Is flatironing with SMB 1x/week too much?

[chebaby]

i deep condition my hair once a week and flat iron weekly with no problems.
ETA: i also went from just above apl to almost bsl without ps doing this. its all about what works for you.

 

[Deja9]

I agree that my hair does better straight as there are no tangles and I can cross wrap for less manipulation. That's why I either flat iron or braid it up, so that I don't manipulate it.

Oh yes! The cross wrap has contributed to my length retention as well.

 

[Deja9]

My poll is still tied on the yes/no
Thanks for all the information/advice. I do have a salon purchased ceramic flatiron. It works like a charm.

Khalia and Deja I feel you. That is what is happening to my ends and why I'm now looking to straighten more often. I had to cut 2" off this year because my ends were so knotted, those single knots. And then when youtry and detangle they split. My hair is inflicting it's own setback So both of you do it 1x/week..hmm. What are your hair types? Khalia I noticed we went natural around the same time. What's your current length?

My hair type is natural 4A. My hair used to be near bra strap and when I lost my hair to a major setback it went to shoulder length. Now it is past my shoulders and near armpit length and is still growing. I want to start a fotki to track progress. I have started taking pics. A friend of mine flat irons her hair every week without fail and it is flourishing and down her back (she used to be shoulder length). She told me that she CONDITIONS everytime time. Try this out and I wish you all the best. And I also cannot stress the importance of proper blow drying enough!

 

[thinbreaksUk]

My poll is still tied on the yes/no
Thanks for all the information/advice. I do have a salon purchased ceramic flatiron. It works like a charm.

Khalia and Deja I feel you. That is what is happening to my ends and why I'm now looking to straighten more often. I had to cut 2" off this year because my ends were so knotted, those single knots. And then when youtry and detangle they split. My hair is inflicting it's own setback So both of you do it 1x/week..hmm. What are your hair types? Khalia I noticed we went natural around the same time. What's your current length?

This is happening to me too every time I look at my hair it has splits in it and not at the ends either they are like a third of the way up the strand.

I have not used direct heat on my hair for 3 years (except for my unsucessful attempt at straightening my hair two weeks ago) and look what happens.

I have been retaining length so it is not too badI just don't like looking at them I am seriously resisting the urge to BC all my hair and start over again

 

[LoveLiLi]

My poll is still tied on the yes/no
Thanks for all the information/advice. I do have a salon purchased ceramic flatiron. It works like a charm.

Khalia and Deja I feel you. That is what is happening to my ends and why I'm now looking to straighten more often. I had to cut 2" off this year because my ends were so knotted, those single knots. And then when youtry and detangle they split. My hair is inflicting it's own setback So both of you do it 1x/week..hmm. What are your hair types? Khalia I noticed we went natural around the same time. What's your current length?

I have about 1 inch to go to armpit length. If I can keep it growing at this rate and retain my growth, I think I can hit bra-strap by May.

ETA: I'm 4a with some 3c sprinkled in (mainly in the back).

 

[Muse]

My hair type is natural 4A. My hair used to be near bra strap and when I lost my hair to a major setback it went to shoulder length. Now it is past my shoulders and near armpit length and is still growing. I want to start a fotki to track progress. I have started taking pics. A friend of mine flat irons her hair every week without fail and it is flourishing and down her back (she used to be shoulder length). She told me that she CONDITIONS everytime time. Try this out and I wish you all the best. And I also cannot stress the importance of proper blow drying enough!

What do you consider proper blow drying?

 

[Deja9]

What do you consider proper blow drying?

sticking with quality dryers that don't fry the hair along with the practices on this site is safe.

 

[Faith]

This is happening to me too every time I look at my hair it has splits in it and not at the ends either they are like a third of the way up the strand.

I have not used direct heat on my hair for 3 years (except for my unsucessful attempt at straightening my hair two weeks ago) and look what happens.

I have been retaining length so it is not too badI just don't like looking at them I am seriously resisting the urge to BC all my hair and start over again

I also had used heat 1x in 30 months and still there were split end issues from the knots. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I just texturized the bottom 2" of my hair as of Dec 10, 2008. It was that or chop off the bottom 2". The knots and tangles were unreal. I ended up texturizing the ends and the knots/tangles are gone and my ends look great. Had to do what I had to do

 

[Faith]

sticking with quality dryers that don't fry the hair along with the practices on this site is safe.

I forgot to add...get a ceramic blowdryer. Conair has some good, cheap ones.
I would also suggest a good leave in, heat protectant plus not using a comb attachment. Use your own comb with maybe wider teeth. Less hair ripping.

 

[kurlybella]

This is happening to me too every time I look at my hair it has splits in it and not at the ends either they are like a third of the way up the strand.

I have not used direct heat on my hair for 3 years (except for my unsucessful attempt at straightening my hair two weeks ago) and look what happens.

I have been retaining length so it is not too badI just don't like looking at them I am seriously resisting the urge to BC all my hair and start over again

omg! me too. i feel you girl. we are >>here<< with this mess!
it's things like this that make that little devil in my head go...relax, relax da strands...sheesh!

 

[Faith]

Well that was a waste..lol. I texturized the bottom 1" of my hair and it was all good when the hair was wet but once it dried it was still single knots all over the place. I ended up cutting some off anyways..boo. So I guess I'm not texturized anymore..well once I cut another 1/2" off. Ah well.

