My Hair Is A Pillar of Strength!

[Supergirl]

My hair laughs at the comb

--I didn't start this thread to brag--but rather to encourage those of you who just can't let go of your heat habits--LET GO! More than any of my many conditioners, protective styles, and hours spent on LHCF--I would attribute my none to minimal use of heat to the increasing strength and great condition of my hair.

And the longer I've gone without using heat--the better my hair gets.

For those of you that haven't gotten with the no-heat movement yet--TRY IT!

 

[calbear]

YOU GO GIRL! Mine isn't as strong as yours seems to be (and perhaps it will never be) but the 'no heat' thing has really improved the condition of my hair. Once you get used to little or no heat you wonder how you ever did all that damage before.

 

[greAtness333]

Good for you SG!

One thing I've noticed about my hair (which is really great) is that I don't have to shake my shirt off after I do my hair or worry about broken off pieces in the sink, on the floor. That's such a great feeling and inspiring. NO more heat for me.

 

[Ayeshia]

girl im challenging myself to no heat for one year (started in April). as long as i dont have a blowdryer at bay im str8. i hope to see good results when i do my blowout in ten months

 

[Supergirl]

[ QUOTE ]
greAtness333 said:
Good for you SG!

One thing I've noticed about my hair (which is really great) is that I don't have to shake my shirt off after I do my hair or worry about broken off pieces in the sink, on the floor. That's such a great feeling and inspiring. NO more heat for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I remember the days when I would have little hairs all over the back of my shirt after combing it in the morning. "It's normal" people would say, because the hair "naturally sheds." I wish I knew then what I know now--that was breakage from my hair being weak because I was abusing it every week with a hot blow dryer. My poor hair... Now I ask myself "If I was the hair, how would I want to be treated?" I know that's out there!

 

[greAtness333]

Guuurl, you ain't alone. LOL. I watch some of my friends do the shake and sweep and think *mmmhmmhmm*

not me.

 

[Ayeshia]

[ QUOTE ]
greAtness333 said:
Guuurl, you ain't alone. LOL. I watch some of my friends do the shake and sweep and think *mmmhmmhmm*

not me.

[/ QUOTE ]

this girl did that in my bio 205 class and i swear a spec of her nasty hair got in my mouth. I went crazy

 

[lthomas1]

ITA I have gone without heat for a few years and my hair is probably in the best shape it has ever been it. If you can do it stop using heat. Your hair will love you!

 

[greAtness333]

[ QUOTE ]
ayeshia said:
[ QUOTE ]
greAtness333 said:
Guuurl, you ain't alone. LOL. I watch some of my friends do the shake and sweep and think *mmmhmmhmm*

not me.

[/ QUOTE ]

this girl did that in my bio 205 class and i swear a spec of her nasty hair got in my mouth. I went crazy

[/ QUOTE ]

LMAO

Ewww! How gross.

 

[inthepink]

You are so right! I know minimizing the heat to almost zilch has done wonders for my hair -- only twice in six months! But it's amazing!

 

[NubianQueen]

Does a heat protectant make a difference?

 

[dontspeakdefeat]

So true SG!

 

[simplycee]

I have gone without direct heat since Dec 2003 (except to deep condition and roller set.) I can tell the difference when I look at my hair. I didn't think I could do it at first. Now I don't even miss the heat. I thought about using the flat iron a week ago, plugged it up and felt so guilty that I hurried up and put it back in the closet and got out my rollers.

 

[sengschick]

I believe you all are telling me the truth. I'm three months in & haven't cheated once! I'm committed to zero to minimal heat for the rest of my days.

A special occassion blow-out or rollerset and that's it. I can't wait to see what benefits I've reaped after my first six months. I definitely think at the end of this first year I've going to be very, very satisfied w/this choice.

 

[chocolate01]

You are so right SG

. I stopped using heat in Febuary and I can tell the difference already. My hair is stronger and and I can longer without trims because my ends aren't split because they are not weak from all the heat. That is definetly the best tip I have picked up off this board. Thanks guys

 

[Supergirl]

[ QUOTE ]
NubianQueen said:
Does a heat protectant make a difference?

[/ QUOTE ]

A heat protectant is better than no protectant BUT it's not as good as if you just avoided the heat altogether.

 

[Leslie_C]

With my already weak hair, if I used heat regularly Id be bald...lol. I have only used direct heat a handful of times in the last few months, I usually wear braidouts or a wrap and occasionally use my ionic conditioning rollers. To me its almost pointless to use heat anyway bc of the humidity here, the curls fall within a couple of hours.
I do want to invest in a ceramic flat iron but dont know if Id have the willpower to only use it 1-2 times a month!

