Straight Hair Natural's Support Thread

[SkySurfer]

Subbing too

 

[natalie20121]

So I've been natural for over a year. Last relaxer was June 2009 and now I'm at the point where I miss my straight hair and just really love the look. I think I will go from wearing my natural texture to pressing ever week or 2 to see if i can combat some of the ssk's that are killing me. I will be subbing this thread for tips and inspiration from naturals who have grown their hair long while using heat consistently.

 

[divinefavor]

Subbing for straightening natural hair tips

 

[DDTexlaxed]

I can get my hair strait, but it poofs up something terrible! I need a product that can help me keep my hair strait without having to touch it up so much. I will invest in the apex pressing oil. Thanks ladies for this thread!

 

[TopShelf]

I straightened my hair for the 3rd time since my BC in Sept 2010. This time my hair is dyed and I have been cowashing for atleast the past two weeks. I have been keeping my hair well moisturized. I deep condtioned over night and with steam for 30 mins, with a combination of SIlk Elements Megasilk and Silk Dreams Vanilla silk and then air dried to about %90 with aphogee pro vitamin leave in, chi silk infusion and sabino moisture block in my hair ( I don't care if my hair is bouncy so i did kind of overkill with the heat protectants). Then blow dried on med heat/high speed.

My flat iron of choice. Purchased at TJ Maxx for $39.99

Texture differences:

Final Result, which I really really liked. This is my pincurl result.:

 

[ButterflyBAP]

I have virgin hair. After about 15 months of the curly look, I made the decision to go back to flat ironing. I am tightly coiled and the SSKs were killing me.

It is funny because I thought that I would always have a TWA. Now I am ready for length.

Below is the result of my hair flat iron. My hairdresser did it. It was bouncy, had wind in my hair and most importantly it reverted back.

Now I am trying to recreate this at home! I do ok, but there is room for improvement.

 

[DDTexlaxed]

I finally found a way to do this on my hair without damage. I am incorporating Aphoghee products and using a lower heat setting. I'm going to try roller setting again instead of blow drying. I am using a curling iron on medium heat instead of a flat iron. That works even better than a flat iron because it enlarges my curl from my dry roller set. I am slowly getting better at my hair. I am also now officially 10 months post my second BC. I will do this during the winter and do wet buns in the Spring/ Summer time. I hope by then I can do a decent ponytail. For me, the products really made a difference on my hair. I use Aphoghee deep Moisture shampoo and then the Aphoghee 2 minute Reconstruct with a baggy. I don't use the one you need heat. I rinse with lukewarm water and use the Aphoghee leave in. I use the green tea reconstruct mist before I blow dry. I will try a roller set next wash day before blow drying . I used a curling iron today on my hair today and it was better for me. I wrapped my hair for the first time today. My hair feels so soft and moisturized. I love it!

 

[keelioness]

Has anyone tried this method? Her results are amazing.She flat irons with shea butter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxL9yRZwUDE

 

[bronzebomb]

subbing, I've been thinking about becoming a straight natural. My shrinkage is too much and my hair is hard to maintain.

 

[Distorted Barbie]

bump bump bump

 

[QUEENJAMES231]

Subbing! I prefer my hair curly but when I do straight it will be good to have this information handy

 

[mstokes2008]

Straightened my hair tonight!! Its so thick and has grown! Only dilemma is that its big and kinda poofy. Guess I need to work on my technique. Will be wrapping tonight and possibly doing a silk wrap tomorrow to hopefully flatten it out some.

 

[05girl]

Ahh, so this is the thread for me! I'm transitioning (13 months), but my almost SL hair is permanently straight from weekly straightening. I kinda like it, but kinda want to experience my curls as well :/

 

[ItsMeFre]

I am going to have to start straightening every 2 weeks. I thought blow drying would be enough to ward of SSK's and split ends but it hasn't worked. Plus I need a change, I'm bored. I think I will straighten every 2 weeks until May on a low heat setting.

 

[Kimbosheart]

I really need to join this thread. I will be reading through these posts to see if there are any great tips I could use.

 

[pet]

I never knew this thread existed! Love it!

 

[Southern Belle]

Subscribing.

 

[SVT]

For those whose hair poofs as they press, have you tried using a small fan to stay cool or maybe your blow dryer on cool?

I keep a fan or my blow dryer pointed on me so the heat won't linger. If necessary, I'll turn around so the cool air blows on the scalp and section of hair I'm straightening. The cool air also gives a nice shine to my hair.

 

[Victorian]

Well it's been 3 years since I started straightening regularly and I'm still maintaining the same basic regimen of blowdrying and flat ironing once a week, with the occasional week off here and there. I use a hot air brush (by Remington T-Studio) to blowdry in sections and flat iron with a Sedu love.
For me it's all about regular strengthening treatments and keeping my ends moisturized
Today was wash day:

 

[ecadnacmc]

Subbing......

