4 Ways to Make Hair Lay Flat for Guys & Additional Tips

Despite all the new hair styling options for guys, many guys still love the slicked-back, flat hairstyle that looks good for different occasions, whether casual, professional, or just cool.

However, what do you do if you desire to have flat hair but your hair just won’t stay put? Does your hair type make it impossible for you to rock flat hair?

Do you want to achieve flat hair with or without chemical products? The all-around solution to getting your hair to lay flat is contained in this post, so let’s get straight into it.

1. Most Used Method for Getting Your Hair to Lay Flat

No matter your hair type and texture, follow these steps and you’ll get the slicked-back hair you desire.

Popular method for getting your hair to lay flat

Comb out your hair beginning from the strands and then head upwards until you reach the root.
Comb your hair towards the direction you prefer, whether sideways, forward, or backward, and allow it to sit properly in that direction.
Pick up a holding product such as a gel or paste that can deliver hold and shine to your hair and apply a dime size of the product on your hair in the direction of your combed hair.
Pat the product into your hair layer and add more if necessary depending on how voluminous and thick your hair is, then leave the hair to sit for a few seconds.
Proceed to run the product throughout your hair by using your hand to massage it in. If this process feels difficult, apply water to your hand that then go back to distributing the product
Run your comb through the hair again from your forehead towards the direction you want it to go and comb it into a resting position.
Finish off the process by applying a light layer of hair spray while keeping the bottle a few inches away from the hair. The hairspray helps you to hold the style down for longer.

2. Get Your Hair to Lay Flat Using a Blowout

The blow-out process is another way to get your hair to lay flat, especially if you have straight hair that’s relatively easy to hold in place. Here’s how to go about it.

Wash your hair, pat it dry with a towel, and apply a smoothing conditioner. For men with curly hair, use your conditioner to detangle your care carefully with your fingertips before moving to the next step.
Moisturize your hair using coconut oil or Argan oil by applying a pea-sized amount on your palm, rubbing it together, and running it through your hair from root to tip. These oils also offer your hair heat protection, which is essential because your hair will be exposed to heat.
Run a comb through your hair from the ends to the root and work through tangles with your fingers as you go on. Try to comb your hair as straight as you can.
Comb and blow dry your hair section by section while the dryer stays on a medium heat setting to avoid too much heat exposure. If you have wavy hair, you won’t need to do this for too long before your hair cooperates. However, for curly hair, you’ll need to spend more time on the process.
Blow dry and comb your hair from section to section until you have straightened all sections of your hair.
Add a smoothing serum on the palm of your hands and work it through your hair to reduce frizzing. Your hair is good to go.

3. How to Make Your Hair Lay Flat Using a Flat Iron?

Wash and condition your hair using a detangling shampoo and a smoothing conditioner.
Dry your hair completely by allowing it to air dry or using a blow dryer. Avoid using wet hair for this procedure as it can damage your hair.
Work a heat protection serum through your hair using your palms going from the roots to the tips to protect your hair from potential heat damage that could come from the flat iron.
Begin to comb and flat iron your hair section by section. Ensure that the flat iron is on its lowest setting and close your iron over every 1-inch section of your hair and straighten them before moving to the next one. Don’t spend more than a few seconds on one section to avoid burning your hair, and don’t keep your flat iron beyond 248 °F/120 °C to avoid damaging your hair.
Comb your hair in the direction you want it to lie and use a styling gel to hold it in your chosen direction.

4. Make your Hair Lay Flat using Chemical Treatments

This process entails the use of a relaxer and is mostly advised for people with thick, tough hair that just won’t stay when you use any other method, whether flat ironing or blow drying. Here’s how to go about it.

Avoid washing or shampooing your hair for 2 to 3 days before the chemical treatment. If you do, you stand a risk of burning your scalp when you apply the relaxer.
Comb your hair and then mix the relaxer products based on the instructions on the sachet or container. Due to the powerful nature of the relaxing chemical, it is best to have a professional handle the process to avoid damaging your hair by mistake.
Protect your hands using disposable rubber gloves and then mix the chemicals until they are in a smooth paste that’s ready to be used.
Divide your hair into sections and apply the relaxer on your hair from one section to the next using an application brush. Begin the application from the ends of your hair and then move on to the roots. Ensure you achieve full coverage throughout your hair before you stop. To avoid burning your edges and scalp, apply the relaxer to those areas last after applying it throughout your hair.
Allow the relaxer to sit in your hair for 10 to 15 minutes, or for as long as the instruction on the relaxer asks you to leave it for. While you wait, be conscious of what you’re feeling and quickly wash off the relaxer with a clarifying shampoo if your hair begins to burn or your scalp feels irritated.
When the time duration is up, use a clarifying shampoo to wash off the relaxer or use the one that came with the relaxer. Remember that a neutralizing shampoo is the best shampoo to truly wash the relaxer out of your hair.
After washing your hair, apply the hair conditioner and rinse it out using cold water.
Comb your hair and you’ll find that it lays straight and flat without any resistance.
The effect of your relaxer will often last for between 6 and 8 weeks.

Tips For Helping Your Hair Lay Flat Depending on Your Hair Type

Knowing that every man’s hair type is different, these quick tips will help you do it right depending on your hair texture, thickness, and other features.

1. Thin hair

Always use a lightweight product on thin or thinning hair because heavier products will cause a strain on your hair. Pastes are often the best options for thin hair because of their lightweight nature. Creams are also a good option.

However, while pastes deliver enough hold despite their light nature, creams will only offer direction and not hold.

2. Curvy or wavy hair

A lightweight product like a paste can offer the hold your hair needs to stay flat without affecting the texture of your hair. However, if you want to have your hair all straightened out, then you might need a flat iron and a stronger holding product.

3. Thick hair

Thick hair often needs the strongest of holds, so you might need a texturizer as well as a conditioner and hair mask to soften and hydrate the hair before using a gel or fiber to hold the hair down, and then use a hair spray to finish things up.

Extra Helpful Tips to Make Guy’s Hair Lay Flat

Always style clean, dry hair
Always apply a conditioner to restore hydration and make the hair easy to style.
Avoid overusing the products as that could give your hair a heavy, dusty look.
Comb your hair towards its natural direction for a better, longer-lasting direction. Styling your hair in the opposite direction might make it difficult to remain flat, but that isn’t always the case.

Final Words:

No matter your hair type, you can have your hair lay flat if you know the right things to do and how to go about it. Go on and enjoy your slicked-back hair or your flat hair in whatever style and form you want to enjoy it.