Which is most damaging to relaxed hair?

[gmbwink]

The flat iron thinned my once thick hair out.

 

[Lavendar]

I agree with all the ladies about avoiding direct heat; that helped me grow my hair. But to answer your question, I see the negative effects of blow drying almost immediately and I never even use high heat. My hair can't seem to tolerate the manipulation from the blowing air and combing/brushing while blow drying. I try to use a wide-tooth comb instead of a paddle brush, but my ends don't like it. That's where I see the damage first, besides my hair being overall dryer than usual. I use a professional blow dryer and still no better. Flat ironing does much less apparent damage; although, as mentioned before, both have negative consequences, especially on relaxed hair.

 

[MariposaSexyGirl]

Blow drying was more damaging for me. I mostly roller set then flat iron my roots only now(with ceramic flatiron). Blow drying seemed to dry my hair out and make my cuticles rough(therefore I don't own one anymore). When I do use my flat iron I use it on a lower setting. I'm transitioning and I'm 1 yr post now but since I still have relaxed hair on my head I felt I could answer. No heat would be best and low heat would be second best. Flat irons don't have to be on blasting high heat for your hair to get straight. Hoped my opinion helped.

 

[honeybearmommy32]

i wash and blow dry weekly, and this gives a 'blow out' kinda look for a day, until i sleep w/my satin bonnet, and in the morning, and as the days go by, it appears i've pulled it w/the chi the entire time....

i use the chi around the 6-7th week of stretching to soothe the hair line....

i've been able to retain thickness as well as length since i broke the CHI addiction.

 

[HAIRapy]

I'd say blowdrying. Flatironing is fine as long as you're not frying your hair.

 

[FebeeSigns]

If I had to choose which one may be a bit more damaging to relaxed hair I would go with flat ironing on moderately hot. Blow dryers are not designed like Flat Irons at all. Moderately hot flat irons bring more damage by direct heat to the hair than Blow dryers on high.

 

[Glamiam]

I definitely have to say flat ironing damaged my hair tremendously, and after i stopped using it, my hair is as thick as it was when i had natural hair. The idea of flat ironing makes me cringe; 2 steaming hot irons clamping town on my hair frying the hell out of it erplexed. The way i look at it is that i can tolerate the heat from a blow dryer hitting my skin, but if you put a flat iron on your skin it will surely burn your skin and scar it. Imagine what it does to our hair

 

[ConstantlyDynamic]

i'm surprised that so many people voted for the blow dryer. when i was relaxed, i always got a dominican blowout (i've always had it rollersetted then blow dried on a high high setting lol it used to be painful). for some reason, flat irons were horrible for my hair. my friends were able to use flat irons though.

 

[Lynnerie]

I voted blow-drying on the high setting especially if you are using a comb attachment. When I was relaxed I remember seeing so many hairs on the sink from blow drying and I think its because your hair is at its most fragile state when its wet.

My hair was at its healthiest as a relaxed head when I would roller-set and just flat ironed the roots.

 

[exoticmommie]

I too have lots of fine strands, and for me personally, blow drying is a nono

I probably use the flat iron 1x every 2 months or less. I will either air dry or go under the dryer and then flat iron.

I mainly roller set and silk/saran wrap it if I want it straight.

 

[Aspire]

I have incredibly fine hair, and I would say both are equally damaging for my hair. If I do one repeatedly, my hair dries out and snaps. If I do both, forget it. I end up loosing a year's progress in a matter of weeks. Not worth it. It has happened to me twice since I started my HHJ.

 

[EllePixie]

I think both are damaging, but also what temp is moderate with the flat iron? It also would depend on how often you are using heat. Some people flat iron way more than they blowdry.

 

[hiswill4me]

I'd say the blow dryer.

Hi, I'm new here and wanted to know if these are before/after pics of your hair???? if so, how did you get it to thicken and grow?

 

[SlantedEyezMiss2003]

I would have to say the blow dryer because your hair is wet and at its most fragile state when wet, I received breakage from blow dryers, flat irons really don't bother me unless it's all the time......

 

[Chevelure618]

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.[/QUOTE]

Yes! My hair seems to do well with a light flat-ironing at 350..one pass and just quickly flying over the ends

 

[aymone]

My reasoning was that with flat ironing your hair gets stuck between those hot blades. But I think both are damaging. it's better to learn to live with out heat for the best results.

 

[Poohbear]

When I had relaxed hair, the blowdryer was my hair's best friend. It was not damaging at all. It's all about technique.

