Which is most damaging to relaxed hair?

[Researching]

Just want to know what you ladies think. Which is most damaging to the hair? Please take my poll.

 

[kizzylonghair]

For me and my fine stranded hair there is no choice the are both as damaging, but I suppose u can control where u distribute the heat with flat irons.

 

[Charlie555]

I voted blow drying but I think it also depends on what type blow dryer or flat iron you use. For example: ceramic/tourmaline (sp) vs non ceramic/tourmaline.

 

[Researching]

I voted blow drying but I think it also depends on what type blow dryer or flat iron you use. For example: ceramic/tourmaline (sp) vs non ceramic/tourmaline.

My flat iron says ceramics on the front but I don't see tourmaline anywhere on it. What is tourmaline and what are the advantages? Thanks

 

[BlackMasterPiece]

The relaxed ladies I've seen on here with the best progress rarely if ever use heat on their hair and if they do, they opt for indirect heat via rollersets (and only flat-ironing the roots) or air-drying via braid-outs, flat-twist outs, bantu-knot outs etc.

 

[frizzy]

For me blow drying is more damaging. It makes my hair big, dry, dull and wispy. When I have blow dried, I still want to flatiron, to smooth my hair out.

I prefer drying my hair under the hooded dryer with a satin wig/wave cap thingy on my head. I add a leave-in, mousse and comb the hair straight back and flat under the cap. Flatironing isn't necessary after this unless I'm trying to style it.

If you opt to use the high setting of your flatiron do only 1 pass and small sections of hair. If you have to do 2 passes, let the hair cool down before the second pass.
Shout out to HAIRapy for that tip!

 

[KinkyGenius]

For me it was flat ironning, esp if you do it at very high temperatures. It literally fried my strands and thinned my hair out considerably.

 

[VirtuousBeauty]

Using a lot of heat in general is damaging in my opinion. Especially using the highest heat setting for blowdrying. I plan to start rollersetting instead of blowdrying/flat ironing when I can afford the hood dryer I want. For now I'll just airdry then blowdry on cool for my new growth and flat iron on lowest setting I can get away with

 

[chebaby]

flat iron is more damaging. most people dont have the salon blow dryers they use in Dominican salons. regular blow dryers arent that damaging IMO.

 

[Ladybelle]

direct heat has caused my relaxed hair many a setback, so I don't take chances with it anymore. I'm at SL for the umpteenth time and won't be going back because of that daggone heat!!! I will make BSL in the next two years, period.

**sorry for the vent, I had a flashback, lol!***

I'll stick with my indirect heat.

 

[MAMATO]

Blow drying on high heat is more damaging I think. But honestly I avoid both of them

 

[supermodelsonya]

I'd say the blow dryer.

 

[charmtreese]

For me and my fine stranded hair there is no choice the are both as damaging, but I suppose u can control where u distribute the heat with flat irons.

Same here! I voted blow drying on high heat is more harmful!

 

[smitmarv]

I think it depends on how much you do each of them. I try to limit both when I can. But if I had to choose just one I would say blow drying because it truly dries out the hair and for me it can be hard to maintain moisture for more then a few days no matter how much stuff I put on it.

 

[Minty]

flatiron - because ladies don't want to dial down the heat.

when using the blowdryer, once that heat hits the scalp one good time ladies tend turn the dryer temp to low heat.

 

[yardgirl]

I have no idea. My blowdryer hasn't been used since 2009 and I rarely flat iron.

 

[twinkletoes17]

I think blowdrying. Whenever I'd blowdry with high heat, my hair would feel funny and dry afterwards, whereas with a flat iron, my hair feels smoother.

Call me crazy, but I think flat ironing actually seals the cuticles since the pressed flat against the irons.

 

[vainღ♥♡jane]

for me it was flatironing too much with no heat protectant, AND i did it on dirty hair. can you say 'RUINED?' i can laugh about it now. ♥

 

[prospurr4]

Just want to know what you ladies think. Which is most damaging to the hair? Please take my poll.

I didn't vote because my opinion is: BOTH

I won't put any kind of direct heat on my relaxed/texlaxed hair. The whole reason why I texlaxed my hair, in the first place, is to get "straightened" hair without heat....otherwise, I would be a natural who uses direct heat.

 

[Arcadian]

Both can be damaging if you don't take precautions. If I blow dry, I don't flat iron, and vice versa. I do one or the other, never both.

I will tend to use the blow drier over the flat iron though. I maybe flat iron once every 3 months? I either have my hair in a ponytail or bun so for me not a big deal.



In either case, use a heat protectant, and use the lowest heat you can.


-A

 

[washize]

I'm not relaxed but mysister straigthens her hair everyday, but she doesn't straighten her new growth, just her relaxed hair. Her hair is always breaking off, and it is everhwhere. My other sister does the same thing, but she dyes her hair blonde. Her hair isn't healthy at all either. They constnatly striaghten it because its "frizzy" but it is still frizzy after they straighten it.

 

[Stella B.]

I think they both can be harmful if used incorrectly. Everybody's hair tolerance for heat is different. I usually blow dry on cool, and very rarely use a flat iron. I came into this hair journey with abused heat damaged hair, and I've learned how to minimize my use of heat. Anyways, I try to use a heat protectant of some sort either before blow drying, or flat ironing. I'm still not sure what makes a good heat protectant, ingredient wise, tho.

 

[LatterGlory]

_______________________

 

[MarieB]

I voted blow dryer, but either, if used incorrectly, can do major damage. I started my journey after years of abusing my hair with a too-hot dryer (I now only dry on medium, and usually air-dry for a while before I use the blower). I pretty much only use my flat iron for BKT or if I'm going somewhere "important".

 

[bimtheduck]

I voted blow dryer as more damaging. Hot dry air combined with the yanking and pulling.

 

[beans4reezy]

i say both

 

[BEAUTYU2U]

Just want to know what you ladies think. Which is most damaging to the hair? Please take my poll.

When I was relaxed, I would blowdry after every wash and throughout the week - I washed weekly. I never used flat irons. So I voted "blowdrying"

 

[MontegoBayBaby]

I think flat iron can wreak havoc on your hair if you use the flat iron daily to make sure your hair looks smooth everyday. If you do both, it should be once a week. You should try other styling tricks to keep your hair looking good each like pinning your hair up in sections every night but using the flat iron every morning to refresh is a no no.

 

[frizzy]

I didn't vote because my opinion is: BOTH

I won't put any kind of direct heat on my relaxed/texlaxed hair. The whole reason why I texlaxed my hair, in the first place, is to get "straightened" hair without heat....otherwise, I would be a natural who uses direct heat.

That gave me an "Aha" moment. I'm adopting this mindset immediately!

*speechless because of how much sense that makes*

 

[Toy]

I'd say both i stay away from blow dryers and i only use a flatiron for checking my Length.