Flat Ironing after Henna???

[JetBlackCurly]

Hi everyone!

I'm a newbie thats been lurking "roun' deez hea parts" for almost a year now and i finally took the plunge and registered!

I apologize if someone has already asked this but I did search and really wasn't able to find any info so here goes... I did a Henna/Indigo 2 step treatment on monday. I was going to straighten my hair tonight but then saw on another hair forum where people were saying that using heat within a week of Henna wreaks so much havoc on the hair that many end up having to cut it off to start over. I was so eager to straighten and waiting a week isn't really an option as I was only using my heat pass for a series of events starting tomorrow so next week will be pointless.

I guess my question is, have any of you used direct heat shortly after a henna tx and if so, did you suffer a setback? Some of the complaints were of dulling of henna's "red" effect on the hair but I don't care about that, just don't wanna have to chop anything off!

For reference, I am transitioning and haven't used any chemicals in over 2 years (well except for the stuff in shampoos and conditioners obvs ) I plan to blow dry, then flat iron - but only with protection!

TIA

 

[DirectorChic]

I have had no problem using heat --flatironing after a henna. As a matter of fact, that is one of the reasons why I henna (as well as other herbs) to protect my hair and to keep it strong.

It is possible they may still have had some henna left on their hair or something. Not sure. But I have had no problem flatironing the same week after a henna treatment. Just make sure all the henna is rinsed out and there is no residue. Use a heat protectant also.

 

[westNDNbeauty]

Op how does your hair feel after you henna-ed? Does it feel dry or brittle? If so you may want to keep your distance from the flat iron.

Personally henna dries my hair. It usually takes a couple moisturizing DCs to get my hair back to feeling normal.

Also know that deeply moisturized hair (by your dc) is the one sure fire way which results in straight silky hair. The moisture content of your hair also is your one way to reduce the possibility of heat damage (heat protectant alone will not win that fight).

In other words, hair which feels dry and is then flat ironed is highly susceptible to heat damage.

 

[JetBlackCurly]

Well I'm done... it came out TERRIBLE! Worst flat iron job I've ever done but I think that's because I made the mistake of believing that, in conjunction with Proclaim Glossing Polish, tea tree oil would be a good heat protectant (read somewhere that it protects for up to 450 degrees) and the result is the stringiest straightening job I've ever had the misfortune of experiencing!

I have rollers in my hair trying to reverse some of the damage by restoring some body to the limpness that is now my hair but am almost tempted to just wash and restart the process if not for the incredible amount of heat damage that I would undoubtedly incur as a result... *sigh* hopefully this works. Thanks for the replies

 

[WyrdWay]

JetBlackCurly

Didn't the tea tree oil burn your eyes when it was heated by your flat iron?

 

[greenandchic]

I've never heard of tea tree oil used as a heat protestant before. I would think it would do the opposite. JetBlackCurly - There are several threads here from people dealing with heat damage. Do you have any photos of your hair.

By the way,

 

[DirectorChic]

One thing I like to do to prevent dryness in speaking of herbs....I add in Hibiscus powder to my henna. Also try to add some honey and maybe a bit of oil in the mixture. Usually when I wash out I use a good amount of detangling moisturizing conditioner. (The dryness thing is a reason why I drench my hair with a conditioner before applying conditioner.)

For my hair... this works. Sometimes it takes tweeking a bit.

 

[JetBlackCurly]

I saw it here where a girl (can't remember who) stated that she, her mom and sisters have always used tea tree oil to flat iron as it offers a natural protection of up to 450 degrees... I have a bad habit of reading one thing and running with it, only to come back read another post stating the opposite and panic! Lol. It's a wonder I have a darn strand of hair left on my head!

WyrdWay - No it didn't burn at all... I only used a tiny bit and that was before blow drying. When I actually flat Ironed, I only used the glossing serum but I guess the overlapping products was overkill (I used some other things too while I was blowing it out).

greenandchic - I didn't take pics last night because it was so late and I was more focused on damage control. I thing I have reversed a good amount of it (I slept in rollers to get some body back) and now I have it wrapped for the next coupla' hours but I'll take some pics as soon as I take it down.

It did look MUCH better after I took down the rollers this morning but kind of dull and I'm used to a blinging shine since my hair is so dark. Hopefully when I unwrap it, some of my shine will be back. As for heat damage... I don't know yet. I probably won't know until I wash but I already had some from when I didn't know any better and never used a heat protectant. I wouldn't be surprised if i just worsened it. =(

I'll be back later with pics.

 

[fuchsiastar]

I use henna to color my grey hair and give my hair that "henna bling" and I ALWAYS flat iron the very same day. I wear my hair straightened and it is APL 4a/b natural. Hope that helps OP, and thanks for clearing up the tea tree oil thing. I had never heard of that either, I've only heard of using it as an astringent and for it's cleaning properties.

 

[JetBlackCurly]

So this is how it turned out... Like i said, Its not nearly as bad as it was last night but its definitely not my best job. My hair usually looks like this at about a week and a half post flat iron.

Sorry if they're hard to see, the lighting in my bathroom is awful.

 

[greenandchic]

So this is how it turned out... Like i said, Its not nearly as bad as it was last night but its definitely not my best job. My hair usually looks like this at about a week and a half post flat iron.

Sorry if they're hard to see, the lighting in my bathroom is awful.

It doesn't look too bad at all! Do you think you damaged your hair?

 

[WyrdWay]

It doesn't look too bad at all! Do you think you damaged your hair?

+1
I second this

 

[JetBlackCurly]

Possibly... I wont know for sure until i was though.