I feel TORN!!! (Straight hair Natural)

[Crystalicequeen123]

I'm going to try to make this post short lol.... But I apologize in advance for the length...

Okay so I've been natural for about 4.5 years (since late 2010), and I usually wear my hair kinky/natural/twists/puffs/sometimes braid extensions etc. In fact, I've only gotten my hair straightened/flat-ironed as a natural TWICE in 4 years lol.

My hair is currently heat-straightened right now since it's winter time and I needed a trim. It's been straight for almost a month, and I have to admit....I LOVE it. I love the ease of it, I love my look (I was relaxed for almost 20 years of my life so I'm used to this "look"), etc.

I def. don't want to ever go back to a relaxer, but lately I find myself toying with the idea of becoming a heat-straightened natural.... PART of the reason why I'm contemplating it is because I have moved from the East Coast to the West Coast a couple years ago, and I'm sorry...but I feel like the choices in natural hair care are kind of SLIM TO NONE out here. I used to have a plethora of friends and even natural hair salons that specialized in natural hair so my hair was ALWAYS looking on point. I was looking fly, and although I usually did my OWN hair 90% of the time, it was just nice having friends who could wash my hair, do my hair, and give me a new natural style every once in a while. Out here I have NADA. I found one lady who did a good job on me w/braid extensions, but I don't want to wear those all the time since I think in the long run it would take out my hair.

Not only that, but the weather is so much DRIER out here than it is back where I'm from, so I've been getting really frustrated with it.

*Sigh* I'm honestly contemplating just keeping my hair straight, or wearing a weave and keeping my hair covered most of the time... erplexed

The problem is, my hair is fine....even as a natural I just have naturally FINE hair...so straightening my hair all the time w/heat would eventually damage it and thin it out.

I feel at a loss......


Any suggestions ladies??

I feel kind of guilty even liking my hair straight Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my natural "BIG" hair .... I just don't like twists, the upkeep, the maintenance, the ssks for DAYS, the tangles, ugh... I'm almost afraid to wash my hair again and go back to that world..... Maybe I'm just getting tired??? If my hair weren't so easily tangled, I think I would love my natural hair more. But at times I have a hard time knowing what to do w/it after I wash and condition it. I'm starting to HATE twists!



ETA: Btw, I'm 4a/4b (mainly 4b) if that gives you any indication lol...

 

[1QTPie]

Go for it. Just know that you have to really find ways to keep it moisturized while it's straight. It's your hair, there are no rules. If you decide that you don't like it later, you can easily go back since you have experience with it curly.

Enjoy your hair woman!

 

[H0tPinkButtafly]

Well if u r worried about damaging with ur hair with heat because it's fine, what about doing rollersets?

 

[Crystalicequeen123]

Well if u r worried about damaging with heat ur hair because it's fine, what about doing rollersets?

Hmmmm.....Now that might be a better option.... :scratchch

The only thing about rollersets though (aside from the fact that it is SO much more challenging getting the roller on curly hair because the hair doesn't want to stay taught and straight on the roller lol ) is that it doesn't get my hair really all that straight, and so I end up having tangles regardless....especially at the ends.... Unless you know of a way to do it more effectively.

I did try curlformers, but I slept in those things and I said NEVER AGAIN! But maybe I'll try sitting under the dryer w/those things in and maybe it will be a little less uncomfortable.

Go for it. Just know that you have to really find ways to keep it moisturized while it's straight. It's your hair, there are no rules. If you decide that you don't like it later, you can easily go back since you have experience with it curly.

Enjoy your hair woman!

Now how do you keep your hair moisturized while it's straight without putting water-based products on it? Because as soon as water touches this hair, the straight hair is gone lol

 

[H0tPinkButtafly]

Hmmmm.....Now that might be a better option.... :scratchch

The only thing about rollersets though (aside from the fact that it is SO much more challenging getting the roller on curly hair because the hair doesn't want to stay taught and straight on the roller lol ) is that it doesn't get my hair really all that straight, and so I end up having tangles regardless....especially at the ends.... Unless you know of a way to do it more effectively.

