Straight Hair Natural's Support Thread
- Thread starter dicapr
- Start date
MzRhonda
Well-Known Member
Gorgeous....nice job!
lavaflow99
In search of the next vacation
I shouldn't have come into this thread. 
Been natural for a 13 months now and after reading a few post and seeing the lovely pics, I now want to straighten my hair. 
Been natural for a 13 months now and after reading a few post and seeing the lovely pics, I now want to straighten my hair. Thank you!
klsjackson
Well-Known Member
I am thinking of transitioning to natural and I was wondering if anyone was successful with transitioning without having to do a big chop?
I transitioned by accident. I always wore my relaxed hair flat ironed and once I bought a babyliss, I was able to get my new growth as straight as my relaxed hair so I just keep going and before I knew it, I hadnt had a touch up in 8 months.
I ended up chopping after a year and 9 months but I honestly could have went as long as I needed to. I had no breakage at the line of demarcation. I was just ready to try some “natural styles” with my curly hair and after chopping that was short lived before going back to my flat iron lol.
When I chopped I went from mbl to apl but I def could have lasted longer transitioning than the year and 9 months with no problem. The heat styling made it easy although I obviously wouldn’t advocate someone heat train if they plan to do styles like wash and goes when they go natural.
lavaflow99
In search of the next vacation
I think it can be done if you are good with a long transition. I transitioned for 2 years 8 months and by the time I decided to trim my remaining relaxed ends there wasn't much left. LOL. I took a picture of the trimmed ends. I'll see if I can attach it.
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klsjackson
Well-Known Member
I’m dealing with severe anemia and I can’t find a decent stylist right now. So until I can get my anemia under control and find a stylist I trust I will no longer self relax. I did some major damage with this last touch up. This is the second time in 2 years and I can’t go through this again.
It can definitely be done but I think you should make sure that's what you really want to do. Given your last statement about waiting till you find a good stylist and getting your anemia under control before relaxing again doesn't sound like your completely ready? I never big chopped, big chopping just wasn't for me. I had MBL hair when I decided to transition over 10 years ago. At the time didn't know it had a name, I just didn't want to relax anymore. Took me about 3 years to do it. As someone mentioned above, you'll need to decide what type of natural you want to be? Initially I was a straight haired natural for the first 7 years. I wore my hair curly sometime but predominantly straight. It wasn't until 3 years ago I switched that around and decided to where my hair curly most of the time and only straighten 3 or 4 times a year. Either way has worked for me.
Are you used to stretching your relaxers? If so maybe start there first. Even when I did relax and only did it 2 - 3 times a year so I knew how my hair behaved. I was familiar with what to do to keep breakage at bay etc.. Depending on how frequently you gave yourself touch-ups try adding another 2 weeks to your stretch to see how long you can go. I read some of your other posts in the relaxed thread and getting the anemia under control is key. I am anemic and struggled for years not understanding why I just didn't feel good. Also it was the major cause of my hair thinning. Once I finally got on a consistent iron regimen I felt like a new person. Focus on resolving that and minimize your hair focus(not neglect but simplify your routine, stretch and find easy repeatable styles that can work for you if you decide to transition). I would give myself at least 6 months before deciding. Hope this helps!
klsjackson
Well-Known Member
Yes this is great advice. I plan to just take a break right now. No more chemicals and limiting heat to twice a month. I am drying my hair under a hooded dryer and then curling with marcel irons to achieve straight hair. The next week, I just dampen my hair and pin curl to achieve a rollerset look. So that is working for now. I plan to see how this works until the end of March and then go from there. I do have an appointment with my doctor to check my iron and blood levels. I have been taking all of my meds and vitamins on a routine basis for the past month. I am praying that my anemia is getting better.
