Manipulation vs. Heat, what's worse?

[30something]

Yes, my hair is as you describe OP. I tried air drying for over a year until I made the realization it just isn't for me. I would have to manipulate my hair too often with deep conditioning/co washing + air drying and styling every 3 days because it would dry out and look ugly/hard to style. I would see so much hair in the tub and in my comb trying do something to let it air dry right. With heat my hair stays moisture, and I don't have to wet my hair again 2-3 times in a week. If I could make a braid out last a week.. it would be such a problem. Ever since I introduce heat into my regimen its been doing a lot better.

 

[jcdlox]

interesting responses ladies, and I by no means intended to start a debate, just wondering if other's share my experience. I have far more breakage from styling my hair than from just simply applying heat to my hair. I emphasize within reason on the heat because too much of anything will probably cause issues for most.


For those who experience breakage from manipulation like I do, I have also found that adding light protein to my conditioning and ceramide in some way (Mizani Thermastrength heat protectant) works to minimize breakage.

 

[DDTexlaxed]

I think manipulation is worse. I know quite a few naturals who wear their hair straight majority of the time and they retain so much length. That's because they straighten once every 2-4 weeks and while it's straight, they barely have to comb their hair. I would go this route, but I don't think I look my best with straight hair and it's kind of boring to me. erplexed

Your hair is so pretty curly! I'm glad that's your preferred look.

 

[aicramphoto]

Nice debate! As i answered in another thread about wash n go's, I found out this summer that the so-called less manipulation actually led to no retention. I didn't detangle in the shower (trying to be low manipulation) and I only tied it up at night after moisturizing. What a mess!

Now, I co-wash and detangle in the shower. I bun through the week and wash n go on the week-ends. Once every 6 weeks or so, i blow dry and flat iron and make it last a week. So for me, heat once in a while, wash in go on the week-ends and bunning through the week.

I don't think there is a single hairstyle that has no manipulation, including dreads. At some point, you have to do something!

 

[Ms Lala]

I think it depends on the case for each- how the hair is being manipulated and how heat is being used. You can manipulate your hair gently you can use heat on very low setting w/ a good protectant and get minimal damage from both. I would say I have had problems w/both of these things because of improper technique or too high frequency on my end. My hair can handle both things in moderation w/proper technique.

 

[KurleeK5]

now bunning...that has been my saving glory!!

 

[Carisa]

Manipulation (especially brushing) has definely been worst for me in the past. I've never really had a problem with heat possibly due to the fact I've never used heat daily- the most I've used heat has been about 1x/week.

 

[kittikat24]

Yep, manipulation for me is a no-no.
That's why I jumped onto the no-brush, always bunning bandwagon early on...

 

[Raspberry]

I tension blow dry once a week and it's pretty low impact on my strands. Any breakage I get comes from combing hair that's not moisturized enough or detangling damp hair when it doesn't have enough slip from leave-ins.

 

[NaiyaAi]

To me, manipulation is worse, but for me at least, using heat leads to me manipulating it more. I tend to play with my hair much more after it's been blow-dried, flat ironed, etc etc, versus barely touching it when I rollerset, bun, and keep it moving.

 

[LightEyedMami]

I am currently heat training and my hair thrives with heat, but having it loose for a few weeks (thus manipulating daily) cause lots of breakage so im back in brais (but still using heat )

 

[leigh.hill]

I have to vote for....manipulation too! Wrapping and unwrapping my hair causes so much breakage eventually. Though daily use of heat is bad, I find that my hair grows better if I don't comb and brush (which I know is a no-no) it too much ESPECIALLY when my hair is wet.

 

[leigh.hill]

^^^ Manipulation can be combing your hair, washing your hair, blow drying, flat ironing, wrapping your hair, setting your hair on rollers, etc.


If you have to handle your hair in any way, you are manipulating it

Okay, this maybe a little off topic, but you are my new HERO! So no heat and little manipulation got you to that much hair growth in 3 years?

 

[sckri23]

I used to use a mini flat iron twice a week for a month and it caused less breakage than wrapping my hair for a year I stopped wrapping a couple of months ago.. manipulation is worse than heat

*~SCKRI23~* via LHCF app

 

[MrsJaiDiva]

Manipulation is fine for me. I need to comb my hair, and I definitely need to cowash often. Heat wreaks my hair...I swear years of Dominican heat has thinned my crown out like nothing else, save for postpartum shedding.

 

[virtuenow]

I am currently heat training and my hair thrives with heat, but having it loose for a few weeks (thus manipulating daily) cause lots of breakage so im back in brais (but still using heat )

LightEyedMami how are you using heat with braids?

 

[TheNDofUO]

Any relaxed chicks have anything to say?

 

[Raspberry]

Any relaxed chicks have anything to say?

@TheNDofUO I'm relaxed and responded upthread. Most of the active relaxed heads on here no-heat or low-heat (rollersets only), keep that in mind. I use a blow dryer weekly on the low setting but never flat iron and only get rollersets at the salon.

I tension blow dry once a week and it's pretty low impact on my strands. Any breakage I get comes from combing hair that's not moisturized enough or detangling damp hair when it doesn't have enough slip from leave-ins.

 

[jcdlox]

Just came back to this thread and realized I started it, lol!

So as an update, I've definitely seen an improvement in how my hair handles manipulation/styling once I got the moisture right. Turns out my hair doesn't really need protein and that was making it brittle. So moisture, heat protectant and low manipulation and heat only on wash day work best for this relaxed head.

 

[TheNDofUO]

@TheNDofUO I'm relaxed and responded upthread. Most of the active relaxed heads on here no-heat or low-heat (rollersets only), keep that in mind. I use a blow dryer weekly on the low setting but never flat iron and only get rollersets at the salon.

Okay. Its that I would like to use more heat but i am afraid of its effects.
Raspberry

 

[Raspberry]

Okay. Its that I would like to use more heat but i am afraid of its effects.
@RASberry

TheNDofUO
Heat can be used without damage (IMO) but you have to be sparing and keep protection in mind. Relaxed heads shouldn't use more than one form of heat at a time. For example, blow dry + flat iron isn't necessary, do one or the other.

Taking your hair from wet to dry can be very damaging, causing air bubbles to form in the shaft as the water turns to steam (especially in the case of very hot flat irons). A lot of women on LHCF air dry until the hair is just damp, then flat iron. I air dry to 75%, then blow dry.

Relaxed hair doesn't need heat applied at high temps. Many relaxed heads do fine flat ironing at temps at or below 300 degrees. Blow drying on the low setting or even with the cool shot also works well.

Using heat protectants is extremely important and it's very key to pay attention to what ingredients they contain. This thread lists the ingredients that help prevent moisture loss (resulting in bone dry hair, susceptible to splits/damage) during heat usage: How to prevent heat damage. After seeing that thread and changing the products I use while blow drying, my hair retains moisture soo much better .

 

[LightEyedMami]

@LightEyedMami how are you using heat with braids?

@virtuenowWell I have switched from weekly training sessions (dried my hair out) to monthly sessions, i wash and condition as usual throughout the month and then after about 3-5 weeks i will flat iron on lowish heat and braid (My method is closer to longhairdontcare's regimine now, whereas before it was closer to Brittany's regimine.)