I've been straightening my hair for years. With my old regimen, the damage did not come from straightening, it came from the blow drying and not detangling properly. So my ends were not split, but there were a lot of broken hairs. Then I started doing things I knew I shouldn't have - blow drying & straightening (dirty hair) during the week, going over my ends multiple times with the flat iron. I blowdried with the comb attachment - afterwards I'd have to vacuum b/c there was so much hair on the carpet. I put the flat iron on the highest setting - 410 degrees (ouch!). Interestingly enough, I never had ends that would not revert - I always get curlies.
New story - I cut 1 inch off yesterday (can't stand stragly ends) and I love it. My hair feels better when I run my fingers through it - fried/split ends do not feel good. My hair just looks like it would thank me if it could.
New regimen - I detangle with conditioner in the shower, first with my Jilbere shower comb, then with the denman brush. Sometimes I rollerset, but when I don't, I blowdry using the tension method and do not use the comb attachment (EVER again). As a matter of fact, I'm throwing them out today. I put my flatiron on 370 and go through each section/piece only one time. If I straighten, its only once a week. I'm expecting great things now that I'm not breaking off all my hair.
I've only got one old pic in my fotki, but you better believe I'm updating it today with my new cut and new regimen.
I'm just getting started on my healthy hair journey, but I know that it will work. I know this is a LONG post, but I absolutely thank you ladies for what you've taught me - to detangle w/conditioner, the tension method for blowdrying, that I can get my hair straight using less heat, pincurling, and that I can rollerset natural hair.
I LOVE you guys!
Shmmr.