How many of you remember the sizzling sound of the hot comb?

[SoulisticBeyouty]

Many first moments with the “straightening comb” were a rite of passage for some, for many it was the beginning of a painful relationship. How many remember that sizzling sound?

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[Melody.Monroe]

I remember. I actually loved it - but this was before I knew ANYTHING about healthy hair. My mom used tons of that BLUE grease in my hair. I remember how much I loved the smell and the tingle that I would get when she blew on the comb so that the heat from the steam wouldn't burn me. I loved it so much. It was a good memory because it was just my mom and my two sisters so we would sit around and watch my mom do all of our hair. We only got our hair straightened on Easter and Christmas. The rest of the year we were in braids or ponytails with barrettes. So it was a special treat and I would LOVE how long my hair was...

ETA: I LOVE that picture...I want that in my apt....so serious...

 

[MyInvisibleChyrsalis]

*Shudders* oh yes, I remember.

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[koolkittychick]

I don't have a bad memory of it, since my mom only ever hot combed my hair two times in my life -- once for my holy communion and once for my confirmation. She was very careful not to hurt me, and I got all kinds of special treatment on my communion; I got to wear my hair like Shirley Temple, wore a beautiful white dress and veil, and even got a professional portrait done at a studio.

Whenever I look at the portrait hanging in my mom's living room, I have such fond memories of that time and how I got to feel like a princess, complete with princess curls, for a day.

 

[*CherryPie*]

I loved getting my hair straightened. I was not traumatized by getting my hair done as a child.

 

[Love Always]

Gawd yes, my momma used too much grease...my hair was on fiyah .

 

[song_of_serenity]

I mean yes, I loved the results and such but getting burned one time too many scared the MESS out of me when I saw the comb on the stove and the newspaper waiting on the sideline.

 

[Nonie]

...erhmm... When you do wet-to-dry presses even with a flatiron, you do hear the sizzling. I did the last time I straightened my hair. My heat protectant was a wet spray.

My hair reverted fully when I washed it and I didn't appear to have damage. So sizzling doesn't make me cringe. Now if accompanied by dark, cloudy smoke and a smell, it might.

ETA: As a kid, I do remember the sizzling grease, the smell, the smoke. My mom always tested the hot comb on tissue but it didn't stop the sizzling. That was part and parcel of the frying. I never minded it at all. My mom rarely singed my ears. I was a nervous wreck though when anyone else was doing my hair...especially when they did the perimeter. *shaking as if it's happening now*

 

[faithVA]

I remember the hot comb. And I don't remember a few burns but I don't have horrible memories about it. I actually still use the hot comb when I straighten my hair. And will be using it in December when I do my next length check. The only difference is now I will be doing my own hair and I won't have to worry about being burned if I move.

 

[BostonMaria]

I don't remember much except that my mom did spiral curls on me and I loved it

Plus my mom only did this like 2x a year so it was a special treat to fry my hair

 

[Bublin]

OP that picture is haunting.

 

[mzteaze]

*Shudders* oh yes, I remember.

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yep that was my reaction too.

 

[beans4reezy]

A mixture of both. The ear and scalp burns from the hot combs getting too close make me cringe....but the after.... The smell of freshly burnt hair (no kidding, there was something I liked about the smell) and the way my felt afterwards, that swang...that part I loved.

 

[greenandchic]

Beautiful Memories; Enjoyed the Mommy & Me Time!

Since I never had a perm, I was pressed up until I decided to stop doing that to my hair and grow out the heat damage in my adulthood.

As a kid, I remember sitting in the kitchen with the comb on the gas stove and the paper towels or napkins on hand to test the heat. Posner Bergamot, Royal Crown (in the metal and cardboard container), or Blue Magic was her pressing grease of choice. This was after she shampooed with the original CON shampoo and conditioned with Cholesterol or the old school Breck or Tame Conditioners. Sometimes I was sit until a heating cap - especially if I spent the day at the beach the day before. After rinsing, she had this yellow/orange hair dryer complete with the heat coils that can catch on fire if you're not careful. I would cringe if I saw that thing today.

