Naturals that Straighten...
- Thread starter PinkSkates
- Start date
Ms Lala
Well-Known Member
These are great tips! I want to start straightening more when I reach my goal length but I always end up looking like Chaka Khan.
btw pinkskates where did you find that wooden comb? I don't see those in the stores. I think my comb is snagging and breaking my hair.
btw pinkskates where did you find that wooden comb? I don't see those in the stores. I think my comb is snagging and breaking my hair.
Last edited:
PinkSkates
New Member
Hey Ladies here are my responses:
Ms.LaLa, I bought my wood comb from my local beauty supply, it's made by Sebastian.
Tension Only Blow Dry Method + picture:
My friend is a hair dresser on a soap opera, and he taught me that this is best way to blow dry my type of hair with the least damaging effect. After I detangle, I stretch my hair out and as I blow dry I move the dryer up&down my hair as if I'm combing it. This way my hair will dry in a downward direction instead of outward. (I start at the roots and go all the way down to the ends) This creates smooth stretched out hair hanging in the direction I need it to for when I press it out. As I'm finishing up drying each section, I put my dryer on cool, so my hair cuticle will lay down smoothly and close up completely. This drying method lifts the roots up which creates more body in the hair.
As you dry be sure to keep a taut grip on the hair, so you get maximum stretch of the hair. From my experience this the least damaging way to blow dry and stretch the hair out.
Ms.LaLa, I bought my wood comb from my local beauty supply, it's made by Sebastian.
You're welcome, below I give a better explanation and pic of my blow dry tension only method.Originally posted by love2praz
Thank you, Pinkskates!
My daughter is about 80% natural. (She still has a few relaxed ends left.) I blow-dry her hair every two weeks but had been using the comb attachment not thinking anything of it. I'm going to switch over to your "tension only" method.
Thanks again for the tips!!
Thank U chica! I do roller set and dry with my Pibbs dryer. I shampoo weekly but I press my hair straight every other week. The week that I don't press I will do a blow out or roller set to give my hair a break form the hot comb.
Hey KB Below is my "tension only method". Weekly I DC with Aveda Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment. Every 2 months I do a deep, deep condition with Aphogee. I use EVCO as a moisturizer. EVCO works so wonderful on my hair. It literally melts into my hair line, and ends. I highly recommend it. But you have to get the good stuff from your local health food store. Not that fake greasy stuff from a beauty supply store.
Tension Only Blow Dry Method + picture:
My friend is a hair dresser on a soap opera, and he taught me that this is best way to blow dry my type of hair with the least damaging effect. After I detangle, I stretch my hair out and as I blow dry I move the dryer up&down my hair as if I'm combing it. This way my hair will dry in a downward direction instead of outward. (I start at the roots and go all the way down to the ends) This creates smooth stretched out hair hanging in the direction I need it to for when I press it out. As I'm finishing up drying each section, I put my dryer on cool, so my hair cuticle will lay down smoothly and close up completely. This drying method lifts the roots up which creates more body in the hair.
As you dry be sure to keep a taut grip on the hair, so you get maximum stretch of the hair. From my experience this the least damaging way to blow dry and stretch the hair out.
Last edited:
PinkSkates
New Member
^^^^^ It's Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. And its one of my hair staples.
yodie
Well-Known Member
Liberianmami26
Active Member
sorry im new but where can u buy extra virgin coconut oil on the east coast
PinkSkates
New Member
I use South Pacific Trading Company certified EVCO. My EVCO melts on my hands and then I apply to my hair and skin.
Hi LM26,
I'm not sure, I'm on the west coast and I buy mine from my local health food store.
wyldcurlz
Well-Known Member
Pinkskates,
do you wear protective styles often (or at all?) how often do you blow dry & straighten?
you're such an inspiration because you have such long, beautiful, healthy hair, and you work out regularly. we hear about a lot of women with long hair who hardly ever straighten it so its nice to hear another perspective.
my workouts are insanely high impact and sweaty. and problem is, i sweat in my scalp. my hair always poufs up. i don't really think there is much i can do about it.
do you wear protective styles often (or at all?) how often do you blow dry & straighten?
you're such an inspiration because you have such long, beautiful, healthy hair, and you work out regularly. we hear about a lot of women with long hair who hardly ever straighten it so its nice to hear another perspective.
my workouts are insanely high impact and sweaty. and problem is, i sweat in my scalp. my hair always poufs up. i don't really think there is much i can do about it.