I did try curlformers, but I slept in those things and I said NEVER AGAIN! But maybe I'll try sitting under the dryer w/those things in and maybe it will be a little less uncomfortable.

Now how do you keep your hair moisturized while it's straight without putting water-based products on it? Because as soon as water touches this hair, the straight hair is gone lol

I'm still transitioning but I do ponytail roller sets and then I flat iron the roots so it's not puffy

 

[ezina]

How about just blow drying your hair once or twice a month instead of having it bone straight? You can wear stretched styles on blown out hair. It gives you the best of both world - less tangles/more manageability and reduced risk of heat damage.

 

[Crystalicequeen123]

How about just blow drying your hair once or twice a month instead of having it bone straight? You can wear stretched styles on blown out hair. It gives you the best of both world - less tangles/more manageability and reduced risk of heat damage.

Well, I try not to blowdry TOO often because I find that it direct blowdrying dries my 4a/4b hair out more.... erplexed Plus, even when I do the tension method, I find that my ends don't get as dry, and so they're usually scraggley. I think maybe the rollersetting/curlformers route might be a better option only because I know my ends would get dry and lay flat.

But you're right that blowdrying has helped me to stretch my hair out nicely in the past. I might still alternate.


I'll just be glad to be stretching my hair in a way that DOESN'T involve twists. I feel like I looks juvenile.... Not only that but I like being able to actually SEE the length in my hair. Anything that will reduce the ssk and tangles will be a blessing at this point.

 

[niknakmac]

When i see naturals (on youtube) do roller sets with perm rods they seem to get the hair very straight. The hair is still in a curly style but looks more like hair that is permed and curly vs natural curly.

I'm impatiently waiting on enough length to try this.

 

[Amarilles]

You can consider Curlformers, the result isn't straight hair but it does leave the hair smooth and looking like curled relaxed hair.

 

[DarkJoy]

Hmmmm.....Now that might be a better option.... :scratchch

The only thing about rollersets though (aside from the fact that it is SO much more challenging getting the roller on curly hair because the hair doesn't want to stay taught and straight on the roller lol ) is that it doesn't get my hair really all that straight, and so I end up having tangles regardless....especially at the ends.... Unless you know of a way to do it more effectively.

I did try curlformers, but I slept in those things and I said NEVER AGAIN! But maybe I'll try sitting under the dryer w/those things in and maybe it will be a little less uncomfortable.





Now how do you keep your hair moisturized while it's straight without putting water-based products on it? Because as soon as water touches this hair, the straight hair is gone lol

I'm a very fine 4b/c

Get a good setting lotion to make it smooth. Setting lotions will also resist reversion. Trying to set on butters and even worse, leave-ins and coconut oil, will just keep 4b/c hair poofed imho. Setting lotions are usually also heat protectants so it will be safe to sit under a hooded dryer if you want a REALLY smooth set.

Oh and btw, idk where you are on the W Coast but if it's in California the water here is awfully hard in most places. It's a good idea to clarify and chelate regularly to remove mineral deposits left by the water. Also might want to get a water filter for your shower ($20 most hardware stores). That will alleviate your dryness (on hair AND skin).

 

[Crystalicequeen123]

I'm a very fine 4b/c

Get a good setting lotion to make it smooth. Setting lotions will also resist reversion. Trying to set on butters and even worse, leave-ins and coconut oil, will just keep 4b/c hair poofed imho. Setting lotions are usually also heat protectants so it will be safe to sit under a hooded dryer if you want a REALLY smooth set.

Oh and btw, idk where you are on the W Coast but if it's in California the water here is awfully hard in most places. It's a good idea to clarify and chelate regularly to remove mineral deposits left by the water. Also might want to get a water filter for your shower ($20 most hardware stores). That will alleviate your dryness (on hair AND skin).

