I want to grow my hair out to waist length.  It's at about mid-back right now.  The problem is, my hair has enough body to it to make it kind of wrinkly, with a couple of big waves.  In other words, in it's natural washed, air-dried state, it looks ratty.  I've been using Conair's steam straightener because the steam is supposed to make it gentler, right?  I just read on the ultimate guide to growing long hair that you shouldn't use any kind of straightener.  So what should I do to straighten my hair?  I'm hoping as it gets longer, I won't need to straighten at all; it'll have enough weight to weigh down any waves.

I have noticed that I have quite a lot of broken hairs at my part, and all down my hair.  What can I use to make my hair straight and stronger?

~April

Yup, it will get straighter as your hair gets longer.  In the meantime, if you have an occasion for which you want really straight hair you can do what we did in the 70's... roll your hair on really huge rollers.  We even used soup cans, just make sure there are no sharp edges to harm your hair!  When you take your hair down it will be straight as a board with a gentle wave at the ends.

Yeah, but when I was growing up my best friend's hair wasn't.  This was how we made it straight :)

I get those lumps too if I use a ponytail holder.  Try using a scrunchie instead, they are less likely to leave marks.

Just as a warning, the weight of your hair doesn't always straighten it that much - I kept telling myself that when I was in middle school and high school and I decided to grow my hair out - but the curl got tighter in high school and basically has not changed since - it's still pretty curly - but another friend of mine who had hair about as curly as mine now has waves since she's grown hers out - it has to do with your texture as well I think...

And another way to avoid the ponytail bump is to use a claw clip instead of a ponytail holder (if that's allowed) that way you can twist your hair a bit and avoid most of the bump...though not getting the bump is one reason I now enjoy my curls!

Leia;
Braiding your hair while it is damp then letting it dry will give you more waves.  The more braids, the tighter the waves.  Twisted ropes will give you more of a spiral curl.

I have used aloe vera (make sure it does not have any alcohol listed in the ingredients) as a setting gel.  This protects my hair from the sun and helps hold the curls.  I have also found that when I oil my hair before braiding or rolling it, that the curls will last longer.  Finger combing is a must if you don't want to pull the curls out.

No, I have not tried any homemade gels.  I don't usually put anything in my hair other than the oil.  Most store products seem to contain alcohol, which is very drying.