!

Cool Blow Dry

Article continues after video.

Avoiding heat doesn’t mean you have to give up on your blow dryer altogether. You can use it on the cool setting while sectioning and continuously brushing hair with a vented brush to get a straight look. Start by using a product such as Carol’s Daughter Chocolat Smoothing Blow Dry Cream, Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum or Twisted Sista Frizz Control Straightening Blow Dry Cream. This method may take a little longer than using heat, but it’s much safer for achieving straight hair.

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Our next question is, “Can You Straighten Curly Hair with a Steamer?“

Our friends at Cantu have helped wavies go straight and back to wavy again!

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Home • Beauty

The Boom of K-Beauty Blush And Why It’s Everywhere

From K-pop to Cottagecore, BeautyCon examines global blush trends and their connected popularity.
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The Boom of K-Beauty Blush And Why It’s Everywhere
The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images)
By Cierra Black · Updated December 19, 2024

K-Beauty trends have dominated the feeds, cosmetic counters, and online moodboards for the past few years. At the same time, blush is having its moment, with looks such as sunset blush, blush contouring, and cottage-core makeup doing rounds across beauty circles worldwide.

Makeup artists in the global editorial sphere, such as Chinese MUA Valentina Li whose work can be seen on the cover of W Korea, have used blush and bright pigments to color outside the lines, so to speak. Meanwhile in the States, cottage-core and strawberry makeup blush trends were gaining traction in tandem, as well as sunset blush and bright under eyes through American creators such as Alissa Janay and Naezrah. The culmination of the two developments results in one of many techniques of interest for international beauty lovers: the undereye blush trend.

The particular way soft pink blush is placed under the eyes and across the apples of the cheeks is a growing technique born out of K-beauty circles, through the rise in influence of K-pop groups such as Aespa and NewJeans. A slight evolution from the Aegyo Sal K-Beauty technique that accentuates the under eye for a youthful look, this lifting blush trend shares more similarities with Western blush placements, and therefore may speak to its global traction.

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A post shared by 조은비 | Jo Eun Bee (@biyaaaa)

While the practice existed amongst many Korean MUAs (namely Jo Eun Bee, MUA to many K-pop stars and actresses), its large-scale popularity cemented by 2022, around the time global sensation NewJeans debuted and took off. Bee’s utilization of Clinique’s Cheek Pop blush sent the internet into a frenzy and prompted the trend that Sharon Lee, Korean American beauty and cultural creator, believes harnesses a key aspect to K-pop’s allure. 

As far as the late 2010s to 2020s are concerned, K-pop groups have commanded the global zeitgeist. Consider: Aespa’s Coachella 2022 performance, NewJeans’ historic performance at Lollapalooza 2023, BLACKPINK’s global sold out tour, highly visible collaborations with Western artists such as Selena Gomez and Megan Thee Stallion, and fashion and beauty ambassadorships with the likes of Chanel — the influence is undeniable. Everyone is talking about them, everyone loves them, and everyone wants their look. 

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A post shared by 조은비 | Jo Eun Bee (@biyaaaa)

Lee believes a large element of the K-pop beauty influence is its stars’ ability to balance both cute and sexy aesthetics, as executed through traditional and editorial influences. 

Article continues after video.

“We’re definitely seeing the Hallyu in action,” she explains, across cultural elements including language, food, film, beauty, and music. Hallyu, or “Korean Wave,” which originated in the 1990s refers to the circulation and acceptance of Korean culture globally. 

“I feel like global audiences are hypnotized by Korean dramas, K-pop, K-food, K-beauty, and anything that’s a vessel for Korean culture because Koreans have a way of making people and things aesthetically pleasing. We deeply care about outward beauty as a society. In Korean culture, beauty means success.”

She speaks to Korean culture’s affinity for the cutesy, girl next door vibe, as exemplified by K-pop girl groups, in relation to the way these groups are adapting for global audiences. With global popularity increasing, many K-pop stars are opting for a more “editorial” look, which helps to balance the more innocent and conservative aesthetic with an edgier, yet elevated twist. The blend of Korean and global beauty standards results in the popularity of a fun and flushed approach to blush application. 

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A post shared by 조은비 | Jo Eun Bee (@biyaaaa)

Of note, is the influential “soft bunny aesthetic” which also adapts a high blush placement to emulate rounded bunny-like cheeks. While this cutesy aesthetic pulls from many influences including Japanese culture, its reach was expanded by NewJeans, whose utilization of bunny motifs is almost synonymous with their brand.

“I’ve been seeing bunnies EVERYWHERE—Sandy Liang, New Jeans, hip hop artists wearing bunny hats, etc. All this peaking in 2023, aka the year of the rabbit, is also funny and probably connected,” Lee contemplates. “I think the soft bunny fashion trend is a response to folks finding the softer life ideal, especially post-COVID with recent economic turmoil and political upheaval.” This plausible correlation sits in the same conversation of the cottagecore trend which rose in the U.S. for similar reasons.

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A post shared by 조은비 | Jo Eun Bee (@biyaaaa)


Today, the K-beauty blush trend has positioned many K-beauty makeup brands to take center stage alongside Western brands that historically have dominated global markets. Korean brands such as AOU Cosmetics (helmed by Jo Eun Bee), JSM Beauty, Hince, and Fwee to name a few, are excellent places to start if you’re interested in trying the rosy blush look for yourself.

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