Is The Occasional Flat Iron The Worst Thing In The World?

[CluelessJL]

I know limiting heat is good, but how bad is the occasional flat iron, really, with heat protectant and as part of an otherwise healthy hair routine?

As I rambled in the Random Thoughts thread, I used to flat iron every day, with no protectant, whilst also neglecting my hair in just about every way possible. And I never had real heat damage in the snapping off sense - I just wasn't retaining (and that was probably a combination of everything). Now I'm looking after my hair and I'm terrified of flat ironing. Genuinely terrified. Like all my hair might fall out if I do it more than once in six months...

So how bad is it?

 

[GettingKinky]

I get my hair professionally flat ironed every 8 weeks. I haven't noticed any negative effects....

 

[almond eyes]

I get my hair professionally flat ironed every 8 weeks. I haven't noticed any negative effects....

What is your hairdresser's regiment for that?

Best,
Almond Eyes

 

[DarkJoy]

Its not bad so long as the heat isnt astronomical. Just keep up the protein and moisture.

 

[Amarilles]

Collect your shed hair for a few washes, band the hair at the tip and test your flat iron on it.

I've played with heat on my shed and the hair pretty dang resilient. I'm not interested in straightening but I'm definitely more comfortable with the process, should I ever want to.

 

[julzinha]

No there are plenty of women who heat train, the key seems to make sure your hair is in optimal health and to ensure the regimen and heat protectant is top knotch

 

[GettingKinky]

What is your hairdresser's regiment for that?

Best,
Almond Eyes

Everytime my hair dresser flatiron she does it after deep conditioning. She gets my hair 80-90% dry under the hood dryer then finished with a blow dryer with a comb attachment. She doesn't put anything on my hair before she flat irons but she only does one pass. I'm not sure of the temperature, but I've never had heat damage.

 

[SuchaLady]

96% of naturals (and most relaxed tbh) I know in real life use heat regularly and their hair is fine. The heat free and braid/twist out life is not the everyday norm Hair care sites like these will have you thinking everyone airdries.

 

[Fine 4s]

Hello @CluelessJL Here's my experience-
During college days I'd get my hair pressed regularly and my main issue was clearly breakage because it never passed APL and now it's almost WL. For the first 5 years of my healthy hair journey (HHJ), I avoided flat irons.
In 2011 I wanted to show off the length so I got it pressed in a salon by a professional who used a marcel stove which damaged my fine strands and my hair broke off severely within the year. I haven't flat ironed my hair since 2011. That's my experience!
What I would do though:
Shampoo with a clarifying poo
Do a protein treatment followed by a moisturizing DC
Apply heat protectant
Either rollerset (never tried this) or blowdry
Flat iron using my ceramic flat iron using no more than 350 degrees. Although I have a friend who flat ironed herself and also suffered heat damage and her hair was darn there HL. I don't know what temperature she set her flat iron on but her hair was ssssssssslick and fab!
Also, I would prep my hair in the preceding weeks to retain moisture because my hair is so dry.

By no means would I ever use a marcel on my hair again! No matter what anyone tells you, it's a risk. How to mitigate that risk is up to you. For some it works and for others it sux. Good luck!

 

[sharifeh]

96% of naturals (and most relaxed tbh) I know in real life use heat regularly and their hair is fine. The heat free and braid/twist out life is not the everyday norm Hair care sites like these will have you thinking everyone airdries.

yes. thank you
in real life naturals straighten all the time with no heat damage most stylists i know here have naturals in their chair every two weeks for a press
but of course i know some naturals who hardly ever straighten

 

[CaraWalker]

I think it depends on the heat protectant. most of them are garbage and do not really protect your hair. I have not seen a single protectant named on this board that really did anything for my hair against heat. I had to do my own research and found several brands that protect up to 450 degrees. I bought one and was happy with the minimal breakage I saw after straightening.

 

[abcd09]

I think it depends on the heat protectant. most of them are garbage and do not really protect your hair. I have not seen a single protectant named on this board that really did anything for my hair against heat. I had to do my own research and found several brands that protect up to 450 degrees. I bought one and was happy with the minimal breakage I saw after straightening.

what did you use?

 

[CaraWalker]

what did you use?

alterna bamboo

 

[Dayjoy]

@CaraWalker What other brands in addition to the Alterna did you find in your research? TIA

 

[julzinha]

I agree with everything said, high quality everything is important and technique. High quality dryer and flat iron as well as heat protectant. Also, regular protein treatments to fortify the hair especially before you flat iron.

 

[CaraWalker]

@CaraWalker What other brands in addition to the Alterna did you find in your research? TIA

I dont remember off the top of my head but if you google 450 degrees heat protectanr youll find some. just remembered one of the other brands was living proof.

 

[Britt]

yes. thank you
in real life naturals straighten all the time with no heat damage most stylists i know here have naturals in their chair every two weeks for a press
but of course i know some naturals who hardly ever straighten

I agree. If your hair is healthy and you're stylist knows what they're doing heat is not a bad thing. My stylist has plenty natural clients who press for the winter and do curly in the summer.

 

[SuchaLady]

yes. thank you
in real life naturals straighten all the time with no heat damage most stylists i know here have naturals in their chair every two weeks for a press
but of course i know some naturals who hardly ever straighten

Man I promise when I let go of this relaxer I'm getting biweekly blowouts. I don't have time for textured hairstyles