Naturals Who Use Heat to Straighten

[Ms Lala]

OT but has to do with subject: Today my teacher (a white man around 59 yrs old) said that his favorite invention when he was younger that he couldn't live without was the PRESSING COMB/HOT COMB This man has straight type 1 blond hair w/ no type of curl or wave pattern, so what in the hell was he using a hot comb for? Then he said his mother always told him not to use the hot comb because he would burn his hair out, now he is balding at the top with the one piece plastered over the top of his forehead I would've never imagined him saying this ever...this is hilarious to me....he is a stuck up pain in the butt older white man who used to press his hair

I am on the floor laughing. This is hilarious.

 

[Pamelajoyce]

After a bad relaxer it took me a year to grow my natural hair back. Two weeks ago I decided to get it straighten for a party, went to JC Penny styling Salon for a press the sista that pressed it used the small stove to heat the flat iron. This weekend when I washed my hair one side of my hair looked relaxed and the other side natural. I'm pissed.

 

[glamazon386]

OT but has to do with subject: Today my teacher (a white man around 59 yrs old) said that his favorite invention when he was younger that he couldn't live without was the PRESSING COMB/HOT COMB This man has straight type 1 blond hair w/ no type of curl or wave pattern, so what in the hell was he using a hot comb for? Then he said his mother always told him not to use the hot comb because he would burn his hair out, now he is balding at the top with the one piece plastered over the top of his forehead I would've never imagined him saying this ever...this is hilarious to me....he is a stuck up pain in the butt older white man who used to press his hair

 

[dicapr]

After a bad relaxer it took me a year to grow my natural hair back. Two weeks ago I decided to get it straighten for a party, went to JC Penny styling Salon for a press the sista that pressed it used the small stove to heat the flat iron. This weekend when I washed my hair one side of my hair looked relaxed and the other side natural. I'm pissed.

That's why when I finish my transition, any pressing/flatironing will be done by me. I pressed my hair on the regular for 3 years and it always reverted. It wasn't as straight as a relaxer, but it wasn't damaged either.

 

[keluric]

Flat-iron.. I don't do it often though.

 

[Ntrlmystik]

In the past I have gotten a press w/ a comb but haven't done so in the past five years. My more recent pressed styles have been done w/ a maxiglide. I like it because I sometimes I don't even blowdry and I figure that is half as much damage. I just section wet hair after washing and put in a moisturizer and make medium braids. I tie them down w/ a scarf and the next morning (in some cases a few days later) I undo the braids one at a time and add WGO or Aveda antihumectant pomade or BBD flatiron lotion or Natures Blessing (They all work for me...LOL) and flat iron each peice w/ the maxiglide. When I go to the hairdresser they use a professional flat iron, I don't know which one. My hair always reverts back to springy coils!

 

[luv04]

i want to but im scared..lol one day ill get the courage too..

 

[cmw45]

I too am really afriad to use any heat. I have not applied an direct heat (flat iron, or blowdrier, hotcomb) to my hair since going natural and I can't say that I ever will...too afraid that that'the naps might get burnt into submission

 

[KnottyGurl]

Electric Pressing Comb (Transitioner here)

I use the one (Gold N Hot) with the temperature settings. I use flat irons too, but right now, my hair is agreeing with the comb. I don't have any problem with my hair not reverting back, burning (except with that durn MaxiGlide).

Related OT: What is the best product to use with the hot comb/flat iron? I want something that will keep the hair from reverting quickly but not heavy like petroleum at the same time. Right now I press once a week, trying to narrow down to twice a month. Thanks Gurls!

 

[Blossssom]

I get the same results as a pressing comb with my maxiglide/FHI combo. I feel better about using the flat irons because once I set the temp, it never gets too hot. And I've done the tissue paper test where you put a piece of paper between the plates until it turns brown. The paper never turns brown with my flat irons.

I fail to see what is the difference between flat ironing natural hair and hotcombing it.

 

[PhonyBaloney500]

Stop the presses! Blossssom is natural now!

And Jamerican Girl too? (Maybe you always were).

I need to peek in this section more!

 

[Qetesh]

I fail to see what is the difference between flat ironing natural hair and hotcombing it.

The difference is controlling the amount of heat used. With a flat iron, unless you are HIGHLY skilled the temp may very based on how long left on stove.. how long you pat with the towel ext. with a flat iron you set the temp and your done. Also I personally feel the irons like Sedu use less heat to give you the same results.
I have been converted to flat ironing after years of hot combing. If done right they both can give nice results, but for consistency I choose the flat iron.

 

[glamazon386]

i want to but im scared..lol one day ill get the courage too..

me too...

 

[Country gal]

I am really itching to try something different with my hair. I may buy the maxiglide for my hair.

 

[Ms Red]

I'm still transitioning with no heat...but when I used to straighten, I just used a flat-iron for the roots and a big barrel curling iron (w/temp. setting) for the length. The best results I got were when I washed, deep conditioned (for a LONG time), dried and then straightened w/o grease. I love grease though so after a day or 2 I'd oil up The straight style lasts for 3 weeks when I wrap it.

 

[Lucia]

I fail to see what is the difference between flat ironing natural hair and hotcombing it.

Temperature control, you use less heat to get the hair straight, the ceramic plates glide over the hair easier, and if you've got thick hair the pressing comb just drags through my hair and just literally pulls some hair out. Also I'm not that skilled with the hot tools.

 

[Leonora]

When I'm natural or when I'm stretching my relaxer, I use both methods. I like the flat iron for my length because a comb can be too stressful for your hair, with all the pulling. I use an electric comb by Gold-N-Hot with a temperature control gauge for my roots and I'm good until my next wash.

