Cautionary tales and straightening natural hair

[jd_bdfly]

I've heard all these traumatic stories about naturals that have gotten heat damage from a one time use of a straightening comb, and their hair doesn't revert back to its natural texture.

Has any one has heard anything like this happening to someone from a one time use of a ceramic flat iron?

I know it certainly can happen from repeated use of heat tools - whether it's a hot comb or an electric heat appliance, but I'm just wondering if a flat iron is as risky as the hot comb for someone that wants to straighten occasionally.

I ask because I plan on flat ironing my hair either this afternoon or tomorrow, and I want to make sure it's not a dumb idea.

TIA

 

[deedabug]

i think the main thing to do is use creme press...different brands make em but they should say somethin bout smokeless and it wont burn ur hair....lekair makes one and kemi oyl does too..i have used both and had no problems...lekair brand with a pressing comb...someone used on me...kemi oyl i used with a flat iron...

if u cant get a creme press..wild growth oil is what u can use also...

i think a pressing comb or flat iron used with regular grease will burn ur hair....

 

[Tai]

I'm sure if the flat iron is turned up as high as it can go it could be as damaging as a pressing comb. I think one of the problems is also when folks press with grease. It seems like the grease makes the heat worse. I don't use grease or oil at all when I flat iron. I rollerset my hair first with heat protectants and then I use another heat protectant before I flat iron. I use BBD's flat iron cream or NTM serum lightly. I've never had a problem w/ my curls coming back. But I also just use a warm flat iron. It's not even that hot.

 

[Poohbear]

I'm sure if the flat iron is turned up as high as it can go it could be as damaging as a pressing comb. I think one of the problems is also when folks press with grease. It seems like the grease makes the heat worse. I don't use grease or oil at all when I flat iron. I rollerset my hair first with heat protectants and then I use another heat protectant before I flat iron. I use BBD's flat iron cream or NTM serum lightly. I've never had a problem w/ my curls coming back. But I also just use a warm flat iron. It's not even that hot.

I agree. That's what happened in my heat damage incident. My mom pressed my hair with grease and a stove hot comb.

 

[caligirl]

I use an FHI ceramic flat iron and I haven't had any problems. I shampoo, deep condition my hair, rollerset it with a leave in conditioner, then flat iron small sections once my hair is completely dry. I use it at 270 degrees and make a max of two swipes. I only do one swipe for the back part of my hair since it is less coarse.

 

[PhonyBaloney500]

I STILL don't get why people don't just get blow outs and why pressing is supposedly better. (Perplexed)

 

[Champagne_Wishes]

I did and my mistake was using the highest setting because I wanted to finish it under three hours and not using the right protectant.

 

[Sascha]

I cant wait to see the pics JD! If you use some sort of heat protectant and a flat iron at a medium high heat you should be fine. I heard that if its hot enough to burn a paper towel its hot enough to burn your hair so have a paper towel with you and check your heat..if there is a brown mark turn it down

 

[caligirl]

I STILL don't get why people don't just get blow outs and why pressing is supposedly better. (Perplexed)

There is only one person that I will allow to do a blowout on my hair. She knows I'm afraid of that hot as* dryer and she knows to turn it down on my tender head.

 

[Peachtree]

I STILL don't get why people don't just get blow outs and why pressing is supposedly better. (Perplexed)

I'm looking into getting my hair straight, but using a flat iron frightens me . Can u talk more about the "blow out" method? (( or anyone else who prefers blow outs..))

 

[jd_bdfly]

I cant wait to see the pics JD! If you use some sort of heat protectant and a flat iron at a medium high heat you should be fine. I heard that if its hot enough to burn a paper towel its hot enough to burn your hair so have a paper towel with you and check your heat..if there is a brown mark turn it down

I don't think the pics will be that exciting if I do take some. I'm pretty sure I have a bunch of different lengths. So it actually may look kind of crazy because I haven't really worried about anything other than snipping my relaxed ends as I feel like it and I haven't had it evened in forever. I just want to straighten it so I can peep my progress and have an easier time bunning for work this week. But if it's even semi picture worthy, I will be sure to take some, hair twin.

 

[jd_bdfly]

The only reason I don't really go for blowouts is because I believe all that pulling with the brush can lead to split ends. But I don't know for sure.

 

[Shatani]

I STILL don't get why people don't just get blow outs and why pressing is supposedly better. (Perplexed)

i dont see a blow out working for my hair at all....its too dense, they need to be able to do the round brush thing, wont happen.

 

[nurseN98]

I agree with this. I remember a friend of mines was always gettin blowouts and she eventually had major damage. But it depends on the techniques and products too I guess. I don't mess with any stylists though so it is easier for me to straighten my own hair with my ceramic flat iron.

 

[DDTexlaxed]

Gosh, peachtree, yr hair is gorgeous!

