Can Flat Ironing Change your texture? I think it may have to mine..

[Kneechay]

Well, I decided to go natural in March 2006 and just transition using braids. It helped a lot, and I was able to maintain the length. The thing is, after 10 months of braids, I didn't really know about LHCF and didn't know how to maintain my hair with the new length, so I went back (sorta) to my old habits. I began straightening a lot and using heat protectant and I think the result is a looser curl. I did get a lot of heat damage that I eventually cut off, but still, I have looser curls that I don't think are damaged. My hair just now looks sort of like a mild texlax but it's not. I get confused whether it's my actual texture or the overuse of heat. Does this make sense or has it happened to anyone? Is this bad?

 

[Br*nzeb*mbsh~ll]

I don't think it is bad if you like it...I wouldn't mind my curls loosening bcs I am wearing my hair straight half the time, now if I wanted big curly hair, that may be a problem..it seems that you have heat-trained hair, as long as your hair looks healthy and is healthy, I personally think it is okay. Your hair looks great in your siggy, so good for you!

 

[Neith]

It's heat damage.


Now... damage doesn't have to mean that your hair is dry, breaking or split. It just means that it's not in the "perfect" condition that it grew out of your scalp.

One could argue that relaxed/colored hair, no matter how healthy is chemically damaged... it has been broken down and changed from it's natural state. Technically is isn't in as good condition as it could be...

but that doesn't mean it's not in very good condition.


You have yourself some heat damage, it breaks down keratin bonds inside the hair too. "Trained" hair is just hair with some heat damage.

Not posted with the intent to offend. By my own definition my hair (telaxed) is "damaged".

It's bad if it gets to be too much damage... if your hair is splitting and so forth. However, some people heat train their hair and it still remains healthy.

 

[trj1922]

You're right. Consistent flat ironing, pressing, etc can change the texture of your hair. Over time, thermal straightening especially, at high heat, can break down the cuticle layer just like relaxers do leaving some degree of permanent straightening. I personally don't believe in heat "trained" hair. Relaxation of the curl pattern is simply evidence that the cuticle breakdown is occurring. As with relaxers, though, proper care and conditioning allows some women to keep their hair relatively healthy and growing. If that's the case for you there should be nothing to worry about as long as you keep heat to the minimum and care to the max!

 

[BostonMaria]

I agree with what the other posters said about heat damage.

The only problem with having heat damage or "trained" hair (no offense to the 2nd post) is that once you decide to stop using so much heat and take better care of your hair, you might be stuck with 2 textures again like when you transitioned. The looser curl and your real curl pattern. If it blends in nicely then you should be fine and I wouldn't cut the heat damaged part off. If it doesn't blend in right, then I'd say cut it off little by little. HTH.

 

[empressri]

yep! i just cut my hair in august because of the thinner heat damaged ends. now they were smooth and shiny as all get out cause im meticulous when it comes to my hair but the fact was that it was nowhere near the texture that wasn't damaged. the longer my hair got, the more annoying those ends became so i just cut them off. it was actually a relief too!

 

[santwon]

If you wore braids a lot, were you doing them yourself? I ask because I'm trying to see how much you know the natural texture to see how different the one you have now is different from the way it grew from the scalp - if at all.

 

[NikStarrr]

I prefer the term "heat stretched". I feel like it's "damaged" if it's dry, fried, split, etc. The hair being altered does not = damage, IMO. So I wouldn't consider relaxed, texlaxed, etc., hair as damaged either--it's just been altered and still can be healthy. Having said all that, heat stretched hair can be good or bad, depending on what your goals for your hair is. If your goal is to wear straight hair with more ease then, it's a plus for you. If your decide you want to wear more natural/textured styles, then it will be a hindrance. It all depends on what you're wanting. But like someone said, if you ever stop straightening on a consistent basis, you could end up with 2 different textures of hair.

 

[SEMO]

The last time I flat ironed, my curls were looser that first wash after. But they were back to normal by the second wash. I just flat ironed again yesterday and anticipate the same thing happening again.

But I flat iron rarely so I don't know what would happen if it was done regularly.

 

[glamazon386]

If your pattern is loosened from the heat then it is damaged. Probably not to the point of no repair but the bonds are still broken to some degree. If your hair feels healthy and it growing overall I wouldn't worry about it. I would just make sure it gets treatment so you don't have problems with it in the future. Also as your hair continues to grow, that heat stretched hair may look stringy or different in comparison.

 

[Kneechay]

If you wore braids a lot, were you doing them yourself? I ask because I'm trying to see how much you know the natural texture to see how different the one you have now is different from the way it grew from the scalp - if at all.

