Naturals - B.low drying? Really so bad?

[NappyMD]

Shout out to nappturality, I appreciate it. But sometimes it's so strict a sista can't even ask

Honestly, I have found that lightly blow drying my hair after stretching it causes me to loose less hair while twisting/manipulating and also do my styles faster. My hair also seems to hold onto moisture better. But I did a search and came up nothing.

So ladies, do/did you blow dry? What effect did it have on your hair?

 

[msa]

Well, I haven't used a blowdryer in about 3 years. But, I spent a whole semester once blow drying my hair every week and then rollersetting it every night. My hair was super soft, fluffy, quite healthy. And this was before I found LHCF.

I never used the blowdryer on high and though I used the comb attachment, I went from the tips to roots on small sections. I also used a heat protectant. So that may be why it turned out well, even though I was using a cheap gold n hot blow dryer.

I don't think blowdrying is horrible, especially if your hair is healthy, you don't use super high heat, and you're gentle with your hair. I do think it's a good idea to invest in a really nice blowdryer if you're going to do it often.

 

[JusticeMe]

I tried air drying recently and it was a disaster, (maybe next time I'll wrap air dry) I ended up rewetting/condition etc and then blow drying. I'm mostly relaxed just began my transition see my countdown below.

 

[pmichael52172]

I'm transitioning and I blow dry my hair every two weeks (when I wash it). I love the results. I don't aim for straight hair or roots because I take care of that when I go to press and style.

I put in leave-in conditioner... let it airdry about 80%, then put on a little heat protectant, divide in sections, use my Denman brush and my nozzle attachement and it's over in a matter of minutes. Soft, smooth, healthy and untangled hair without breakage or hair loss.

 

[Charz]

I am wary of using direct heat on my hair right now, so I selected "other".


OT: can someone tell me why on Nappturality people put a period between words? Like in this case b.low drying. Or r.elaxer? I'm always too scared to ask. TIA

 

[MagnoliaBelle]

Sorry, I don't know the answer to your question. I'm not taking my chances though. 2009 will be without heat. Period.

Charz,
I'm not sure, but I think it keeps people from hitting the site when they google.

 

[jada1111]

Shout out to nappturality, I appreciate it. But sometimes it's so strict a sista can't even ask

Honestly, I have found that lightly blow drying my hair after stretching it causes me to loose less hair while twisting/manipulating and also do my styles faster. My hair also seems to hold onto moisture better. But I did a search and came up nothing.

So ladies, do/did you blow dry? What effect did it have on your hair?

The most I do is diffuse. I have been thinking about blowdrying lately for stretchage and other styles. Trying to figure out the best way to do it without damaging my hair.

I'll probably do it on towel dried hair with a paddle brush.

 

[prettybyrd]

I am wary of using direct heat on my hair right now, so I selected "other".


OT: can someone tell me why on Nappturality people put a period between words? Like in this case b.low drying. Or r.elaxer? I'm always too scared to ask. TIA

IMO: I know that when you type those words, they don't show up in the post as you typed them, so perhaps that is to keep them from being turned into "code" in the actual post. Plus, since the site is for natural hair exclusively, doing that will keep people who search for such services from being directed to that forum for advice or tips. Just my opinion...I could be totally wrong.


ETA - when I did a weekly BD my hair was healthy too. Let a woman BD and flat iron me in March and she DID ME WRONG by using the flat iron on my damp hair and it came out like crazy on one side, but when I do it, it always turns out well. I can understand not wanting to use heat, but I never had a problem with heat before.

 

[prettybrowneyescutie]

I don't blow dry my hair that often only because it takes 30min-an hour and I'm lazy. However, when i use the blow dryer I like how my hair feels. I notice that my hair held moisture longer, my ends didn't feel dry, and my hair felt really soft.

 

[Oasis]

I rarely blow dry my hair but when I do it's on the COOL setting. My hair always stays very soft and moisturized. I would do it more often but it's too time consuming.

