Direct Heat Users--How much have you retained?

[LaFemmeNaturelle]

So starting in two weeks, I will be straightening my hair once a month. But I'm wondering how it will affect my retention. I know every head of hair is different but I want to know about other people. I've seen some board members and youtubers who retain SOME length but its not the amount I expect in a year or more (unless they are slow growers). I think if I find myself retaining less, I will cut back to every other month. So tell about your experience. It would be nice to list your reggie, whether you're natural, transitioning, or relaxed, how often you straighten, your straightening technique, how often you trim/dust and your current length.

Merci beaucoup!


ETA: I did a search but did not find a similar thread but if you know of one, feel free to post.

 

[Qtee]

Good question..I wanna know too..

 

[LaFemmeNaturelle]

I guess no one uses heat Qtee lol well I'll let you know about my progress in a few months lol

 

[freshlikemoi]

I just started the once a month thing too. It's much harder around the holidays because everyone is having some sort of Christmas party. But yes, keep us posted and I shall do the same.

 

[LaFemmeNaturelle]

Did you used to be a frequent heat user or infrequent user? This is my first time flat ironing in a year! 2 years ago a flat ironed pretty often for about 6 months and alot of my hair broke off so I gave it a rest. Now I think I'm ready!

 

[Tiye]

Everyone has a different growth rate so you can't look at video of people and make a determination about what to expect. A couple of youtubers who use heat regularly and have long hair - off the top of my head - longhairdontcare2011, and brittanynic - and there is another user who's name I don't recall but someone posted a link on this board to one of her videos where she demos the milstan feather flatter iron. I'm natural and use heat fairly regularly - i.e. every few weeks but not on a set routine. It could be every 2 weeks or it might be once in 6 weeks. I don't have much of a regimen other than the basics - wash, condition, oil, eat right, take vitamins and cover my hair at night. I have no problem with retention at the moment. If I didn't cut it, I have it. Now I am probably not the example you're looking for coz I've only been using heat since the summer and also I don't wear my hair out much. But keep in mind many people grew up having their hair pressed biweekly and had long hair. So it's doable.

 

[outspokenwallflower]

I'm relaxed, and when I frequented the dominican salons I always got a blow out. My hair grew fast and long.

What type of heat do you plan on using? Blow dryer, flat iron or both?

 

[NikkiQ]

Before I began transitioning, I would use direct heat at least once a week or every other week and needless to say...my hair hated my guts because of it! I stayed NL for about 3 years or so. I had a major set back in 2006 and had my hair all cut to EL. In 4 years, it grew maybe 3 inches. I've noticed that since I haven't been using heat as much, I've retained about 95% of my growth. I think once a month with a heat protectant won't be detrimental to you hair at all and you'll still retain majority of that long and lush hair of yours LFN

 

[LaFemmeNaturelle]

Tiye Well I know its doable but I want to know exactly how much one is retaining compared to their growth. As far as looking at other people's progress, yes, I do believe I can expect a certain amount of progress if I know there growth rate, which is why I said "unless they are slow growers" in the OP. If many people who have average growth only retain 2-3 inches in an entire year, then I don't consider that good enough for me and I will re-consider my plans.

I've always had "long" hair and got presses regularly when I was natural but my hair has NEVER been waistlength until now, which leads me to believe I still had breakage. I also had my hair flat ironed with each touchup (every 6-8 weeks) but the longest my hair ever got was bsl (apl to bsl in 2 years is not good retention) So I know some length can be retained but I want to know if there are some people who are actually retaining all or most of their growth. If retaining most length is not common, then I won't even try it because I still have length goals.

outspokenwallflower I plan to just flat iron my hair once a month. No blow dryer.

 

[LaFemmeNaturelle]

Before I began transitioning, I would use direct heat at least once a week or every other week and needless to say...my hair hated my guts because of it! I stayed NL for about 3 years or so. I had a major set back in 2006 and had my hair all cut to EL. In 4 years, it grew maybe 3 inches. I've noticed that since I haven't been using heat as much, I've retained about 95% of my growth. I think once a month with a heat protectant won't be detrimental to you hair at all and you'll still retain majority of that long and lush hair of yours LFN

NikkiQ yes staying away from heat was the best thing I could ever do and I have retained all of my length BUT I never took care of my hair in between my heat usages. Never slept with a scarf unless I was wrapping my hair, NEVER moisturized and only used oil sheen, and my hair went 3-6 weeks without seeing water. So, I can't blame it all on heat lol I'm sure it was a combo of everything. I guess I'm just gonna have to test it out for a few months.

 

[zamaih]

I flat iron every week or 2 weeks or rollerset and flat iron the roots only. (The rollersets take a lot of time so I haven't done one in a few weeks).

I've retained about 4 inches of growth in a year. I've had problems with heat in the past (from marcel pressing combs mainly) but I really take care of my hair now. I deep condition under my steamer every week, use heat protectant spray and CHI silk infusion.

