Naturals: Do you get paranoid when you straighten your hair?

[Oasis]

I've been natural almost 2 years and I've never straightened my hair. My mom just gave me a flat iron but I'm afraid to use it.

I'm constantly complaining about my naps but if they don't come back I will be devastated.

 

[tocktick]

Slight OT but related. When I use heat (blow-dry), I don't get paranoid whilst using it. However, when it comes to the wash, I do get a little worried about the coils not springing back. Personally, I have to make sure to apply adequate heat protectant, use low-medium heat and avoid going over the same section too much. I think when I actually do come to use a flat-iron, I will be much more nervous during the process.

 

[JustKiya]

Hmmmmm...let's see. I spent a good year of burning my hair and ears to a crisp! I can laugh now, but I cried many tears over lost, burnt-out hair!
About 1.5 years into being a natural head, I met a guy who is a pro, licensed hair stylist on a movie set and we became best friends.
He took the time and cared for my hair and showed my how to have healthy, heat-straightened natural hair. A year later after meeting and learning from him, I began to do my own hair.


It's been nearly 10 years now and when we see each other, he always inspects my hair and says "I feel like a proud papa every time I see how your hair has grown and flourished...cause it was a holy mess when we met..."

Ahhhh, thank you!!! Yeah, see, it's that year of tears and crunchy hair I see in my immediate future, and that gives me the heebiejeebies - esp. considering my feelings on straight hair on me.

 

[Nonie]

Slight OT but related. When I use heat (blow-dry), I don't get paranoid whilst using it. However, when it comes to the wash, I do get a little worried about the coils not springing back. Personally, I have to make sure to apply adequate heat protectant, use low-medium heat and avoid going over the same section too much. I think when I actually do come to use a flat-iron, I will be much more nervous during the process.

That was my concern but the coils sprang back so nicely that I am almost as comfortable using heat as I am twisting my hair. I used 446 degrees of heat and no heat damage. Not even a whiff of burned hair that I'm used to smelling when I wash my hair. If I didn't know better, I'd swear I just washed my twists not pressed hair. And no breakage when I combed my hair with a fine toof comb at all! Can you tell I'm still on cloud nine about this?

 

[Southernbella.]

What are some of the things you do to protect your hair from heat (i.e. products you use, styling, heat tools, or heat strategies).

Your hair looks so good and healthy in your fotki. You've been natural about 7-8 months longer than me, so I kind of use you as my measuring stick for where I should be at a certain time (i.e. if you are somewhere in June, I see how my hair progresses. I know all our hair grows at different speeds, but I think you get my drift). But your hair seems to bounce back after heat styling, so I know you must be doing something right.

I wash and clarify (baking soda mixed with conditioner), then deep condition. Rinse, then section off hair. I then apply about a quarter sized amount of conditioner into each section, then CHI silk infusion. I then use a Conair paddle brush (it's got ION bristles) and an ION blow dryer to dry each section, getting it as straight as possible so that I don't need too much heat from the flat iron.

Once that's done, I apply a dime sized amount of coconut oil to each section, then I use a semi-fine tooth comb and chase it with the flat iron. The weird thing is, my hair gets straighter faster when I do medium sized sections, as opposed to small sections like I used to do.

So I guess all the stuff I coat my hair with helps keep the heat damage away, plus I think it helps my hair straighten easier so I don't have to use as many passes.

 

[Kurly K]

i def get paranoid and miss my curls! and this is y i wont let anyone else straighten it

 

[KinksnCurlz]

I've only done it once but I was super nervous. I think I used like 3 different heat protectants LOL.

 

[kblc06]

I was in the very beginning. But I since straightening more since then, I've found the proper amount of heat my hair can take to get straight. I also prep my hair VERY well before using direct heat:

-Stretch the hair out as much as possible (for myself, I rollerset and wrap my hair). This will allow you to use a minimal amount of heat and still straighten the hair
- DC DC DC DC DC DC DC!!! I can NOT stress the enough. Make sure your moisture and protein balance is on point. I normally do a strong protein treatment BEFORE and AFTER straightening to restore my hair's porosity and structure
- Use a good heat protectant
- If you have fine hair..do NOT use heat to often. We are much more prone to heat damage


Thus far, every curl on my head has reverted perfectly back to its natural state *knocks on wood*

 

[glamazon386]

Yes Once it's straight and see how long it is, I'm over it. It usually only takes a few days.

 

[glamazon386]

Yes, which is why I don't think I'll ever let a professional straighten it. My hair is pretty resistant, but I still get the biggest sense of relief when I wash. I actually open my shower and stick my head out to see my hair in the mirror, just to make sure my napps are back.
I do a lot to make sure my hair is protected, and so far, I've had no problems.

I thought I was the only one who did that. For some reason it takes a minute for my hair to curl back up once the water hits it. Like it doesn't want to revert or something. Once the shampoo is in there it usually bounces right back. It's weird. I think the products (cones) just have to wash out.

 

[BostonMaria]

I deep condition for hours before I straighten my hair
I deep condition the hell out of my hair AFTER too

I have it down to a science too. I'm definitely not paranoid about heat damage. I do miss wetting my hair every day when my hair is straight and when I finally get to jump in the shower and wet my hair I get all happy when I feel the curls come back LOL So corny, I know.