 

[coolsista-paris]

Ive recently decided to straighten my hair more. I protective style ...never wear my hair down and have trouble retaining length ......so im gonna start with blow dry regimen ...i will flat iron sometimes like ive already done .

 

[ItsMeFre]

Well it's been 3 years since I started straightening regularly and I'm still maintaining the same basic regimen of blowdrying and flat ironing once a week, with the occasional week off here and there. I use a hot air brush (by Remington T-Studio) to blowdry in sections and flat iron with a Sedu love.
For me it's all about regular strengthening treatments and keeping my ends moisturized
Today was wash day:

What heat setting do you use? It looks like you're getting full reversion, are you getting any damage or "heat training"?

Your hair looks really healthy!

 

[longhairdreaming]

subbing to this...

 

[Mrs. N Lugo]

Lots of good tips in this thread.

 

[Lissa0821]

Victorian Your hair looks so lush, thick and beautiful both in its natural and straighten state.

 

[Victorian]

What heat setting do you use? It looks like you're getting full reversion, are you getting any damage or "heat training"?

Your hair looks really healthy!

Thank you! I iron at 340-360. In the pics I posted, I ironed at 340. I used to iron higher (like 380), but if I blowdry properly then it isn't necessary to have the iron that high. I do about 2 seconds at the roots or go over that first inch twice, then one medium/slow pass down the length. At my current hair length it takes 5-6 seconds after holding at the roots to do the rest of the section, to give an idea of the speed.

In general my natural hair is a bit frizzier when wet, with no product, than it was at it's healthiest a few years ago (I had been co-washing daily at that time). If I go a couple weeks without straightening, and co-wash like normal, the frizziness starts to go away (but then the knots start again, so...back to the flat iron ). But shrinkage/curl pattern-wise it's about the same.

 

[ladyscorpian14]

I'm not yet ready to flat iron on my own so I've been going to this nice dominican lady for blow out every two weeks she's great and only charges $25

 

[RayRayFurious]

Well it's been 3 years since I started straightening regularly and I'm still maintaining the same basic regimen of blowdrying and flat ironing once a week, with the occasional week off here and there. I use a hot air brush (by Remington T-Studio) to blowdry in sections and flat iron with a Sedu love.
For me it's all about regular strengthening treatments and keeping my ends moisturized
Today was wash day:
View attachment 137147

WOW! I am in awe that you can straighten that regularly. Both textures are gorgeous!

 

[Missjae09]

I have recently become tired of wearing my hair in natural styles and have been wearing it straight for about a month now (maybe longer). I have been going back and forth with myself about whether I'm setting myself up for a set back but I've been watching my hair closely and it seems to be just fine. I'm still nervous though... and it seems that the vast majority on the forum are preaching, only use heat twice a year and protective style all the time, but I have been blow drying and flat ironing my hair once a week as well. (I know it's all about what works for you) but for now I want straight hair, so we'll see how this goes.

Well it's been 3 years since I started straightening regularly and I'm still maintaining the same basic regimen of blowdrying and flat ironing once a week, with the occasional week off here and there. I use a hot air brush (by Remington T-Studio) to blowdry in sections and flat iron with a Sedu love.
For me it's all about regular strengthening treatments and keeping my ends moisturized
Today was wash day:
View attachment 137147

 

[Victorian]

Missjae09
The no/low heat and protective styles thing is so popular because it really does work for most people. It's what I did after I BC'd and it grew my hair to new lengths, so I'm all for encouraging that route. On the other hand, it isn't the only way to do your hair and be satisfied with it.

In my experience:
Wearing straightened natural hair, especially when you're first starting out, requires constant vigilance. Barring any extreme incidents, it could take several months, even a year, for your hair to start seeming damaged. Your iron may be too high, conditioner not have the right protein/moisture balance, or whatever for long-term success, but you may not recognize this right away--simply because the hair you start with is usually really healthy and hardy if you've been taking good care of it. I think that's an important point a lot of people don't take into consideration.
If your hair starts feeling or behaving differently (isn't hanging right, not responding to your usual products the way it normally does), that might indicate something is up. This is likely long before you actually start seeing splits, breakage, hair that won't revert or other obvious signs of damage.

Even though my frequency has stayed the same (I did try going 2 weeks between washes, but my scalp said "no ma'am!" ), over time I have tweaked other things like temperature of the iron, post-wash products, and probably most importantly, the type of pre-shampoo treatments I do. I used to alternate protein and moisture weekly, but now do light/moderate protein every week. My point isn't to say everyone should be using protein every wash, but that as time goes on you should be prepared to adjust things as needed
Good luck on your journey!

I have recently become tired of wearing my hair in natural styles and have been wearing it straight for about a month now (maybe longer). I have been going back and forth with myself about whether I'm setting myself up for a set back but I've been watching my hair closely and it seems to be just fine. I'm still nervous though... and it seems that the vast majority on the forum are preaching, only use heat twice a year and protective style all the time, but I have been blow drying and flat ironing my hair once a week as well. (I know it's all about what works for you) but for now I want straight hair, so we'll see how this goes.