Wearing "No Heat" Styles Causes My Natural Hair to Break Off!!!

[Tiye]

Moderate amounts of heat do not significantly loosen curl patterns. This is what most black people did in the first part of the 20th century. When they stopped pressing they had afros. That is because no one's hair was swing straight back then. If you need to have your hair stick/swing straight that is what causes the perma heat straightened affect.

 

[CandyCurls]

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[brucebettye]

I was having the same problem with my texlaxed hair before I started my transition. I wore my hair in buns under a phony ponytail for most of 2010 and I stopped having problems with single strand knots. I am starting to wear my hair again in a side puff since January and I learned what works for my hair to eliminate most of my single strand knots. I first moisturize my hair with scurl and then I put hair grease on the bottom length of my hair then I put water on top of that to refreshing the curls. I cannot do wash and gos on my hair because that is what gives me a head full of single strand knots. I am way to lazy to be a straight natural so I had to find out what works for my hair.

 

[helixhoney]

hmmm...maybe a heat for growth challenge should be started...

 

[levone]

Wow, so glad you started this thread, great topic to get other view points on. I've been trying to lay off my two strand twists and do more 'out' styles for this reason. Twists are more convenient since I work out 4-5 days a week, however I prefer the look of small twists which are not good for my ends (very coily). I love wearing two strand twistouts but after a workout it's toast as my hair tends to be very soft and can't stand up to any type of humidity when it's in a natural state.

Anyhow, I've been experimenting with rollersetting (curlformers mainly w/hooded dryer) as another styling option. I recently got my hair blowdried/flatironed at the salon (only the 2nd time within the past 2 years) and during those weeks I left it straight I had no breakage and it was just very low maintenance. I would throw in about 4 to 5 flexirods each night and put on my bonnet. HOWEVER, I only worked out twice during these 3 weeks, so I don't know if it would hold up to my normal workout schedule. But again, this made me want to try more styling options that would really stretch out my hair since I could see what a good impact that had on my hair.

 

[MrsHdrLe]

Wow, so glad you started this thread, great topic to get other view points on. I've been trying to lay off my two strand twists and do more 'out' styles for this reason. Twists are more convenient since I work out 4-5 days a week, however I prefer the look of small twists which are not good for my ends (very coily). I love wearing two strand twistouts but after a workout it's toast as my hair tends to be very soft and can't stand up to any type of humidity when it's in a natural state.

Anyhow, I've been experimenting with rollersetting (curlformers mainly w/hooded dryer) as another styling option. I recently got my hair blowdried/flatironed at the salon (only the 2nd time within the past 2 years) and during those weeks I left it straight I had no breakage and it was just very low maintenance. I would throw in about 4 to 5 flexirods each night and put on my bonnet. HOWEVER, I only worked out twice during these 3 weeks, so I don't know if it would hold up to my normal workout schedule. But again, this made me want to try more styling options that would really stretch out my hair since I could see what a good impact that had on my hair.

I also think my hair seems easier and suffers less breakage while straight, but I am conflicted, b/c years of straigtening is what also kept me between sl and apl. I don't know, sometimes I just want to cut it all off, but i don't have the face or head for that business. I will be watching you ladies' progress though to help me fighure this hair thing out.

As it pertains to the quote above, I work out too and hate the feeling that I can't have a bangin body AND beautiful hair. But with my genetics, I realize that I can't straighten too much b/c it would be a waste, and since I'm fast approaching "The Fabulous Forties", I HAVE to stay on my workout game.

 

[Crystalicequeen123]

Awwww....This is a little discouraging to me.

I just BC'd in October of last year, and I was looking forward to having my hair grow long in it's "natural" state, and not worry about heat straightening my hair for the first year or two being natural.

But now after reading most of the replies on this board, I'm getting the impression that it's almost next to IMPOSSIBLE to grow long 4a/b hair without straightening it in SOME form or fashion.


*Sigh* I really don't want to be a "heat trained" natural, and I wasn't even planning on using heat on my hair at all this year. But now....I'm wondering....if my hair gets longer and longer, will it get harder and HARDER to avoid knots and retain length? *sigh*

 

[helixhoney]

^^ There are plenty of 4a/b naturals on this board who don't use heat and their hair thrives. You'll have to get to know your hair and see which side of the fence you'll stand

 

[labellenoire]

Just to add to a lot of the ladies here, I too am glad that Pooh started this thread because heaven knows I've tried to keep my hair moisturised and breakage free in its natural state but all I get is DRY TANGLED BROKEN hair. I felt guilty because I thought I was not trying hard enough and it's reassuring to know that I am not alone with this dilemma.