-I didn't do braids myself, my friend did them but I never really paid attention to my texture. I'd take out the braids, wash, let it semi-air dry then blow dry on low heat straight so it would be easier to braid over again. Even now, I find it hard to distinguish between my heat stretched and my natural hair


Thanks for all the responses ladies, I agree with what most of you had to say regarding this. See, when I noticed this was back in January of 08. I stopped braiding in Feb 07 because my hair was too long for micros, which I used to install back to back. I was on my year off before grad school, so I'd straighten a lot. Fast forward to Aug 07 when I didn't have time because of school to straighten. I think since then, I've straightened a total of 4 times, and twice was this summer for big work events. I rarely straighten now, it just takes too long and school doesn't permit me that free time anymore.

The thing is, I know its some sort of damage, but it doesn't look bad. After I cut off some ends, it looked better. Although somewhat heat damaged, it seemed to mesh well with my natural hair, here's a pic

(look at those ugly icicle-looking ends, )

and believe me, the heat stretched hair is still in there, just the extreme ones are gone. I can do natural styles still, which I wear all the time anyway. I was just wondering if this could lead to any problems in the future and if so, what could I do to combat it now? So far, things seem okay, but I don't want to find out down the line that I should have cut.

(p.s, don't laugh at my uneven hair. That's from a self done semi- big chop gone wrong. It's growing back, I swear!)

 

[Neith]

-I didn't do braids myself, my friend did them but I never really paid attention to my texture. I'd take out the braids, wash, let it semi-air dry then blow dry on low heat straight so it would be easier to braid over again. Even now, I find it hard to distinguish between my heat stretched and my natural hair


Thanks for all the responses ladies, I agree with what most of you had to say regarding this. See, when I noticed this was back in January of 08. I stopped braiding in Feb 07 because my hair was too long for micros, which I used to install back to back. I was on my year off before grad school, so I'd straighten a lot. Fast forward to Aug 07 when I didn't have time because of school to straighten. I think since then, I've straightened a total of 4 times, and twice was this summer for big work events. I rarely straighten now, it just takes too long and school doesn't permit me that free time anymore.

The thing is, I know its some sort of damage, but it doesn't look bad. After I cut off some ends, it looked better. Although somewhat heat damaged, it seemed to mesh well with my natural hair, here's a pic

(look at those ugly icicle-looking ends, )

and believe me, the heat stretched hair is still in there, just the extreme ones are gone. I can do natural styles still, which I wear all the time anyway. I was just wondering if this could lead to any problems in the future and if so, what could I do to combat it now? So far, things seem okay, but I don't want to find out down the line that I should have cut.

(p.s, don't laugh at my uneven hair. That's from a self done semi- big chop gone wrong. It's growing back, I swear!)

I think it looks beautiful!

I would try (if you haven't already)... a good heat protectant, using a lower temp, using heat less often and making sure you get some protein treatments now and then.

It's only going to get worse if you keep using the heat too high too often.

 

[Kneechay]

I think it looks beautiful!

I would try (if you haven't already)... a good heat protectant, using a lower temp, using heat less often and making sure you get some protein treatments now and then.

It's only going to get worse if you keep using the heat too high too often.

Thanks Neith, and yup, I already do that. As a matter of fact, I use two types of heat protectants and low heat. I don't straighten often anymore now, and I plan on getting kinky twists for the rest of the year so I'm hopefully not going to have to worry about any more heat damage for a while.

 

[truequeen06]

I have heat trained hair, but since finding various hair care forums, I haven't been using heat as much. The result is two different textures, but they blend really well. Eventually I'll cut off my straight ends.

Anyways, you can definitely live with the trained/damaged hair. I've been able to grow my hair long with the heat trained hair, just make sure you aren't excessive with it. A good heat protectant is essential.

 

[LongCurlyLocks]

I have heard that the heat can damage your hair to the point that your curls wpn't be as curly as before. Can't remember exactly what was told to me. But I do believe it's true. I know when I flat-iron my hair sometimes it does take a minute for my curl to come back righterplexed.

 

[santwon]

Thanks for your answer, OP. I was curious about that. I can't see the picture right now though.

 

[Kneechay]

Thanks for your answer, OP. I was curious about that. I can't see the picture right now though.

i dont know why it disappeared but I put it back. Sorry.

 

[Fine 4s]

This is why I'm so scuuuurrred to flat iron. I'm probably going to straighten my hair next Summer. I can't afford straight ends because I twist my hair often and straight ends on the bottom and plumpy twists at the top of the same single twist... don't look right

 

[loved]

My cousin's hair texture has been changed by pressing. She went to a pool party recently and her 3a hair dried straight after she was thrown in the pool. Her hair is perfectly healthy MBL approaching WL.

 

[MissJ]

It's heat damage.


