r/HaircareScience • u/KpStick • Aug 07 '25

Discussion Do straightening shampoo/conditioners actually work?

A brand of shampoo I really like released a new line that promises to make the hair straighter and more aligned. Could that work to make wavy hair straighter or does it only work on already straight hair? I'm not sure how that would work...

7 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

71% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

3

u/thejoggler44 Cosmetic Chemist Aug 08 '25

It won’t straighten it in the way you are imagining. I’m sure you can use it and then comb & dry your hair straighter, but that’s true of any shampoo/conditioner products. I doubt there is anything measurably different about these products.

1

u/Shantila 23d ago

Nope. The only thing that will actually straighten your hair is rebonding or chemical relaxing (both are v damaging though, so lots of care afterwards is required). In my personal experience, shampoos, masks and conditioners can just very slightly, temporarily relax the hair by flattening it. Like sapping all the volume from it lol. I'd recommend sticking to the right products for your hair type and hair concerns, and using a flat iron (with serious heat protection before) to create real straightness.

1

u/Designer-Cap27 21d ago

For me, They don’t actually straighten your hair, but they can make it look smoother and less frizzy. Basically just help prep your hair so it stays straighter if you blow dry or flat iron.