I've been in straight or blow dryed hair since the end of November and my hair has responded positively. I've mastered my straightening technique and I feel less stressed about my hair. As for twists and braids (and their 'outs'). They just look awful on me - too thin and a bit 'gappy' - so to speak. When I try their 'outs', I just end up with a frizzy mess.

I don't want to always straighten my hair because I love all the hair styles that a lot of the naturals try. However, I refuse to compromise the condition of my hair for styles. So, until I can find a way to change the way my hair responds to twists/twist outs and braid/braid-outs, I think I will be sticking with straight hair for now. Thanks again Pooh for sharing

 

[chevere62]

Have yall tried to keep your hair straight via other methods? I know I usually band and that gets my hair straight enough so that I can work with it and bun it throughout the week. What about braids? I know they stretch the hair out way more than twists (I always have had problems with shrinkage with twist). I know the one time I tried 3 strand twist it really helped create a tighter bond so my hair did not shrink up as much. Curlformers are also useful for stretching out the hair and giving a rollerset look. I usually stretch my hair with the extra wide ones, wear it for a couple of days, then bun. Don't give up yet poohbear!

 

[lovegymnasts]

Awwww....This is a little discouraging to me.

I just BC'd in October of last year, and I was looking forward to having my hair grow long in it's "natural" state, and not worry about heat straightening my hair for the first year or two being natural.

But now after reading most of the replies on this board, I'm getting the impression that it's almost next to IMPOSSIBLE to grow long 4a/b hair without straightening it in SOME form or fashion.


*Sigh* I really don't want to be a "heat trained" natural, and I wasn't even planning on using heat on my hair at all this year. But now....I'm wondering....if my hair gets longer and longer, will it get harder and HARDER to avoid knots and retain length? *sigh*

Heat is not necessary.
After a lifetime of dry brittleness, my hair is so soft now that it makes my heart melt and I will have moments of total awe and amazement.
Really!

I have never straightened my hair and truly have no plans to until I hit at least waist length and that is just to see what it looks like.

If someone wants to use heat to straighten their hair that is great but it is not necessary to be able to grow long natural hair.

Yes, type 4 hair gets single strand knots but that is a natural characteristic of our hair. Yes, I believe in minimizing them but I am not going to get frustrated with my hair because it is doing something that by it's very nature it is supposed to do.

I think that is like getting mad at a baby for crying. You would like to minimize it but that is what a baby does. There is no benefit in letting it frustrate you.

And yes, I also think that many times the impression is made that you can not grow long natural hair without heat.

 

[Nonie]

Awwww....This is a little discouraging to me.

I just BC'd in October of last year, and I was looking forward to having my hair grow long in it's "natural" state, and not worry about heat straightening my hair for the first year or two being natural.

But now after reading most of the replies on this board, I'm getting the impression that it's almost next to IMPOSSIBLE to grow long 4a/b hair without straightening it in SOME form or fashion.


*Sigh* I really don't want to be a "heat trained" natural, and I wasn't even planning on using heat on my hair at all this year. But now....I'm wondering....if my hair gets longer and longer, will it get harder and HARDER to avoid knots and retain length? *sigh*

Heat is not necessary.
After a lifetime of dry brittleness, my hair is so soft now that it makes my heart melt and I will have moments of total awe and amazement.
Really!

I have never straightened my hair and truly have no plans to until I hit at least waist length and that is just to see what it looks like.

If someone wants to use heat to straighten their hair that is great but it is not necessary to be able to grow long natural hair.

Yes, type 4 hair gets single strand knots but that is a natural characteristic of our hair. Yes, I believe in minimizing them but I am not going to get frustrated with my hair because it is doing something that by it's very nature it is supposed to do.

I think that is like getting mad at a baby for crying. You would like to minimize it but that is what a baby does. There is no benefit in letting it frustrate you.

And yes, I also think that many times the impression is made that you can not grow long natural hair without heat.

I couldn't agree more.

Crystalicequeen, I don't straighten my hair often so you CAN go two years w/o straightening your hair. I did. And that doesn't mean you cannot wear it stretched w/o using heat. As I posted before, I can wear my hair in a very short, shrunken puff:

Or I can braid it and use a non-water-based moisturizer like coconut oil and braid it to stretch it and enjoy a bigger puff:

Subsequent braiding would stretch it even more.

