Do naturals who use heat on occasion reach greater lengths? HAIR PORN.

[Netta1]

I've heard it said a few times that a little heat every now and again actually can benefit those with extremely coily hair. I've also heard of naturals that do not let their hair shrink 100% b/c if they were to do that they may experience more breakage then usual...what are your thoughts?


See CLIP OF HAIR PORN...this natural blow-drys twice per month


http://www.youtube.com/user/Longhairdontcare2011#p/u/34/9m30zJYjas4

 

[***BlessedMom***]

Girl, your eyes scared the hell outta me!

 

[Netta1]

^^^LOL sowwey^^^^ Just vote already

 

[NikkiGirl]

Her hair is absolutely beautiful. And I totally agree with her about the good hair thing. We can all have "good hair" if we take care of it.

Sorry, this is off topic. I couldn't help but comment. Her hair is beautiful are so are her nails.

 

[Chaosbutterfly]

I do think that heat helps...I'm not natural, but it makes sense to me, because of the structure of kinkier hair.
Everywhere the hair bends is a point of weakness in the hair. If you can smooth out the bends with a little heat, or even just by wearing stretched styles, I think it'd be easier to retain length.
I'm not sure though.

 

[Rocky91]

i think anyone that finds the perfect regimen for their hair will achieve great lengths.
those methods work for those women(and i might even be one of them)....but we can't just make a blanket statement.

 

[missann]

I think so. If you use heat when you detangle, so if you're gentle you can reduce hair loss. On the other hand, shrunken hair will often curl around itself even if you detangle when wet. And if you try to detangle shrunken hair while dry, you'll lose a lot of hair even if you treat if with kid gloves.

 

[arosieworld]

Yeah I never let my hair shrink up completely and this weekend I did and I think I lost a lot of it. So she maybe right.

 

[PearlyCurly]

HMMM, i dont think for me
Everytime i use direct heat(flat iron especially!) i end up cutting my ends, even though they were fine BEFORE i used heat but after my ends get VERY dry. And i only used heat 4x in 2009, and twice this year.

The more heat i use the more i have to cut my ends..or the more my ends get dried out. I dont think DIRECT heat should be a part of my regimen, even though i like straight hair

 

[trevprit]

i think anyone that finds the perfect regimen for their hair will achieve great lengths.
those methods work for those women(and i might even be one of them)....but we can't just make a blanket statement.

True. In her case, the blowdrying works, but I cannot, repeat CANNOT fool with the blowdryer. It sets me back sumthin terrible.

Finding the perfect regimen is a case of trial and error. Sometimes you lose a lot of hair. But once you get your hair game on lock, you usually have great retention and great lengths.

 

[Whisper29]

Her hair and her video are the BOMB!!!!

 

[Misshairdiva]

HMMM, i dont think for me
Everytime i use direct heat(flat iron especially!) i end up cutting my ends, even though they were fine BEFORE i used heat but after my ends get VERY dry. And i only used heat 4x in 2009, and twice this year.

The more heat i use the more i have to cut my ends..or the more my ends get dried out. I dont think DIRECT heat should be a part of my regimen, even though i like straight hair

PearlyCurly have you tried rollersetting your hair? I know if I let my hair air dry then flat iron it looks like a damaged hot mess and I figured out why... the flat iron is going AGAINST the cuticle! However when I get my hair rollerset the cuticle is laying down flat and then my hair looks super healthy. Does this make sense?

 

[BostonMaria]

Rollersetting my hair has helped me retain length. I won't use a blowdryer though. I prefer the indirect heat of my dryer.

 

[BlackMasterPiece]

I'm currently on a very rare break from heat but I've used heat consistently throughout my natural journey and I can definitively say it has contributed tremendously to my retention.

When it comes to straightening it's important to have technique, quality styling tools and to know which products agree with your hair the best for a good result. I think alot of ladies just haven't developed a proper technique as of yet and then misinterpret that to mean that their hair doesn't repond well to heat.

Before I installed these crochet braids I have in I blew my hair out and it made manipulating my hair into cornrows a breeze.

Heat is definitely my friend

 

[LynnieB]

I'm currently on a very rare break from heat but I've used heat consistently throughout my natural journey and I can definitively say it has contributed tremendously to my retention.

When it comes to straightening it's important to have technique, quality styling tools and to know which products agree with your hair the best for a good result. I think alot of ladies just haven't developed a proper technique as of yet and then misinterpret that to mean that their hair doesn't repond well to heat.

Before I installed these crochet braids I have in I blew my hair out and it made manipulating my hair into cornrows a breeze.

Heat is definitely my friend

Ditto although I don't cornrow but do french braids (those are backward cornrows, right?)and flat twists (especially for an out style) my entire head is absolutely impossible to manage without blowing it straight first. I get shivers thinking about making long parts and trying to braid rows of wet or damp hair, even pre-stretched hair is a huge no-no.

Sometimes heat can be a friend.

 

[Jazala]

I'm currently on a very rare break from heat but I've used heat consistently throughout my natural journey and I can definitively say it has contributed tremendously to my retention.

When it comes to straightening it's important to have technique, quality styling tools and to know which products agree with your hair the best for a good result. I think alot of ladies just haven't developed a proper technique as of yet and then misinterpret that to mean that their hair doesn't repond well to heat.

Before I installed these crochet braids I have in I blew my hair out and it made manipulating my hair into cornrows a breeze.

Heat is definitely my friend

I 100% agree with the bolded.

 

[BlkOnyx488]

I stopped doing wash and goes for that very reason. I air dry with my hair in color purple braids

 

[danigurl18]

Using heat works for me because it helps with detangling and cuts down on single stranded knots..

