I just started back using heat. I know people say heat is the devil. But my hair actually responds well to heat (WHEN ITS USED PROPERLY). Now that i'm using a lighter relaxer and stretching my relaxers my hair does really well with heat. if i didn't use it, it would be a tangled mess and i wouldn't even be able to comb it.
I get my hair lightly blow dried and flat ironed at the salon every 1 to 2 weeks. My stylist does mostly natural hair so she is really good at handling my new growth.