Question for Natural Ladies Who Add Inches Every Year

Natural and Straightening?

  • I do not straighten my hair ever.

    Votes: 8 16.0%
  • I straighten once or twice a year.

    Votes: 28 56.0%
  • I straighten around 6 times a year.

    Votes: 6 12.0%
  • I straighten monthly.

    Votes: 2 4.0%
  • I straighten weekly.

    Votes: 2 4.0%
  • I straighten biweekly.

    Votes: 1 2.0%
  • I straighten daily.

    Votes: 1 2.0%
  • I do not use flat irons but I use other kinds of heat.

    Votes: 2 4.0%

  • Total voters
    50
  • Poll closed .

CaraWalker

Well-Known Member
this is a question for all the natural ladies whose hair is several inches longer at the end of the year; you retain length and have passed hurdles from SL to APL to BSL and more.

do you straighten your hair? if so, how often?

are there naturals out there who see progress with length and also straighten their hair?

to be honest im finding out that the only time i want to straighten my hair is for fun, if im going out and want to do something different. i dont care about straightening my hair for day to day life. this ends up coming out to the urge to straighten around once a month. im wondering if there is a big consensus of ladies who straighten their hair regularly or more who dont.
 

NowIAmNappy

Well-Known Member
I went from BSL to almost WL this past year and I haven't straightened my hair at all. Its actually been about 3 years since I've had my hair flat ironed.
 

Channy31

New Member
I see profess and straighten bi weekly... 2013-2014 wasn't more than 2-3 inches progress but 2012-2013 I got 6 inches of progress.

In 2012-2013 I actually straightened my hair more than 2013-14 which is odd.
I think roller setting meant I had a set back in 2013.

Also I have a LOT of hair, I have breakage but I think since my hair is so thick it doesn't matter if a few strands are damaged.
 

JosieLynn

Well-Known Member
Last year I probably went from SL to BSL and I may have straightened my hair maybe 3 times the whole year. I really don't use heat like that and if I do it's often on a whim and I don't keep it straight very long. The longest I had my hair straightened was in April last year for my best friend's wedding and that maybe lasted 5-6 days. Straight hair is boring to me lol
 

TeeBee

New Member
I just made MBL this past November and I tend to straighten twice a year. I can't imagine having straight waist length hair (which is my new goal) though! I really only do it to check my length.
 

toaster

Well-Known Member
My last relaxer was 10/08 and I made hip length by 10/12. I did this by cowashing and bunning, and getting my hair blown out and flat ironed for special occasions, maximum 3 times a year, sometimes going a whole year without it.

I cut my hair because I was bored and now I'm in the process of growing it back. I haven't straightened with direct heat since 10/12 and don't really have plans any time soon. I am on a new roller set regimen which gets my hair pretty stretched but not like a blow out and flat iron.
 

nlamr2013

Well-Known Member
The first year of being natural I got like 7 inches with no straightening just protective styling. Second year another sevenish inches straightened maybe thrice. Third year I cut my hair so I only saw maybe 2-3 inches 4th year same think I went to a salon and she burnt my hair so it was damaged and I cut. And back in Nov I bced again no heat at all not even bonnet dryer since and I feel like my hair is stalled. My hair actually loves heat in moderation. As soon as I get my blow dryer and scalp in check I may go to lightly blowing it out bi weekly and styling it from there.
 

Froreal3

haulin hard in the paint
I straightened only once this past year (my end of year lc in my siggy). I went from shoulder/grazing APL to BSL this past year. I'm hoping to be grazing waist by year's end.
 

BonBon

Well-Known Member
I got 5 " I think last year and I didn't straighten.

It all depends though on how much abuse a natural throws at her hair lol. I've done irreparable damage in one straightening session years ago by cranking up to maximum on my fine hair :nono: I didn't actually straighten many times that year, but the damage was done.

I'm 4a with some 4b and I don't believe blow drying followed by high heat flat ironing would be a good idea for my hair! I plan to stretch with curlformers then straighten on no more than 300 -310. Apparently its very unlikely to damage your hair on low temps.
 

FoxxyLocs

Well-Known Member
I've been straightening twice a month since last summer and I've retained probably 3-4 inches. I blow dry and flat iron, usually on low heat with one pass. So far my hair is doing fine.

I was no heat for years, but then I started having issues with ssks so I started straightening.
 

grownwomanaz

Love and Harmony
I grow and retain, cutting too frequently was an issue for me until this year. I straighten maybe 4-6 times a year in the cooler months only. I see myself straightening less and less as I allow my hair to get longer. I prefer my curls I just want longer curly hair.
 

BraunSugar

New Member
I haven't straightened my hair in two years. I use a blow dryer to dry my wash & gos, but outside of that I don't use heat. I'm too lazy to straighten my hair. It takes hours and it starts frizzing up in minutes. :nono:
 

reeko43

Well-Known Member
First year i was natural i flat ironed three times to trim. Second year i did a couple of heatless curlformer sets and heatless roller sets. Since i had success with no heat i dont plan to straighten again anytime soon. I have retained average of 4 inches each year after trims which is good for me.

