Naturals- What's the best way to straighten?

[BostonMaria]

Whenever I straighten by using a blow dryer my hair just doesn't come out right. It never lasts either.

For my hair the best way to straighten is:

1. Co-wash, DC for an hour, apply a leave-in conditioner
2. Rollerset, dry under a hooded dryer
3. Take out the rollers and flatiron with my CHI

The whole process might take me a few hours, but in the fall & winter I can keep my hair like this for 7 days. In the summer... 7 minutes! LOL

 

[SimplyBlessed]

In the summer... 7 minutes! LOL

lol aint that the truth lol I remember when my mom tried to straighten my hair with a hot comb when I was little for a summer camp I went to lol lol lol my hair was a mess in like 3 mins...esp since we live in florida!!

 

[tricie]

I do not go to a salon to get this done EVER! This is what I do:

1.) Wash hair
2.) Condition Hair
3.) Part hair in middle and put hair in two pigtails and braid
4.) Go about my business and let hair air dry
5.) Once dry section hair and flat-iron

I don't use any of those expensive flat-irons. Just one I purchased at Sally's for at the most $30 that works fantastic.

Here are a couple pics! Oh, and it's not that long anymore. It's WL now. Sorry they are so big.

I'm the one in white shirt on the far left.

Girl, your hair is :notworthy !! Beautiful!

 

[chanjune80]

Everyone's hair is beautiful!!! Just wondering, do any of you workout when your hair is straight? Do you have issues with you hair reverting? If not is it because of protective styling (high ponytail) or do you change up your routine?

 

[FNP-2009]

Everyone's hair is beautiful!!! Just wondering, do any of you workout when your hair is straight? Do you have issues with you hair reverting? If not is it because of protective styling (high ponytail) or do you change up your routine?

Girllllll.....
I just got back from the gym, and the roots revert, but I wash it anyhow to get that sweat and sodium out of my hair

 

[chanjune80]

Girllllll.....
I just got back from the gym, and the roots revert, but I wash it anyhow to get that sweat and sodium out of my hair

Thanks for the feedback!!! Do you wear your hair in a high ponytail when you workout?

 

[sillygirl82]

My solia flat iron is the bee's knees. I haven't used it since last spring/summer, but it could get my hair silky and straight.

1. Wash or co-wash, condition
2. Apply Sabino
3. Dry
4. Flat iron

 

[Nina_deF]

I'm only semi-natural but this is what I do:

Shampoo (with mixed chicks or AO WC), in the summer I'm a CO-washer, non-straightener).
Condition, mainly with AO WC but sometimes Mixed chicks conditioner.
Apply jojoba oil mixed with castor oil (about a quarters size).
Apply AO Mandarin Magic gel (a dime).
Paddle brush into two piggy tails.
Let dry.

The next morning I flat iron, using either my Vidal Sasson or G.A.M.A flatiron (semi cheapos).

It's light, flowing and lasts a week.

I used to use Kerastase OLÉO RELAX but there was smoke and serum makes my hair hard after 2-3 days.

I really recommend the AO Mandarin Magic Moisturizing Jelly although it does make my hair a little too straight when bunning.

 

[BlackMasterPiece]

I thought I'd repost a more detailed description of my technique from another thread:

Hey hun!! I got your link I'm here to help as best I can.

Okay so since you said you have tightly coily type 4 hair like me I'll share with you the two techniques that have left me with sleek consistently straight results.

First let me give my product recomendations.

Heat Protectant:

IC Fantasia Serum (for blowdrying) and spray (for flatironing)

For the blowdrying step...I highly recommend the Andis 1875 Tourmaline Ionic Blowdryer, here are my results using that blowdryer (with the comb attachment)

​

I recommend two types of flat irons:

- A 1 inch 100% ceramic flat iron I like the Amika (I have it in Zebra)

- The MaxiGlide MP

Technique using a 1 inch standard 100% ceramic iron:

Step 1: Blowdry wet hair in 8-10 sections, rewetting each section with water and dilluted leave-in of your choice add some IC serum to the section and blowdry.

Step 2: Hot Comb. When using a standard ceramic flat iron on tightly coily hair I recommend a hot combing step in between to get consistently straight results. One pass at heat setting 8 should do the trick. Heres the electric Hot Comb I recommend by Hot Tools :

Step 3: Flat Iron (I would do 350+) in small sections

Technique Using MaxiGlide MP

Step 1: Blowdry With Andis with comb attachment (same directions as above)

Step 2: Flat Iron using MaxiGlide MP (Using IC Spray) in small sections

Sleep Routine: Pin Curl and tie with Satin Scarf

Hope I broke it down throughly enough for you love! Good luck!!

 

[The Savvy Sistah]

Great advice ladies! I may start roller setting my thin/fine hair so I can get some volume!

 

[FNP-2009]

Thanks for the feedback!!! Do you wear your hair in a high ponytail when you workout?

Yes ma'am. Can't stand it toughing me while I sweat. I just got back from the gym, and it was like a fashion show! People w/ hair down adn curled, makeup, perfume!!
The higher and dtighter I keep it, the straighter it stays, but i still end up rinsing it out everytime anyhow. Now I think I may go back to co-washing for a few weeks while I get back into my exercise regimen.

 

[Whimsy]

MAXIGLIDE!!!!

 

[TwistNMx]

I don't straighten my own hair, but when I go to the salon (it focuses on healthy hair practices), this is what they do:

Wash hair about 3 times

Sit you under a steamer (sometimes)

Put in a heavy conditioner and detangle hair thoroughly

Sit you under the dryer with saran wrapped around hair for about 25 minutes

Rinse out

Rollerset hair

Sit under the dryer for 1-1.5 hours

Lightly press roots

Press rest of the length and flatiron

My hair does NOT revert at all

edited to add: After my hair is straight, he wraps it with saran wrap, puts me back under the dryer for about 15-20 minutes.

My hair has incredible bounce and body

WoW! I'm so totally curious which salon here does that. Would you mind sharing please?

 

[lilikoi]

I ...

DC
Detangle and Apply Heat Protectant Serum (Sabino)
Airdry in stretched style overnight
Stretch with a warm blowdryer
Flat Iron with a Sedu at 380
I finish with a pre-mixed coconut and evoo. This is what I use on my ends the whole time it's straight also. Keeps my hair moisturized, soft, and supple.

Thanks for posting the flat iron temperature you used. It's an important piece of information.

 

[tricie]

Will definitely need this soon...subscribing!

 

[CaliDiamond]

bumping for future tips.......