PinkSkates
New Member
No not really, I'm not a big fan of protective styling. I do put my hair up as soon as i get home. And I wear high ponytails and will pin up my hair when I workout.Originally posted by wyldcurlz
Pinkskates,
do you wear protective styles often (or at all?) how often do you blow dry & straighten?
you're such an inspiration because you have such long, beautiful, healthy hair, and you work out regularly. we hear about a lot of women with long hair who hardly ever straighten it so its nice to hear another perspective.
my workouts are insanely high impact and sweaty. and problem is, i sweat in my scalp. my hair always poufs up. i don't really think there is much i can do about it.
I shampoo weekly but press every other week. The week that I don't press I will just blow out and wear it kinky straight for that week.
Good for you...you will start to see a major difference in hair loss.
Mrs.Fitness
New Member
This is a great thread. Thanks Pinkskates you have answered a lot of questions for me.
I'm so glad you started this thread. You prove to the naysayers that you can have healthy regularly heat straightened hair-IF DONE PROPERLY. I've saved your fotki as an inspiration to me when I get discouraged because I'm transitioning with no BC yet.
Question for you: Do you have to use a concentrator attatchment when using the tension method? Will it work without one?
Thanks!
Question for you: Do you have to use a concentrator attatchment when using the tension method? Will it work without one?
Thanks!
blkbeauty
Well-Known Member
Thanks for posting this pic. I had started a post not too long ago about how to blow dry natural hair and is it safer using a comb attachment or not. I blow dry using your method and my hair has thrived.
Thanks for posting and as ALWAYS, thanks for giving excellent advice!
imstush
New Member
Thank you
now if I can get on the ball with your workout plan I will be good to go!
thaidreams
New Member
Great thread! I'm going to have to try your method when I straighten next month Pinkskates!
PinkSkates
New Member
You're welcome ladies .I recommend a concentrator because it controls the flow of heat and that way you only dry one section of hair at a time. You want to always be in control of how much heat hits your hair and you want to control where the heat hits. And that's what the concentrator does. But the method works fine without one. And forget about the naysayers...do what works for you, your hair and your lifestyle!
naturalgurl
New Member
I didn't see this before! Thanks! Looks like everyone is trying heat and I can't wait to see my full length. I just got to get over the fear of ruining my hair after all of this progress.
ETA~ And seeing your shrinkage makes me excited to see what I'm going to end up with!
ETA~ And seeing your shrinkage makes me excited to see what I'm going to end up with!
msdeevee
Well-Known Member
Great thread Pinkskates. You are an inspiration in more ways than one.
I will try this method next time I decide to straighten.
I was looking at your fotki and I was stunned at how much you looked like Halle in that side by side pic.
Thanx for graciously sharing all your tips.
I will try this method next time I decide to straighten.
I was looking at your fotki and I was stunned at how much you looked like Halle in that side by side pic.
Thanx for graciously sharing all your tips.
PinkSkates
New Member
^^^ thank you msdeevee and we are all a work in progress!
BostonMaria
Well-Known Member
Pinkskates, your hair is beautiful!!
I've been rollersetting and flatironing my hair for the past month and I'm very happy with my length and results. I've been putting coconut oil in my hair before flatironing...but I notice that when I walk out the door the coconut oil freezes up and my hair is hard as hell!!!!
Not sure is anyone has has noticed this. So my question is, is there another oil I should use instead during the winter?
AND.. In the summer how do you keep the pressed hair from reverting?
I've been rollersetting and flatironing my hair for the past month and I'm very happy with my length and results. I've been putting coconut oil in my hair before flatironing...but I notice that when I walk out the door the coconut oil freezes up and my hair is hard as hell!!!!
