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Need serious encouragement on not using heat...

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ShiShiPooPoo

ShiShiPooPoo

Well-Known Member
The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem...

I am addicted to my flat irons. Notice I said "irons".

I have four and I love them...without them I find it hard to have a decent style. Even when I rollerwrap I find a section that "just needs to be bumped". I set it on the high setting and use them just about everday when I am working. This summer, I was able to just let it do whatever but now since the school year is approaching:nono:, I am feeling that pull back to the iron to get me out of here in the morning. Truth is it is very time consuming and I have to get up at 5:30am. Please help me find a suitable alternative. I don't want to relapse. My hair isn't long enough to do cute protectives...

I love setting my hair and I just need to stick with that but I always want to hit it with the iron!
 
Step AWAY from the flat iron (s).......

I say start off slow and maybe flat iron once a week and then towards the end when its getting harder not to, bun it up....

And remind yourself of the struggle you are in and it will get greater later:yep:
 
Girl you sound like me. I have a bunch of irons. I just gave away 1 and sold 1 on Ebay.

It is hard when your hair is shorter.

The school year is an issue for me, as well. I also am also going away for work for a week. I am thinking SERIOUSLY about getting some braids to get me over the hump and give my hair (and my schedule) a break.
 
You could try some rollersets. If you get end paper, it helps to keep your hair together so that you can roll it with ease. Or try braids for protective styling.
 
The only way I was able to stop flat ironing was to give all my irons away. I actually threw away my blow dryer. Of course when I learned to practice self-control years later, I did purchase another iron which I rarely use.
 
joyous said:
The only way I was able to stop flat ironing was to give all my irons away. I actually threw away my blow dryer. Of course when I learned to practice self-control years later, I did purchase another iron which I rarely use.
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Say what? Oh H naw. I am not ready for that yet. I could possibly do it but I paid alot of money for my irons. Maybe I could sell them? I have two Solias, a Maxiglide, and a cheapie.

Dionne...when I pincurl my hair it looks like Medusa.
 
ShiShiPooPoo said:
Say what? Oh H naw. I am not ready for that yet. I could possibly do it but I paid alot of money for my irons. Maybe I could sell them? I have two Solias, a Maxiglide, and a cheapie.

Dionne...when I pincurl my hair it looks like Medusa.
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:lachen::lachen: You've got to love an honest reaction. My hair is at akward stage too so i've just got some cornrows going back and I put my lacefront over it - it makes it easy for me to apply my topical aids and wash every other day.
 
ShiShiPooPoo said:
Say what? Oh H naw. I am not ready for that yet. I could possibly do it but I paid alot of money for my irons. Maybe I could sell them? I have two Solias, a Maxiglide, and a cheapie.

Dionne...when I pincurl my hair it looks like Medusa.
Click to expand...

Girl you are too funny. LOL!!!
 
Once I stopped using heat regularly, my length and thickness improved greatly.

There are plenty of no-heat styles you can do on shorter hair.
 
DSylla said:
Once I stopped using heat regularly, my length and thickness improved greatly.

There are plenty of no-heat styles you can do on shorter hair.
Click to expand...

I agree, when my hair was ear length, I my stylist would flat iron my hair once a week, for the remainder of the week I rocked the wrapped look. I still was able to retain a little bump by wrapping my hair every night. I actually miss that style!

I thought carusos (sp?) was a healthy alternative for the folks in Heat Anon? That might be an option of wrapping doesn't work.

But, I do understand and it does take time because for folx with ear length or shorter (or even mid neck length) its hard to do the bun or pony without looking one of dem girls (you know what I'm talking about). I tried to have the pony at neck length and I looked like.....All I can do now is shake my head :nono: it was so bad. My friends at work would come over and anoint my wittle pony. :ohwell:

So, I would try the carusos, if it falls under the "no heat" rule or wrapping after flatironing for the week (meaning flat iron comes out only once).

Also, you can turn it down a notch or 4 on the heat settings.....:look:
 
Try Caruso rollers. I'm using them right now an they are great. They set so quickly that you can easily bump your hair while you are getting ready in the morning. You can them right now for about $8 off at Sally's right now if you use the coupon on this site and the coupon at the store for this month.
 
I just finished a 3 month no direct heat stretch. I highly recommend trying it.
Maybe you can do small steps. Try reducing to using the flat iron every 2 weeks (no exceptions) then every 3 weeks then once a month. then try a 2 month stretch.

Before I did the no heat regimen, I was using my flat iron once a week after washing and deep conditioning. During the no heat stretch, I did a lot of cornrows & braidouts. Your avatar photo looks like a good length for a straw set or flexirod set.
 
Mook's hair said:
I just finished a 3 month no direct heat stretch. I highly recommend trying it.
Maybe you can do small steps. Try reducing to using the flat iron every 2 weeks (no exceptions) then every 3 weeks then once a month. then try a 2 month stretch.

Before I did the no heat regimen, I was using my flat iron once a week after washing and deep conditioning. During the no heat stretch, I did a lot of cornrows & braidouts. Your avatar photo looks like a good length for a straw set or flexirod set.
Click to expand...

I think I need this kind of break. I am getting some braids in whenever they can fit me into the schedule.
 