Now... damage doesn't have to mean that your hair is dry, breaking or split. It just means that it's not in the "perfect" condition that it grew out of your scalp.

One could argue that relaxed/colored hair, no matter how healthy is chemically damaged... it has been broken down and changed from it's natural state. Technically is isn't in as good condition as it could be...

but that doesn't mean it's not in very good condition.


You have yourself some heat damage, it breaks down keratin bonds inside the hair too. "Trained" hair is just hair with some heat damage.

Not posted with the intent to offend. By my own definition my hair (telaxed) is "damaged".

It's bad if it gets to be too much damage... if your hair is splitting and so forth. However, some people heat train their hair and it still remains healthy.

You can "train" hair by having it stretched all the time with no heat. Would that be damaged, too?

I'm on the fence about this one, OP. You did say that you had to cut some, so I'm leaning toward yours being heat damage.

 

[titan]

too much straightning can cause hair to lose elasticity and may cause hair to losen its curl pattern, that has been my experience when I used to relax and blow dry my hair all the time.

 

[MizzBrown]

This is why I'm so scuuuurrred to flat iron. I'm probably going to straighten my hair next Summer. I can't afford straight ends because I twist my hair often and straight ends on the bottom and plumpy twists at the top of the same single twist... don't look right

ME TOO! I'm considering transitioning and the two textures are starting to get on my nerves but i'll be durned if i'm gonna put some heat to my hair and ruin my curly progress.

I'm scared to blow dry, flat iron and use a curling iron. I do NOT want natural, trained (heat damaged) hair. That defeats the purpose of being natural IMO. My ish BETTER curl back up when i wet it or i will freak out!

One mishap where im not careful or didn't use enough heat protectant and i have to start over cause i lost my curl pattern that i haven't seen since i was 4 years old?? Hell nah!

I'll let my flat iron keep collecting dust.

 

[ElizaBlue]

Well, I decided to go natural in March 2006 and just transition using braids. It helped a lot, and I was able to maintain the length. The thing is, after 10 months of braids, I didn't really know about LHCF and didn't know how to maintain my hair with the new length, so I went back (sorta) to my old habits. I began straightening a lot and using heat protectant and I think the result is a looser curl. I did get a lot of heat damage that I eventually cut off, but still, I have looser curls that I don't think are damaged. My hair just now looks sort of like a mild texlax but it's not. I get confused whether it's my actual texture or the overuse of heat. Does this make sense or has it happened to anyone? Is this bad?

I believe this is what beauticians call "shop control". Everytime I have gone to a salon they encourage me to come back so they can get my hair under "control"....(pronounced: heat maintenance and over-processing)

 

[Kneechay]

The overuse of heat was back in March of 2007 and the thing is, I don't use heat much anymore and my new growth looks just like the heat stretched hair. I can't tell where they separate. The entire head is uniform. When it dries, it afros and kinks up like natural hair usually does. My hair feels and looks healthy, but I just want to know if there's any future damage this can cause.

 

[Always~Wear~Joy]

The overuse of heat was back in March of 2007 and the thing is, I don't use heat much anymore and my new growth looks just like the heat stretched hair. I can't tell where they separate. The entire head is uniform. When it dries, it afros and kinks up like natural hair usually does. My hair feels and looks healthy, but I just want to know if there's any future damage this can cause.

bumping, b/c I want to know the answer as well.

 

[jerjer29]

I agree with what the other posters said about heat damage.

The only problem with having heat damage or "trained" hair (no offense to the 2nd post) is that once you decide to stop using so much heat and take better care of your hair, you might be stuck with 2 textures again like when you transitioned. The looser curl and your real curl pattern. If it blends in nicely then you should be fine and I wouldn't cut the heat damaged part off. If it doesn't blend in right, then I'd say cut it off little by little. HTH.

this one girl i know who's natural..she straightens a lot and her hair looks BEAUTIFUL straightened, but when she wears it curly it doesn't look good. At the the roots her hair is 3c and like 4 inches down it turns to like 3b hair, and 4 more inches down the rest is just like stringy/wavy. It's NOT A good look. I'd say she's been straightening her hair so consistently like that for like maybe a year and a half.

 

[MJ]

The overuse of heat was back in March of 2007 and the thing is, I don't use heat much anymore and my new growth looks just like the heat stretched hair. I can't tell where they separate. The entire head is uniform. When it dries, it afros and kinks up like natural hair usually does. My hair feels and looks healthy, but I just want to know if there's any future damage this can cause.

Your hair doesn't look thermally relaxed (heat stretched) to me. Are you sure that the texture change isn't caused by the increasing length of your hair? As my hair grows longer, it looks different: The weight of the hair begins to elongage the curls. I've seen this change in other naturals too.