Straight Hair Natural's Support Thread

[syrk]

I flat ironed my hair for the first time since Oct 2017 last weekend. I thought that by staying away from heat and the manipulation of blowdrying that my hair would flourish and I'd retain so much length. So I didn't touch a flat iron for over a year and cut off all of my heat damaged ends only to learn that wearing my 4b hair out just results in a constant cycle of single strand knots >trim >single strand knots >trim .

When I straightened my hair this weekend it didn't come out that great. It was difficult to get my ends straight. The whole process is much harder without my old heat damaged ends. I think next time I'll have a professional do it. I've been watching a ton of natural hair silk press videos on Youtube and they make it look so easy. I think I found someone in the area that looks promising. I want to protective style hardcore for a least 2 more months though, then I'll go to her and see how much length I've retained.

If I do continue to straighten going forward, I'll just do it smarter this time. I used to flat iron every week, usually on high heat which was my downfall . I think I'll ease back into it, once a month max and at lower temps if i'm doing it myself.

 

[sunflora]

Do any of you all straighten just by doing a cold-air blowout and then styling?

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

I flat ironed my hair for the first time since Oct 2017 last weekend. I thought that by staying away from heat and the manipulation of blowdrying that my hair would flourish and I'd retain so much length. So I didn't touch a flat iron for over a year and cut off all of my heat damaged ends only to learn that wearing my 4b hair out just results in a constant cycle of single strand knots >trim >single strand knots >trim .

When I straightened my hair this weekend it didn't come out that great. It was difficult to get my ends straight. The whole process is much harder without my old heat damaged ends. I think next time I'll have a professional do it. I've been watching a ton of natural hair silk press videos on Youtube and they make it look so easy. I think I found someone in the area that looks promising. I want to protective style hardcore for a least 2 more months though, then I'll go to her and see how much length I've retained.

If I do continue to straighten going forward, I'll just do it smarter this time. I used to flat iron every week, usually on high heat which was my downfall . I think I'll ease back into it, once a month max and at lower temps if i'm doing it myself.

This would probably work very well. I allow myself a heat pass once a month though I hardly use it...usually once every other month....but the point is it's there for the taking if I want it.

You are right in that lower temps will definitely reduce your chances of damage. I usually flat iron on 320 (one slow pass) and my hair gets very straight.

Also finding a way to eliminate double heat is great. I never blow dry (don't own one...never will). I roller set instead.

 

[ckisland]

Bumping!
Are there any hair updates?

I've been officially on my straight hair journey since May. There was a big learning curve at the beginning, so I'll have to trim off that damage over time. But my hair has been ao easy to manage. It stays mositurized without me using any leave-ins, just DC's and serums!

Here's my progress since May to today

 

[Babysaffy]

Bumping!
Are there any hair updates?

I've been officially on my straight hair journey since May. There was a big learning curve at the beginning, so I'll have to trim off that damage over time. But my hair has been ao easy to manage. It stays mositurized without me using any leave-ins, just DC's and serums!

Here's my progress since May to today

View attachment 451773 View attachment 451775

Great progress! Your hair looks very healthy.

This is great to see now as I'm tentatively starting to experiment with possibly straightening my hair fortnightly and yesterday I washed blow dried and lightly straightened it leaving in a lot of texture as it would have taken too long to get it bone straight.
What products do you use and how long does your hair stay straight?
Do you wear it down most of the time?

I last properly straightened my hair back in December using the comb chase method and in all the washing drying and straightening process took almost the whole day. I have an and and a two year old so I don't have too much time to spend on getting my hair looking perfect. Is there any tool you would recommend. My hair dryer isn't great and pik attachment I bought separately doesn't fit well lool

Thanks for sharing. I look forward to more updates.

 

[ckisland]

Thank you so much!!

ORS has been my go to line for straightening my hair

Shampoo: ORS Creamy Aloe shampoo or Equate (Tresemme dup) Keratin shampoo
Conditioners: ORS Hairepair coconut and baobab, EBW Split End Repair Masque or (if I'm lazy) Equate Keratin Conditioner
Leave-in: none
Serums: ORS Heat Protectant Serum with Coconut oil and Cantu Anti-frizz oil

Tools: Conair Infiniti Pro flatiron and Conair 1875 blowdryer
Time: about 2 hrs start to finish to 2.5 hrs if I'm using the EBW conditioner
I don't use anything fancy, but when I started wearing my hair straight, I was straightening at 455 . Now that my hair is "heat trained," I've gone down to 419. I've also started wearing my hair just blowdried more often. I wear my hair down like 85% of the time, and I love it.

My hair stays straight for up to 3 weeks, but I usually go 2 because of my scalp itching.

I hope that this was helpful!

 

[Babysaffy]

Thank you so much!!