DarkJoy Thank you SO much for this advice! I've never tried setting lotion on natural hair Before. I always just use either a setting spray like lottabody, or use the oils, serums, and other things that you mentioned lol. I'll try the lotion. Which brand do you use that's good?

Also YES I now live in CA and you're right, I've noticed that the water IS hard here! I kept winding why my skin kept getting so dry, why my hair was so dry and brittle, and why I get ashy so much easier out here! I may have to install a filter on my shower head. Will they allow you to do that in an apartment?

 

[DarkJoy]

DarkJoy Thank you SO much for this advice! I've never tried setting lotion on natural hair Before. I always just use either a setting spray like lottabody, or use the oils, serums, and other things that you mentioned lol. I'll try the lotion. Which brand do you use that's good?

Also YES I now live in CA and you're right, I've noticed that the water IS hard here! I kept winding why my skin kept getting so dry, why my hair was so dry and brittle, and why I get ashy so much easier out here! I may have to install a filter on my shower head. Will they allow you to do that in an apartment?

The California ash not cute

Girl I rent too. Lol. The sprite filter screws on the shower spigot coming out the wall then screw the head into the sprite filter . Its not permanent. my sprite needs replacement every 3 months or my hair starts breaking. Terrible water!

Maybe its the climate here but straightening or setting with butters, castor oil and coconut oil keeps it proofed. Just DC real good and use Lotta body by itself. I use that. I use mizani too. No other products for the set. Experiment after for oils that wont revert you. I like broccoli seed the best when im straightening.

Just make sure you keep your hair DRIPPING wet while rolling. And the real small parts and soaking hair means straighter results. I use 40+ curlformers to straighten my 4c. Its a lot of work but I like it when there's time to do it.

Take pics your next try!

 

[havilland]

Check out sistaswithrealhair on you tube. She is a roller set, straight hair natural. She has a ton of videos on how she keeps her hair for one month with flat ironing after roller setting.

Good luck! I feel your frustration. I get that way when my hair is straight too .... You will find a good balance.

 

[NappyNelle]

Have you tried braid~n~curls? The perm rod will smooth your ends to help prevent the scraggly ends issue.

I stopped relaxing 10 years ago, so I understand your frustration. I retired twists after wearing them almost exclusively during that time. Now I wear my hair "out" 90% of the time and I love it. I am probably sacrificing retention, but the trade off is worth it for me.

 

[Evolving78]

Have you tried any anti reversion products? Like shampoos and conditioners? If you roller set, you can smooth the roots over with a flat iron. Or just wear it big and stretched out!

 

[Evolving78]

Hmmmm.....Now that might be a better option.... :scratchch The only thing about rollersets though (aside from the fact that it is SO much more challenging getting the roller on curly hair because the hair doesn't want to stay taught and straight on the roller lol ) is that it doesn't get my hair really all that straight, and so I end up having tangles regardless....especially at the ends.... Unless you know of a way to do it more effectively. I did try curlformers, but I slept in those things and I said NEVER AGAIN! But maybe I'll try sitting under the dryer w/those things in and maybe it will be a little less uncomfortable. Now how do you keep your hair moisturized while it's straight without putting water-based products on it? Because as soon as water touches this hair, the straight hair is gone lol

use light weight moisturizer a that have silicones in them to help with reversion.

 

[ManeStreet]

If you are straightening your hair once every two/three weeks and not applying additional heat between the wash days then you should be fine. Just make sure you always deep condition every wash day and do protein treatments as mush as your hair can tolerate it.

Sometimes take a break from heat and do your natural styles: twists, braidouts, etc.

Have a good heat protectant. This is my favorite:





One great thing about the west coast is the lack of humidity makes it a lot easier to maintain straight styles.

 

[ag00]

How about just blow drying your hair once or twice a month instead of having it bone straight? You can wear stretched styles on blown out hair. It gives you the best of both world - less tangles/more manageability and reduced risk of heat damage.