I had been stretching my relaxers for 12 to 16 weeks. I was not using heat at all other than the hooded dryer and I would roller set and wrap for straight styles. This is one reason I was so frustrated with my hair. I could not understand the breakage and shedding but I have come to realize that it is my anemia. Getting this under control is my main focus. I had been having severe headaches some lasting days, chronically fatigued and a myriad of other symptoms but I just kept putting it off, but we look at things differently when it begins to effect our hair, LOL.
Thanks for your advice and input.
Yes those are exactly the symptoms I had and still get sometimes if I've gotten lax on my meds or my period is due. I was so miserable and like you kept putting it off. I pray you start to feel better soon and your hair plan sounds like a good one! Keep us posted.
awwww, thanks luv@shtow i’ve always been a fan of your hair, so thick and pretty.will you be wearing it straight primarily?
. Yup I plan to mainly wear it straight since it’s so much easier.
klsjackson
Well-Known Member
How frequently do you ladies blow dry and flat iron your natural hair?
Aggie
Well-Known Member
I do maybe once, sometimes twice a year. I have not yet for the year and probably won't anymore this year. The last time I straightened my hair I believe was last year June so this challenge definitely does NOT suit me at the moment
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Alma Petra
Well-Known Member
intellectualuva
Well-Known Member
Im going to become a straighhaired natural for a while. Curious about how my hair would do with sabino moisture block, but cant find any that's not outrageous in price. 30 for 3oz??
Any substitutes for sabino moisture block?
Any substitutes for sabino moisture block?
Babysaffy
Well-Known Member
Hi all. It's been a long time since I posted in the hair forums but this is one of my very few bookmarked threads that I get email alerts for and I've been loving your updates and pics.
I finally gathered the energy and motivation to wash, blow dry and straighten yesterday for first time in about 2 years and first time since I cut off my remaining relaxed ends in August 2017 and became fully natural. It took me hours to do it working around dealing with my kids started between so I started washing around 1pm and finished straightening just after 10pm
I used an old anti reversion and anti humidity shampoo I found in the bathroom and used a cheap deep conditioner then a heat protection serum I've had locked away untouched for years
and leave in before blow drying and added some coconut oil after straightening then put it all in one braid for bed, wrapping in a satin scarf.
This is three years and 3 months of growth. I last relaxed just before my wedding in October 2015!
I have work a Christmas party tomorrow so I'm hoping it won't frizz up! I've enjoyed it for a few hours and sent a ton of excited pics to my friends but I'm going to braid back up and put the scarf on as I'm paranoid about it puffing
Bracing myself for the "Is that your hair??" questions at work tomorrow but will try not to get frustrated or sarcastic- used to get it all the time in my relaxed hair days so it's been a while!
Ok I'm feeling myself too much now
right!? haha here are the pics:
For some reason it would only let me upload the pics as screenshots not the jpegs directly.
I finally gathered the energy and motivation to wash, blow dry and straighten yesterday for first time in about 2 years and first time since I cut off my remaining relaxed ends in August 2017 and became fully natural. It took me hours to do it working around dealing with my kids started between so I started washing around 1pm and finished straightening just after 10pm
I used an old anti reversion and anti humidity shampoo I found in the bathroom and used a cheap deep conditioner then a heat protection serum I've had locked away untouched for years
and leave in before blow drying and added some coconut oil after straightening then put it all in one braid for bed, wrapping in a satin scarf. This is three years and 3 months of growth. I last relaxed just before my wedding in October 2015!
I have work a Christmas party tomorrow so I'm hoping it won't frizz up! I've enjoyed it for a few hours and sent a ton of excited pics to my friends but I'm going to braid back up and put the scarf on as I'm paranoid about it puffing
Bracing myself for the "Is that your hair??" questions at work tomorrow but will try not to get frustrated or sarcastic- used to get it all the time in my relaxed hair days so it's been a while!
Ok I'm feeling myself too much now
right!? haha here are the pics: For some reason it would only let me upload the pics as screenshots not the jpegs directly.