I didn't like the burns I sometimes got on my ears though.

 

[Missigirl]

I remember. The pressing was not the bad part momma would have it done once a month. I loved the smooth hair afterward. The bad part was I sweat really bad in my head so after a few hours my front and back would revert and it was not cute .

 

[cinnespice]

*having a flashback*
Ouch my ear, smell of burning hair, one small and one big comb and dax grease...........
Yep every sunday like clockwork.....used to make my sis go first.....she was older......

 

[knt1229]

I remember the sizzling sound. It's not a good or bad memory for me. My mother didn't straighten my hair often but I liked it when she did because then my hair was long and hung down on my back. But I tend to sweat in my head so it didn't stay straight for long. My mother felt it was a waste of time because it didn't last long.

 

[ms-gg]

My hair never sizzled. My mother always cooled off the hot comb in a napkin before she put it on my hair.

 

[JayAnn0513]

Nope. I was relaxed at the ripe old age of 4. I wouldn't sit still for a press.

 

[DrC]

Ah I remember those days
Crrying in the chair because I don't want my hair pressed.
The smell of blue magic grease sizzling through my strands smelling like fried chicken
Occasionally going to school with a big arse burn on my forehead
Getting my hair wet on purpose right after my mommy pressed my hair, then receiving the arse whopping of my life.

Oh such sweet memories..

 

[qchelle]

No, I don't. I only vaguely remember getting my hair pressed once. I was relaxed at age 4; my hair was always bone straight lol.

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[My Friend]

Ah I remember those days
Crrying in the chair because I don't want my hair pressed.
The smell of blue magic grease sizzling through my strands smelling like fried chicken
Occasionally going to school with a big arse burn on my forehead
Getting my hair wet on purpose right after my mommy pressed my hair, then receiving the arse whopping of my life.

Oh such sweet memories..

Truth.

 

[Bublin]

My hair was never pressed.

 

[Ravenhairedbeauty]

Yes I remember it I never looked forward to it but I always loved the end result

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[Solitude]

I remember and I'm indifferent to the sound. I hated the heat in the kitchen and my mom would accidentally singe my ears from time to time.

ETA: Actually, now that I think about it, my disdain for the hot combing process is the whole reason why I got a relaxer in the first place. I don't miss the smell of melting grease.

 

[Ivonnovi]

I was and still am a very TENDERHEADED brat.

The process was painful and unpleasant, HOWEVER, I relished the results. So it was a mixed bag for me. My mom learned to do my hair while was sleep.

Now lets not forget the handiness of the electric straightening comb. Brought us out of the kitchen and into the LR; a much more comfortable spot!

 

[ajoke]

Christmas and special holidays. Although I was scared of burns to my hair, I loved the way my hair felt afterwards, and MUCH preferred it to our othe hair care sessions where my mom washed my hair, put it in fat braids to stretch it and then cornrowed it after me having worn a puff to church the next day. I was sooooo tender headed....

My mom tried using an electric straightening comb, but it didn't work as well as the old school, in the fire type, so she mostly used that.

 

[chrisanddonniesmommy]

Noooooo!

That and having to sit still while holding your ear. Glad those days are long gone.

 

[keepithealthy]

I had a love/hate relationship with the straightening comb. I loved ti because it was the only time my hair was let out and done infrequently. I hated it because of the accidental burns, especially when my aunt would do the straightening. Should would always say chile that aint nothing but hot steam heating yo head. Ugghm no aunty I'm sure you burned me lol

 

[Imani]

sends shivers down my spine. it wasn't necessarily unpleasant really at the time. I used to like to see how long my hair was and feel it on my shoulders (bc after that, it was either going to revert plus she always curled it up into tight curls so never got to see the length except that first night it was pressed)

I cringe just thinking about how potentially damaging it was and how I would beat somebody down if they tried to come near me with that 60 yr old pressing comb today. I JUST now bought my grandmother a new pressing comb (she still presses). I kid you not, that comb she used on all of us had to be like one of the first pressing combs ever made, it's THAT old.