Flat iron help or tips?

[ChoKitty]

Alright, I finally bought a Chi flat iron...but now, how do I get the results I want? I have done what my stylist told me to do, heat protectant (I picked up Beyond the Zone Flat Iron Protection) Setting Lotion (I have Proclaim setting lotion...the blue one.), I used what I always do as a leave in (Humectress.) I divided my hair up into four sections (Like when relaxing.) then divided those sections up int small pieces to flat iron. While doing it, it appears to be as flat as it was when she has it, but in the end...while straight, it's still just like every day, to poofy to wear down. It also was no where near as shiney, and NO WHERE near as soft as when she did it. It makes me wish I hadn't washed my hair. I don't expect to be able to do as well as my stylist...but what else can I do to at least get decent results? The last four or five pictures in my hair album are what it looked like when she did it...I know I won't be able to achieve THAT, but I can't stand having to wear my hair up every day. I loved being able to run a brush through it and go, and it wasn't poofy, if it got blown by the wind, I could put it back in place, it stayed soft...etc...I guess I'm just sad that I did everything she told me, and took my time...and couldn't even get decent...

 

[simplycee]

Just a question, why are you using setting lotion? Could it be the Humectress as a leave in leaving a coating on your hair to prevent the shine?

 

[HoneyDew]

What is your hair type. I am a 4 do I hope I can help. What temp do you put it on?

I use a FHI and right now I have about 1- 1.5 inches of new growth. I set the dial to about 370 degrees. That allows for success in one swipe (my limit and holder it lighter (or not at all) on the ends).

For me it depends on the shampoo and conditioner I use. I have good success with CON ultra moisturizing and now my favorite Kenra Platimum for coarse and thick hair. (!!! This stuff is my new best friend !!!)


I loved flat ironing with WGO for the shine, but I fear the smoke it can causes. Keracare and Dudley's have pressing creams that work wonders, but only after I wash and condition with the good stuff. Those don't seem to work otherwise. I washed and flatironed my roots lastnight and the Keracare worked great.


Also, are you holding the flatiron firmly enough? I find that when I don't so that, the one swipe limit I give myself just doesn't do the trick.


I flatiron once my newgrowth just once a week and it stays flat and shiny (coupled with daily moisturizing and wrapping my hair at night)

 

[ChoKitty]

Just a question, why are you using setting lotion? Could it be the Humectress as a leave in leaving a coating on your hair to prevent the shine?

I'm using a setting lotion because she told me to. She used it on my hair when she did it.

 

[ChoKitty]

What is your hair type. I am a 4 do I hope I can help. What temp do you put it on?

I use a FHI and right now I have about 1- 1.5 inches of new growth. I set the dial to about 370 degrees. That allows for success in one swipe (my limit and holder it lighter (or not at all) on the ends).

For me it depends on the shampoo and conditioner I use. I have good success with CON ultra moisturizing and now my favorite Kenra Platimum for coarse and thick hair. (!!! This stuff is my new best friend !!!)


I loved flat ironing with WGO for the shine, but I fear the smoke it can causes. Keracare and Dudley's have pressing creams that work wonders, but only after I wash and condition with the good stuff. Those don't seem to work otherwise. I washed and flatironed my roots lastnight and the Keracare worked great.


Also, are you holding the flatiron firmly enough? I find that when I don't so that, the one swipe limit I give myself just doesn't do the trick.


I flatiron once my newgrowth just once a week and it stays flat and shiny (coupled with daily moisturizing and wrapping my hair at night)

I have the Chi that just turns on, no temp. Also the one she used on my hair....and I could never quite get my hair type down when reading those things to figure it out. I have very very thick, coarse hair...but it never quite fit into any of the catagories...Maybe it does depend on what you use when washing and such. I know she used Keracare products on my hair...and the leave in was Deep Brilliance...I guess I'm going to buy the stuff from her? It's just so expensive....I look on websites at the Keracare, and it's selling for 12 dollars for 8 oz...what does pressing cream do?

 

[HoneyDew]

how are you using the setting lotion - on dry hair or wethair? Are you flat ironing with one of the wet/dry irons?

 

[ChoKitty]

how are you using the setting lotion - on dry hair or wethair? Are you flat ironing with one of the wet/dry irons?

She sprayed it on my hair before drying it, and told me to do the same. So I did...and nope, my flat iron is the Chi 1 inch original.

 

[Shawnee66]

Maybe you need to try a serum. When I flatiron my hair I use the Redkin Glass and it makes my hair shiny and straight. I wash, condition and add one leave-in and let my hair air dry.

 

[PretteePlease]

Maybe you need to get a medium-fine tooth comb and put it in a section comb down just far enough to let the flatiron fit in the section and run the comb and the flatiron down the section at the same time. i was able to get salon like results using this technique

 

[a_ caribbean_dream]

you should also consider using biosilk...

especially because you want the shine factor

 

[Nightingale]

I have the exact same chi flat iron. After I wash my hair, I let it air dry in 6 sections. I make really small parts and flat iron section by section. It is always shiney and relaxer straight. BUT, if a little warm or humid, my roots poof a little, still straight, but poofy nonetheless. Then its ponytail time...