PRESSING TO STRETCH

[kjeneen]

Ok, I hate to sound like a total wimp but.... THIS STRECTH IS KILLING MY STYLE . Note: I am in the 10th week of a 15 or longer week stretching challenge to myself.

And this is not as a knock to my natural hair, but having a half relaxed/half natural head of hair is not cute in this heat no matter how you slice it. I've tried to flat ironing it once a week, but I think my ends are trying to thin as a result of pulling that heat right through to the ends.

So this past weekend, I tried just hitting the roots with some SBM and the hot comb and baaaaabeeee, what a joyous difference it made.

My question is, has anyone successfully used pressing to maintain a stretch without suffering breakage or any other damage?

 

[beans4reezy]

To scared to try to use heat. I want to retain each and every piece of length I can get. I am curious to see what the other ladies are doing though.

 

[ladytee2]

Pinkskates is the master of pressing and you two are in the same neck of the woods.

 

[kjeneen]

{KJENEEN calling PINKSKATES}

 

[Pink Hair23]

I tried that for about 3 weeks last year. I ended up with broken off hair right at the demarcation line ( where new growth meets relaxed ends). I didn't press all the way through, but i guess since that line is the weakest part, the heat was way too much stress. I did however, use my flat iron turned up to 400 degrees.

If you can, I would try tight rollersets. The bad part about heat related breakage, IMO, is that you don't notice it until the hair is already broken off.

 

[kjeneen]

I tried that for about 3 weeks last year. I ended up with broken off hair right at the demarcation line ( where new growth meets relaxed ends). I didn't press all the way through, but i guess since that line is the weakest part, the heat was way too much stress. I did however, use my flat iron turned up to 400 degrees.

If you can, I would try tight rollersets. The bad part about heat related breakage, IMO, is that you don't notice it until the hair is already broken off.

Thanks Pink Hair!!!! I guess I'll just have to come up with something else then because roller-sets make me look like a granny

 

[ShantWhite]

My question is, has anyone successfully used pressing to maintain a stretch without suffering breakage or any other damage?

Yes! I'm on a quest to stretch beyond the norm in efforts to hopefully transition, so I did this last week at my 12-week usual relax point. It worked out great!! My hair felt like I had a fresh lax . This upcoming weekend I'll be at 14-weeks and I'm not sure if I'll do it again. But best of all, I have had no breakage. I used CHI Silk Infusion.

 

[RENIBELL]

I tried that for about 3 weeks last year. I ended up with broken off hair right at the demarcation line ( where new growth meets relaxed ends). I didn't press all the way through, but i guess since that line is the weakest part, the heat was way too much stress. I did however, use my flat iron turned up to 400 degrees.

If you can, I would try tight rollersets. The bad part about heat related breakage, IMO, is that you don't notice it until the hair is already broken off.

so true, this is what happened to me as well, the hair just broke off. be careful with the heat. i also turned my flat iron up to 400 though.

 

[janeemat]

You should rollerset and then saran wrap. This helps smooth the ng. I stretch to 12-16 wks and I just rollerset and never press. When I rollerset, I pull the hair really taunt and this helps smooth the ng. Your hair is a nice length for rollersetting and wrapping.