This is what I was going to say. I am a blow-dried natural head. I have 4b/4c hair. I decided to keep mine heat stretched after a while because I couldn't and did not feel like dealing with this mane and the tangles and knots. I blow dry using just grease and maintain it with water and a brush and sometimes twist. Other times I just bun it. Life is so much easier this way. I recommend it to anybody. And the propaganda against grease is just that. Propaganda.

 

[ag00]

Hmmmm.....Now that might be a better option.... :scratchch

The only thing about rollersets though (aside from the fact that it is SO much more challenging getting the roller on curly hair because the hair doesn't want to stay taught and straight on the roller lol ) is that it doesn't get my hair really all that straight, and so I end up having tangles regardless....especially at the ends.... Unless you know of a way to do it more effectively.

For roller sets, just do the method SistaWithRealHair uses. She puts paper towels on the rollers to keep it taut and it comes out smoother and straighter. I don't waste my time doing that. I just blow dry and call it a day.

Now how do you keep your hair moisturized while it's straight without putting water-based products on it? Because as soon as water touches this hair, the straight hair is gone lol

Light oils. That's all I use when my hair is straight. I use coconut oil on my strands once a week and grease my scalp and ends every other night.

 

[havilland]

I'm not a fan of greasing the scalp. But that's MHO
What kind of grease do u use on your scalp and how has that helped your hair growth and health? (Genuinely curious)

 

[Crystalicequeen123]

Thank you ladies SO much for the advice and input.

I think this is going to help me a lot. I think keeping my hair straightened/stretched is definitely key to me retaining length and minimizing tangles/dryness, etc.

The California ash not cute

Girl I rent too. Lol. The sprite filter screws on the shower spigot coming out the wall then screw the head into the sprite filter . Its not permanent. my sprite needs replacement every 3 months or my hair starts breaking. Terrible water!

Maybe its the climate here but straightening or setting with butters, castor oil and coconut oil keeps it proofed. Just DC real good and use Lotta body by itself. I use that. I use mizani too. No other products for the set. Experiment after for oils that wont revert you. I like broccoli seed the best when im straightening.

Just make sure you keep your hair DRIPPING wet while rolling. And the real small parts and soaking hair means straighter results. I use 40+ curlformers to straighten my 4c. Its a lot of work but I like it when there's time to do it.

Take pics your next try!

DarkJoy
Omg I just bought this filter at Home Depot yesterday and I didn't even read your response yet! I'm glad I bought the right one.

Okay, I'm going to take out my shower head tonight and use my filter because I want to wash my hair tonight and see if I notice a difference. I may even have to use a clarifying shampoo and do a deep protein treatment along with a deep conditioning treatment. I'll see what happens.

Anybody have any gentle clarifying shampoo recommendations for natural hair? I feel like my hair dries up so easily and quickly these days because it's so DRY. THe weather (and water) out here takes a toll on my hair.

I think I'm going to use curlformers tonight. Thanks for the tips! I might have to get some rollers in the future as well and try those out again. I had given up and thrown them away after my natural hair reached a certain length and it was getting hard to wrap the hair around the rollers.

Check out sistaswithrealhair on you tube. She is a roller set, straight hair natural. She has a ton of videos on how she keeps her hair for one month with flat ironing after roller setting.

Good luck! I feel your frustration. I get that way when my hair is straight too .... You will find a good balance.

havilland
Thanks for this! I'll definitely check out her YT channel.

If you are straightening your hair once every two/three weeks and not applying additional heat between the wash days then you should be fine. Just make sure you always deep condition every wash day and do protein treatments as mush as your hair can tolerate it.

Sometimes take a break from heat and do your natural styles: twists, braidouts, etc.

Have a good heat protectant. This is my favorite:


View attachment 300279


One great thing about the west coast is the lack of humidity makes it a lot easier to maintain straight styles.

ManeStreet
Thnks for the heat protectant product recommendation.


