My Hair Is A Pillar of Strength!

[Supergirl]

[ QUOTE ]
Paladin said:
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.

[/ QUOTE ]

I may use heat once every 2 to 3 months and it's usually not a blow dryer. Blow dryers are IMO the worst heat abuse that you can do to your hair. Anyway, I usually get roller wraps when I go to my stylist for retouches. In the last year, I've allowed her to do 1 blowout.

P.S.--I would recommend for people that are striving to get their hair in excellent condition to lay off heat completely until your hair is in excellent condition and then once ever couple of months should be fine--but I still would still recommend staying away from the blow dryer as much as possible--I'm talking twice a year tops.

 

[Supergirl]

[ QUOTE ]
Poohbear said:
[ 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

[/ QUOTE ]

The last time I used heat was 5 weeks ago when I let my stylist give me a blow out (the first in a year or more) .

 

[Supergirl]

[ QUOTE ]
Package06 said:
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.

[/ QUOTE ]

I rarely use the hooded dryer. I almost never use it for my conditioning treatments anymore--just a plastic cap and some body heat. I'll occassionally roller set at home (once every few months) and sit under the hooded dryer. AND, in winter--instead of air drying completely from soaking wet--I'll start my drying process under a hooded dryer for about 15-20 minutes to avoid catching a nasty cold.

 

[Supergirl]

[ QUOTE ]
Tracy said:
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!

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, it's definitely been a process learning how to air-dry beautifully.

 

[Isis]

ITA! I've used no heat since July, 2003 and I can really tell the difference in the condition of my hair besides having no broken hairs all over the place. I'm so glad I threw away my blowdryer, hotcomb and curling iron - no temptations. Not using heat opened my eyes to new ways of caring for my hair and styling it.

 

[Ayeshia]

[ QUOTE ]
Isis said:
ITA! I've used no heat since July, 2003 and I can really tell the difference in the condition of my hair besides having no broken hairs all over the place. I'm so glad I threw away my blowdryer, hotcomb and curling iron - no temptations. Not using heat opened my eyes to new ways of caring for my hair and styling it.

[/ QUOTE ]


wow your year will be up next month

hopefully i can go that long seeing as though i have no heating appliances as well

how much longer r u going to go? or are you never going to use heat again?

 

[LittleMissScientist]

Hey SG,

I'm glad your hair is thriving! I actually laughed and thought of Sampson when I saw this post!

Why do you think blow dryers are the worst form of heat abuse?

I recently started blowdrying my hair before doing a braidout to stretch it out some, and I love the result. I might have to reconsider doing this too often if blowdryers are so damaging...

Thanks!

 

[Poohbear]

[ QUOTE ]
Tracy said:
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!

[/ QUOTE ]

as long as u dont have any breakage, spliting, or thinning, then heat might not be a problem for u.

 

[Supergirl]

[ QUOTE ]
OshunCurls said:
Hey SG,

I'm glad your hair is thriving! I actually laughed and thought of Sampson when I saw this post!

Why do you think blow dryers are the worst form of heat abuse?

I recently started blowdrying my hair before doing a braidout to stretch it out some, and I love the result. I might have to reconsider doing this too often if blowdryers are so damaging...

Thanks!

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, let's think about this--the heat from blow dryers, even those sold to consumers is EXTREMELY high! I learned this in my blow dryer days when I'd see smoke coming from my hair sometimes and at certain moments, the heat would become unbearable on my scalp and I'd have to move the dryer.

The second problem is that blow dryers actually "blow" the hair. Well, if regular wind (from outside) is damaging to the hair then how much more is the extremely HOT "wind" from the blow dryer. It really dries the hair out--makes it like a desert. If I were a strand of hair--I wouldn't want to be subject to that. In fact, here in Texas--it gets very hot in the summertime. It is easier to become dehydrated and a few people always die every year of heat stroke or heat exhaustion--so just imagine your little fragile hair strands being exposed to 1800 Watts or so of heat.

And lastly--if you use a comb attachment or a brush ( I used to use a paddle brush--could really work it too

) with your blow dryer... remember a comb or a brush can be damaging on it's own (without a blow dryer) so just think of teaming your comb or brush up with the "wind" and the extreme HEAT of a blow dryer. It's a formula for breakage and weak hair.

Good luck

 

[Allandra]

Supergirl,

I agree. I think limiting heat is a good thing (at least for my hair it is).

 

[candibaby]

wow, i never thought about it like that SG. it makes sense.. i need to go hide my blow dryer now.

 

[inthepink]

I definitely agree that blow drying is not good for the hair! I actually trust myself blowdrying more than a stylist blowdrying b/c they do use extremely hot dryers and when they double that with not detangling my hair - uggh!

Remembering this, next time I flatiron my hair, I am going to airdry first and only blowdry slightly.

We need reminders like this about heat - thanks for sharing your thoughts, Supergirl.

 

[Allandra]

Supergirl,

Was it you who started a thread (a while back) about getting the hair straight by airdrying? If it was you, and you have it in your favorites, could you please bump it for the members?

 

[hiza]

what is worst? the flat iron or the dryer for getting the hair straight???

 

[Sridevi]

Sigh. Most of you no-heat advocates are relaxed

I started transitioning under the impression that relaxing (chemically breaking the bonds of the hair) was the most damaging thing one could do the hair. If going natural and flat-ironing weekly (after air-drying) is less healthy then maybe I am making a mistake since I plan to wear my hair straight all the time.

 

[LittleMissScientist]

I definitely see where you are coming from, Supergirl.

The blowdryer can really "burn" my scalp if I keep it in the same place for too long, and it even feels uncomfortable when it blasts on other parts of skin.

I just thought the flat iron might be worse because it is heat applied directly to the surface of the hair. But that might actually have the effect of "sealing" instead of leaving the hair cuticle raised which is most likely the effect of blowdrying.