 

[kristina]

It's hard to answer this because I've pressed and flat ironed but I only noticed that I have some straight strands in front after my flat iron in January. It could have been caused by all the presses over the summer. And I didn't use a heat protectant, used a high setting and got that nasty burn smell as a ironed. I think you'll be fine if you use a protectant and keep the heat reasonable.
I could never blow my hair out straight- it requires more skill than I currently process. Blowdrying with a comb attachment gives me 'rudy' hair.

 

[ShortyDooWhop]

JD, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your hair. You're THE first person on this board that I've seen with my hair type and texture..... I'm excited. Question, do you get split ends and knots? If you do, how do you treat your hair? And what moisturizer are you using?

SDW

 

[jd_bdfly]

JD, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your hair. You're THE first person on this board that I've seen with my hair type and texture..... I'm excited. Question, do you get split ends and knots? If you do, how do you treat your hair? And what moisturizer are you using?

SDW

I do get knots and splits. It used to annoy the crap out of me, but it's really not too terrible. Plus it's actually gotten a lot easier to deal with since I've gotten rid of most of the relaxed ends. I just cut them as I feel like hunting them down. I've been gradually cutting my hair, but it's been more about cutting off the relaxed ends gradually than anything else. When my hair gets longer, I think I may do a true all-at-once cut, but for now, I'm cool with playing the waiting game.

BTW, Sascha, I did flat iron last night, but didn't have the camera handy, so sowwy. If it's any comfort, it wasn't a particularly impressive flat ironing job - I think I'll have to get one of those expensive flat irons to get salon results cause my Ceramic Tools iron is not doing the job. The thing that pleasantly surprised me is that my hair is longer than I thought it was. Though it is very shag-like...

 

[Sascha]

Well mine was all poofy still when I did it becuase i was scared to death of damage. The down side was non bone straight hair, the up side was i got a glimpse of what kind of progress I had made. And i know what your saying, I am constantly just cutting ends off my hair also. I would still like to have seen some pics , but its ok, I forgive you LOL

 

[sprungonhairboards]

I STILL don't get why people don't just get blow outs and why pressing is supposedly better. (Perplexed)

HA!

I ono what YOUR hair texture is but ummm, a blow out please. Hardly the same result. I could see myself now a blowout that's funny.

 

[moda]

It is all about the temperature you have the ceramic iron on. I have blow dried, pressed, and flat ironed my hair and I have no heat damage at all. Make sure you have a good heat protectant and you should be fine. I am not sure what type of grease other ladies used, but the last time I pressed my hair I used a hair grease and it did not cause any problems. What I have done when I pressed is wet a dishrag, squeeze out the excess moisture and when I take the comb off the stove I place it on the rag to lower the heat so that any sizzling from that comb was on the rag not my hair. HTH

 

[ThickHair]

You really need to be cautious (sp) of heat period rather it is from a hot comb, curling iron or flat iron. It is not the tool, it is the heat. Also some people really don't know what they are doing, rather it be you or a hired professional. You really take a chance with your hair with eveything that you do to it, no pooing, oiling, etc it is just that heat damage is so noticable and usually irreversiable (sp). Some can use heat with no problem and others have problems, you are taking a gamble.

 

[moda]

You really need to be cautious (sp) of heat period rather it is from a hot comb, curling iron or flat iron. It is not tool, it is the heat. Also some people really don't know what they are doing, rather it be you or a hired professional. You really take a chance with your hair with eveything that you do to it, no pooing, oiling, etc it is just that heat damage is so noticable and usually irreversiable (sp). Some can use heat with no problem and others have problems, you are taking a gamble.

You are right it is a gamble which is why I recommend low heat. I know that everyone's hair is not the same, luckily I have hair that stands up well to heat and I know the limit of what I can do to my hair, low heat for someone else may not be low heat to me. I have been wearing my hair in styles that do not require heat because my hair reverts easily (no humidity needed)

 

[sprungonhairboards]

... I have been wearing my hair in styles that do not require heat because my hair reverts easily (no humidity needed)

aahhh someone who feels my pain

 

[moda]

aahhh someone who feels my pain

Yes I do which is why I had to hang up the heat tools, some would complain about how their hair reverted on the way to work, sometimes mine would not last long enough to make it out the house

 

[PhonyBaloney500]

HA!

I ono what YOUR hair texture is but ummm, a blow out please. Hardly the same result. I could see myself now a blowout that's funny.

LOL! I am a 4a like you and it lasts a looong time (well I keep it for 2 weeks). Have you actually had it done in a salon or did you try yourself?

For the poster who asked (too lazy to flip back to the page), getting a blow out is when the stylist either sets your hair in rollers, sits you under the dryer, and then blows your hair out straight OR when they just blow it out when it's wet, immediately after washing it. I tried to do it myself once and gave up immediately--I think I would end up breaking the brush lol. Last year I got it done almost every other week out of laziness. Now I wash and go and will blow out every 3 months for a change/coinciding with a trim perhaps.

Well all heat is damaging and should definitely be used in moderation!

 

[ravensunshine]

hi, you may want to try a wet to dry flat iron. it protects the hair while drying and smoothing it. it also allows your hair to revert to its natural state when you wash again.
ravensunshine