Heat Trained Natural 4B- Progess Pics!!!

LaFemmeNaturelle

Well-Known Member
Your pics look like your hair texture is 3c--can someone explain to me how you can heat train 4b texture to look like 3c--I'd think it would just get straighter with no curl at all.

Mecca Goddess your hair is beautiful btw.

My oldest DD is 4a/b and her hair is heat trained, but it doesn't curl anymore--when she washes it, it's straight just like she relaxed.

I don't think you can. When bonds are broken, it's just gonna give a more wavier or straighter appearance. Heat can't form bigger curls and make them clump uniformly.

OP, the pic you posted was dry hair and looks like it could just be 4a to me. Before you locked your hair, were you properly taking care of your hair and keeping it moisturized and did it still look 4b when wet? I just can't wrap my head around you having 4b hair and then heat making it look the way is does in your texture shot.
 

Mecca_Goddess

New Member
Nice progress...in thickness and length. Love the texture shot too! Isn't it nice that heat can help you have the best of both worlds? How long have you been heat training, and please share your method with us!:grin:

I have been heat training for about 4.5 months...

I would be happy to share the method used. I will configure a post in this thread that outlines it step by step....

Great progress! Your hair is beautiful! Was it difficult to comb out your locs? I was thinking about getting some but I wasn't sure if I was ready for a permanent style. Keep up the good work!

I wouldn't say it was difficult... Just time consuming.It took me bout a month and a half (taking a couple down each evening after work... I just sed a spray bottle with water and conditioner and a metal dental pick...

your hair looks so thick after combing out your locs, i had a friend that combed hers out and her hair was thick w locs but now its so thin and her locs were bsl and now her reg hair is at apl...would you know what the cause of that could be? i kno its off topic sry

Not sure what would cause that besides not moisturing or conditioning ones hair... I always used conditioner. I also deep conditioned at leats once a month even after my locks were mature...
 

Mecca_Goddess

New Member
:congrats: :congrats: on your progress! What's your length goal?

My length goal is WL.

I don't think you can. When bonds are broken, it's just gonna give a more wavier or straighter appearance. Heat can't form bigger curls and make them clump uniformly.

My original texture had VERY small and tight coils...
It may be the products that my stylist used, but I am not sure. It could also be simply that each head of hair is different.

at one point I was also confused and thought that it may be the BKT that I last did in July, but my stylist used a sulfate based shampoo so it clearly has stripped the BKT out by now....

I also continued doing Aphogee protein treaments during my heat training. as I am sure some of you are aware (at times) when one experiences heat damage- the damage can be altered (not necessarily fixed) by doing a protein treatment.

Your guess is as good as mine....

OP, the pic you posted was dry hair and looks like it could just be 4a to me. Before you locked your hair, were you properly taking care of your hair and keeping it moisturized and did it still look 4b when wet? I just can't wrap my head around you having 4b hair and then heat making it look the way is does in your texture shot.

I always took VERY good care of my hair before and during my locing process. Conditioning, deep conditioning and protein treatments when needed were always in my regimine....

ETA: yes, prior to heat training my hair still looked like 4b while it was wet...
 

Mecca_Goddess

New Member
No offense to anyone, but I think at times some tend to get hung up on the "science" of it all. We all should be able to attest to the fact that "everything doesn't work for everyone"...

My reason for posting was to show that heat training doesn't always have to be a negative. Also I hoped that some realize that everything that we may try on our hair could either go very wrong (or in my case) very right.....

The same rules are applicable for every modification to a relaxer process, double coloring process, hair growth "serum" and even heat training.....
 

manter26

Well-Known Member
No offense to anyone, but I think at times some tend to get hung up on the "science" of it all. We all should be able to attest to the fact that "everything doesn't work for everyone"...

My reason for posting was to show that heat training doesn't always have to be a negative. Also I hoped that some realize that everything that we may try on our hair could either go very wrong (or in my case) very right.....

