Why is this?

[BlkRushhin]

I'm hoping one of the hair scientists can answer this question for me.

When I used to get my hair relaxed in the past, it felt like it's normal thickness. Straight but still thick. However, when I get my hair pressed/flat iron, it's really light. Straight, but fluffy-like feel to it. When relaxed it felt somewhat heavy in comparison to my pressed hair.

Why is that?

 

[BlkRushhin]

No takers? That sucks.

 

[beautyaddict1913]

Maybe it only feels so light because you have gotten used to natural hair? When I used to get a press in my childhood it felt far different from when I got a relaxer as a teen/adult, but I cant describe the difference....

 

[TaraDyan]

My hair behaves in the same way. Back when I was relaxed, my hair felt dry and brittle and a little bit heavy. I'm natural now, and when I flat iron my hair, it's very light and airy.

From what I understand, relaxers (especially no-lye relaxers) tend to leave calcium deposits on the hair shaft, which would explain why my hair always felt dry, brittle ... and heavier. My natural hair doesn't have that calcium build-up problem anymore, hence a lighter feel. I don't know if it would have been different had I used lye relaxers though.

That's my best guess anyway.

 

[kandiekj100]

I also think it may just be that you are used to being natural. I felt the same way when I straightened not too long ago, that it was really light. But I thought it about it and my hair was light before when I was relaxed. I think because it had been so long since my hair was straight (whether it be relaxed, pressed, or flat-ironed) that it felt unfamiliar.

 

[Tiye]

I've noticed it. Maybe it's because heat seals down the cuticle and compresses the hair strand. When you iron fabric flat and not as bulky. I'm not a scientist so that's just my layperson's attempt at an explanation ....

 

[virtuenow]

This has been discussed recently-- and is an on-goiong topic for a while now. Look at this thread that discusses how to achieve a heavy hair press/flat iron: http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=468590&highlight=

 

[hopeful]

I think people press too hard now and get the hair too straight. I finally found a hairdresser who presses straight and silky but still leaves the hair feeling heavy which I love.

 

[BlkRushhin]

Thanks everyone for replying! I thought my thread drowned in the midst.

I agree with you hopeful. Although, when I do it myself it's definitely heavy, but not at all silky.

 

[JaszyFaye]

I think people press too hard now and get the hair too straight. I finally found a hairdresser who presses straight and silky but still leaves the hair feeling heavy which I love.

That's so true. The first time I got my hair pressed my hair was so straight I couldn't put it in a ponytail. Everytime I tried it would just fall out and I didn't want to put products in my hair because it would have just curled back up.