Naturals Who Use Heat to Straighten

[meaganita]

I have to say flat-iron works best on my hair...although I haven't mastered the art of heat-straightening yet.erplexed I just had my first try at it, and it didn't go so well. I'll get there though. My stylist does a MEAN flat-iron though. She also hits my edges with the hot-comb. People swear I have a relaxer or "good hair" whenever she straightens it. I aspire to aquire her skills some day...:notworthy

 

[CurleeDST]

Ladies can you share your technique to give the ends a slight bend vs. an all out curl under? I can't seem to master this at all - I bend the flat iron too much on the ends or I am too stick straight and my hair is just straight down with no movement and it doesn't look right.

 

[BillyJay]

Flatiron for me. The pressing comb always gets stuck in my hair.

 

[BillyJay]

Ladies can you share your technique to give the ends a slight bend vs. an all out curl under? I can't seem to master this at all - I bend the flat iron too much on the ends or I am too stick straight and my hair is just straight down with no movement and it doesn't look right.

My technique: After I flat Iron, I section my hair into 3 parts and roll into loose bantu knots to give my ends a bump.I keep them in for about 30 mins and then I finger comp them out.

 

[EMJazzy]

Ceramic flatiron with a heat protectant I'm going to try that Redken product when I run out of my Maxius and Fantasia :scratchch

 

[CurleeDST]

To put my question in perspective, the last time I had a relaxer with any significant length (shoulder length) was in 1994 when precise bobs with more bumped under ends was the style. Since then I have flat ironed my natural hair when it had signficant length in January 2006, etc. and I found I was still using the same bumping technique I knew about from the early to mid 90's! That look is not current and I see people with relaxers who flat iron and they flat iron but the ends are only SLIGHTLY bumped under or rather bent or curved vs. really curled! That is what I am trying to achieve once my natural hair achieves some signficant length again - that curved or bend vs. specific curl or bump under.

I hope I am not too confusing but a perfect example of bumped ends is Aliajp's hair album. Yeah girl I called you out b/c your hair is GORGEOUS! Or Jenny's fotki hair album.

 

[TropicalRose]

ive been working up to straighten my hair... its been 2 years since its been straight... my goal is to get it straight but not bone straight (my purpose for this is to stretch my hair well and not to wear it straight as a style)

i went for a flat iron instead of a pressing comb. you have more control over the temperature settings... ive only straightened a few sections to make sure my hair will revert... things are looking good so far!

 

[p31woman]

I haven't tried a flat iron yet. I'm still trying to make myself spend the money on a Chi. I am about 90% natural so I still get my hair straightened with the hot comb. I let my stylist do it because he gets better results when he does it. When I straighten it it doesn't get as straight.

I'll prob be making that Chi purchase in the next few weeks.

 

[glamazon386]

Ladies can you share your technique to give the ends a slight bend vs. an all out curl under? I can't seem to master this at all - I bend the flat iron too much on the ends or I am too stick straight and my hair is just straight down with no movement and it doesn't look right.

You just have to twist your wrist slightly. It took me a while to figure out how to do it with the flat iron but I finally got it. You can use a large barrel curling iron too if you have one. It'll still give you that bend but not so much as a curl.

 

[CurleeDST]

thank so much for this. when i start straightening again i am going to work at this.

You just have to twist your wrist slightly. It took me a while to figure out how to do it with the flat iron but I finally got it. You can use a large barrel curling iron too if you have one. It'll still give you that bend but not so much as a curl.

 

[LeNghtyDreAms]

I've never pressed my hair, but there was this lady back home that would do it for me for $3, and my hair would be straighter than having a perm on it.

I bought a Sedu flatiron, and the results just don't compare at all. I think a good press by someone who knows what they're doing beats a flatiron any day.

Agreed! When in doubt get an old school pressing, it gets my hair straighter than any flat iron.

 

[PinkSkates]

Originally posted by LeNghtyDreAms
Agreed! When in doubt get an old school pressing, it gets my hair straighter than any flat iron.

Absolutely, nothing gets my hair straighter and silkier than my skills with my old school hot comb.

 

[Choclatcotton]

I have practically worn my hair natural all year long with the occasional monthly press but I decided to flat iron with a Maxiglide from BBand Beyond and I completed my whole head it looked blow dried after i was finished I cleaned it boxed it up and got my refund and pressed my hair maybe my technique was wrong? I hate to be a stick in the mud

 

[Zsazsa6275]

I have my hair pressed & flat ironed most of the year. I get my hair done once a month and the other 3 weeks, I do it myself. I pretty much have to use both a pressing comb and a flat iron. When I do it myself, most of the time I do a good job. Yet, I have those weeks when I was too lazy to give it 100% and it showed! These skills have been in the making for 10 years, so if you're new at straightening, it does take some time.