 

[NappyMD]

OT: can someone tell me why on Nappturality people put a period between words? Like in this case b.low drying. Or r.elaxer? I'm always too scared to ask. TIA

oh, it's because a few years back nappturality went 100% heat and chemical free ( in terms of texture alterations). Blow dry and hot comb threads were banished to the archives and threads caught discussing banned procedures such as blow drying or relaxing were under threat of closure. So to avoid the automatic bad word finding system, we use b.low dry and r.elaxer when we want to mention them. It's like saying s.hit.
Kinda cool that it's alteration free but it can be a bit inhibiting

 

[suburbanbushbabe]

I use a diffuser so my hair is not being stretched at all. Usually I airdry to anywhere from 50-80% than diffuse to 100% dry. When I rollerset (rarely) I hood dry a wet rollerset. I'm not seeing the benefit of blowdrying then rollersetting for my hair.

 

[RENIBELL]

dont know if its bad, but i cant airdry my hair as i end up with too much breakage. i blow dry every week, on cool and med , and it leaves my hair moisturised for longer.

 

[DDTexlaxed]

I hope it won't be damaging. I intend to blow dry my hair in the winter. I don't intend to flat iron, just roller set. I did wash n go styles all winter last year and I hated what I felt like all day with wet hair. I'll alternate between that and protective styles.

 

[Soliel185]

I tried a diffuser once, but since I BC'd last month I haven't really used the blowdryer. I can see how it might be helpful for braiding etc, b/c it makes it easier to pull the hair sections apart while braiding (when curly they get caught on each other) and the smoothed cuticle does seem to hold on to moisture better.

Now I would probably use the tension method vs a brush or comb attachment.

Although, last night I slept with my hair in a t-shirt overnight to dry, and when I woke up the top and sides were almost completely straight with just a tiny bit of wave - so it stretches pretty easily.

 

[laurend]

Mwedsi uses the blowdrier and does twist or braid-outs sometimes with good results.

 

[Daughter]

I voted "other" because I used to blow dry after EVERY shampoo when I first went natural. Since I've been on LHCF/NP, I have used heat far less and I think my hair feels better for it. When I blow dry (last time was Oct 2008), my ends feel crunchy, but that could be because it was too hot and I don't think I used thermal protection (I used to when I had relaxed hair though - strange!)

Anyway, I prefer to leave the hair dryer alone these days, I have found that I can cope without it and once upon I time I almost cried when my hair dryer broke

ETA: I do think that I've been able to retain more length and improve my hair's condition because I use heat only once a year or so, but then other factors could be just as important.

 

[jada1111]

I am wary of using direct heat on my hair right now, so I selected "other".


OT: can someone tell me why on Nappturality people put a period between words? Like in this case b.low drying. Or r.elaxer? I'm always too scared to ask. TIA

Nappturality's theme is to get your mindset to love and work with your hair in its NATURAL state. No talk of relaxers or straightening of any kind. They even limited talk of curly/coily definition products for awhile, because it seemed like people weren't truly embracing their naps or cottony/spongey hair without wanting to change it.

So all words that are affiliated with changing the texture from nappy to straight is banned or had been filtered, which is why you see the periods and creative spelling.

 

[DMJ's Mom]

I rarely blowdry any more because the longer it gets the longer it takes to blow dry ( almost 2 hours) but when I first when natural I would blowdry once a month. It seems to make my hair easier to detangle when I cowash and so much easier to sweep up into a bun

 

[WantNatural]

I feel so much better after reading this thread. I'm 4 months post and am doing a long-term transition. I had not used heat in 3 months before I blow dried and flat ironed my hair last week. My hair was getting difficult for me to deal with, so I used the heat to give myself a break. It was smooth, soft, and my ends looked and felt great, I know because of the fact that I had not used direct heat in so long. I'm cautious of going back to using direct heat, but in the past I always used the warm setting on my dryer, and now I know to use heat protectant, so maybe I'll start blowdrying my hair every two weeks, with or without the flat iron. It's nice to see other ladies who are able to use direct heat successfully. I love not using heat on my hair as well, but right now the heat is making my hair easier to manage.

