Pressing: Naturals, How do you do it?

[TigerLily]

I just tried to press my hair today for the first time since the BC in May. I used Ultra Sheen Satin Creme Press. I was trying to check the length before I get tree braids on Wed. I put the creme press on wet and blow dried it and it got semi straight. I hot combed it and wet over it with a flat iron and it's still semi straight.

What did I do wrong?

 

[TigerLily]

No one can help me?

 

[Nay]

Hey, Tigerlily:

It's hard to really know why a press doesn't come out as straight as you'd like. I never know for sure how my press is going to come out.

I usually wash/condition. Apply my hair creme to my hands and then to each section of hair (hair parted and braided into about 10-11 sections). Then the next day when my hair is all the way dry, I unbraid each section, divide that section into smaller sections and press. I usually have to make at least three passes with the hot comb to get it straight. I have the comb hot, but not smokin' hot! Then I twist that section and move on to the next section.

Hair is weird. Sometimes my hair will come out straight no matter how big of a section I press. Sometimes I can divide it up into teeny sections, and it still just comes out sorta poofy. I don't know what the sure-fire technique is either.

 

[TigerLily]

Thanks Nay!

Please feel free to add on!

 

[FlowerHair]

I only straighten my hair with a flat iron.
After I washed my hair I let my hair air dry in a bun or otherwise stretched out so it won't be too curly.
I take very small sections and go over them three times with the iron. For me, the secret has been to take smaller sections and also finding a flat iron that is somewhat hotter than the others I've used before.
I was surprised when I used it, because my hair never turned out stick straight just from flat ironing before.
It's trial and error.
Good luck!

 

[mermaid]

I only press when my hair is dry or mostly dry.
Lately, however, I have not even bothered with the flat iron (Jilbere 1/2 inch), because it just doesn't get get close enough to the root because of how it's constructed; the housing interferes with it gettine right to the root. I have just let my hair dry in a bun and then use my ceramic 1/2 barrel curling iron and use it to hit the roots then either lightly bump or fully style. I have been getting some seriously bouncy, shiney soft hair. I was trying to take a pic last night because I was so impressed with how it looked and with hope that LHCF would be back, but my flippin' digital camera is such a battery hog!! I was taking pics of my dancer shoes to list on Ebay, and that killed the batteries!! I'll try tomorrow so you can see.
Oh yeah, I used to use oils, cremes, greases and what not prior to pressing, but a lot of times it would be too heavy and the sizzle or even just the smell would worry me, so I don't use anything beyond what was already in my hair after washing (generally a cocktail of mango butter, proclain natural 7 and/or Profect ((or however it's spelled)) break free- the pink stuff, natural 7 oil and either Giovanni leave in or Pantene color revival rinse out con.). With that process, I get a lighter bouncier press and also, my irons don't get all burnt from product cooking on it.

 

[mermaid]

This just came to me; what kind of irons are ou using? I wouldn't use anythin overly hot, but with black hair, you generally have to use a hotter iron than the basic crome ones. I'm sure you arleady know that, but in case you don't, or for others that DON'T know, a hotter iron may give you a more desired effect- NOT TOO hot! I am still growiing out damage from letting my Marels heat up too much!!

 

[TigerLily]

I use FHI ionic ceramic 1 inch and Hot Tools electric pressing comb. Maybe I should've turned the pressing comb up higher.

In any case, I've taken pics, so I'll be posting my sorry little press in my fotki.

I only pressed to keep track of length since I get braids on Wed. so don't laugh!

Thanks ladies!

Anybody got anymore tips? I need all the help I can get!

 

[Elleebeme5]

Thanks for this thread. I was going to post a similar question today as I will be trying to press my hair myself for the first time next week.

 

[Nay]

I have a plug-in pressing comb (I can't think of the name). And I've NEVER been able to get my hair straight with that thing. I don't even use it anymore.

So for me, I have to use my old-fashioned pressing comb that you set on the oven. But I've been pressing my hair for over 20 years, so I know just how hot to let it get.

 

[TigerLily]

I do have an old fashioned hot comb. The electric one was just more convienient. I'll try that next time and see how it goes..

 

[PrettyBrownEyes]

Heat and pressure.

Maybe you need to use the hot comb at a higher heat setting and/or use more tension as you are running it down the length of your hair. Also, when using a hot comb the straightening is mostly done with the back of the comb not the teeth.

 

[TigerLily]

How do you straighen with the back of the comb?

 

[PrettyBrownEyes]

As you are running the comb from roots to ends you want to have it at a sort of slant so that the teeth guide it through the hair while the back the smooth part rubs against the hair. Look at this: http://www.growafrohairlong.com/press.html

 

[TigerLily]

Oh, thanks!

 

[FlowerHair]

[ QUOTE ]
PrettyBrownEyes said:
As you are running the comb from roots to ends you want to have it at a sort of slant so that the teeth guide it through the hair while the back the smooth part rubs against the hair. Look at this: http://www.growafrohairlong.com/press.html

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes! I forgot to tell you about this. This is what I do when I flat iron, I turn the iron outwards so to speak so the hair will be a little stretched. This is key.

 

[TigerLily]

Now I want to try it again, but I don't want to damage my hair. I just pressed it yesterday. Do you think I will damage it if I go over it again since it didn't get straight?

 

[zora]

I wouldn't do it while it's still straight. You're still trying to learn the correct amount of heat and pressure with it freshly washed, so I would just stick with that and perfect it and THEN learn how to touch up your hair between presses.