After my hair is straight, I use coconut oil, moroccan oil or jojoba oil, sometimes a moisturizer if my hair is really dry. Also, I rarely comb my hair which I think does more damage sometimes than heat. For me, keeping it straight is lower maintenance than when I do curly styles. I do them from time to time but always end up with knots and tangles.

I'm not willing to protective style anymore as I did (without knowing I was "protective styling") for most of my life. My mom kept my hair braided most of the time - my dad didn't even let me straighten my hair. My mom had to sneak me for my first press at 10years old lol. I also wore braids all through high school and wore a weave a few years after college. So I'm over the protective styling lol. Can't hide your hair forever!

The picture on the left is from about a month ago (my hair is a little longer now, couple inches from WL & I'm 5'6) and the one on the right is this time last year. I'll admit that my ends aren't that great from straightening, but it doesn't bother me that much since i wear it bumped and use flexi rods a lot.

 

[LaFemmeNaturelle]

zamaih thanks! Your hair looks great. I've protective styled most of my life too but I just do It out of laziness lol i can't even imagine wearing my hair down every single day. After 2 weeks I just wanna snatch it back into a bun lol are you relaxed?

 

[zamaih]

zamaih thanks! Your hair looks great. I've protective styled most of my life too but I just do It out of laziness lol i can't even imagine wearing my hair down every single day. After 2 weeks I just wanna snatch it back into a bun lol are you relaxed?

I feel you...I wear my hair down for a few days and before the week is up, I put it in a ponytail. If I have somewhere to go, I'll do a caruso set before my next wash.

I'm natural, have been my entire life. A stylist talked my mom into giving me a relaxer once at 12yrs. I don't know if it was too strong or what but my hair started breaking and I had to cut it to just above shoulder length. I never even got a touch up...after that I guess my mom knew my hair could not handle a relaxer.

 

[Nelli04]

I used to straighten my hair every 3-4 weeks at the salon, and my hair would grow to APL and break off. I ended up with a lot of heat damage and decided to stay away from the salon. But I realized, my stylist did not use heat protectants and she used wayy too much heat on my hair.
I personally believe my hair will be able to handle direct heat as long as its not TOO hot, and too often. So starting in Dec I plan to straighten every 2 months.
There's a girl I came across recently with MBL natural hair and she straightens it every 3 weeks at the salon. So it's definitely doable, I think you should jut try it out and see how your hair responds.

 

[curlycrocheter]

I don't straighten much in the summer because there is obviously no point. But I keep my hair straight in the colder months because I've learned that trying to do curly styles in the winter only leads to terrible colds and super dry hair.

When I flat iron I do it once every 10days to 2 weeks. I make sure to do a really good dc in between and I actually use a light protein (AOGBP). I use a light amount of oil to either air dry or blow dry with. Then I use a heat protector.

I'm gonna make a confession here...I hate body in my hair!! So when I flat iron I want my hair as pin straight as possible. My ends are holding up ok. I could use about a 1/2 inch trim, but I"m gonna hold off for now. But I'm super paranoid when I wear my hair straight because it sheds more (not that it actually sheds more than when I wear it curly, the shed strands get lost and tangled in the curls. so it's easier to see shed hair when I wear it straight) so I leave it up in buns all the time. I very rarely wear my hair out anymore.

As for retention...I had a setback in May and had to cut back to apl, now I would say that I'm a solid 1/2 inch from mbl and about 4-5 inches from wsl. Straightening actually helps me retain growth. I just had to learn to do it the right way. Sorry for the long post.

 

[lana]

I think this was a very good topic and question. I'm sure that some people view heat as "wrong" for their hair and that's up to them.

As for me....I am texlaxed, so I have a lot of natural like texture going on and it gives my hair elasticity and strength, not to relax straight.

I use heat once every two weeks (twice a month) and more often on my bangs. My bangs are retaining length, but I keep cutting them, because I want them to stay bangs and not long layers.

My hair is hovering over bra-strap length. My goal is to be BSL with curled ends.

I wear it down for about three days and then bun until wash day and repeat. I moisturize when needed and always use a serum to flat iron with my Sedu. I'm retaining length and happy with my progress.

Throughout my hair journey I always do what's best for ME and MY hair. Trial and Error has actually paid off. I know what doesn't work for me and I know what does.

I have the best hair of my life, right now because of all I've learned on LHCF.

 

[afjhnsn]

Bump! I am relaxed, but not bone straight & have started using a roundbrush & blowing out my own hair. More tips, pls!

 

[MissLadie]

I'm pretty interested in knowing this too. Been natural for just under 3 years now, used heat maybe 4 times. But I've had to trim so much because of ssk's and split ends. So I'm thinking heat can't be that much worse.

 

[aa9746]

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