Which First: A Steamer Or Bkt?

[YvetteWithJoy]

Ladies, if you were struggling with serious tangling, which would you invest in first and why: A standing steamer or a keratin treatment?

And . . . I do know there are a lot of other things to do and attempt regarding tangling. I'm just asking about these two (steamer and BKT) because I will invest in one or other soon.

Thanks in advance!

(I'm leaning toward the steamer.)

 

[Cattypus1]

I love my steamer. I've had it about a year and I wouldn't give it up. It does a great job of helping my conditioner penetrate. I did recently get a Chi enviro treatment which is supposed to be healthier for you than any flavor of "BKT". I would still get the steamer because that is lasting treatment versus the temporary BKT.

 

[YvetteWithJoy]

I love my steamer. I've had it about a year and I wouldn't give it up. It does a great job of helping my conditioner penetrate. I did recently get a Chi enviro treatment which is supposed to be healthier for you than any flavor of "BKT". I would still get the steamer because that is lasting treatment versus the temporary BKT.

Thanks, @Cattypus1. They are both not cheap. It's hard deciding. Your post helps! Good point.

 

[mzteaze]

Personally I would select the steamer because with regular use, you can improve the health of your hair. For serious tangles, a good trim and constant deep conditioning can do more than a BKT.

 

[CarefreeinChicago]

BKT did a number on my hair and it has not been the same since! I had one treatment on and within 6 months my hair was gone and it never grew back. I think this was thanksgiving 2008. I love my steamer even though I don't use it as often as I should.

 

[CodeRed]

Definitely a steamer. I am relaxed but there's nothing like hair care over chemicals/heat when it comes to solving a hair "problem".

 

[YvetteWithJoy]

Thanks, all, so much!!!

Makes sense!

I ordered a $60 steamer so I could stop hesitating. My main reason for hesitating was that I really wanted a true salon quality one that is on sale for $260 or so.

Maybe the $60 one will hold up okay and work fine enough. If not, I can sell or donate it and try the high end one.

Slowly but surely I'm getting hair-related purchasing off my mind! Phew!

Thank you again, everyone.

Showers will be quick again since I won't be using shower steam to steam. Woot!

 

[ms.blue]

Glad you chose the steamer over the bkt @YvetteWithJoy. From my personal experience with a bkt, I rather relax my hair then put another bkt on my hair.

 

[mzteaze]

Thanks, all, so much!!!

Makes sense!

I ordered a $60 steamer so I could stop hesitating. My main reason for hesitating was that I really wanted a true salon quality one that is on sale for $260 or so.

Maybe the $60 one will hold up okay and work fine enough. If not, I can sell or donate it and try the high end one.

Slowly but surely I'm getting hair-related purchasing off my mind! Phew!

Thank you again, everyone.

Showers will be quick again since I won't be using shower steam to steam. Woot!

I bought a stand steamer 6 years ago. Paid $129 for a no name one off of Amazon. Still works well. In fact they now sell them for $99.

 

[YvetteWithJoy]

@ms.blue and @kinchen

Wow! You guys have me worried concerned about getting a BKT. I had scheduled one right after I ordered the steamer. Since I went from $60 to $260 on the steamer, I figured I could swing both.

When I had a TWA, I got a BKT and all was fine. My curl pattern became uber manageable, but not drastically different. But it was a TWA. Not really too much hair available to damage I guess, and I'm sure that hair has been trimmed off long since.

Hmm.

 

[ms.blue]

@YvetteWithJoy
I done a bkt on my whole head twice and thought it was great...thought it was the best thing since learning how to moisturize and seal Then I decided to only bkt my leave out...lawd geez, my hair didn't revert back but then I realized something wasn't right with the rest of my natural hair that did revert back. Even though the texture appeared the same, the non bkt hair was considerably thicker in strand size. It took about a yr to realize what the bkt did to my hair. Never again!

 

[YvetteWithJoy]

@YvetteWithJoy
I done a bkt on my whole head twice and thought it was great...thought it was the best thing since learning how to moisturize and seal Then I decided to only bkt my leave out...lawd geez, my hair didn't revert back but then I realized something wasn't right with the rest of my natural hair that did revert back. Even though the texture appeared the same, the non bkt hair was considerably thicker in strand size. It took about a yr to realize what the bkt did to my hair. Never again!

Thanks for sharing.

Wow!

The very, very LAAAAAAAASSSSSSSTTTTTT thing I need is thinner strands.

 

[CarefreeinChicago]

I only had one and I swear it changed the texture of my hair permanently it's frizzy where as before it would lay down

 

[YvetteWithJoy]

I cancelled the BKT.

I'll just see how much growth and health I can maintain with the following regimen:
1. Anthony Dickey Method wash and go's including light finger detangling
2. Chunky twist at night under silk wrap
3. Minimal shampoo (instead water rinse, clay wash, or cowash until clarification is needed)
4. Alternate between weekly protein- and moisture-infusing deep treatments
5. Fully detangle an area a day on a rotating schedule

I think just before Christmas I'll get a flat iron, trim, and length check. Then I can reassess.

 

[CodeRed]

Glad you chose the steamer over the bkt @YvetteWithJoy. From my personal experience with a bkt, I rather relax my hair then put another bkt on my hair.

Thanks for that. I always hear how bkt is so much better than getting a relaxer but when they first became popular years ago and I found out professionals had to wear a mask while applying it I was like nah

 

[mzteaze]

Thanks for that. I always hear how bkt is so much better than getting a relaxer but when they first became popular years ago and I found out professionals had to wear a mask while applying it I was like nah

The salon I visit occasionally stopped doing BKTs because of the fumes.

 

[Lovelylocs]

I hate the BKT. It broke my brastrap length hair down to less than an inch and it took a while for my hair to get back to normal. Never again.

If I had to, I'd go with the steamer although my hair prefers just regular deep conditioning and a light oil.