I have a friend whose hair is closer to your hair type who used to use a straightening comb every 2 weeks but now uses a flat iron because it speeds up the straightening process and her hair is very long (mid-back). It use to take hours to straighten all that hair with a comb, hence the 2 week Poo-regimen.

Whatever you decide, try to go with something with a temperature gauge because all hair is NOT created equal.

Best of luck to you!

 

[lana]

I know when I used to go to the salon, they would burn the mess outta my hair thinking it was really coarse and needed a lot of heat. Well it was not coarse! I have thick strands of hair, but they are easy to straighten. My hair would literally blow dry straight, so I don't know why they insisted on pressing it with a hot comb.

Anyways during my hair journey I found the Maxiglide and even though my sister teases me and calls it a MaxiPAD, I am in heaven with it. But if you don't want to do that go for the flat iron (ceramic is best, Sedu is wonderful)...that's what I use now to straighten, but I'm recently texlaxed. Going forward (since I plan to texlax only once a year) I will go back to my MG for straightening. I've been able to FINALLY retain length this way!

 

[Maksi]

Flat irons damaged my hair. I think since my strands are fine, the double sided direct heat just fries it. Still this could have been poor technique on the part of the stylist, but I think the tendancy with the flat iron may be to apply too much pressure and to move too slowly down the length of the hair. Maybe the temperture control also give a false sense of security. I never experienced heat damage with a pressing comb. erplexed

 

[stinastina]

Flat irons damaged my hair. I think since my strands are fine, the double sided direct heat just fries it. Still this could have been poor technique on the part of the stylist, but I think the tendancy with the flat iron may be to apply too much pressure and to move too slowly down the length of the hair. Maybe the temperture control also give a false sense of security. I never experienced heat damage with a pressing comb. erplexed

I haven't used a pressing comb since I was a child but occassionally I use a corlioss flat iron. The only problem is that there is one section of hair that always breaks off when I use it. Always the back in the middle. Never the front, sides, etc. I use heat protectant but it makes no difference. So I don't flat iron much. I can roller set, then flat iron the roots, but that's an all day affair and sometimes I don't feel like it.

 

[Miss*Tress]

When I'm natural or when I'm stretching my relaxer, I use both methods. I like the flat iron for my length because a comb can be too stressful for your hair, with all the pulling. I use an electric comb by Gold-N-Hot with a temperature control gauge for my roots and I'm good until my next wash.

I have a friend whose hair is closer to your hair type who used to use a straightening comb every 2 weeks but now uses a flat iron because it speeds up the straightening process and her hair is very long (mid-back). It use to take hours to straighten all that hair with a comb, hence the 2 week Poo-regimen.

Whatever you decide, try to go with something with a temperature gauge because all hair is NOT created equal.

Best of luck to you!

Thanks Leonora!

I have seen women with long thick hair getting it pressed at the salon and it does seem to be a rather laborious process. I'm not fully natural, so roller sets are doing the trick so far, but no doubt I'll have to use heat later on down the line when the straight bits are gone.

 

[SVT]

Flatiron. It's quicker.

 

[lsw29]

Since I have been natural I have never had my hair pressed, but I know that the flat iron works really well for me.

 

[Svrbrownsuga]

I say a Nice ceramic flat iron will do it. The pressing comb does work if u plan to wear your hair predominately straight. If you do choose to get the pressing comb only do it like once a month so it wont ruin your curl pattern if you dont plan to wear your hair predominately straight. But have fun gurl

 

[ClassicBeauty]

I definitely say flat iron! When I was transitioning, I burned a lot of my hair out with a pressing comb, and it was an electric one with temperature settings. I also think that blow dryers are very harmful to my hair. I prefer to rollerset with a leave in conditioner and then flat iron with a heat protectant. That's what works best for me.

 

[Blackoutzangel05]

Me personally, my hair is very easy to press. I never lost my natural curls with a press and I got it weekly for 2 years, my hair always reverted back. Unless its a ceramic flat iron, its useless for my hair. when I am able to afford my flat iron, currently wanting a chi, I am going roller set my hair and then flat iron the roots with an occasional flat iron to show length.

 

[CurleeDST]

I didn't know you were natural! You go!

Shameless plug...cough Cough!
I jus bought a Solia flat iron from www.folica.com, and it's the truth!

I'm natural 3c and 4a. I did my friends hair who is a 4f Jus kidding I made that texture up cuz that chil have the thickest 20 inch plus mane I have ever seen. When I got it all straight her hair was 20-22 inches.

 

[CurleeDST]

I prefer the flat iron. I have a Maxiglide and Sedu. Maxi is the bomb!!!! Gets my hair and especially those ends straight!

 

[zzirvingj]

I am a natural pressed. My last relaxer was in 1990 since then I have had my hair pressed in the salon on/off 1-2x/month but of lately I go every 3 months and just use my Maxiglide to help straighten with Redken heat glide (excellent product). Like others have said I don't get the results as a pressing comb gives , but it is straight enough for me. I am trying to cut back heat use and just air dry but hard on some days to style (usually I have a bun style) ...one must practice & practice different styles to see what works

Redken heat glide is the truth!! I went to Ulta and got small sizes of the "smooth down" line to press my hair about a month ago and it came out GREAT.

 

[PinkSkates]

I press my hair once a month and it comes out pretty and silky. I use a hot comb; and my hair is healthy and growing and I have no problem retaining my length. When people see my hair pressed thay ask, what kind of relaxer do I have in my hair . And when my hair gets wet it reverts immediately to its nappy, kinky state; which means I have no heat damaged-hair. As long as your hair is properly protected and you have skills with a hot comb, your hair will be just fine.