Straightening Today; Need "Drying" Guidance.

[MissMeWithThatIsh]

I am going to straighten my hair today.
My hair does not lack moisture, or any other problems, BUT everytime I try to "dry" my hair before I flat iron it, it becomes stiff and full of product buildup.

I am basically 98% natural... and I will be using my Maxiglide.
I would straighten while wet, but I heard it's bad for you, so I don't.
If I airdry, even in braids, it's still poofy and hard to detangle.

Ok... so natural 3/4 straightening experts, please help!

(Come on, y'all know y'all want a Fotki update!)

 

[LiLi]

My crown is 100% natural and I am a 4 a/b so I will chime in. I found that if I airdry before I want to flat iron, because my texture is rough, it does get dry and hard if I air dry -- that is a texture thing (imho). So you may need to dry on low heat with a hair dryer or sit under a dryer until it dries and then run the flat iron through it.

Also, don't go heavy on the products or your hair will be all stuck together. This is from my experience. If you sit under the dryer, try drying in bantu knots. But the most important is to chelate to cleanse the hair from the inside out and then deep condition with a moisturizing conditioner and do go heavy on the leave-ins. If you have one that you love, just use that one and don't o'd on it. Also, when you flat iron with the maxiglide do very very thin, see-through sections. hth