 

[Etherealsmile]

I am loving this thread, bumping for more response

 

[Poohbear]

Have yall tried to keep your hair straight via other methods? I know I usually band and that gets my hair straight enough so that I can work with it and bun it throughout the week. What about braids? I know they stretch the hair out way more than twists (I always have had problems with shrinkage with twist). I know the one time I tried 3 strand twist it really helped create a tighter bond so my hair did not shrink up as much. Curlformers are also useful for stretching out the hair and giving a rollerset look. I usually stretch my hair with the extra wide ones, wear it for a couple of days, then bun. Don't give up yet poohbear!

Are you talking about braids on my real hair or fake braids? Braids on my real hair do not keep my hair straight. Whenever I braid my hair up, the ends curve up and eventually shrink. I also do not like how braids look on me because I have fine stranded hair and my scalp shows. I've also tried putting my braided hair in a bun and it doesn't look good to me either. I've seen it look good on other people's hair but not mine. Everytime I've braided my hair which will take 4 hours, I would take it down after 3 days because I hate how it looks. That's just me. I don't have full thick hair. I've never had fake braids and do not want to wear fake hair. Never tried curlformers but I have tried rollersets. My hair eventually frizzes up from rollersets. I'm not giving up, I'm just tired of the manipulation I have to do with natural hair styles.

 

[Poohbear]

Oh goodness....this scares me. I do not want to be a heat straightened natural. Time to get a plan together.

Awwww....This is a little discouraging to me.

I just BC'd in October of last year, and I was looking forward to having my hair grow long in it's "natural" state, and not worry about heat straightening my hair for the first year or two being natural.

But now after reading most of the replies on this board, I'm getting the impression that it's almost next to IMPOSSIBLE to grow long 4a/b hair without straightening it in SOME form or fashion.


*Sigh* I really don't want to be a "heat trained" natural, and I wasn't even planning on using heat on my hair at all this year. But now....I'm wondering....if my hair gets longer and longer, will it get harder and HARDER to avoid knots and retain length? *sigh*

Shay72 and Crystalicequeen123, don't let this thread discourage you. I'm just talking about my own hair here. I'm just tired of the manipulation with natural hair styles. If you do not care about shrinkage or how your hair looks in certain styles, then don't worry about what I'm saying here.

I love the look of twistouts and puffs and such, but I'm tired of the nightly twisting to get it to look the way I want. I know some people mentioned wearing a bun to retain but I hate wearing buns! I've tried wearing my hair in a bun for a good amount of time, but it has a damper on my mood for some odd reason. I like wearing my hair either down or out. Plus I have to re-do my bun everyday which I do not like to do.

By the way, my hair is not the cottony type... my hair is wiry.

 

[Minty]

great for you ladies. I'm sure this will help someone who is struggling (and there are ALOT) in silence.

Just a note..if you do not have experience with a flatiron, please practice for a long while before posting "it gives you damage!" or any thing along those lines.

It takes alot of practice to be able to effective straighten crinkled,kinky,coily hair.

Start on the lowest heat setting possible and practice practice practice. Practice and patience, works everytime.

 

[Poohbear]

great for you ladies. I'm sure this will help someone who is struggling (and there are ALOT) in silence.

Just a note..if you do not have experience with a flatiron, please practice for a long while before posting "it gives you damage!" or any thing along those lines.

It takes alot of practice to be able to effective straighten crinkled,kinky,coily hair.

Start on the lowest heat setting possible and practice practice practice. Practice and patience, works everytime.

I totally agree!

When I first used a flat-iron on my natural hair, my ends looked horrible... I thought my hair was damaged or could not be straightened very good, but I was wrong... now, I can get my ends very smooth with just 1 to 2 passes with the flatiron.

 

[ms.blue]

As a natural myself, I realize heat in moderation is my friend. The heat straightening minimizes the amount of ssk and hair tangling that comes with having tightly coiled hair.

 

[sensi sweetie]

No heat styles broke off my hair too

Especially buns!! I would do coiled buns thinking no heat was helping my hair, only for it to thin out so much in those 6 months

I also think being over zealous with cowashing/dcing/prepooing etc did not help my hair. All those things are important, but for me cowashing multiple times a week and prepooing everytime I washed was simply too much manipulation for my hair

I am going back to KISS. Do things when I feel as though my hair needs it, not constantly attack it with oils, condish, masks etc. I am also going to blowdry because I go through too much manipulation trying to make my natural hair look right. I am going to try this for 6 months. I will probably still wear my hair natural on occasion though (I love curls!) We'll see how it goes.