Yea I have actually made this last flat-iron straightening last a little over a month! That's the beauty about living on the West Coast I suppose I can keep my hair straight for over a month! WOW! There is no way I would have been able to do this back home lol. Sometimes I would just walk out the door and my hair would be like Poof!

This is what I was going to say. I am a blow-dried natural head. I have 4b/4c hair. I decided to keep mine heat stretched after a while because I couldn't and did not feel like dealing with this mane and the tangles and knots. I blow dry using just grease and maintain it with water and a brush and sometimes twist. Other times I just bun it. Life is so much easier this way. I recommend it to anybody. And the propaganda against grease is just that. Propaganda.

ag00
Yes girl! I am so fed UP with all of the tangles and knots in my hair. My hair isn't even all that thick (Fine actually) nor that long (a little past shoulder-length), so I feel like I shouldn't be having THIS much trouble with my hair already. I don't know how some ladies can manage their waist-length natural hair.... I can barely manage mine it feels and I have fine type 4a/4b shoulder-length hair!

I MUCH more prefer my hair stretched now that it's getting longer. Before I could get away w/cute wash-n-go styles, but now?? NO WAY! My hair would be a tangled mess afterwards. erplexed


How do you prevent your hair and scalp from getting dry from all of the blow drying? I like how my hair looks when it's blowdried, but I don't like the DRYNESS when I first blow dry it. How do you maintain softness and moisture?

For roller sets, just do the method SistaWithRealHair uses. She puts paper towels on the rollers to keep it taut and it comes out smoother and straighter. I don't waste my time doing that. I just blow dry and call it a day.

Light oils. That's all I use when my hair is straight. I use coconut oil on my strands once a week and grease my scalp and ends every other night.

Hmm....never heard of doing that. I will definitely have to check out her tutorial.

 

[DarkJoy]

Yay on getting the right filter!

You cant just clarify in cali tho. You have to c helate too to remove mineral deposits. Clarifying only removes product.

I use Aubrey organics swimmers shampoo. You can get it at whole foods or most any health food stores. Its not "gentle" on c uticles because they will be completely raised so your hair will feel crazy and hard so dont be alarmed. The cuticles are just raised. They close after a few though and will feel more normal . They have to open wide to scrub out the hard water so its necessary. A good long DC and cool rinse after will have you right.

I chelate up to twice a month and am retaining length much better.

Update us after your wash!

 

[ag00]

I'm not a fan of greasing the scalp. But that's MHO
What kind of grease do u use on your scalp and how has that helped your hair growth and health? (Genuinely curious)

Sorry I never seen this! I use old school blue magic. It is EVERYTHING. My hair stays moisturized for days from a little bit of it. My hair has thickened from it. No protein treatment needed. It has helped me retain length. It protects my hair from heat. It keeps my hair moisturized when heat styled. Greasing my scalp got rid of most of my dandruff. My hair is literally in the best health it's ever been. I've only learned recently that my hair likes products with thick consistencies the same as my texture overall. So it has really made a world of difference as to what I use.

 

[Holla]

Google Anthony Dickey. He has several videos about how to protect your natural hair from heat damage and how to get the best wash n go.

I straighten my hair probably once a month on average and I'm good. If you go to the RIGHT stylist, you won't have heat damage. If you do it yourself, you can guarantee you won't get it either. Moisturize your hair really well, use a heat protectant, and use lower heat setting. It doesn't matter how often you straighten your hair. Even if you did it once a year, but did all the wrong things, you could have more heat damage than a sista who does it monthly but takes more precaution.

I also agree with the braid and curl. It is the EASIEST "natural" look that I love doing. When I airdry it comes out looking shiny and fabulous (Sitting under the dryer takes away the sheen somehow).

I love straight hair. No conflict here. If I want a natural look, I'll braid and curl. When I want a relaxed look, straighten. Best of both worlds!

Good luck!