Attachments
I typically straighten 2-3 times per year. This year was 3, March/June/October I think. I typically keep it straight for 4 weeks when I do flat iron.
GettingKinky
Well-Known Member
Do any of you ladies do keratin treatments or amino acid treatments! I want to find something that will let me have straight hair and still workout. Whenever I workout my roots revert and I look like I’m wearing a bad wig.
Prettymetty
Natural/4b/medium-coarse
I do. I've used Uncurly and OK Keratin. I just bought Keragen and I'll try it when I get some free time.
GettingKinky
Well-Known Member
I have so many questions.
How many times have you done treatments?
Have you noticed any heat damage?
Have you noticed any changes to your hair over time?
Does your hair stay straight when you sweat? Does your hair revert once it wears off?
What does your hair look like if you air dry?
How long does it take you to blow dry and straighten on wash day?
I’m so interested in trying this, but I’m also really nervous. It sounds too good to be true.
Prettymetty
Natural/4b/medium-coarse
I’ve done about 10 treatments over a 2 year period.
No heat damage. Curl pattern is still in tact, just easier to comb. When wet it stretches out more if that makes sense.
When the treatment is new, nothing can revert your hair. Not even a misty day... that wears off after a month or so though.
If I air dry, my hair is big and voluminous like cotton candy. It looks like a blowout. Just detangle and it will dry however you style it (banded, braided, twisted, etc.)
I like to dc for 20 minutes under the dryer so the wash part takes 30 minutes. I can blow dry and straighten in about an hour.
GettingKinky
Well-Known Member
Thanks @Prettymetty
I’m going to give wash n gos one last try. If that doesn’t work for me, I’m going to try one of these treatments. Or see if I can get my stylist to do it for me. I’m not very good with a flat iron. Especially near my roots.
I’m going to give wash n gos one last try. If that doesn’t work for me, I’m going to try one of these treatments. Or see if I can get my stylist to do it for me. I’m not very good with a flat iron. Especially near my roots.
ckisland
Well-Known Member
So I've noticed that I can't glide my fingers or a comb through my hair. Right after I flatironed it, getting a comb through was a challenge even though my hair looked straight (but not silky straight).
I know that my ends are rough, but the resistance is starting much higher up. What does that mean?
I know that my ends are rough, but the resistance is starting much higher up. What does that mean?
ElevatedEnergy
Rooted Yet Flowing
Perhaps you may need products/ingredients (from start to finish) on wash day with the focus of smoothing the hair. What was your process?
ckisland
Well-Known Member
First I did a thorough detangling using Aussie Moist and some left over Pantene condish. I shampooed with Pantene Smooth and dc'd with Nexus Keratin and Black rice mask. I lightly sprayed on ORS heat protectant to each of my 4 sections. Then I blowdried with a brush (my hair was surprisingly soft and straightish at this point). Then I flatironed and did the chase method with my denman. I did 2 passes per section.
Maybe my hair is rough because I haven't used commercial products in over 8 weeks? I've also been exclusively wearing wash n'gos for the past month.
ElevatedEnergy
Rooted Yet Flowing
That's a possibility. Natural & DIY is great, but I remember when I was all DIY using tons of herbs/clays/ACV/AVJ/Ayurvedic powders/Coconut milk etc....my hair eventually start feeling rough & highly static. Like the cuticles would never just lay down for the hair to feel smooth. Once I added in an actual conditioner back to the mix, it did get better.
Maybe next time you plan on straightening, a few washes beforehand start adding conditioner to your hair to accompany your natural/DIY mixtures.
For now since, your hair is already straight....you may do good to add something heavy with alot of fat in it. (Shea butter or even mango butter would be great if you prefer something lighter than Shea). Put it all over, pull your hair in a bun to let it soak in for a day or two, then try again to get a comb through it. I prefer my TEK wooden brush when my hair is straight over a comb. The bristles are very forgiving and glide with the hair as you use it.
Good luck Sis!
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