 

[Stella B.]

I totally agree with you Poohbear. I noticed the straighter that I can keep my hair from shampoo to shampoo translates into less tangles, knots and breakage for me. The question becomes, what method are you using to get your hair straight enough for you to create your daily styles? (banding, air drying, blow drying, pressing)...lots of options to choose, just depends on how "straight' you want your hair to be. Since my goal is to become a straightened natural, I will be learning to use the flat iron with temperature control, and monitor the frequency I apply heat to my hair. I started adding heat towards the end of last year, and already I can tell the difference. My hair likes heat. I just have to learn how to straighten with it and not overdo it.

 

[labellenoire]

Are you talking about braids on my real hair or fake braids? Braids on my real hair do not keep my hair straight. Whenever I braid my hair up, the ends curve up and eventually shrink. I also do not like how braids look on me because I have fine stranded hair and my scalp shows. I've also tried putting my braided hair in a bun and it doesn't look good to me either. I've seen it look good on other people's hair but not mine. Everytime I've braided my hair which will take 4 hours, I would take it down after 3 days because I hate how it looks. That's just me. I don't have full thick hair. I've never had fake braids and do not want to wear fake hair. Never tried curlformers but I have tried rollersets. My hair eventually frizzes up from rollersets. I'm not giving up, I'm just tired of the manipulation I have to do with natural hair styles.

I so agree with you. This is a problem I have been facing for ages and I've kept mum about it only because I thought I was the only one experiencing this. Seriously, many thanks again for this thread.

 

[labellenoire]

I totally agree!

When I first used a flat-iron on my natural hair, my ends looked horrible... I thought my hair was damaged or could not be straightened very good, but I was wrong... now, I can get my ends very smooth with just 1 to 2 passes with the flatiron.

I agree with learning the technique. I had the same problem with my first straightening since becoming natural. I was horrified by the look of my ends. It turned out my technique was just awful. Now though, I get my hair straight and 'swanging' with just one pass on my GHD straightener. When I wash my hair out, my curls revert right back to their normal state and I don't have to deal with tangles because I throughly detangle and section my hair off prior to washing out the straight hair

 

[Shay72]

Awwww....This is a little discouraging to me.

I just BC'd in October of last year, and I was looking forward to having my hair grow long in it's "natural" state, and not worry about heat straightening my hair for the first year or two being natural.

But now after reading most of the replies on this board, I'm getting the impression that it's almost next to IMPOSSIBLE to grow long 4a/b hair without straightening it in SOME form or fashion.


*Sigh* I really don't want to be a "heat trained" natural, and I wasn't even planning on using heat on my hair at all this year. But now....I'm wondering....if my hair gets longer and longer, will it get harder and HARDER to avoid knots and retain length? *sigh*

You & I are on the same page.

^^ There are plenty of 4a/b naturals on this board who don't use heat and their hair thrives. You'll have to get to know your hair and see which side of the fence you'll stand

Makes a lot of sense.

Heat is not necessary.
After a lifetime of dry brittleness, my hair is so soft now that it makes my heart melt and I will have moments of total awe and amazement.
Really!

I have never straightened my hair and truly have no plans to until I hit at least waist length and that is just to see what it looks like.

If someone wants to use heat to straighten their hair that is great but it is not necessary to be able to grow long natural hair.

Yes, type 4 hair gets single strand knots but that is a natural characteristic of our hair. Yes, I believe in minimizing them but I am not going to get frustrated with my hair because it is doing something that by it's very nature it is supposed to do.

I think that is like getting mad at a baby for crying. You would like to minimize it but that is what a baby does. There is no benefit in letting it frustrate you.

And yes, I also think that many times the impression is made that you can not grow long natural hair without heat.

Thank you. Honestly I have no interest in ever straightening my hair unless someone can tell me I have to for a very specific reason. I plan to always wear it curly, braided, or twisted. So I figure I would only need to get my hair cut curly because I plan to wear it curly. Once I decided to go natural length wasn't important any longer. I have no interest in seeing my hair straight because I was relaxed for 25 years and never really liked my hair. I love it now. I refuse to "define" my curls/coils. I'm a 4a they are quite defined.I guess you can say I'm a natural nazi but only for my head of hair .

