* Have any other 4b ladies found this after blowdrying? *

[CharUK]

Hi all, I'm facing a problem at the moment and wondered if anyone has experienced the same?

I'm a natural 4b girl, who blow dries my hair about 4 times a year (Sometimes only twice) After my last set of braids (extensions), I've noticed my ends looked really trashy, so I chopped a load off, but my twists just don't look or feel the same. They feel really really 'light' and don't look as nice either, they have a very frizzy look to them.

My hair is also a lot flatter. Hubby says it's because my hair has grown so is laying flatter in general anyway, but I just wonder if I've messed up my hair by blow drying, although I don't do it often?

Has anyone had this, and do you have any ideas on how I can get my hair back to how it used to look? I don't have any particular regimes etc.

Thank you in advance.

 

[**SaSSy**]

I know exactly what you are talking about! I have 3c/4a hair and when I was natural I use to blowdry my hair every two weeks for the first year and it can really damage your ends. after a while my ends were looking like a cotton ball, and when it wasn't blown out it still had a wirey look and feel.

I think you should stop using the blow dryer for a few months and only air dry your hair until you have a special event to go to!

DC regliously and just baby your hair until you see it improving. When you do go back to the blow dryer I think you should use the lowest setting and only do this on special events!

Hope this works!

 

[Nola Darling]

How are you blowdrying?

I make sure my hair is SUPER conditioned. Then I detangle my hair while it is soaking wet, add some serum mixed with Sweet Almond Oil, and pin it up in sections.

Next I spray some VO5 heat protectant on my ends. I hold each combed out section taught while blowing my hair out to 50% dry. Then I use a paddle brush to blow it out completely dry. I don't lose any hair but shed hair this way. My hair comes out nice and moist. HTH.

I'm natural 4B by the way.

 

[Kurlee]

I am 4a, but my hair HATESSSSSSS blowdrying! Blowdrying for me=crappy dry ends/hair and it feels rough and frizzy too

 

[CharUK]

Thanks for all the replies ladies! I appreciate it.

I washed my hair yesterday and twisted while wet, and it feels a lot better already, so it MUST be the blowdrying, which is a shame as I only blow dry it before getting extensions in, and that's only 2/3 times a year!!

I think it's the method of blowdrying that is the real issue here, as I always use the lowest setting. I just put soy oil on my hair, and even on a low setting, my hair feels like brittle, so I stop, add more, but it makes no difference, so protecting my hair properly is needed!

And yes, I will be babying my hair from now on, no blowdrying for a while anyway, as I'm going to get it back up to it's strength before putting braids in for the summer (if we ever had one)

So will put Serum, paddle brush and vo5 protectant (hope they sell if over here), on my list when I'm out on my next beauty products run!

Thanks again

 

[aloof one]

My 4b/4a hair doesn't like being blowdried with oil in it, especially products with Soybean oil because its so thick... I think you're cooking your hair and should try something lighter. I used that once and my hair was smoking and I only had a little bit. My hair would feel wirey and hard and brittle, and even when I flatironed it the ends would be crispy and not lay flat.

I would try a leave-in that has a lot of moisturizers in it that you like using on your hair, possibly one with not too many oils in it. Then put some on each section while its soaking wet before you blow it out (while holding it taut with your hand) then if you really want to use the V05 protectant you're looking for, after its more than half dry you can add a few drops and use the brush to blow it out so that it is shiny and soft.

I think you should make sure you DC everytime you plan to blowdry as well.

Thanks for all the replies ladies! I appreciate it.

I washed my hair yesterday and twisted while wet, and it feels a lot better already, so it MUST be the blowdrying, which is a shame as I only blow dry it before getting extensions in, and that's only 2/3 times a year!!

I think it's the method of blowdrying that is the real issue here, as I always use the lowest setting. I just put soy oil on my hair, and even on a low setting, my hair feels like brittle, so I stop, add more, but it makes no difference, so protecting my hair properly is needed!

And yes, I will be babying my hair from now on, no blowdrying for a while anyway, as I'm going to get it back up to it's strength before putting braids in for the summer (if we ever had one)

So will put Serum, paddle brush and vo5 protectant (hope they sell if over here), on my list when I'm out on my next beauty products run!

Thanks again

 

[CharUK]

al00fone, thank you for replying! When you blow dry do you use the comb attachment initially, and then the brush? I've never used a brush, only the comb attachment and I'm just wondering if I'm started off all wrong in the first place.

Maybe my hair does not like to be blowdried with oil, good point. Will see how I go and will report back, but it won't be for at least 3/4 months yet!

 

[aloof one]

al00fone, thank you for replying! When you blow dry do you use the comb attachment initially, and then the brush? I've never used a brush, only the comb attachment and I'm just wondering if I'm started off all wrong in the first place.

Maybe my hair does not like to be blowdried with oil, good point. Will see how I go and will report back, but it won't be for at least 3/4 months yet!

I would not use the comb attachment --- It is probably causing you to put more heat (and too close to the hair too) on it while you're combing.

I would first detangle the wet section you want with a really good leave-in as best as you can, and hold that section in your hand. Then get the blowdryer with no comb attachment on it and run it from root to tip (holding it a good distance way as not to damage the hair but close enough to get it dried). When your hair is about halfway or 3/4 the way dry, you can add some serum or whatever and get a paddle brush and slowly brush it down as you blowdry. It shouldn't take that many sweeps, and the goal shouldn't be to detangle as much as to just provide shine to it since its already detangled.

If your hair comes out crispy you need to use more leave-in and serum. If it comes out greasy you need to use less. Make sure your hair is soaking wet when you put the leave in so it detangles well before you blowdry. If your hair has already started to dry, it will be crunchy and/or break when you blow it out. A good idea is to rewet each section before you blow it out, since 4b hair dries pretty fast.

HTH!

 

[naturalgurl]

You've just answered a question I was asking myself 3 years ago! I would blow dry my hair and then flat iron it. The ends were soooo frizzy. Thanks!

 

[CharUK]

Thank you al00fone!! This is going to take some time to master I think! But am looking forward to seeing different results. Thanks for all your words of wisdom, I really appreciate it.

Naturalgurl, looks like you've worked things out by the look of your album!! Congrats

 

[Country gal]

If you are going to be blowdrying more frequently than you need to trim your ends more often. I blowdry and now I am a pro. My ends don't look as frizzy becasue I have perfected it.

 

[cmesweet]

That happens to my hair. What I do, it sounds contradictory but it works.

Blow dry my hair. Then after it is blow dried, I section it and dampen the ends and put castor oil on the ends. Braid it up and when you take it down, it will be soft.

 

[Country gal]

Are you blowdrying the hair straight? I do it in sections. I touch it up with a flat iron and the ends are smooth.

 

[scorpian]

I agree with the oil making 4b blow dried hair hard
My hair natural and relaxed hates straight oils and or glycerin during styling

 

[CenteredGirl]

Sounds like your ends are thirsty. What is your DC regimen? Also, do you baggy your ends when they are in braids? That keeps moisture locked in.

 

[CharUK]

Hi everyone Appreciating all the replies.

I don't particularly have a DC regime. I use LeKair Aloe cholesterol conditioning treatment every now and then. Other than that it's just strawberries and cream (v05) and finishing off with humectress.

I don't blow dry the hair dead straight, just enough to deal with the extreme shrinkage.

Also, I wear braid extensions, so not sure if you mean if I baggy my ends in those, or if you thought I was braiding my own hair? I don't baggy my ends in twists with my normal hair and this is the style I wear outside of braid extensions.