The same rules are applicable for every modification to a relaxer process, double coloring process, hair growth "serum" and even heat training.....

This is true, but it's important to note that it's not typical to go from what one says is 4B to a curly 3C. Just so others will be aware that heat training will not give these results every time. It also seems atypical to me to go from loc'ed to healthy loose hair... just my opinion, logically hair would be thinner and shorter from detangling years of tangled hair.

Your hair looks great and heat training seems to have served you well. My sister however is 4B and unintentionally heat trained and she looses an unbelievable amount of hair to breakage...Just mentioning that so it's out there that heat training is a science and has to be done with care.
 

Mecca_Goddess

New Member
This is true, but it's important to note that it's not typical to go from what one says is 4B to a curly 3C. Just so others will be aware that heat training will not give these results every time. It also seems atypical to me to go from loc'ed to healthy loose hair... just my opinion, logically hair would be thinner and shorter from detangling years of tangled hair.

Your hair looks great and heat training seems to have served you well. My sister however is 4B and unintentionally heat trained and she looses an unbelievable amount of hair to breakage...Just mentioning that so it's out there that heat training is a science and has to be done with care.

I agree that it is important that everyone knows that MY results are my own (as I stated). I went into it with a method and followed it to a T... I have also been natural for over a decade and had a clear understanding of what my hair was/is capable of...

I think that your assumption that a person combing out locs would automatically result in "thinner and shorter" hair is a bit advantageous. Tangled hair can be untangled. As has been the case with many ladies on the board who have ended up with matting for one reason or another. In short... i'm not sure that this particular thought process can be logical..
 

HennaRo

Well-Known Member
I do find it really interesting that your hair has changed....almost jealous lol. But for me it looks healthy so that's all that matters in the end! Congrats on your hair journey.
 

alive

New Member
great pictures, OP! how would you describe the thickness of your strands? i know it sounds like a strange question, but i've observed that some people have thick strands of hair, while others have very thin strands of hair.

it just makes sense to me that, someone with thick hair strands could potentially heat train with reduced risk of damage (like you) while someone with thin hair strands would suffer breakage (like the example someone else upthread gave)

but then again, i'm no pro. just a thought.

your hair looks so thick after combing out your locs, i had a friend that combed hers out and her hair was thick w locs but now its so thin and her locs were bsl and now her reg hair is at apl...would you know what the cause of that could be? i kno its off topic sry

perhaps something to do with the hair strand? idk for sure though
 
Wonderful progress Mecca_Goddess! I love the results of your heat training. Lately, I've been considering heat training my hair (4a/4b) so your post is very helpful to me. Thanks so much for sharing and I hope that you reach your ultimate goal of WL. :yep:

Peace & Blessings!


Hello Ladies!!!

This is my first time posting any updates (please be gentle..:grin:)

I have been a memeber for quite some time, but never got around to actually taking and tracking my progress. I should have done this a long time ago!!!

I combed out my 4 year old locs in May of 2010 and have been really concentrating on my hair journey since then.

Ok, Ok... I'll stop babbling and get on with the pics....




Pic 1: Locs Nov. 2009 (had no idea I would comb them out a few months later)
Pic 2: Natural Hair Flat Ironed July 2010
Pic 3: Natural Hair Flat Ironed July 2010
Pic 4: Natural Hair Flat Ironed Dec 2010
Pic 5: Natural Hair Flat Ironed Dec 2010
Pic 6: Texture- freshly washed with watery leave-in Dec 2010
Pic 7: Texture- freshly washed with watery leave-in Dec 2010

From July until now I have been focusing on weekly deep conditioning. I have heat used on my hair almost every week (except when I just don't feel like being bothered) at a Dominican Salon.

I moisturize and seal every other day (products are random, but I always seal with some kind of oil).

Between july and this month I have had about 2.5 inches trimmed due to my "see thru" ends that you can see in the july pics...