Shay72 and Crystalicequeen123, don't let this thread discourage you. I'm just talking about my own hair here. I'm just tired of the manipulation with natural hair styles. If you do not care about shrinkage or how your hair looks in certain styles, then don't worry about what I'm saying here.

I love the look of twistouts and puffs and such, but I'm tired of the nightly twisting to get it to look the way I want. I know some people mentioned wearing a bun to retain but I hate wearing buns! I've tried wearing my hair in a bun for a good amount of time, but it has a damper on my mood for some odd reason. I like wearing my hair either down or out. Plus I have to re-do my bun everyday which I do not like to do.

By the way, my hair is not the cottony type... my hair is wiry.

Thank you for this post.

 

[Iluvsmuhgrass]

Warning. I ramble.

I haven't been natural for as long as alot of you ladies have so I don't have as much to work with but I've found that I have to listen to my grass. It actually likes co-washes and leave ins. Simplicity with DC's thrown in for good measure. I air dry in twists mostly but on occasion I'll do a blow out with minimum heat or stretch it with old school twisted ponytails.

This winter I've experienced more breakage and shedding (never more than a few strands to a nickel size worth) but I KNOW that this is the season that's hardest on my hair.

As far as SSK's.... I've found that yes they are typical for kinky coiled type 4 hair HOWEVER some of these ARE product related. I tried random products some natural some not that left my grass not matted or tangled but literally tying up onto itself. The wild part is, it only happened with one particular texture. The weird one at my crown, which is 4ab. I mentioned this before and I got looked at like I was crazy. But I when I wore WNG's (too cold to do it now) I didn't have a problem with ssk's. When I started product swapping and what not trying to find something totally natural that would help... the hell began. When I went back to old faithful's... everything went back to normal. Strange but true.

In short, I don't use alot of heat but it's because too much is damaging. I think we tend to get so wrapped up in the OMG MUST HAVE HEALTHY LONG HAIR syndrome that we do what others think is best for our own head of hair. I think that's the wrong thing to do. I read everything with a grain of salt. I take into account MY head of hair, the many textures, and that I know (and am still learning) what it does/doesn't like. I can read what someone else says, ponder it, and tweak it so that it's more suitable to MY hair.

We can respectfully toss ideas around to each other all day long and try to help one another (which is one reason I adore this site) but at the end of the day no one else has to deal with our hair. With that said, if using heat helps your hair... by all means do what's right for YOU.

 

[**SaSSy**]

It's good you found a regime that is working for you. Some people can't air-dry their hair loose, or without any heat at all. I know personally with my hair, it thrives best with little to no heat and manipulation.

 

[nestlequik]

Could someone tell me the technique of how to get my ends straight? I definitely had those crunchy looking ends the last time I tried.

 

[beana]

I'm transitioning to natural and plan to wear my hair heat straightened 80% of the time. I had very little success airdrying with chemically relaxed hair and doubt i'd have success with my natural hair. I will give it a try, however i'm not one of those people who tries to make popular board methods work for my hair at the cost of ignoring what my hair is telling me to do... If it fails me twice... i'm over it and sticking to what works for me.

Thanks for posting this pooh!

 

[Crystalicequeen123]

^^ There are plenty of 4a/b naturals on this board who don't use heat and their hair thrives. You'll have to get to know your hair and see which side of the fence you'll stand

Thanks Helixhoney...

Heat is not necessary.
After a lifetime of dry brittleness, my hair is so soft now that it makes my heart melt and I will have moments of total awe and amazement.Really!

I have never straightened my hair and truly have no plans to until I hit at least waist length and that is just to see what it looks like.

If someone wants to use heat to straighten their hair that is great but it is not necessary to be able to grow long natural hair.

Yes, type 4 hair gets single strand knots but that is a natural characteristic of our hair. Yes, I believe in minimizing them but I am not going to get frustrated with my hair because it is doing something that by it's very nature it is supposed to do.

I think that is like getting mad at a baby for crying. You would like to minimize it but that is what a baby does. There is no benefit in letting it frustrate you.

And yes, I also think that many times the impression is made that you can not grow long natural hair without heat.

Umm...you mind telling us your secret Lovegymnasts?

Shay72 and Crystalicequeen123, don't let this thread discourage you. I'm just talking about my own hair here. I'm just tired of the manipulation with natural hair styles. If you do not care about shrinkage or how your hair looks in certain styles, then don't worry about what I'm saying here.