ORS has been my go to line for straightening my hair

Shampoo: ORS Creamy Aloe shampoo or Equate (Tresemme dup) Keratin shampoo
Conditioners: ORS Hairepair coconut and baobab, EBW Split End Repair Masque or (if I'm lazy) Equate Keratin Conditioner
Leave-in: none
Serums: ORS Heat Protectant Serum with Coconut oil and Cantu Anti-frizz oil

Tools: Conair Infiniti Pro flatiron and Conair 1875 blowdryer
Time: about 2 hrs start to finish to 2.5 hrs if I'm using the EBW conditioner
I don't use anything fancy, but when I started wearing my hair straight, I was straightening at 455 . Now that my hair is "heat trained," I've gone down to 419. I've also started wearing my hair just blowdried more often. I wear my hair down like 85% of the time, and I love it.

My hair stays straight for up to 3 weeks, but I usually go 2 because of my scalp itching.

I hope that this was helpful!

Wonderful thanks this was very helpful ! The only product I already have is the Ors heat protectant serum will slowly look into trying the rest

 

[ckisland]

I straightened my hair 2 nights ago, and I used a spray heat protectant for maybe the second time ever. I used Tresemme's heat spray and it claims to protect hair up to 450 degrees. I sprayed before blow drying and on each section again before flatironing. I did 1 pass at 455. There was some burnt smell while doing my hair, but I only smelt it very very lightly the next day. And I don't smell anything at all today!! My hair came out very light and airy, which is kinda different. I like it though. My hair is very soft, smooth and super dark.

 

[levette]

Ian it better to be a straight haired natural versus relaxing . What has been your experience with this

 

[ckisland]

Ian it better to be a straight haired natural versus relaxing . What has been your experience with this

Out of the 12 years I've been natural, I spent 12 weeks relaxed several years in. For my scalp, relaxers cause horrible dandruff and flaking. My hair actually wasn't easier to deal with, and I still needed to flatiron it to get it straight.
My straightened hair hasn't been a hassle at all. It's easy to wash and detangle. It takes me under 2 hours to do my hair from start to finish and it can last 2-3 weeks. Plus, I take breaks by doing perm rod sets and braid'n curl type styles.

I got the same amount of breakage from both I think, but I'm not gentle with my hair at all.

 

[ckisland]

I straightened 2 days ago, and used the Tresemme heat protectant again. Can you say staple!! I wonder where I could have been at with the length of my hair, if I had been using it all along. It gives great heat protection! I did a 1-1.5 inch trim, and I'm in love with my hair all over again.

 

[ckisland]

The whole time I've been wearing my hair straight, I never wrapped it. I would sleep with a high ponytail if I wanted to keep it straight. This week I've wrapped my hair 4-5 times and it's come out great!! It lays perfectly and my roots haven't reverted at all in the back! I think I want to wash my hair every 2 weeks so that it doesn't get the chance to get dry. I'm thinking of going between pin curls and wrapping for this second week.

 

[BeautifulRoots]

I straightened 2 days ago, and used the Tresemme heat protectant again. Can you say staple!! I wonder where I could have been at with the length of my hair, if I had been using it all along. It gives great heat protection! I did a 1-1.5 inch trim, and I'm in love with my hair all over again.

View attachment 452719

Gorgeous hair!

 

[ckisland]

@BeautifulRoots Thank you!!!

 

[Britt]

Ian it better to be a straight haired natural versus relaxing . What has been your experience with this

I'd say heat training, but depends on your hair.
I asked a hairdresser this and she told me hell no she wouldn't relax my hair, that she'd refer me elsewhere. She said my hair would be too fine and real lack body. I'm tinkering with this, trying to figure it out.

 

[shtow]

*blows dust off account* Hey ladies! I took a break from this forum but renewed my membership. Just posting a hair update after doing my hair yesterday. It’s been a little over a year since my big chop and I’ve worn my hair straight 100 percent of the time. I also haven’t trimmed my hair, which I know is horrible but with all the natural layers from my chop I was so scared it would be uneven. Anywho, onto the pics.

Here’s my hair wet with no product. My texture has definitely loosened aka heat damage. I suspect some of the loosening may be due to length but I know for sure since using the revlon paddle blow dryer it has loosened more. I really don’t mind since I only wear my hair straight anyway.
Here’s my hair after straightening

 

[IDareT'sHair]

@shtow


Happy to See You Sis!

Your Hair + =

 

[shtow]

@shtow


Happy to See You Sis!

Your Hair + =

Thanks!!!
Right back at ya sis! I’ve missed my girls!

 

[GettingKinky]

@shtow your hair is beautiful curly and straight.

 

[ckisland]

@shtow Oh my gosh!!! Your hair is absolutely gorgeous #goals

 

[GGsKin]

@shtow Gorgeous!!!