Not sure is anyone has has noticed this. So my question is, is there another oil I should use instead during the winter?
AND.. In the summer how do you keep the pressed hair from reverting?
PinkSkates
New Member
My hair is about 75% wet when I blow dry. After I shampoo, I towel dry, spray on heat protectant, detangle and blow dry.
Thank you Boston Maria.
Wow, I never heard of coconut oil freezing up in the hair. I use my EVCO on my edges to help them lay smooth and I apply EVCO on my ends when my hair needs moisture. If the temp is cool, my EVCO melts in my hands as I rub them together. And then the coconut oil totally absorbs into my hair. And when the temp is warm my EVCO melts into a liquid state. Vitamin E oil is another excellent one to use on the hair.
During the mid summer when it gets humid, I wear my hair in its natural state. I don't fight mother nature!
delitefulmane
Well-Known Member
Since this seems to have turned into a "Go Ask Pinkskates" thread I thought I'd chime in too!!!
You stated, "After I shampoo, I towel dry, spray on heat protectant, detangle and blow dry."
Do you place other product on your hair before pressing it?
!!!You stated, "After I shampoo, I towel dry, spray on heat protectant, detangle and blow dry."
Do you place other product on your hair before pressing it?
Thank you Pinkskates. My hair was sopping wet and I had little hair all over the place when I was done. Lesson learned.
Hi loulou, do you use pinkskates' tension blow dry method? This may help you with hair loss. Using a comb attatchment or round brush on my wet hair rips it right out
I'm going to try the tension method this weekend.
loulou82
Well-Known Member
Hi loulou, do you use pinkskates' tension blow dry method? This may help you with hair loss. Using a comb attatchment or round brush on my wet hair rips it right out
I'm in braids until December but once I take them out I'm going to give my hair a two week break and then do a BO using Pinkskates' method. I've blown out my hair myself twice this year so I'm a newbie when it comes to but next time I'll use the tension blow method.
Are you going to use a concentrator on your blow dryer this weekend?
Ms_Twana
New Member
Pink, I tried your tension method this weekend when I straightened...and I LOVED it. My hair has never shown this much length after blow drying (since I've been natural). How quickly do you move the dryer as you're drying your hair??
Also, I thought my straightening results would be much better this time since it's November, with no humidity....WRONG!!! I just can not prevent my hair from poofing. AND I used SMB!! What am I doing wrong???
Also, I thought my straightening results would be much better this time since it's November, with no humidity....WRONG!!! I just can not prevent my hair from poofing. AND I used SMB!! What am I doing wrong???
PinkSkates
New Member
Originally posted by delitefulmane
Since this seems to have turned into a "Go Ask Pinkskates" thread I thought I'd chime in too
You stated, "After I shampoo, I towel dry, spray on heat protectant, detangle and blow dry."
Do you place other product on your hair before pressing it?
I'm sorry I'm answering so late, I'm just seeing your question.
I apply a very small amount of CHI silk Infusion to each section of hair right before I pass the hot comb thru my hair.
I'm glad the blow drying method worked for you!
I move the blow dryer as If its a comb slow but steady.
Maybe you have just not found the combo of products that will work for your hair. It took me almost 2 years to find just the right combo of products to get a silky, bouncy frizz-free press.
Once you figure out the following your hair will come out flawless after every straightening:
1. The right combination of styling products for your hair texture.
2. Just the right amount of each product applied. For my hair, less is best. I use Aveda and CHI products; and their products are highly concentrated, so I have learned to be very light handed when applying.
3. Technique, technique, technique... For example, there is a certain little way I flip my wrist and let the back of the hot comb glide thru my hair. That is my little trick to getting my hair to straighten like butter. If I don't do that little flick of the wrist, then my hair will not straighten as quickly and silky. When I do my little wrist flip, I only have to do 2 passes with the hot comb on each section of hair. If I don't do my wrist flip, then it takes 5 passes of the hot comb to get my hair silky straight. So, you gotta figure out what little tricks your hair responds to and make a mental note of it.
HTH
Similar threads