From one (former) heat addict to another, let me tell you it's REALLY not that hard. Off the top of my head I have about 6 Irons! I would use them all in rotation every week, sometimes EVERY DAY of the week!!! The day I started my fotki (you can check out the pics) was the day I realized that heat was partially to blame for how JACKED UP my hair is looking. SO I gave up heat COLD TURKEY! And I have only gone back to my flat iron ONCE since the end of May. This is a BIG step for someone who was using heat in their sometimes once a day. I think my hair is already making a turn around. I naturally have had really thick hair and the fact that my hair is looking the way it is now was a BIIIIIIG wake-up call for me.

I plan on starting a no heat hairstyle album in my fotki probably next week. I never knew there were so many possibilities for no heat styles that actually look CUTE! AND you don't have to do just braids. My hair line can't handle braids especially right now so those are a no no to me.

As far as styles, I have really started liking bantu knot-outs, twist-outs, setting my hair with the satin covered sponge rollers, and occasional braid-outs. These types of styles don't really require much length. To switch up looks you can experiment by doing sets on wet OR dry hair. Like for bantu knots, you can get a completely different look when you set your knots on wet hair and when you set it on dry hair. It's all about experimenting. :yep::yep: Hope that motivates you!
 
ShiShiPooPoo said:
:lachen::lachen::lachen::hair:

Dillard...that works very well actually!

I think I might try Caruso's but I don't want my hair to be wet and frizzy.
Click to expand...

yeah seriously though, u should def try the caruso's. get end paper, don't steam the covers.... lots of good advice in the caruso's thread. one member even puts leave-in in the steam water instead of directly on her hair!
 
I recently began a NO HEAT, or atleast minimum heat, challenge. My hair started out soooo healthy. After flat ironing, only ONCE week, I noticed that over a couple of months, my hair started to thin, I started getting split ends, and I noticed a little breakage in the middle of my head. I'm STOPPING before it gets too bad. Rollersetting, strawsetting, flexirod sets, SETS are your friend. If you want the wrap bumped look - do a roller wrap instead of a wash and set. Roll your hair using magnetic rollers, when it's dry brush in a wrap, and sit under the dryer (with moderate settings). Or stick with textured styles like tight rollersets and flexirods :) Do a search!
 
Wow, I just posted a response someone gave on another hair site.

I will post it here. Maybe this will help. Heat everyday is not good, not good at all.

Please use the method the ladies are suggesting. I have not used heat in a few years and I was tempted when I got married a few weeks back but I did not do it.

Take a look at this article, here is what could happen to your hair with consistent heat use. Needless to say the hair is not happy.

Bubble hair

79305487-S.jpg

Bubbles formed within hair as a result of water boiling within the cortex

hair_03.jpg


79305487-S.jpg


79305488-S.jpg


This one looks like it finally bursts, not good.

Except #1
We have seen the importance of the moisture content of hair to the hair's condition. Processes like blow drying reduce the moisture content below its normal level and can in themselves be harmful. Hair dryers and other heated appliances first soften the keratin of the hair. If they are too hot, they can actually cause the water in the hair to boil, and tiny bubbles of steam then form inside the softened hair shaft. The hair is thereby weakened, and may break altogether. There is no treatment for seriously heat-damaged hair, although trimming the damaged hair can reduce the formation of split ends.

Exerpt #2
People will tell you that their bubble hair 'just happened', quite suddenly, after they had been doing the same things to their hair for a long time. Then all at once they noticed tiny 'bubbles' in the ends of their hair.

Invariably, bubble hair is caused by some kind of heating appliance, most often curling irons. These operate somewhere between 120 and 180 °C, roughly speaking. Water boils at 100 °C. If a hot curling iron is put on to wet hair, it boils the water inside the hair. The boiling water softens the keratin of the cortex; then the steam from the boiling water expands and forms tiny bubbles inside the hair. Eventually the hair breaks off, either at or somewhere near a bubble.

Every woman who has used curling irons knows that they work better on some days than others. One day she may have them just a little hotter than usual: that might be just enough to cause bubble hair, and for the affected hair to break off.

Although the sufferer usually claims that her hair was perfectly normal until she changed the hair product she was using, further enquiry always uncovers a history of increased or excessive cosmetic treatments. Usually bubble hair happens to people who are doing a lot of styling to their hair at home. And it is always, always associated with the use of heated appliances on damp hair.

The Life Cycle of Damaged Hair
Usually hair damage takes place gradually, stage by stage, as follows:

*The hair is weakened

*The cuticle begins to break down

*The cuticle disappears, layer by layer

*The cortex is exposed

*Split ends appear

*The hair breaks.
 
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I went cold turkey on the heat thing a couple of years ago. My hair was pretty short at the time (around base of the neck length in the back, and much shorter in the front). So, I started using roller sets in earnest to keep my hair smooth and managble. I also wore phony ponies to smooth the transition until my hair was a little longer. I choose the pony because I can't wear braids or sew-ins to protect my hair.

Good luck kicking the heat habit! ;) :up:
 
Ok ladies...

I have decided to give up heat cold turkey. I don't want my hair bubblin', bustin', explodin' or anything like that.:burning: (love this emoticon!)

I did use the FI(My Solia :lick:) today though. I tried to will myself to put it down but...I just had to bump this one section. Then the other side wouldn't lay right so you know...I had to just lightly bump that side, then the top didn't have enough height so...

I guess I'm gonna have to get creative! I don't want to wind up lookin' like:hair:. I'm trying to look like:gorgeous:!
 
Cold turkey is the only way to go. I have been heat free for about 3 years now (except for the trip to the salon every now and again) I know my hair is not suppose to be straight and I wear texture so much that my hair has started to take on a different curl pattern.

I feel so free to just let my hair do its thang. Good luck!!!
 
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