 

[ag00]

How do you prevent your hair and scalp from getting dry from all of the blow drying? I like how my hair looks when it's blowdried, but I don't like the DRYNESS when I first blow dry it. How do you maintain softness and moisture?

Thoroughly wash and deep condition before hand! That's a big one. To maintain moisture and softness, use a little bit of grease and blow dry with an ionic ceramic dryer on low or medium heat with a comb attachment. Blow dry on damp hair. You'll get a nice and soft blowout that way and you can maintain it by greasing your scalp and ends and oiling them with coconut or olive oil one day a week.

 

[divachyk]

ag00, much like havilland, I'm genuinely curious too. I normally do the tension method on the cool setting but some weeks my hair lacks the moisture I prefer. Do you use a leave-in in addition to grease or just apply grease only to damp hair and blow dry on low heat?

 

[Crystalicequeen123]

Yay on getting the right filter!

You cant just clarify in cali tho. You have to c helate too to remove mineral deposits. Clarifying only removes product.

I use Aubrey organics swimmers shampoo. You can get it at whole foods or most any health food stores. Its not "gentle" on c uticles because they will be completely raised so your hair will feel crazy and hard so dont be alarmed. The cuticles are just raised. They close after a few though and will feel more normal . They have to open wide to scrub out the hard water so its necessary. A good long DC and cool rinse after will have you right.

I chelate up to twice a month and am retaining length much better.

Update us after your wash!

Oh lordy lol... I don't think I've ever used a chelating shampoo before! Don't laugh lol, but I thought a clarifying shampoo and a chelating shampoo were basically the same thing!

No wonder my hair has been looking a hot mess and behaving like an unruly child! I've been living in CA for almost 2 years and I had no idea about this, or even that the water was that hard. Oy vey.....

Okay so once I chelate, do I also have to use the clarifying shampoo afterwards? Or is the chelating shampoo good enough for getting everything out?

I was gonna wash tonight but had to run errands after work, and by the time I got home it was way too late to start on my hair regimen.

I want to chelate and clarify (or just chelate if that is enough) then do a protein treatment for a few min, then after do a deep moisturizing conditioner with heat for at least 30 min, then rinse and use curlformers and sit under the dryer for at least 30 min before going to bed and sleeping on them.

Do you think that's a good idea? Or is that too many drying substances? I want to really pamper my hair since it's been straight since early Feb and although I haven't put any additional heat on it, it feels dry and it looks like it needs some TLC. What do you all think of this wash day regimen for tomorrow (hopefully!)?

Oh and yes I'll take pictures and will post results! ^_^

 

[DarkJoy]

The swimmers shampoo will do both. Its got to be done so give it a shot with the protein too. I do mild protein weekly whether or not I chelate. Just use a good moisture dc after the protein if it feels dry. You'll be alright.

 

[havilland]

If you chelate, you should clarify also ..... BUT BE AWARE THAT SHAMPOO IS DRYING AS HECK! Moisturize your hair and deep condition after. I personally wouldn't clarify and chelate and all that until I got my regimen down and felt comfortable with my hair and knew how it would react and had all my products down and a good regimen in place.

I also wouldn't recommend using protein right after Chelating and clarifying the first time....protein is drying too. That's my opinion. Maybe someone else can chime in on that.

 

[havilland]

Sorry I never seen this! I use old school blue magic. It is EVERYTHING. My hair stays moisturized for days from a little bit of it. My hair has thickened from it. No protein treatment needed. It has helped me retain length. It protects my hair from heat. It keeps my hair moisturized when heat styled. Greasing my scalp got rid of most of my dandruff. My hair is literally in the best health it's ever been. I've only learned recently that my hair likes products with thick consistencies the same as my texture overall. So it has really made a world of difference as to what I use.

I'm glad this works for you. Finding what works is key. My hair would suffocate and die if I put Blue Magic on it. Especially on my scalp, I would itch to death. No way no how could I use grease the same way you do...... Lol!

That just goes to show that everything isn't for everybody.