 

[virtuenow]

I always use the blowdryer after I wash; and of course flat iron occasionally. This use of heat in my regimen has definitely helped me. I couldn't imagine anyone w/kinkier hair here on lhcf than mine-- and I have nearly 100% shrinkage! OP, I saw your post on 'my hair doesn't grow', and I thought about the heat thing but chose not to chime in b/c I know some ppl are strongly opposed to heat. But I really believe it is a missing factor in your case.

 

[gymfreak336]

From looking at the natural women that have my hair type and other characteristics similar to my natural hair, the ones that have grown it very long are the ones that use heat on a regular basis in some form or fashion. I think heat, like everything else, has it's purpose.

 

[gymfreak336]

I'm currently on a very rare break from heat but I've used heat consistently throughout my natural journey and I can definitively say it has contributed tremendously to my retention.

When it comes to straightening it's important to have technique, quality styling tools and to know which products agree with your hair the best for a good result. I think alot of ladies just haven't developed a proper technique as of yet and then misinterpret that to mean that their hair doesn't repond well to heat.
Before I installed these crochet braids I have in I blew my hair out and it made manipulating my hair into cornrows a breeze.

Heat is definitely my friend

That is true even in the relaxed world.

 

[BillsBackerz67]

It sure helped my hair. No single strand knots besides the ones I already had prior to starting to regularly use heat.

 

[AmyRose92]

So what would be like the reasonable frequency for a natural to blowdry? Biweekly? Once a week after DCing with a hooded dryer? Once a month?

 

[gymfreak336]

So what would be like the reasonable frequency for a natural to blowdry? Biweekly? Once a week after DCing with a hooded dryer? Once a month?

I it depends on their styling preferences and overall regime.

 

[peachykeen]

I have come to realize that everyone is totally different. What helps though about forums like this is that sometimes its good to hear people like you. I for one have tried this no heat mess and it doesnt work for me any better than heat...but then again I only use it once a week. So, it is totally possible.

 

[Netta1]

i think anyone that finds the perfect regimen for their hair will achieve great lengths.
those methods work for those women(and i might even be one of them)....but we can't just make a blanket statement.

This is true-no blanket statments here?

I think so. If you use heat when you detangle, so if you're gentle you can reduce hair loss. On the other hand, shrunken hair will often curl around itself even if you detangle when wet. And if you try to detangle shrunken hair while dry, you'll lose a lot of hair even if you treat if with kid gloves.

How do you use direct heat when you detangle.

HMMM, i dont think for me
Everytime i use direct heat(flat iron especially!) i end up cutting my ends, even though they were fine BEFORE i used heat but after my ends get VERY dry. And i only used heat 4x in 2009, and twice this year.

The more heat i use the more i have to cut my ends..or the more my ends get dried out. I dont think DIRECT heat should be a part of my regimen, even though i like straight hair

The person in the video uses the cool blow dry shot on her ends

I stopped doing wash and goes for that very reason. I air dry with my hair in color purple braids

What are purple braids?

Using heat works for me because it helps with detangling and cuts down on single stranded knots..

How do you use heat and how often?

I always use the blowdryer after I wash; and of course flat iron occasionally. This use of heat in my regimen has definitely helped me. I couldn't imagine anyone w/kinkier hair here on lhcf than mine-- and I have nearly 100% shrinkage! OP, I saw your post on 'my hair doesn't grow', and I thought about the heat thing but chose not to chime in b/c I know some ppl are strongly opposed to heat. But I really believe it is a missing factor in your case.

Girl my hair is very kinky coily and it wraps around itself something fierce. This week I've been experimenting with not letting my hair completly kink up after washing and co washing. But even if I put my hair in two twist once i take the twist down the I have to separate four sections and the ends wrap on themselves while in the two twist!

 

[Southernbella.]

It's definitely helped me. I have never had any problems with single strand knots, and I have an average amount of tangles, but nothing major.

I use an ION tourmaline blowdryer, which is supposedly better for the hair than regular ones.

I almost never style my hair when it's wet.

 

[Qetesh]

i think it depends on the kind of heat and the definition of occational. my hair got its longest length (waistlength) when i was straightening it about 1ce every 2months. i didnt wash it super often either. like 2 times a month in between the actual blow outs i would do natural braid outs. BUT my ends were destroyed by not deep condishin and air drying with moose daily. air drying can really damage your ends if your not carful to condition.

overall i think lengths can be achieved with or without heat. but i personally feel occasional heat even if to dust split ends occasionally is the BEST way to achieve great lengths. our hair just tangles and breaks off too easily. now with that said leaving it natural 100% just takes more work and care, because once u straighten it its "set" that way for a period. and natural hair requires much more moisture then "set" hair.

 

[Imani]

I'm 4b and transitioning and I plan to use heat. Even relaxed I've seen my hair thrive with heat, with the proper technique and products. I know heat gets a bad wrap around here, but used properly I don't think its all that bad.

I think both ways is just about finding the proper techniques. There are people on here with really long nice hair who never use heat. And vice versa.

Anytime I tried to air dry or just do roller sets I really didn't have any better results than when I used heat. Air drying caused my hair to be a tangled crispy mess, I couldn't even finger comb my hair.

 

[msdeevee]

I have the problem of not retaining length also .

I have used all the best products to wash , condition,deep condition , baggy and to seal the ends and all the rest. I have protective styled and always do low manipulation for my entire time of being natural.

My hair should be at least BSL but it will not grow past APL. In this whole time I have rarely used heat if I do it's only to get a trim so that's 1-2x per year.

As of last week I have decided to use heat to blow dry with the tension method when I wash my hair so that will probably be 1-2x a month.

My natural hair coils on the ends and breaks off and I'm plagued with the single strand knots so trying this heat method cannot hurt.