 

[ckisland]

Just read through the thread about cowashing relaxed hair everyday and I'm intrigued. I still get a good amount of breakage, and I don't really pay much attention to my new growth. I'm down for getting some better length retention. I wouldn't wet my hair daily since my hair holds moisture very well and used to get mushy easily. I might play around with it, and probably go between flattwist outs and bantu knotouts.

 

[syrk]

Beautiful @shtow! Curious, what temperature do you usually flat iron with?

 

[shtow]

Beautiful @shtow! Curious, what temperature do you usually flat iron with?

thanks! I flat iron on 430.

 

[SAPNK]

Hey, I'm considering becoming a blow dry natural, because my hair can take up to 2-3 days to dry in twists and other stretching methods. It doesnt matter if I'm wearing twists that week, but if I want to stretch it out for a different style, that's too long to wait for one style, lol.
How long does it take you to blow out your hair and what method do you use?

 

[Theresamonet]

*blows dust off account* Hey ladies! I took a break from this forum but renewed my membership. Just posting a hair update after doing my hair yesterday. It’s been a little over a year since my big chop and I’ve worn my hair straight 100 percent of the time. I also haven’t trimmed my hair, which I know is horrible but with all the natural layers from my chop I was so scared it would be uneven. Anywho, onto the pics.

Here’s my hair wet with no product. My texture has definitely loosened aka heat damage. I suspect some of the loosening may be due to length but I know for sure since using the revlon paddle blow dryer it has loosened more. I really don’t mind since I only wear my hair straight anyway.
View attachment 453005Here’s my hair after straightening
View attachment 453007

Gorgeous! Welcome back. Your hair growth for 1 year is amazing. What is your full regimen?

 

[shtow]

Gorgeous! Welcome back. Your hair growth for 1 year is amazing. What is your full regimen?

Thank you!!! My regimen is pretty simple.

I basically wait as long as possible to wash my hair because I’m lazy and it takes forever. So I usually wash every 2-4 weeks with selsun blue.

I deep condition in the shower for 10-15 minutes with keracare thermal wonder prepoo (its a prepoo but makes an excellent dc that penetrates without heat).

I use Ion heat protecting spray and blow dry with the revlon paddle dryer. I flat iron with the babyliss 1” on 430. My first pass is comb chase and the second pass I curl the hair a little, especially at the ends - this gets the ends smooth.

I sleep with a satin durag and bonnet and either wrap or use flexi rods. I don’t put any other products in my hair after wash day other than a little edge control (she is bomb) sometimes.

I also use clarifying shampoo (Paul Mitchell shampoo 2 or 3 preferred) and aphogee 2 minute reconstructor every few months or so.

 

[shtow]

Hey, I'm considering becoming a blow dry natural, because my hair can take up to 2-3 days to dry in twists and other stretching methods. It doesnt matter if I'm wearing twists that week, but if I want to stretch it out for a different style, that's too long to wait for one style, lol.
How long does it take you to blow out your hair and what method do you use?

When I blow dry my hair with the revlon paddle blow dryer, it takes about 30 minutes. I normally section my hair in 4 sections and then split each section into 2 when I blow dry. Napatural (sp) on YouTube has a great tutorial on how to use the blow dryer. If works best if you hold it vertically because mostly of the air comes out the top. I also toggle it a little at the root to get the roots dry. HTH.

 

[SAPNK]

When I blow dry my hair with the revlon paddle blow dryer, it takes about 30 minutes. I normally section my hair in 4 sections and then split each section into 2 when I blow dry. Napatural (sp) on YouTube has a great tutorial on how to use the blow dryer. If works best if you hold it vertically because mostly of the air comes out the top. I also toggle it a little at the root to get the roots dry. HTH.

Thanks. I have that dryer, but I haven't used it yet. I'll check out her video.

 

[Theresamonet]

Thank you!!! My regimen is pretty simple.

I basically wait as long as possible to wash my hair because I’m lazy and it takes forever. So I usually wash every 2-4 weeks with selsun blue.

I deep condition in the shower for 10-15 minutes with keracare thermal wonder prepoo (its a prepoo but makes an excellent dc that penetrates without heat).

I use Ion heat protecting spray and blow dry with the revlon paddle dryer. I flat iron with the babyliss 1” on 430. My first pass is comb chase and the second pass I curl the hair a little, especially at the ends - this gets the ends smooth.

I sleep with a satin durag and bonnet and either wrap or use flexi rods. I don’t put any other products in my hair after wash day other than a little edge control (she is bomb) sometimes.

I also use clarifying shampoo (Paul Mitchell shampoo 2 or 3 preferred) and aphogee 2 minute reconstructor every few months or so.

Thanks! That pre poo sounds interesting. I’ll have to give it a try.