Is there life after pressing ,I'm so dissapointed.

Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

My hair is about 5in long, all natural. Last Thursday I got it pressed professionally just to see how it would look. I've pressed it myself before, but it was always frizzy on the ends. Well, when she finished I was so pleased. It had body and length, and she styled it just right. I live in Houston, and this week-end was not the week-end to have a press. It rained alot. But, with the protection of just my little silk scarf, we lasted all the way to Tuesday. I got tired of the press, and I was starting to miss my 4a coils. So, I washed my hair last night. Bringing us to my current dissapointment and dismay. Some of the curls didn't come back (it hurts just typing this). Ladies, tell me will they ever return? Should I just braid and wait for the straight pieces to grow out and then dispose of them? I want to just relax and transition all over again. It was fun. But, until then I'm gonna hate looking at those straight strays. The reminders of my sin are to much to bear.

Lost without my curls

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

Did you use some different product in your wash routine? Pressing doe'snt permanently alter your hair so your curls should snap back.

The product was thought only because if you used somthing smoothing rather than defining it might affect.

I don't know, but it seems the would come back. BY GOD, don't relax and transition again, whatever you do

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

Don't fret Christie Love they will return after a few more washings. I went threw the same dissapointment because I pressed my daughter's long curly hair. It was for a special occassion and I figured it would be o.k since I did never applied any other heat to her hair. I was shocked and dismayed when I washed it and all of her curls/coils did not re-appear. Imagine my excitement after maybe the next (2) shampoos and they FINALLY returned. Long story short, hope is not lost.

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

It may be that you need to clarify. I am guessing that they used a 'cone or something that works like a cone to help keep moisture getting through and shrinking your hair. And that might be what's making your hair not curl back.

(Please ignore the above statement. Reading it now...it sounds so dumb. Maybe I ought just keep quiet 'fore I hurt myself. )

Perhaps using an acid shampoo or ACV rinse might help. Check out this thread that had suggestions for improving hair elasticity.

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

Sorry to tell you...the straight hair is damaged. The only way to get rid of it is to cut it it. If you don’t want to cut it all at once you can grow it out then cut off the damage.

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

Too much heat when pressing can permanently straighten the hair. The bad thing is that it usually isn't an all over sleekness. There will just be straight sections scattered here and there. If the flat iron or pressing comb was too hot, your hair may have been damaged beyond repair.

Hopefully this isn't the case and your curls will snap back in a few weeks.

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

Sometimes straightening can permanently change or straighten your curls. Extreme heat can break down your cuticle the same way a texturizer or relaxer can. Your results are just the luck of the draw or the heat of the comb. It happened to me January of this year. I pressed my napps for a different look and most of them did not come back. Some napps snapped back after repeated daily washings. Others napps became wavy. But most of my hair remained straight and stringy. I did big chop #2 in April. So I no longer have stringy ends.

There are numerous threads on Nappturality.com about the subject of pressing destroying natural kinks and curls. It's something that some of us naturals call "Burnlaxing” I will post the links to the topic as soon as Nappturality has worked out their server problems.

Because I've seen this happen to numerous naturals I ask natural newbies this question
"What kind of natural do you want to be? Pressed or Natural texture"

@Christie Love,
I'm not trying to be pessimistic but your curls may never return. Only time will tell if your natural curls come back. It may take repeated washings.

Good Luck I hope you see your curls again.

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

Sometimes after pressing, one wash will not bring the curls back in full force. It may take a few more washings. If you aren't doing so already, do conditioner washes with a cone-free moisturizing conditioner for a couple days. Unfortunately, if after a few washes, you still have straight pieces in your hair, then that means that your hair is permanently damaged.

I REALLY hope that it reverts back. I want to cry everytime someone says that they permanently lose their curls after a pressing experience.

And a piece of advice, stay away from pressing for a while and give your hair some TLC! Good luck and PM me if you need any help!

Take care,

Ebony

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

There is indeed life after pressing. I realize that extreme heat can be damaging. But, I've pressed my hair off and on over the years and those kinks and coils NEVER refuse to return. Just wash and condition and give it some time. I only press about once a month and my hair is very tightly coiled. In fact, the press seems to really help hair breakage. So, don't despair.

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

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Too much heat when pressing can permanently straighten the hair. The bad thing is that it usually isn't an all over sleekness. There will just be straight sections scattered here and there. If the flat iron or pressing comb was too hot, your hair may have been damaged beyond repair.



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That's what happened to my sister's hair. She didn't cut it but has been wondering why that section has remained straight. I'm glad I saw this. Now I can tell her what the problem is.

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

I'm confused, permanently straighten or permanently damaged??

Snice heat does not change your hair stutruce (bonds) like a relaxer does I don't see how it could be permanetly straight.

