Flat Iron Attempt...FAILED (pics)

[Ayeshia]

Ive come to the realization that I will never master the flat iron technique. I parted my hair extra small, used a small amount of serum, and took my time...it still turned out HUGE...looks just like a blow out. The roots get super straight but then when it gets to my ends, it's like the flat iron never touched them :-| . The ends are too blunt I believe oh well. But it did help me S&D a lot better than a blow out does cuz the knots are waaaay more noticable. Hopefully Ill be BSL sometime next year

Bottom section Only

Top and Bottm Parted

Entire Head

Front View

 

[NOEChic]

what kind of flat iron are you using? How many times are you going of that one section? Are you incorporating previously flat ironed hair into a new section that was just flat ironed?

 

[YasmanSoBe]

What type of flat iron did you use?
Did you use any product on your hair prior to using the flat iron?
Was your hair completely dry before attempting to straighten?

 

[atlien11]

Ive had that problem before...how did you dry your hair previous to flat-ironing? I am one of those unfortunate people that has to use a fairly hot blowdryer beforehand just to get a good flat iron set.

 

[zzirvingj]

What type of flat iron did you use?

When I pressed my own hair, it used to come out similar!!:

http://public.fotki.com/shortiedowop/hair_album/that_was_then/year_2/semi_straight_hair.html

I was using a cheap flat iron though. And I was doing exactly what you did-only using the flat iron.

But when my stylist does it, it's bone straight.

But the difference is, when she does it, she does a blow out with the dryer first. Then she uses a pressing comb to actually straight it from root to tip. Thus the purpose of the flat iron is just to "bump under the ends" and give it some shape/style:

http://public.fotki.com/shortiedowop/hair_album/updates!!!/0000875.html

I'm not saying all this is absolutely necessary to get the hair super straight. I'm sure some of the other sisters who press/flat iron will have some suggestions for you. At least you're getting growth, though! It's nice and thick

 

[Ayeshia]

I used my 1'' cermaic flat iron by hot tools I believe and I slightly blowed it out before I went to flat iron. Not too much because my hair would have been hella dry esp on the ends I probably should have blowed it out completely straight and then flat ironed.

 

[Ayeshia]

what kind of flat iron are you using? How many times are you going of that one section? Are you incorporating previously flat ironed hair into a new section that was just flat ironed?

I went over each section about 3x....but after awhile it gets so thick that going over it continuously did nothing....arrrgghhhhhhh.

 

[Ayeshia]

What type of flat iron did you use?

When I pressed my own hair, it used to come out similar!!:

http://public.fotki.com/shortiedowop/hair_album/that_was_then/year_2/semi_straight_hair.html

I was using a cheap flat iron though. And I was doing exactly what you did-only using the flat iron.

But when my stylist does it, it's bone straight.

But the difference is, when she does it, she does a blow out with the dryer first. Then she uses a pressing comb to actually straight it from root to tip. Thus the purpose of the flat iron is just to "bump under the ends" and give it some shape/style:

http://public.fotki.com/shortiedowop/hair_album/updates!!!/0000875.html

I'm not saying all this is absolutely necessary to get the hair super straight. I'm sure some of the other sisters who press/flat iron will have some suggestions for you. At least you're getting growth, though! It's nice and thick

Thats exactly what my stylist did too when I used to get my hair pressed....I was hoping that I wouldnt have to go that route again cuz it was so much heat involved but it looks as though I may have to


BTW Your hair is beautiful!!!!!!

 

[caligirl]

Girl, you need to quit playing and get yourself a good old-fashioned hot comb. I have seen some ceramic hot combs on-line, but I prefer the ones you put on the little stove.

 

[YasmanSoBe]

I used my 1'' cermaic flat iron by hot tools I believe and I slightly blowed it out before I went to flat iron. Not too much because my hair would have been hella dry esp on the ends I probably should have blowed it out completely straight and then flat ironed.

There's your culprit. No disrespect to you or anyone else on th board who may use this brand, but from my experience, Hot Tools is not going to give you the heat you need to straighten well. In my pre- Chi ceramic flat iron days, I had one of these, too. My hair was always puffy. It never laid like I wanted it to or got bone straight like it does with a Chi.