 

[danigurl18]

i always blow dry when i flat iron and i don't have any damage...

 

[glamazon386]

I've been blowdrying lately but I',m on the fence about it. Last time I blowdried often I had highlights. It led to breakage and a number of trims. I've been blowdrying the past few months and I've noticed here lately that my ends are getting a little tangly. I'm due for a trim again. IDK if it's the blowdrying and extra manipulation that's doing it or if I'm just due for a trim anyway. I'm going to keep a better eye on it after I get a trim in a few weeks. I would hate to think that the blowdryer is causing my hair to break and that I'll need a trim to even it out.

 

[AfroKink]

OT: can someone tell me why on Nappturality people put a period between words? Like in this case b.low drying. Or r.elaxer? I'm always too scared to ask. TIA

oh, it's because a few years back nappturality went 100% heat and chemical free ( in terms of texture alterations). Blow dry and hot comb threads were banished to the archives and threads caught discussing banned procedures such as blow drying or relaxing were under threat of closure. So to avoid the automatic bad word finding system, we use b.low dry and r.elaxer when we want to mention them. It's like saying s.hit.
Kinda cool that it's alteration free but it can be a bit inhibiting

Additionally, Google Ads bases its advertisements on what goes on on the site. If people type "relaxer" or "straightener" it's picked up by Google's filter and there will be ads on the site promoting hair alteration techniques that are against the aim of Nappturality.

 

[nappystorm]

I blow dry when I am wearing my hair straight or getting braids. I use high heat but I only do it enough to take the tangles out. I'm going to try the cold blow out I saw on LadyLibra's fotki next time.

 

[BrownEyez22]

I used to blow dry almost every week, on low/cool with the nozzel/concentrator attachment. My hair overall seemed healthy, but I did start to think that maybe my ends looked a lil bit thinner. But I'm not really sure about that. So to be on the safe side....

I cut my blow dryer usage down for the rest of the year, to see if I notice a difference. I've been letting it air dry stretched, its working well for me so far.

 

[Daughter]

Can anyone recommend a good product to protect against heat? I can't remember the name of the serum I used to use...

 

[Mook's hair]

I went through a period when I was very afraid of heat.
I'm over it. I have found that my hair seems to like some heat.
So I am no longer fearful.
When I was relaxed, I would blow dry and flat iron once a week after each DC and my hair still flourished.

 

[Fhrizzball]

I'm still scared of heat...

Though each time with heat I get a setback even when I do it myself. Maybe when I learn how to do it properly.

 

[ToyToy]

I am wary of using direct heat on my hair right now, so I selected "other".


OT: can someone tell me why on Nappturality people put a period between words? Like in this case b.low drying. Or r.elaxer? I'm always too scared to ask. TIA

Not sure if anyone has answered this, but it's because of censorship on the website. If you type "relaxer" or "texturizer", you will get "(weak) chemical fire cream"; if you type "flat iron", you will get "flat flaming tool of torture". So people type periods, so they words come up "exactly" as they type them.

 

[mscocoface]

Not sure if anyone has answered this, but it's because of censorship on the website. If you type "relaxer" or "texturizer", you will get "(weak) chemical fire cream"; if you type "flat iron", you will get "flat flaming tool of torture". So people type periods, so they words come up "exactly" as they type them.

That is the main reason for the periods in words. Some folks don't like seeing the nicknames of the items that are considered a no no on NP site.

As for blow drying, some on this site have shown you can still maintain your nappy hair and blow dry, but I know my hair and regular use of it will change the texture particularly the front of my hair.

Also, blow drying is a looooong and tedius process for me now, so I don't have a desire to deal with that on a regular basis.