Any other tips for strengthening my strands? I really need to get my diet in check for one thing, and start taking vitamins.

 

[Supergirl]

Well, secondary to not using heat--I would say that being gentle with your hair helps as well as using quality products AND I'm really an advocate for using conditioners with protein in them.

 

[bocagirl]

[ QUOTE ]
Supergirl said:
Well, secondary to not using heat--I would say that being gentle with your hair helps as well as using quality products AND I'm really an advocate for using conditioners with protein in them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can you give examples of these conditioners? Thanks

 

[Supergirl]

Well, almost every conditioner out there has some protein in it. I just know there are some people that see that as a bad thing.

 

[Leslie_C]

thx, I guess Im just going to have to be patient and really baby my hair for a while. Im using a reconstructor biweekly alternating with a moisturizing deep conditioning.until the situation improves with my current shedding/breakage. Then Ill slide to 1 X a month. hopefully it helps matters!

 

[Paladin]

SG, your beautiful hair certainly speaks for itsself.

Question: When you go for your touchup, does your stylist blow dry or do you strictly get roller sets? Do you never, ever use heat?

Reason I ask is because my touch-ups (every 16 weeks) are the ONLY times I'll allow heat styling (blow dry and curling iron). He'll partially dry my hair under a dryer and finish with the blower. Is this still too much heat, 16 weeks apart? What do you think? Thanks in advance.

 

[LABETT]

I have noticed my has improved tremendously since using no heat the last 3 months.

 

[Poohbear]

[ QUOTE ]
Supergirl said:
My hair laughs at the comb

--I didn't start this thread to brag--but rather to encourage those of you who just can't let go of your heat habits--LET GO! More than any of my many conditioners, protective styles, and hours spent on LHCF--I would attribute my none to minimal use of heat to the increasing strength and great condition of my hair.

And the longer I've gone without using heat--the better my hair gets.

For those of you that haven't gotten with the no-heat movement yet--TRY IT!

[/ QUOTE ]

SUPERGIRL! How long have u been without heat??? I'm glad I'm heading down the right path by using no heat

 

[Chichi]

SG, I totally agree with you. I have totally stopped using heat and my hair thanks me for it. I have even started to rollerset without heat; it takes like all day but my hair comes out so nice and soft.

Chichi

 

[Tracy]

My hair looks NUTS (like it has for the last few weeks) when I use no heat at all. I'm sure it'ss good for my hair, but I look a hot mess most of the time. I have to get a new hooded dryer so I havent even rollerset in a while. I look a mess I tell you. A hot, steaming mess.

I'm sure you ladies carry it off better, but I've resigned myself to heat from rollersets at least, and when I wear my hair straight I usually need at least a bump or two with the curling iron from wash to wash.

I envy you teflon stranded cuties!

 

[Package06]

When you say no heat, does that include hooded hair dryers? Since I've been transitioning I' haven't used any heat as well except for deep conditioners, 20 min under the dryer.

 

[Leslie_C]

Tracy, it takes a lot of trial and error because I KNOW I looked a hot mess the first few times I air dried. Most ppl think "We" cant air dry our hair and will give you a funny look if you tell them thats what you are doing. I guess its pretty much a combination of technique and products. I actually like trying out different ways to get certain looks, its like a game...trying different products to smooth it out, trying the ponytail method, trying bantu knots and braidouts. You should have seen my first braidout...lol. It gets better with practice though! And this is combing from the girl who used to blow dry my hair and then curl it with a curling iron EVERY DAY in high school....haha.

But at the very least, I would say if you are going to blow dry your hair, let it air dry most of the way, and just run the blow dryer through it to smooth it out a little. Have you tried roller setting it and then wrapping it? that gives you a straight look with lots of body and if you do it correctly it can last for a week(if u wrap it up every night). I cant get my own to last a week but when I get it done at the salon it will, I just put rollers in it for a while about the 3rd day to give it more body again. It would last longer but I cant go more than a week w/out washing...my head itches so bad!

 

[Vitality]

My hair has been heat-free from curling irons and blow dryers since August 2003 and loving it ! I still use my hooded dryer for an occasional roller set, otherwise I just air dry.

 

[candibaby]

i'm trying my best to stay away from the blow dryer! I've only used it twice in the past two months (blow dryer), so that's good right?! the only heat i use regularly is the hooded dryer for rollersets/wet wraps because i haven't gotten the hang of air drying.

hopefully with the tips i get from you ladies, all that will change and i will be an airdrying PRO!