It also helps if you have a nice protectant/frizz serum before flat ironing. I've used Chi Silk, Loreal Smooth Intense, and Loreal Nature's Therapy Heat Control.

 

[Kimberly]

I think flat-ironing takes practice. You'll get your technique down if you keep working on it.

For me (and I haven't flat-ironed even longer than I haven't blow-dried because of trying to cut back on my heat usage), to get a really good flat-iron...like straight enough to wear it dowm...I had to blow-dry it straight first and I would use coconut oil and serum with the blowdry. Then, I'd spray a little heat protectant through and flat-iron in small sections, going over each section at least twice, pulling my hair taught, and travelling the shaft rather slowly. I got the best results with my CHI flat-iron and I used the CHI serum and heat protectant spray.

With that said, I think your hair looks thick and lovely! I would go out with my hair like that and my head held high. Really, your hair is beautiful.

 

[DragonPearl]

Girl, get yourself a Maxiglide and be done already.

 

[Ayeshia]

thanks so much for the advice and compliments ladies...@ jesse I HATE the maxi glide its too bulky for me. I attempted it and um I got frustrated because I wasnt able to get the roots....where my hair is severely wavy and crinkly. Might have to get a marcel comb and be old fashioned.

 

[meek&quietspirit]

Can I purchase a flat iron at Sally's?

 

[zzirvingj]

Thats exactly what my stylist did too when I used to get my hair pressed....I was hoping that I wouldnt have to go that route again cuz it was so much heat involved but it looks as though I may have to


BTW Your hair is beautiful!!!!!!

Thanks!!!

 

[Kimberly]

Can I purchase a flat iron at Sally's?

I believe they have some good ones at Sally's that won't cost you $125.

 

[Victorian]

I haven't managed to get my hair as straight as I want yet, but I managed to improve the look of the ends the last time I straightened using a technique someone (I think it was Mermaid??) mentioned in a past thread. You run a comb through your hair just in front of the flat iron so that only perfectly detangled and smoothed out hair is being flattened. I used a relatively fine-toothed comb and held it close to the iron and ran both down each piece of hair. It took me a long time because I'm not very coordinated and the 2-hand thing required total concentration for me But the results were better than my previous straightening attempt, especially at the ends.

I've only tried blowdrying before flat ironing, but I know another option is rollersetting instead of blowdrying, to cut back on the direct heat. It seems like that could also help with maintaining smooth ends.

 

[PinkAngel]

Can I purchase a flat iron at Sally's?

Sally's also carries the Generic Version of the CHI ($60) & the Ion Ceramic Iron ($90)

 

[patient1]

Out of curiousity I flatironed my hair with a GoldnHot (9.95 on sale at Sally's) and a product I developed. No blowdrying. I just undid my twists and went from afro to glass flat and straight in one stroke. The iron was on high and the speed of straightening was frightening!! I've been natural 15+ years and can count on one hand with extra fingers how many times I've used heat. I've done it a couple of times to trim, once to put in braids.

eta: here are the bangs

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=2288

I have two colored twists on my head that I'm using as test comparison areas for a product. I flattened those as well. One or two passes. I put some before and afters in the lhcf gallery.

I flatironed a relaxed client earlier today with about 2 months worth of new growth. She'd had a weave I'd done in for about a month. I used Keracare essential oils that I got from a lhcf meeting and it did a great job of getting her hair straight and shiny. We used the GoldnHot at her request. Her hair is long and thick. She says she only uses it once per week and then wraps the rest of the week.

I'll be back to post pics of my bangs. Can I get away with wearing bangs with braids?? lOL!!

p1

 

[Ayeshia]

Thanks for the tips guys! I think my next official flat ironed do it will just have to be professional. I dont have the time nor patience to deal with this cuz it can only get longer and thicker and aint gettin no shorter or thinner It took me an hour to get these wack ass results so...

There is still another option that I would like to try and thats the rollersetting and then flat ironing...I may have better results with that. But for the rollersetting I'll get that professionally done cuz its cheap.

@BC that fine toothed comb technique also sounds promising. I would have to buy the really hard one by ace, cuz I have the plastic ones that they pass out to every one at school for picture day Thanks!