My daughter had real good hair but it was poofy and I wanted to straighten it my mom told me I would ruin it if I put the comb in it, I did'nt listen and her hair did change texture but permanently straight

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

It can happen. For months now my sister's hair has been permanently straight in the front and we didn't have a clue what it could be. She's natural and has been for over 15 years now. The extreme heat is the culprit.

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

Sometimes the appliance can be so hot that the hair stays straight. If it doesn't snap back after wetting it a few times, it has been permanently damaged and has to be cut off or grown out. Some older women seem to like this look. But since the hair has been burned, the straight parts are stringy looking--not smooth and sleek and healthy looking. It looks like over processed relaxed hair. Very limp and 'blah'. It just hangs there.

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

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It can happen. For months now my sister's hair has been permanently straight in the front and we didn't have a clue what it could be. She's natural and has been for over 15 years now. The extreme heat is the culprit.

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Pebbles what's her hair type?
and Christie Love, what's your hair type?

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

You guys are such a wonderful source of mental exercise and learning.

Ya know, Mindy, I think it is possible to damage any hair type with heat to the point where it loses it's elasticity completely. Take a look at what one of my favorite sources for hair info says about hair damage. It's kinda sobering to realize anew just how vulnerable our hair (out of all races) is to damage. Do click "Next Page" at the bottom of the screen to read the entire chapter on hair damage. It's worthwhile to book mark the "Index Page" of that wonderful website and refer to it every now and then. I particularly like the ease with which you can jump to any topic of interest from that index page without needing to read through many pages.

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

My sister has combination hair type 4a/b, just like me.

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

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There is indeed life after pressing. I realize that extreme heat can be damaging. But, I've pressed my hair off and on over the years and those kinks and coils NEVER refuse to return. Just wash and condition and give it some time. I only press about once a month and my hair is very tightly coiled. In fact, the press seems to really help hair breakage. So, don't despair.

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Well you are very lucky! I'm happy that your coils returned. My napps never did come back. I waited 4 months and washed my hair almost every day. I never saw my napps again.

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

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Snice heat does not change your hair stutruce (bonds) like a relaxer does I don't see how it could be permanetly straight.

My daughter had real good hair but it was poofy and I wanted to straighten it my mom told me I would ruin it if I put the comb in it, I did'nt listen and her hair did change texture but permanently straight

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Excessive heat can change your hair structure permanently. It happened to numerous other women and me. My guess would be that excessive heat softens the proteins within your hair structure. Check out this link about heat damage on the Pantene index.
http://www.pantene.com/haircare/hair_twh_73.htm;jsessionid=Z4MON0IHKQUS1QFIAJ1TKUQ

I suppose everyone's hair tolerance for heat is different. It all depends on how much heat your hair can take before it starts to break down. Hair type has nothing to do with it. It doesn't matter if you have 2c or 4b hair. Heat can permanently change your hair structure. I think it has to do with how much heat is being used on your hair.

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I'm confused, permanently straighten or permanently damaged??

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I guess that all depends on what you consider damaged to mean. For me permanently straightened hair is damaged because I don't want my natural cuticle broken down at all. Some people consider permanently dyed hair to be damaged because perm color lifts up your cuticle and removes protein. But for those who want straight hair I suppose permanently straight is optimal. For example: Relaxed hair is technically broken down bonds, but to most relaxed hair is not considered damaged unless you have split ends, thin ends, broken strands, etc.

Bla bla bla... I hope that I'm making sense with the point I am trying to make.

“Burnlaxing” does not happen to everyone. But it does happen.

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

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Because I've seen this happen to numerous naturals I ask natural newbies this question
"What kind of natural do you want to be? Pressed or Natural texture"


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I want to be able to switch between the two but I don't want to risk my natural texture. Are there any safer alternatives?

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

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Because I've seen this happen to numerous naturals I ask natural newbies this question
"What kind of natural do you want to be? Pressed or Natural texture"


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I want to be able to switch between the two but I don't want to risk my natural texture. Are there any safer alternatives?

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It's a coin toss. Some women have no problem toggling between pressed and natural texture. Others like myself have always had a problem with excessive heat. I have even had my natural hair pressed professionally and ended up with looser napps. I don't know of any other options...maybe a wig?

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

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You guys are such a wonderful source of mental exercise and learning.

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I second that emotion

My hair is 4a. I have been conditioner washing for over a year now, and my hair loves it. After much trial and error, my favorite products are Infusium's MoisturisingClean Rinse Conditioner, and Herbal Essence Intensive Conditoner. They make my hair super soft and the curls just spring and coil like nobody's business They use to. But, I am encourage by the responses. I'm glad I have people that can symphathize with my situation. Thank you all

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

Thanks, very interesting site...