Oh and I also won't go to a hair dresser to get my hair done.

 

[BostonMaria]

I thought I was the only one who did that. For some reason it takes a minute for my hair to curl back up once the water hits it. Like it doesn't want to revert or something. Once the shampoo is in there it usually bounces right back. It's weird. I think the products (cones) just have to wash out.

OK that makes three of us LOL cuz I do it too!

 

[GoingNatural]

i am always in awe of your hair SEMO.

the first time i straightened my hair i was worried about getting my curls back. now i'm just worried about split ends and breakage when i do it again.

 

[Jetblackhair]

Yep, and after stepping out of the shower and looking in the mirror, I breathe a sigh of relief when I see my curls again.

Another thing I'm paranoid about is why I see more short broken hairs while I am straightening. I still haven't figured this one out. Does this happen to anyone else?

 

[reena]

yes, I always think the heat will take my hair right on out lol. And this last time it did... bad hot combing accident lol I can laugh now. But Im growing in my edges as we speak

 

[SEMO]

i am always in awe of your hair SEMO.

the first time i straightened my hair i was worried about getting my curls back. now i'm just worried about split ends and breakage when i do it again.

Awww thanks. That was sweet of you to say. I think your hair is awesome too. I also worry about splits and breakage. Sadly I noticed some of both when I straightened my hair this time around.

 

[I_shure_do_wish]

Gosh I thought I was alone! I cringed at the sight of the flat iron on my hair. I usually do my bangs first and then stop and walk away. If I'm feeling it because of paranoia I discontinue and just leave the bangs or do a little pompadour (hump). If I'm okay I continue but usually it doesn't last more than what I hope it would. And when others do it I become a nervous wreck that they get made at me in the chair.

 

[wavezncurlz]

yep, yep. I've been at this off and on for over 15 years and I'm still scurred. I can't do it myself though. (3-4 x a year by a stylist)

I am going to try rollersetting with this next wash. I also bought my first flat iron. Straight hair is a very rare thing for me. As soon as I do it, I can't wait to wash it out. BUT I am cheap so I try to make it last at least a week.

 

[TheQueenBeeMaya]

I'm natural, but I wear my hair pressed 90% of the time, I'm not paranoid at all because I know with the right products/technique my hair will revert right back.

 

[yamilee21]

I've never been worried about my curls not coming back, because my hair reverts at the slightest hint of moisture. But I do worry about damage, especially exacerbating the split ends situation. I don't know what planet I've been on that I never knew about heat protectant products before joining this forum.

 

[tru2me]

I got my hair pressed for the first time this past weekend. I'm washing it out soon and I hope my curls come back!!!

 

[Nonie]

I've never been worried about my curls not coming back, because my hair reverts at the slightest hint of moisture. But I do worry about damage, especially exacerbating the split ends situation. I don't know what planet I've been on that I never knew about heat protectant products before joining this forum.

Join the club. I knew Thermasilk was a conditioner that worked well with heat and remember using it when I had relaxed hair. But as far as protecting my natural hair, that's a new thing for me and it's why I'm so at peace with pressing now.

 

[Nonie]

Yep, and after stepping out of the shower and looking in the mirror, I breathe a sigh of relief when I see my curls again.

Another thing I'm paranoid about is why I see more short broken hairs while I am straightening. I still haven't figured this one out. Does this happen to anyone else?

I didn't see any. Do you DC with a protein conditioner prior to pressing?

 

[ResultsMayVary]

I've only flat ironed my hair once when I went natural and I didn't even finish it because ... Yes! I was extremely paranoid. From all the horror stories I've read, heat damage is no joke. I actually experienced it from my transitioned when I BC'ed the front was heat damaged
Nevertheless ... I will try again one day. And when I do, please believe I will have a handy dandy bottle of Sabino next to me.

 

[BostonMaria]

I've noticed that most (not all) of the "horror stories" are from people that went to a salon and got their hair pressed. Leaving your hair in the hands of a stylist who's trying to hurry up is probably not the safest thing to do. Those pressing combs are on fiyah! Haven't used one since 1993.

My sister begs me to go to my old stylist (Dominican Salon) and get my hair super duper straight. I reminder her that last year that same stylist refused to rollerset my hair and blowdried it to the point where I was coughing from all the smoke LOL oh hell to the naw ha ha

 

[SpyCats]

Yes, which is why I don't think I'll ever let a professional straighten it. My hair is pretty resistant, but I still get the biggest sense of relief when I wash. I actually open my shower and stick my head out to see my hair in the mirror, just to make sure my napps are back.

I do a lot to make sure my hair is protected, and so far, I've had no problems.

I do the same thing

 

[1QTPie]

Sometimes I do, but I'm pretty meticulous when it comes to flat ironing my hair, so I don't freak out about it.

 

[adf23]

I agree with making sure my hair is deep conditioned well before I flat iron it- I haven't had any problems, thankfully!!

 

[tailormade84]

i am so extra paranoid about straightening my hair that i don't do it

i just was styling someone's hair the other day who had heat damage on over 80% of her hair.....she still has some wave, but it just wasnt the same - i need my curl

 

[Ediese]

I do. I don't think I'll be straightening often at all...maybe twice a year. I got my hair pressed in December, and have heat damage on the left side of my head in the front and back. The freaking hair won't even curl. I'm so pissed!