Any Naturals Successfully Use Heat Weekly ....

L

legaldiva

New Member
I like my hair straight [not bone] and this is why I texturize my hair [so that I can easily wet set, flat iron, etc.]. But, I am thinking of going natural for the reason that I think my hair and scalp can't stand chemicals. My stipulation is that I would want to flat iron my hair weekly [or after every wash]. [I am a 4a in the middle and 4b nape, temples, outer edges].

What are the pros and cons to this?

Any naturals in here do this?

How's it working out?

TIA ~
 
Good question... waiting for any responses.

At the salon I visit all the stylist claim they use heat weekly with no problem. Most of them have nice hair, but not all that long - but that may be by choice.
 
I tried flatironing my hair once every week and a half or every two weeks and it was still too much for my hair. I ended up with splits galore. :(
 
It works great for me. My hair seems to enjoy the heat (althought I don't press my hair within an inch of its life). Just stay away from curling irons mid-week. Pressing you hair after you thoroughly condition should be fine. Make sure the comb isn't too hot.
 
Depending on how thick your hair is, there are consequenses. I have 4b fine hair, dense but delicate, and for over a year (with some breaks) I have washed and pressed my hair every 1.5 - 2 weeks.

I've noticed a slow thinning of the hair (which personally I prefer, but then again I don't get the "crisp" wave effect after the "scarf trick" n e more), and I notice hair coming out when I comb or brush my hair, which is completely abnormal for me, someone who barely used any heat on my hair for the 3 years prior. Many irons are very drying to the hair so I think I'm reaping the consequenses from using my Jibere ceramic flat irons which I personally think are great for straight, relaxed hair --I switched to the Maxiglide a couple months ago (less swipes, great detangling action for 4b hair). And pressing your hair in moist/weather isn't a good idea because your coils will always have an opinion of their own.

All in all, I'm very happy with the many different hair styles I've been able to pull off with my hair straightened and will be happy to share some pics. Also, my sister, who was once natural, has my same hair texture but thicker hair, so she got away with having hair hair pressed (at a salon w/the hot comb on a burner) every two weeks and her natural hair still grew to bra strap.

I say experiment with a professional and/or tools that you trust. Gradually ease into pressing your hair (like once every month or two) rather than jumping into it. :)
 
I do my grandma's 3b/c hair every 2 weeks. I wash, deep treat it, and flat iron it with Maxiglide. I've been doing this for the past 4 months, I've been seeing breakage and some splits. I've been doing more intense treatments and hot oil treatments to combat it, her hair is doing good but too much heat even on natural hair can cause drama.
 
jwhitley6, i may pm you for more 411 .. thanks. Your hair looks great [both straight and curly]. I am nowhere close to being natural yet [haven't even firmly made the decision]. But I will have to grow my hair out more to even consider this.

Sweetyb, what's crisp wave and the scarf trick? I am also a delicate type 4 ... like really fragile , which is why I think the relaxers are probably killing me. I currently own a Sedu, which was very expensive and supposedly less damaging than a regular old flat iron. That's funny about coils having their own opinion ... my coils always did!

Ali77, was it more splitting than usual?

hairlove, sorry to hear that. what do you do now?
 
I got a trim. (My stylist over-trimmed though) So, now I'm split-end free and will not be straightening my hair for about 3 months. I'll probably stick to that...maybe once every 3 months. My hair obviously can't handle regular heat. I know from previous experience that I won't get split ends if I don't use heat so I have to go with what I know.
 
legaldiva said:
Sweetyb, what's crisp wave and the scarf trick? I am also a delicate type 4 ... like really fragile , which is why I think the relaxers are probably killing me. I currently own a Sedu, which was very expensive and supposedly less damaging than a regular old flat iron. That's funny about coils having their own opinion ... my coils always did!
Click to expand...

Ok, here's some natural talk, lol: scarf trick is wen you slick your wet hair back in a pony with or without product, tie a satin scarf around it for a few minutes or until dry, when you take it off you have waves. The size of the waves depends on the type of curl you have. If you say ou have 4a or b hair, a regular flat iron will take too many passes, and you may end up drying the hair out over time... but you may not have that problem if you're texturized.
 
I press and flat iron my 4b hair once a week.

I deep condition every week, use emergencee once a month, and use a good heat protector.

Currently I don't have any problems with breakage, just the normal shedding. My hair at this time has to have heat or it will break off.
 
Thanks for the info, SweetyB and all the responses. Does anyone who does this feels it hinders the growth potential of your hair? Or do you think with proper conditioning and care you can combat the issue? I imagine I would still wear my hair mostly up in ponies and buns and baggy the ends, etc.