That split end looks Nasty, I just want to drop kick it.. LOL

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

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Because I've seen this happen to numerous naturals I ask natural newbies this question
"What kind of natural do you want to be? Pressed or Natural texture"


[/ QUOTE ]

I want to be able to switch between the two but I don't want to risk my natural texture. Are there any safer alternatives?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's a coin toss. Some women have no problem toggling between pressed and natural texture. Others like myself have always had a problem with excessive heat. I have even had my natural hair pressed professionally and ended up with looser napps. I don't know of any other options...maybe a wig?

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Hmmmmm...I used to get my hair pressed occasionally as a child (probably only lasted a day cause I stayed in the water!) maybe I'll take a look at some pictures to see how my hair bounced back!

Is it just pressing in general? Or the amount of heat? So as to say, the less heat used the more likely to get your natural texture back...hmmm maybe rollersetting?

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

When I was natural I alternated between hard presses and plain ole curls. I've never had my hair stay straight after washing so I definitely think that something could be wrong and that that hair could be damaged irreparably. But please oh please don't fear. Give it a couple of weeks. You never know sinc esome people have had them return.

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

I will have to echo the others and say that there is a chance that the heat has permanently straighten your curls. I get my hair pressed once every two months, other than that, I wear it in my natural state. My stylist said that too much direct heat on the hair can definitely break-down its nbatural curl pattern permanently. This incident happened to my best friend who has 2b/2c beautful curly hair. She got a blow dry and a suppose "light press". But the stylist put too much heat on her hair. The result (after she washed her hair) were curls some places and long strings in other places. Her hair was beyond bra-strap. After her curls didn't return after many washes and deep condtions, she cut her hair into a curly tapered (TWA). The stylsit said that the only way her curls were going to return is if she cut off the damaged parts.

-lee

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

Ok more questions...
Is this a result of continuous pressing? Or is one time enough to cause damage?
What about products that you use before thermal styling?
What about just using low heat?
and once again, if anyone knows of any alternatives, please post them

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

Girl, i feel your pain! I have natural hair (mostly 4a) which I wear loose and coily. I don't use any heat in my hair except to get it pressed and I only do that 2 or 3 times a year. I got my hair pressed in the beginning of June but for some strange reason, I had one section of hair(between my ear and the nape of my neck) that straightened out into 3a/b looking hair! It has finally managed to attain some semblance of my kinky coils, but has taken a couple of months. The rest of my hair was coily except for that one piece. I didn't realize that was going to happen! That section of my hair is trying to coil now but it still has a different sort of curl pattern to it!

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

I totally understand what your going through. This is the reason why i havent pressed my hair since last february because certain sections of my hair near the crown which already have a loose texture to begin with got even looser after a session with a very hot flat iron.

Your texture may come back, but it may take a few washings. My suggestion is to use a deep protein conditioner or reconstructor weekly to restore some of the hair bonds that have been broken. Aphogee and Fantasia IC 1 minute reconstructor are some good ones you can try. If that doesnt work just do gradual trims till the straight pieces disappear and wear different styles to camoflauge them while they grows out.

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

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I totally understand what your going through. This is the reason why i havent pressed my hair since last february because certain sections of my hair near the crown which already have a loose texture to begin with got even looser after a session with a very hot flat iron.

Your texture may come back, but it may take a few washings. My suggestion is to use a deep protein conditioner or reconstructor weekly to restore some of the hair bonds that have been broken. Aphogee and Fantasia IC 1 minute reconstructor are some good ones you can try. If that doesnt work just do gradual trims till the straight pieces disappear and wear different styles to camoflauge them while they grows out.




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A protein conditioner every week. Is this safe?

-lee

Re: Is there life after pressing ,I\'m so dissapointed.

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I totally understand what your going through. This is the reason why i havent pressed my hair since last february because certain sections of my hair near the crown which already have a loose texture to begin with got even looser after a session with a very hot flat iron.

Your texture may come back, but it may take a few washings. My suggestion is to use a deep protein conditioner or reconstructor weekly to restore some of the hair bonds that have been broken. Aphogee and Fantasia IC 1 minute reconstructor are some good ones you can try. If that doesnt work just do gradual trims till the straight pieces disappear and wear different styles to camoflauge them while they grows out.




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A protein conditioner every week. Is this safe?

-lee

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I think weekly is fine depending on the type of damage and the type of conditioner. When i used the 1 minute reconstructor which is like a mild protein weekly when i had damage i didnt have any problems with stiffness or dryness. It actually gave my hair back some of its elasticity which was lost in some places.

Now stronger proteins like aphogee may have to be used less. maybe try it once and see how your hair reacts. Aphogee i used many, many years ago and i probably used it biweekly when i did.