I was barely grazing BSB (only a few strands even hit there) in july and I am full BSL now in december.

I have been bunning for the last 2 weeks, but I mostly wear my hair loose.

As you can see my hair is much thicker now. That was my initial goal.

I will try to come back and update the next time it is freshly flatironed. Moving forward I will be focusing on gaining more length and keeping my thickness.
 

Mecca_Goddess

New Member
great pictures, OP! how would you describe the thickness of your strands? i know it sounds like a strange question, but i've observed that some people have thick strands of hair, while others have very thin strands of hair.

it just makes sense to me that, someone with thick hair strands could potentially heat train with reduced risk of damage (like you) while someone with thin hair strands would suffer breakage (like the example someone else upthread gave)

but then again, i'm no pro. just a thought.



perhaps something to do with the hair strand? idk for sure though

My hair has always been extremely thick and dense. Now that u mention it
that could have played a part in it.

I would have to say that my density has changed. It is still considered very thick
By the standards of most, but imo it has only lost about 30% of the thickness that
I started with...
 

Irresistible

New Member
great pictures, OP! how would you describe the thickness of your strands? i know it sounds like a strange question, but i've observed that some people have thick strands of hair, while others have very thin strands of hair.

it just makes sense to me that, someone with thick hair strands could potentially heat train with reduced risk of damage (like you) while someone with thin hair strands would suffer breakage (like the example someone else upthread gave)

but then again, i'm no pro. just a thought.



perhaps something to do with the hair strand? idk for sure though
I also think that could have something to do with it, just like some people have relaxer resistant hair (I believe has to do with their protein density-if that would be the correct term even) even with super relaxer and leaving it on the longest amount of time possible their hair barely changes texture

I do know it was unknown to me that I was heat trained for many years, it wasnt until a big chop in 2005 to bra strap and extremely less pressing after-not purposeful- that I found out over the next several years, my whole head of hair was actually FULL of tight curls and not wavy. Around these parts for the first years my hair mostly looked wavy-I now understand it was indeed heat-trained. I have pics to prove this :lachen:, my hair was still just fine, but got thicker (as hayle) and longer and totally changed once the frequent heat stopped. I was not unhappy with my hair prior to this knowledge, but man it is really a drastic difference today
 

Mystic

Well-Known Member
I think hair thickness plays a very important part in how the curls form post heat training. Brittany is the first person I hear talking about heat training her hair, and she has stated many times that her hair is very thick. She has the exact same beautiful curl pattern has the OP after heat training her hair.

Finer strands tend to have a harder time getting the same curl pattern; the hair tends to get straight - like a relaxer, if heat is applied weekly. Kind of sucks but, like the OP stays, nothing is guaranteed. OP, thank you for posting your progress. Your hair is beautiful.
 

ceecy29

Well-Known Member
Thanks for this thread M_G! I've been contemplating heat training. Please do not forget to post your heat training regimen and your hair care regimen in general; wash schedule, moisturizing etc. Thanks again!!!
 

colibri972

New Member
Hello Mecca_Goddess,

Congratulation! Your hair are beautiful! (before, during, after heat training)
I plan to heat training in a very near future.

Have you notice an increase in dryness?
Maybe you didn't have drynesss issue prior to heat traing?
 

brittanynic16

Well-Known Member
Heat training is the BOMB!!! I love your new texture. I can't wait until I cut off all these straight ends and get to enjoy the most of my heat trained hair.
 

MaryJane3000

New Member
beautiful hair and congrats!!

Quick Question: Isn't heat training, heat damage that's altered your curl pattern? I'm confused...
 

MsButterfli

Active Member
I love it! I did the same, combed my locs out too but on Xmas eve I decided to start heat training after gettin a blow out from the salon. Your hair looks amazing. I wish u the best in gettin to waist length :)

Sent from my PC36100 using Long Hair Care Forum App
 
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