What I'm gonna do [tentatively] is transition for the rest of the year with weaves, see what condition my hair is in, then at the end of the year hopefully I'll have ebough length to start wearing out sometimes. So, this is way far in advance planning.
 
You know, you should take a look at Nay's album. She's a natural with gorgeous long hair. I think she mentions that her hair seemed to stay around the same length until she stopped using heat so often.
 
legaldiva said:
momi, you state you are natural pressed. How does that work for you? Do you press after every wash?
Click to expand...

so far so good... unfortunately i have not been able to perfect my own flat irons w/o the maxiglide - and i have not been able to get it silky and bouncy like they do at the salon. my hair actually feels better and i believe it is in better shape after my flat iron. i know this is not a popular option - but i guess time will tell...
 
avyance said:
I press and flat iron my 4b hair once a week.

I deep condition every week, use emergencee once a month, and use a good heat protector.

Currently I don't have any problems with breakage, just the normal shedding. My hair at this time has to have heat or it will break off.
Click to expand...
what heat protectant do you use?
 
My hair has always been pressed. When I was younger, my hair was so long and thick and I went to get it pressed every week. My stylist used grease as a heat protectant and I retained alot of length. My hair started breaking a little when I got "dry pressed" - press without grease, cause I wanted it to have that "asian effect" :cool: I really don't see anything wrong with it as long as your hair is clean and well conditioned before you press. Everyone I know who gets their hair pressed has long hair and go once a week or once every two weeks.
 
urbanchic85 said:
Everyone I know who gets their hair pressed has long hair and go once a week or once every two weeks.
Click to expand...

This is true!! The people who I see at the hair dresser with the longest, most beautiful, thick, waistlength hair all get their hair pressed regularly! I get my hair pressed a lot and I retain a lot of growth. It does do better though when I use my flat iron and don't get it pressed at the hair dresser. If I press it, it poofs up a little after a work out, but if the hair dresser presses it, it stays straight. The pics in my "growth" album are pictures after a workout when the hairdresser pressed it.
 
My hair seems to be OK with heat weekly, one way or another. Whenever I wash my hair I HAVE to blow dry it either straight or just to get the majority of the water out of my hair (airdrying takes way too long, and leaves my hair tangled). I sometimes press or flat iron it too. However I do deep condition my hair everytime I wash it, and I also use a product like 'Straight and Smooth' (I think that's what it's called - the one Beyonce advertises) which helps protect the hair from heat before I blowdry/straighten. My hair is growing nicely, and I don't have any shedding issues. I am a 4a by the way.

HTH :D
 
Ali77, was it more splitting than usual?

I do notice more dryness and mid shaft splits and breakage. My grandma does protective styles 99% of the time, I know its' cause of the heat why her hair is acting up.
 
I know ladies on both ends of the spectrum...growing lush hair to drying breaking hair....its base on a case-by-case basis.

I'm about 2-3 inches away from being natural and plan to experiment with my curls this summer...However, as my hair grows down my back, I'd like some swanging pressed hair too...how do you ladies in the south and other humid climates press weekly w/o reversion? What styles are you using when you press? Escpecially you Naptrl, I KNOW the area you come from....;)
 
I am natural and started getting my hair pressed weekly in March and I haven't had any breakage, split-ends, thinning, or dryness. My lady is really into haircare so she limits the amount of heat that is on my hair. She washes me and then sets me under the dryer on low heat. Once my hair is dry, depending upon how my hair feels to her, she'll either blow it out, press it, and curl it with the marcels or she'll press it and curl it with the flat iron. She ALWAYS puts me under the dryer with conditioner. My hair has never felt better and it is growing very nicely. I pin curl my hair everynight. I have been in the rain and my hair did not revert. It got a little poofy, and I do mean very very little, but I just put some coconut oil on it and pincurled it and it was fine. No puff.
 
I live in SOUTH Georgia! In the hottest city in GA!! I think that you have to go to a hair dresser who really knows how to press. My hair never reverts until I wash it. My hair dresser coats it with some type of wax that keeps the moisture out. Even after a work out, if you've seen my album, it's still straight.
 
Thanks for the response Naptrl...I'll be visiting Sylvania in a ponytail..thank you very much!:lol: :yep: :lol:

I know Revediva(Christina) used a wax and went Salsa dancing and her hair looked great!

I started using Marcels curling wax on my daughter's hair and it didn't revert back AS FAST as it would have. Her hair is plain 'ol stubborn.
 
Girl, there is NOTHING in Sylvania! You need to holla at me in Statesboro...where there is still nothing to do!! when you come.
 
I'll be in South Florida with ocean air humidity. My only problem is I dont know anyone who is willing enough to just let me transition without giving me ther perm talk (you need a perm or why are you doing that?) I suppose I shouldn't press my hair until I do.
 
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