Hairlove- I agree with the airdrying. I think I will try to let my hair airdry to about 80%, and then use the blowdryer on the setting where it is actually blowing cold air. Also, I have found that Breakthru is an excellent heat protectant.

 

[Supergirl]

[ QUOTE ]
hiza said:
what is worst? the flat iron or the dryer for getting the hair straight???

[/ QUOTE ]

Blowdryers are definitely the most evil.

 

[Ayeshia]

[ QUOTE ]
Sridevi said:
Sigh. Most of you no-heat advocates are relaxed

I started transitioning under the impression that relaxing (chemically breaking the bonds of the hair) was the most damaging thing one could do the hair. If going natural and flat-ironing weekly (after air-drying) is less healthy then maybe I am making a mistake since I plan to wear my hair straight all the time.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah if you plan on wearing your hair str8 more than 90% of the time...i would say get a relaxer or a texturizer.
Im natural so I dont plan on wearing my hair srt8 no more than two or three times a year . But if I decide that I would like to wear my hair str8 more than I do my natural state, then I may get a texturizer

 

[kammie]

I never believed I could dry and style my hair without heat. In fact, I greatly resented having to curl my hair everyday and was envious others who could just wash and go. I now love being able to just throw it up into a bun right after washing and I can't believe how much healthier my hair is now. I can't wait for it to grow out.

I have also gotten over the idea of "bone straight". I am so much more comfortable dealing with my curly hair and I don't stress if every single strand is straight after air drying. I'm just mad I didn't find this forum before I messed up my hair last fall!

 

[keylargo]

[ QUOTE ]
kammie said:
I never believed I could dry and style my hair without heat. In fact, I greatly resented having to curl my hair everyday and was envious others who could just wash and go. I now love being able to just throw it up into a bun right after washing and I can't believe how much healthier my hair is now. I can't wait for it to grow out.

I have also gotten over the idea of "bone straight". I am so much more comfortable dealing with my curly hair and I don't stress if every single strand is straight after air drying. I'm just mad I didn't find this forum before I messed up my hair last fall!

[/ QUOTE ]

Kammie, your bun pic looks so cute

 

[inthepink]

[ QUOTE ]
Sridevi said:
Sigh. Most of you no-heat advocates are relaxed

I started transitioning under the impression that relaxing (chemically breaking the bonds of the hair) was the most damaging thing one could do the hair. If going natural and flat-ironing weekly (after air-drying) is less healthy then maybe I am making a mistake since I plan to wear my hair straight all the time.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, I don't necessarily think you are making a bad choice. It is a personal decision but I have written a zillion times that my mom and sister are both naturals who where their hair straight 95% of the time. My sister's hair is layered and mid-back length. Talk about healthy, gorgeous hair! I know she will never relax. So, you can do it...just be careful. I wouldn't recommend once a week though. And I would make sure to find a good stylist to go along with doing your hair yourself. Just offering alternate point of view...

 

[Nay]

Sridevi, I'm definitely a no-heat advocate (well, VERY minimal heat), and I'm also a natural. I owe all of my hair health and growth to minimizing the heat!!

As far as wearing straight hair, I used to feel that that was the ONLY look that I wanted. But, in my opinion, the straight hair look is over-rated. Waves and curls can be a beautiful thing (and more easy to manage, i.e., you don't have to worry so much about fog or rain or sweating)

Of course, if you REALLY only want to wear your hair straight, then you don't want to hear what I just said. But my point is if you are going to be natural, maybe you want to experiment with other styles in addition to wearing your hair straight, because a whole lot of heat is going to do your hair more harm than good.

Like Hairlove said, some people can get away with heat and still have beautiful healthy hair, but you've got to be careful and give your hair a lot of TLC.

 

[babyblue]

Yes, ever since i stopped using heat my hair's elasticity has increased and im not clogging up my shower drain with shed broken hairs anymore. My hair is strong like cable wire

 

[kammie]

[ QUOTE ]
keylargo said:

Kammie, your bun pic looks so cute

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the compliment, Keylargo!

 

[Allandra]

[ QUOTE ]
babyblue said:
Yes, ever since i stopped using heat my hair's elasticity has increased and im not clogging up my shower drain with shed broken hairs anymore. My hair is strong like cable wire

[/ QUOTE ]
You should get yourself one of those hair catchers (looks like a little white hat). When I do my hair in the shower, it does a great job of catching any shedded hair, and I never worry about getting my shower clogged.

 

[babyblue]

[ QUOTE ]
Allandra said:
[ QUOTE ]
babyblue said:
Yes, ever since i stopped using heat my hair's elasticity has increased and im not clogging up my shower drain with shed broken hairs anymore. My hair is strong like cable wire

[/ QUOTE ]
You should get yourself one of those hair catchers (looks like a little white hat). When I do my hair in the shower, it does a great job of catching any shedded hair, and I never worry about getting my shower clogged.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the tip. I'll try to check out the hardware stores for it. I have something with a similar function that i got from the 99 cent store some metal/mesh thingy similar to the ones used for kitchen sinks but its for bathtubs.

 

[Maestradiva77]

I don't use heat at all, and my hair is definitely thanking me for it!!

 

[DigitalRain]

[ QUOTE ]
Maestradiva77 said:
I don't use heat at all, and my hair is definitely thanking me for it!!

[/ QUOTE ]

I love looking at your album, Maestradiva. Your natural hair definitely an inspiration!

 

[Maestradiva77]

Thank you, DigitalRain!!!

 

[ChoclatePrincess]

NO HEAT! Oh no, don't think I can do it! With the exception of when my hair is braided I would get a wash, set and blow every week! I couldn't imagine life without a blow dryer.