It really depends on your hair type, but if it is pliable, relatively healthy and not coarse, wash condition it with Paul Mitchell's Super Skinny Shampoo and Conditioner, rub a bit of Super Skinny serum in it (it works miracles) or their straightening gel (a bit stronger) and just blow dry it with a good, large round ceramic-base boar hair brush. Blow dry your hair all over first, flipping your hair over and getting all the roots, then switch to a "warm" setting or a lower intensity blast of air and do some fine brushing/drying. When your hair is finally completely dry, blast it with cold air (it seals the cuticle and makes it glossy). That is how you avoid straightening, and ultimately damaging your hair a lot faster than you normally would. My hair goes down to my tailbone and I used to suffer from damaged, dry hair before I stopped straightening and just used my blowdryer.