Can You press relaxed hair?

[Danene5]

My bestfriend told me tonight that she presses her relaxed hair to straighten the roots. I was always told not to do this. I am talking about the Madame C.J. Walker pressing comb. You know, the one that you put on the stove and have to blow the heat off. Have any of you tried this and have been successful without having breakage? Have any of you heard of this before?

 

[Keen]

You can do it but I wouldn't recomend it. too much heat for the hair that is already relaxed.

 

[Chromia]

Even if she uses a heat protectant and straightens just the new growth it's not good because she can't control the temperature of the comb other than waiting for it to cool off and basically guessing that it's cool enough.

She should probably stop doing that and get a good flat iron. Or using a good blow dryer and a round brush would probably be better than the hot comb if she really wants her new growth straightened.

ETA: When I say "good" flat iron or blow dryer I mean ceramic. It should also be ionic and tourmaline.

 

[Trini"T"]

Also the heat from the hot comb is distributed unevenly.

 

[mika vs sasha]

Growing up, my mom would always relax my hair, blow dry it, and then press it. I wouldn't suggest using this method, it's just too much heat for my preference.

 

[*Michelle*]

Also the heat from the hot comb is distributed unevenly.

Co-sign.

I'm surprised people still use these.

 

[Ms. Plain Jane]

IMO, flat ironing your roots is, essentially, pressing your hair without a hot comb...

 

[*Michelle*]

IMO, flat ironing your roots is, essentially, pressing your hair without a hot comb...

I was just gonna say...flat ironing is the modern press.

 

[turnergirl]

You can but you shouldn't. I don't run a hot comb through my natural hair.

 

[sareca]

I press mine. I don't think pressing the roots is any different than flatironing them after a rollerset. Direct heat is direct heat. My new pressing comb is ceramic and has temp controls. I'm done with flatirons. I'm staying old skool. Well, old skool with a modern twist.

 

[DDTexlaxed]

Sareca, can you tell me how strait this ceranic press comb gets your hair? I'm thinking about getting one.

 

[LeadingLady]

Growing up, my mom would always relax my hair, blow dry it, and then press it. I wouldn't suggest using this method, it's just too much heat for my preference.

My mom did the same thing. My hair looked okay, but broke off a lot.

 

[sareca]

Sareca, can you tell me how strait this ceranic press comb gets your hair? I'm thinking about getting one.

I've only used it a couple times. I've been braided pretty much continuously for the last 6 months. But so far...

When compared to a regular marcel pressing comb... the hair comes out silkier, lighter, and more humidity resistant--more not totally. :wink2: The regular pressing comb always flatened my hair and it didn't stay straight long.

When compared to the maxiglide it much easier to get close to my scalp because you have a lot more control. The maxiglide gets the ends straighter. That steam shot is awesome. But usually I rollerset so they're already straight. I really only need the roots straighted... not supposed to be putting heat on my ends anyway.

It's kinda of weird cross between a flatiron and pressing comb.

Oh! I forgot my favorite part... it has wide teeth! Unlike the regular pressing comb (and the maxiglide). Ignore the "adjustable comb comment on the box... they lie like a wet rug."

I don't know how well it's going to hold up over the long term, but right now I'm extremely happy with it.

 

[PinkSkates]

Originally posted by Sareca,

I press mine. I don't think pressing the roots is any different than flatironing them after a rollerset. Direct heat is direct heat. My new pressing comb is ceramic and has temp controls. I'm done with flatirons. I'm staying old skool. Well, old skool with a modern twist.

Thank you Sareca, for stating common sense. To answer your question, tell your friend it is a bad idea to add direct heat to chemically relaxed hair. The hair bonds are already weakened from the chemicals and adding direct heat just makes it weaker and more prone for the hair to snap off.