My stylist could just flat iron my hair after she dries it. I think she believes I want it bone straight, which I don't. I will probably suggest that to her on my next visit.

With the exception of the salon visit, summertime is when I wear it natural so I get a well-deserved rest for 3 months, !

 

[CurleeDST]

i think if yo want to pretty much guarantee your kinks not reverting go with a hard press with a pressing comb. flat irons do the trick with my hair and my hair reverts with a heavy dousing of water when i am ready to sport my unscathed curls. my goal in straightening is never to get bone straight because that means i am fighting the natural body my hair has. maxiglide all the way.

 

[Belladonna]

I do not flat iron or press my hair. I go to the dominican salon and get a blow out....that's all. I go about every two weeks, or weekly sometimes, and it lasts. I have a flat iron, but I have no need for it .

Yeah I have found that my texture gets straight with this method as well

 

[londontresses]

Does anyone manage to press/straighten and get a result that has a bit of...movement? I know its never gonna turn out exactly as my relaxed hair would but I remember getting it done in the past and it at least blew in the wind!! Any suggestions on product? TIA

 

[CurleeDST]

use less grease and be light handed w/ the serum.

 

[londontresses]

use less grease and be light handed w/ the serum.

Ta! I'll give it a try.

 

[Country gal]

I blow dry and flat iron at home. It doesn't beat going to the salon. I may go to the salon for my birthday.

 

[luckiestdestiny]

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.

What's FHI mean. I know what a maxiglide is. Thanks!

 

[bludaydreamr]

It is a type of flat iron, I have one and it helps out a lot were I lack technique.

 

[Irresistible]

As I weigh my options for going natural, I'd like your opinion as to which is better for straightening natural hair. I've never handled either myself, but when I get my touch ups the stylist sometimes flat irons my hair.

i'm old school and cant get used to flat irons yet, so I choose the pressing comb

 

[langston]

Hello ladies this is my first post after just joining.

I love this group.

I like the flat iron for my natural hair

 

[CenteredGirl]

I just tried the maxiglide yesterday and Lawd have mercy -- its the SAVIOR.

I am so happy I was READY to use it because my hair retains moisture well now thanks to Samantha Jone's tutalage and JustKiya's suggestion to DC for 2 hours.

I was surprised that my 4ab natural hair glided through with no problems and the steam feature is the shizit.

Sam, I really need to thank you for turning me on to the MaxiGlide and most importantly how and when to use it. You rock little sis.

 

[Sunshine0801]

I just tried the maxiglide yesterday and Lawd have mercy -- its the SAVIOR.

I am so happy I was READY to use it because my hair retains moisture well now thanks to Samantha Jone's tutalage and JustKiya's suggestion to DC for 2 hours.

I was surprised that my 4ab natural hair glided through with no problems and the steam feature is the shizit.

Sam, I really need to thank you for turning me on to the MaxiGlide and most importantly how and when to use it. You rock little sis.

Any pics???

 

[Whimsy]

I just tried the maxiglide yesterday and Lawd have mercy -- its the SAVIOR.

I am so happy I was READY to use it because my hair retains moisture well now thanks to Samantha Jone's tutalage and JustKiya's suggestion to DC for 2 hours.

I was surprised that my 4ab natural hair glided through with no problems and the steam feature is the shizit.

Sam, I really need to thank you for turning me on to the MaxiGlide and most importantly how and when to use it. You rock little sis.

HOORAAAAAY I"m so glad you like the maxiglide. since 05 before my first transition and natural go, I was a maxiglide freak!!! Now, it's what's helping me thru my looooooong transition. It's AMAZING. You've gotta keep your hair moisturized, and for me, coconut oil helps my hair (both textures) slide thru easy as pie.

I'm so happy for you!!! PS any pix???!!

 

[Ash25]

I said the comb....only because the risk is less.

With a flat iron you run the risk of crushing and pulling your hair too much, putting too much stress on it. Worse case....your hair wont revert cause of heat damage. But thats only if youre not careful...or who ever is doin your hair is not skilled.

So, I avoid the risk....and do the comb. But its been a yr since i straightened my hair

 

[aegis]

i use both