I had another question, what DC are you all using? I have many but I want to make sure I'm using one with as much moisture as possible. I was informed my Kenra may not be moisturizing enough?? Also what heat setting? I used 200C/395F.
Thanks

 

[lwilliams1922]

by far AO HSR is the best Ive seen for moisture

Well that was a waste..lol. I texturized the bottom 1" of my hair and it was all good when the hair was wet but once it dried it was still single knots all over the place. I ended up cutting some off anyways..boo. So I guess I'm not texturized anymore..well once I cut another 1/2" off. Ah well. :ahwell:

I had another question, what DC are you all using? I have many but I want to make sure I'm using one with as much moisture as possible. I was informed my Kenra may not be moisturizing enough?? Also what heat setting? I used 200C/395F.
Thanks

 

[Faith]

Thanks lwilliams. HSR is one of the conditioners I have. I'll have to start using it more often. The problem is I have like 15 bottles of different conditioners. Do I use them all up or give them away and use only what is "most" effective? Hmm!

 

[lwilliams1922]

Thanks lwilliams. HSR is one of the conditioners I have. I'll have to start using it more often. The problem is I have like 15 bottles of different conditioners. Do I use them all up or give them away and use only what is "most" effective? Hmm!

I've got a collection under my sink.
when I get the itch to buy something new I check my stash.
If I dont already have it I just ponder on all the money I've spent

 

[LoveLiLi]

Well that was a waste..lol. I texturized the bottom 1" of my hair and it was all good when the hair was wet but once it dried it was still single knots all over the place. I ended up cutting some off anyways..boo. So I guess I'm not texturized anymore..well once I cut another 1/2" off. Ah well.

I had another question, what DC are you all using? I have many but I want to make sure I'm using one with as much moisture as possible. I was informed my Kenra may not be moisturizing enough?? Also what heat setting? I used 200C/395F.
Thanks

I alternate between Alter Ego and Kenra. They seem to be very moisturizing, esp. since I dc with heat. I also use AO honey suckle rose once in a while and I have a couple of bottles of Elucence moisture balancing conditioner that I like. I have a few others, but they're just sitting there collecting dust.

I use my FHI on ~400.

 

[supermodelsonya]

I'd just be concerned about long term effects of doing that. 1x a week=52 weeks in a year that you are applying heat to your hair. After doing it 5-6x, sure your hair would be great.

But what will it look like 3-6 months from now. Will your follicles be able to take the heat like that? Time will tell.

 

[KizzieNapps]

I dont know...I think it depends on your hair. My mom used to straighten ours once a week but there would be absolutely no heat in between. Then again our hair was young, strong and vibrant. I dont think very many things could have damaged it. So, Would I do that now???? Heeeeck no. Even my stylist said that would be way too much heat. Just play it safe girl...maybe alternate between a twist-out/braid-out and straightening it each week.

 

[Keedah]

My poll is still tied on the yes/no
Thanks for all the information/advice. I do have a salon purchased ceramic flatiron. It works like a charm.

Khalia and Deja I feel you. That is what is happening to my ends and why I'm now looking to straighten more often. I had to cut 2" off this year because my ends were so knotted, those single knots. And then when youtry and detangle they split. My hair is inflicting it's own setback So both of you do it 1x/week..hmm. What are your hair types? Khalia I noticed we went natural around the same time. What's your current length?

I third this notion. Ive been using no direct heat at all for about 2 years and my hair is only shoulder length. Everytime I look at the ends its knots and splits and prompts me to cut off an inch or two which stops my progress. Im now going to at least blow dry semi straight every 10-14 days and continue to wear my wigs until I get to full APL.

I deep condition with every wash and roller set and lightly flat iron with Chi Silk Infusion and SMB. Im currently in the market for a good blow dryer.

 

[msa]

Once a week direct heat is too much for anyone, IMO.

 

[Allandra]

My only objection to SMB is that they suggest you use 400+ degree heat. If it worked well with say 300 degree heat then I would feel safer regarding heat damage.

Yeah, I read how they suggest using that heat setting. I use it with my Sedu at 310 or something like that. It still works well for me on the lower heat setting.

 

[reallynow]

I don't think flat ironing once a week is too much. I just used my SMB for the first time yesterday. BTW, I normally flat iron my hair once every 7 to 14 days (no damage here). The way that SMB is used, is the way I do my hair with my PM Super Skinny products.

How often are you washing? Do you just flat iron on wash days?

 

[Allandra]

How often are you washing? Do you just flat iron on wash days?

Every 7 to 14 days (depends on my overall schedule). Yes. I only flat iron fresh / clean hair.

 

[Faith]

So Allandra sometimes you flatiron after 7 days? I bet you don't do that often though?

 

[Allandra]

So Allandra sometimes you flatiron after 7 days? I bet you don't do that often though?

There are times when my schedule allows me to do my hair every 7 days, and there are times when my schedule allows me to go longer. Yes, I do have it done that often. Honestly, I hate when I have to go longer than 7 days, but life happens. So, I'm left with no choice.

 

[Faith]

Thanks for the reply.
I think when I take my hair out in August I will try it for a month, doing it 1x/week and see how it goes.
I know the results of my poll is pretty much 50-50 on the Yes/No question but 1 month should be a good test. Hope I don't regret it

So again, thanks for all the feedback ladies.

 

[Allandra]

Thanks for the reply.
I think when I take my hair out in August I will try it for a month, doing it 1x/week and see how it goes.
I know the results of my poll is pretty much 50-50 on the Yes/No question but 1 month should be a good test. Hope I don't regret it

So again, thanks for all the feedback ladies.

I hope it works out for you. You do deep condition, don't you? I do.

 

[Faith]

Oh yes! Prepoo, condition, DC, leave in, heat protectant the whole thing.
What are you using to DC again??

 

[Allandra]

Oh yes! Prepoo, condition, DC, leave in, heat protectant the whole thing.
What are you using to DC again??

I just use one of the conditioners in my hair care product stash (located at my Fotki : http://public.fotki.com/Allandra/products/ You have to be logged on to view. HTH.