it was fun in the beginning

[ladylibra_30]

it was fun in the beginning...

hi ladies,

i bought a flat iron @ 2 months ago and have been flat-ironing my hair weekly. i am beginning to see massive damage i.e see-through hair, breakage, & weakness. i thought i was taking proper precautions i.e passing the iron 1-2 times, deep conditioning, using salerm leave in & a serum, etc. obviously, i wasn't.

now, i wonder what i should do? do i stop using the iron altogether? protein tx? moisture tx? cut it all off......okay i'm frustrated!

has anyone experienced this problem? what did you do to repair your damage?
please help!

 

[Dolapo]

Re: it was fun in the beginning...

well, that was the same thing that happened to me. what i did, i cut out the flat iron. i guess you could only use it when you have a special occasion to go. like onc ein 3 months.....thats what i would do

 

[Zuppy]

Re: it was fun in the beginning...

hi ladies,

i bought a flat iron @ 2 months ago and have been flat-ironing my hair weekly.

Just curios is it a ceramic flat iron?

 

[ladylibra_30]

yes, it is.

actually, i bought it because it was ceramic. i thought ceramic was supposed to be the best 'kind' of flat iron.

 

[Neroli]

Cut off heat. Period. For my 4b hair, heat = DAMAGE no matter how well I take care of my hair and protect it, weekly heat is an absolute no no for me. I learned this the very hardest way by thinking I could use heat protectant, silicones, serums, deep conditionings, conditioner washes, whatever -- NOT!

I haven't used heat in about a year now and have no regrets (only healthier, thicker hair!) and I still wear my hair out loose with lots of bounce, shine and movement. I do rollersets and dry on *cool* setting under hooded dryer or air dry if I have time. . .

 

[Zuppy]

yes, it is.

actually, i bought it because it was ceramic. i thought ceramic was supposed to be the best 'kind' of flat iron.

Yes, ceramic is supposed to be best, but I think any type of direct heat too often can never be good. I've seen some ladies on the board who use heat once a week with no problem. If you don't already may you should use a protein or polyemeric such as Nexxus's emergencee. Or post to those who use heat regulary with sucess... see what there doing. Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance.

Zz

 

[Mizani_Mrs]

I'd say don't use it every single week. If u wash ur hair every week, alternate between getting a rollerset and flat-ironing. I used to flat-iron every day and i had damage..when i did 1/week i didn't have any damage...i don't think it was the products, i just made sure i used low heat (140). Now i have found a method of drying my hair with a blow-dryer on low heat and using my roundbrush as a way to straighten my hair....no flat-iron necessary. (I know this method is not new...but i surely didn't know how to do it.) It working great. This is the way that i have the least breakage daily.

 

[AnjelLuvs]

everything that says ceramic doesnt mean its ceramic... BUT, that iis besides the point... I would say to start using some proctective styles for summer, and moisture, moisture, mositure....

 

[alibi]

Hey LL! You need to call me! I'll be back in town this Saturday (I'm in Cali). Anyways, I know how paranoid you are about breakage and thinning, so I'd like to see your hair myself to evaluate the damage! :scratchch But like everyone else said, I think you should lay off the heat, esp. for the summer. Try some roller sets if you want to wear it straight, or even flexirod sets. I think the flexirod set would look great on you! I have some at the house, so let me know if you don't know how to do them.

 

[belleza]

I am a Heat Bigot.

 

[nurseN98]

I agree with everyone else. I would lay off the heat for awhile and do a heavy protein treatment followed by a good moisturizing treatment.

 

[ladylibra_30]

Hi ladies,

thanks so very much for all the responses. i took everyone's advice yesterday and went home poo/con, rollerset, airdried. i used my ntm products and my hair is bouncin' and behavin' and i feel alot better about my tresses. the funny thing is that when i first started flat-ironing my hair it seemed healthier i.e. silky, smooth, shinier but i let that fool me and hair told the truth in the end. so, i'm putting that bad boy away for special occassions.

(((((((((((((((ayana)))))))))))))) hi lady! i will definitely be giving you a call. i usually get the spiral set when i get a retouch but i definitely don't know how to do it on myself...so you will be seeing me soon LOL . btw, how's cali? i hope you don't get homesick and stay there..so come on back home to miami. be safe, babe.

 

[ccd]

Re: it was fun in the beginning...

I am so sorry you are going through this...I would say. keep the flat iron for really special occassions...or remove from your program for a while. I noticed when I use the flat iron a few weeks ago ( before I touched up), my ends looked really thin.....even my friend noticed.

I (felt like I) had to use the iron cause I had major new growth and I was working at a special occasion. Since my touch up I have noticed breakage at my crown, so I think its a combo or flat ironing and stregthing too long or not nourishing enough.

Be gentle and treat your hair to some deep treatments....now that its hotter out maybe do some wash & gos...
or braidouts

I didn't read the entire thread so sorry if it's repetitive

hi ladies,

i bought a flat iron @ 2 months ago and have been flat-ironing my hair weekly. i am beginning to see massive damage i.e see-through hair, breakage, & weakness. i thought i was taking proper precautions i.e passing the iron 1-2 times, deep conditioning, using salerm leave in & a serum, etc. obviously, i wasn't.

now, i wonder what i should do? do i stop using the iron altogether? protein tx? moisture tx? cut it all off......okay i'm frustrated!

has anyone experienced this problem? what did you do to repair your damage?
please help!