I never used a flat-iron on relaxed hair, but I did use curling irons alot. They didn't damage my hair either. As long as your ends are smoothed out, your hair should be straight.

 

[Researching]

The last time I rollerset my hair and then flatironed I had 6 split ends as a result. However, the last time I blowdried my hair and then flatironed I had 30 split ends as a result. Blow dryers are very hard on my relaxed hair.

 

[Aggie]

I voted for blow drying even though I rarely ever use direct heat on my hair. When I do use heat I found that the blow dryer really dried my hair out considerably. My Sedu flat iron has the amount of temperature I could use on the iron itself and therefore could be controlled a whole lot better.

My blow dryer did have a cool shot button but it took so long to dry when I used it. I would rather air-dry instead of tiring my arms out holding a blowdryer.

 

[tapioca_pudding]

I say blowdrying.

First off, most ppl will invest in a good flat iron, and go with a cheap blowdryer. Flat irons today that are made with ceramic/tourmaline, etc, are made to seal and smooth the hair, the cuticle. The type of heat used is different than that of your average blowdryer.

I also say blowdryers because, while most ppl will control their usage of their flat irons (what temp, how many passes, avoiding the ends, etc), they don't take the same care in their usage of the blowdryer (which direction they use their blowdryer (roughing the cutile), how hot it is, if the hair is soaking wet vs. damp, going over the same area several times even though it's already dry, etc). There is a method to blowdrying hair, just like there is for flat ironing. Most ppl just randomly attack their hair with the blowdryer until its dry and straight, lol.

9 times outta 10, a cheap blowdryer (coupled with improper use) is the enemy. If you've invested in a quality flat iron, I can't really see anyone having the same type of damage that a poor quality blowdryer would cause.

Oh and I have fine hair.

 

[Luscious Locks]

I put my vote in for blow drying. A blow dryer essentially boils water on your hair which singes the hair. When you flat iron your hair is already dry and heat protectant products are more likely to do their job if water is not in the way.... That's just my thinking.

I personally have has a terrible time with blow dryers.... it's never been good. It didn't matter if it was a CHI or a Conair. Flat ironing once or twice a month is okay for me, but for now i'm challenging myself to stay away from direct heat. I've determined that it is the ultimate killer of relaxed hair.

If I were you, and you had the ability to roller set your own hair, that is what I'd do. Be a roller setter and you'll be happy with the way your hair looks, acts, and how healthy it is.

HTH.

 

[yardgirl]

I have no clue. I blow dry my leaveout with the cool shot before I flat iron it. The only time I ever flat iron is after I've shampooed and DCed my leaveout, put Chi Silk Infusion on it when it's wet, then dry it, put a little more CSI on it and spray on Beyond The Zone Flat Iron spray. I've seen no damage.

 

[SingBrina]

I picked blow drying on high heat personally, I noticed this fries my hair the most it appears. I can see all that hot air blowing off my hair. I just recently tried deep conditioning under a hood for 20mins and then putting my leave in conditioners and just letting my hair air dry and its more healthy and looks more shiny and feels and looks better air dried. So I will now only use the dryer when I need to.

I invested in a good flat iron that is less damaging and put on a lower heat its even better, but thats my opinion.

 

[Guitarhero]

People are getting more damage with cheap flat irons over the old-fashioned heat tools like marcels. I think I'm going to invest in a good set of Milstan's pretty soon. I've never heard of anybody with pressing damage. And you can use those steel flat-irons with BKT.

 

[afjhnsn]

What about blowing out/blowdrying hair that has been air dried???

 

[HappilyLiberal]

People are getting more damage with cheap flat irons over the old-fashioned heat tools like marcels. I think I'm going to invest in a good set of Milstan's pretty soon. I've never heard of anybody with pressing damage. And you can use those steel flat-irons with BKT.

I agree with this. My mom wants me to straighten my transitioning hair for Christmas. But if, I can't get a decent flat iron (I think I would prefer a FHI) there is no way I am putting any old cheap iron on my hair.

 

[belldandy]

can't choose between the two. both are horrible.

 

[kiadoris08]

I would say blow drying...I now let my hair air dry and either Caruso or flat iron..I used to roller set but realized this was a contributor to my dry scalp..The heat from the dryer is to much for my scalp....

 

[Misseyl]

Both, especially if they are use incorrectly.

 

[sj73]

I never blow dry, ever. I always air dry. I only flat iron my hair once a week when I wear it straight (and only do this on clean, deep conditioned hair). After that, I pincurl the rest of the week or just pin it up. For the second six weeks of my 12 week stretch, I wear braidouts...no heat at all.