 

[patient1]

I'm scared of the flat iron after tonight. I think I permanently straightened my bangs. ((

But the memories of the heat, the sweat, the grease, the tired arms from back in the day..I'd want someone to do it as well. LOL!!! It would be worth it to be ungreasy.

Maybe if you wrap you hair at night or pin curl, etc. one good flat ironing could last you for a couple of weeks. BTW, about 5 years ago I blowdried with shea butter and that got my hair pretty darn straight. That's something to think about.

p1

 

[Ayeshia]

I'm scared of the flat iron after tonight. I think I permanently straightened my bangs. ((

But the memories of the heat, the sweat, the grease, the tired arms from back in the day..I'd want someone to do it as well. LOL!!! It would be worth it to be ungreasy.

Maybe if you wrap you hair at night or pin curl, etc. one good flat ironing could last you for a couple of weeks. BTW, about 5 years ago I blowdried with shea butter and that got my hair pretty darn straight. That's something to think about.

p1

Oh wow sorry to hear that . I get better results on medium heat than high so Im not afraid of premannently straightening my hair.
Yeah this is the first time in three years I attmepted to straighten my hair so I'll gladly wait another 3 years if thats what it takes

The blow dryer only does so much...my hair is really blunt so it gets HUGE no matter how str8 it is. Talk about resistant hair

 

[Ayeshia]

There's your culprit. No disrespect to you or anyone else on th board who may use this brand, but from my experience, Hot Tools is not going to give you the heat you need to straighten well. In my pre- Chi ceramic flat iron days, I had one of these, too. My hair was always puffy. It never laid like I wanted it to or got bone straight like it does with a Chi.

It also helps if you have a nice protectant/frizz serum before flat ironing. I've used Chi Silk, Loreal Smooth Intense, and Loreal Nature's Therapy Heat Control.

Yup Im giving it away to my friend. She's white and uses it more than I do anyway
Ill have to look into those products. Thanks!

 

[amy1234]

I would also suggest using a pressing creme like dudleys creme press. Makes a HUGE difference!!

 

[patient1]

I hear ya! Let us know what works out for ya! I'm interested. I love my naps to death, but since I'm finally growing it out, I've toyed with the idea of straightening it once in a blue moon. What works for you might work for me.

p1

eta: since you're shopping for a new flat iron, i kinda want to say stay away from the goldnhot unless you want it cheap and super hot. my client brought her own (the same model I purchased after she mentioned it). I wanted to have one around for folks who want that finish to their hair. I never plugged it in until tonight, but it got scorching!!!!!

 

[honey_jammz82]

I would also suggest using a pressing creme like dudleys creme press. Makes a HUGE difference!!

I love this stuff, keracare creme press is good as well. It also really depends on the flat iron, I have used a lot and you need a good ceramic one (SEDU ).

 

[good2uuuu]

I can so relate! Since I don't straighten very often, I have the Ceramic Tools from Sally also. I will invest in a CHI or something if I decide to flat iron more often. I have trouble doing the little flip thing at the end when I do flat iron, so it never really turns out how I want. I usually go back to y 1.5 inch curling iron. But yeah, my hair does get puffy also, so I have to use serum. I just don't want to pull out my hot comb and press before using the irons. *sigh* good luck with your flat ironing adventures!

 

[Ayeshia]

Thanks...BTW no more adventures..I quit!!!! Ill leave it to the big shots Im lazy

 

[Ayeshia]

Oh and your siggy pics are gorgeous...actually I like how your hair straightened. One thing I am not looking to do is have bone straight hair. just the ends are annoying. I would prefer it to havesome puff to it rahter than glued to my scalp

 

[nurseN98]

I haven't managed to get my hair as straight as I want yet, but I managed to improve the look of the ends the last time I straightened using a technique someone (I think it was Mermaid??) mentioned in a past thread. You run a comb through your hair just in front of the flat iron so that only perfectly detangled and smoothed out hair is being flattened. I used a relatively fine-toothed comb and held it close to the iron and ran both down each piece of hair. It took me a long time because I'm not very coordinated and the 2-hand thing required total concentration for me But the results were better than my previous straightening attempt, especially at the ends.
.

This is what I used to do before I got a maxiglide...it really works! Other than that, get a good quality iron. My aunt uses an iron that cost about $10 and that sucker has torn her hair up!