I love the look of twistouts and puffs and such, but I'm tired of the nightly twisting to get it to look the way I want. I know some people mentioned wearing a bun to retain but I hate wearing buns! I've tried wearing my hair in a bun for a good amount of time, but it has a damper on my mood for some odd reason. I like wearing my hair either down or out. Plus I have to re-do my bun everyday which I do not like to do.

By the way, my hair is not the cottony type... my hair is wiry.

Thanks Pooh!


Hey, you gotta do what's best for you!

I meant to ask you if you've ever tried rollersetting? I was wondering because I'm guessing this would sort of stretch your natural hair some, but it probably won't be as "shocking" to your hair as direct heat from a flat iron. Have you ever tried rollersetting natural hair?

I'm actually going to attempt to rollerset my own natural hair tonight for the FIRST time and see how it goes. There has to be something OTHER than two-strand twists, WNG's and flat-ironing. I'm getting sick and tired of two-strand twists.

 

[EllePixie]

Hey Pooh, thanks so much for sharing and I definitely agree with you regarding manipulation and breakage. For me, low manipulation is KEY and I have been retaining length well. I have some SSKs, but not an abundant amount because I keep my hair as moisturized as possible. I do wash n gos daily and only manipulate my hair lightly when I style (I add product in two sections now by smoothing/scrunching it in), and put my hair in puffs at night to keep my hair from matting against my head. A lot of people have asked about tangling from wearing my hair out all the time, but since I cowash daily, I lightly detangle my hair with lots of condish under running water to keep it from getting too tangled, which is another reason why I opt for daily styling rather than stretching wngs for 5+ days.

I agree that doing twists often, especially each night, is a lot of manipulation. Every time I have tried a style, the manipulation caused some breakage since I had to detangle/stretch my hair. I love my pony puff but quickly realized that wearing my hair like this caused major tangles in the middle of my head because the hair was all grouped together and shrinking. Any style with blow drying causes breakage for me (RIP big blown out fro), even if I blow dry on low, so I stored my blow dryer away.

My main thing is that I just let my hair do what it wants to do - trying to "change" my hair in any way can be a risk.

To the others on the thread who do not want to be heat trained and retain length, please don't get discouraged. You just have to learn what your hair can take.

 

[Poohbear]

Could someone tell me the technique of how to get my ends straight? I definitely had those crunchy looking ends the last time I tried.

For MY hair, I HAVE to use some type of thick grease to get my ends straight like Proclaim or Ultra Sheen. I've tried using other products mentioned on the forum but it did not work for me. Some naturals can get away without using any products at all prior to flat-ironing. I can't. My hair will just turn into a fro if I didn't use grease. Not sure what your natural hair texture is but mine is 4a/b, fine strands, wiry, about 80% shrinkage, and very tightly coiled.

Thanks Pooh!

Hey, you gotta do what's best for you!

I meant to ask you if you've ever tried rollersetting? I was wondering because I'm guessing this would sort of stretch your natural hair some, but it probably won't be as "shocking" to your hair as direct heat from a flat iron. Have you ever tried rollersetting natural hair?

I'm actually going to attempt to rollerset my own natural hair tonight for the FIRST time and see how it goes. There has to be something OTHER than two-strand twists, WNG's and flat-ironing. I'm getting sick and tired of two-strand twists.

Yes I have tried rollersetting but it does not keep my natural hair silky smooth. My hair strands will eventually revert which will cause my hair strands to tangle/matt together.

Two-strand twists don't look right on me anymore. They were fine when my hair was shorter but now that my hair is longer and has different lengths, they don't look right to me. And I haven't tried a wash-n-go in years... I'm afraid to now.

I guess we went natural for different reasons... I went natural to stop using relaxers, not necessarily to give up wearing straighten hair or stop using heat. I never bought into the whole "straight hair = European beauty". Never knew about it until visiting hair forums online. I like seeing length to my hair. I'm trying to grow it out anyway so I can wear it straightened when it gets longer. What good does it do to keep your hair in braids, twists, and buns when you really want to wear your hair down or out? I also do not feel like heat is bad for your hair. Yes it can damage it, so can other things like constant manipulation like I've been doing for years. I think with heat, it's all about moderation. I will only be using heat once a month or every 4-6 weeks (I'm an infrequent hair washer).