Sent from my SAMSUNG Galaxy Note 2
 

MzSwift

Well-Known Member
I did retain length last year even though I used more heat than normal, 4 times/flat iron. However, it was signficantly less than the previous years where I used heat once or twice per year.

Regardless, I do plan to incorporate regular heat as my hair is getting longer and SSKs are costing me length (having to cut the hairs where the knots have snagged). I plan to use direct heat at least once per month in the cooler months and mini-braids in the wetter/warmer months. I'm hoping it'll reduce SSKs.
 

Ogoma

Well-Known Member
I have not straightened my hair since being natural. I am just to lazy to do so.

I do stretch my hair with curlformers and it is a happy medium for me.
 

ElevatedEnergy

Rooted Yet Flowing
do you straighten your hair? if so, how often?

Yes. The first year when I was growing out my bob, I allowed myself to use heat once a month. My hair was still pretty short (around chin length) so I would get it pressed at the salon and wear it straight for 2-3 weeks. The other week I would get a roller wrap. I'm not sure how much I retained because I wasn't really tracking or obsessing over length. All I knew was that I would never cut my hair that short again because it was a pain to grow out.

The 2nd year I still allowed myself to use heat monthly but I ended up using it a lot less...no real reason. My hair was a lot longer so I could play around with styling more. I focused on roller setting, braids and had one sew in. So I used heat maybe 4-6 times that year. Overall in a 2 year span, my hair went from a chin length bob to MBL. I can't say if it was cutting down on heat, less manipulating or using less products. It all kinda happened simultaneously.

You will never really know for yourself unless you try it. You have to determine if that's a risk you are willing to take with your hair.

I don't think heat is evil...matter of fact growing up as a natural, I used to get a HARD old school press in my neighbor's kitchen every 2 weeks and my hair grew to around my hips. I didn't comb it in between pressing. I would use pink oil moisturizer every morning and put it in a ponytail. As long as it was up and out of my way, I was good! In the summer time instead of pressing it every 2 weeks, she would do cornrow braids instead cause she would say my hair was just going to swell up. (now I know she meant it was too humid)

I think twisting/braiding your hair everyday, using a million products causing extreme build up and tight buns with gelled up snatched edges can do far more damage than heat. But hey that's just me.

Now currently I use heat maybe 4-6 times a year. This is due to a variety of reasons: I prefer my roller set hair or I just don't feel like going through the process or to the salon. It also has to be during the cooler months.
 

PinkSunshine77

New York's Finest
I did retain length last year even though I used more heat than normal, 4 times/flat iron. However, it was signficantly less than the previous years where I used heat once or twice per year. Regardless, I do plan to incorporate regular heat as my hair is getting longer and SSKs are costing me length (having to cut the hairs where the knots have snagged). I plan to use direct heat at least once per month in the cooler months and mini-braids in the wetter/warmer months. I'm hoping it'll reduce SSKs.

I currently have a TWA. I will be glueless lace front wigging it when I want my hair straight. I don't think I'll ever put heat on my hair again. My hair just does not thrive using heat excessively or at all for that matter.
 

NaturalBoss

Well-Known Member
I only straighten 1 -2 times per year. I prefer my hair curly but will straighten a couple of times per year for something different and if I want a professional trim.
 

constance

New Member
constance how often do you dust or trim now? Your hair is just....lush :) love it! Such an inspiration!

caliscurls, Thank you for the kind words. I don't have a trimming schedule but the last time I trimmed was 12/2012 when I wanted an even hl (I'd intentionally gone w/o trimming for a few years to reach hl).

I thought I would trim 12/2013, but the ends looked good when I straightened so I'll revisit it this December.

You are well on your way. HHG!
 

shermeezy

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
I have gotten lots of growth since I stopped relaxing. The growth always surprises me. I straighten pretty often. About 6 - 7 times a year. That's when I get my ends trimmed as well. I think my hair grows at the same rate as it did before; however, I retain more hair now. My hair is so much thicker & healthier. I still shed but it's not nearly as much hair as I used to shed when relaxed. My plateau seems to be APL. I think I may need to straighten less and do more protective styling to reach MBL again. The last time I was MBL was when I was relaxed. I did lots of protective styling back then just to prove to myself that it would grow. It did work but my hair was too thin. Then I did a few mini chops to cut the relaxer out. My APL looks much better than my MBL ever did. I will try to attach 2 pics showing the difference:

relaxed: This is the best my relaxed look would get. I had to fake thickness with big rollers.



Natural (you can see the thickness).

 
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mssoconfused

Well-Known Member
Your hair is BEAUTIFUL!!! My word!

I have gotten lots of growth since I stopped relaxing. The growth always surprises me. I straighten pretty often. About 6 - 7 times a year. That's when I get my ends trimmed as well. I think my hair grows at the same rate as it did before; however, I retain more hair now. My hair is so much thicker & healthier. I still shed but it's not nearly as much hair as I used to shed when relaxed. My plateau seems to be APL. I think I may need to straighten less and do more protective styling to reach MBL again. The last time I was MBL was when I was relaxed. I did lots of protective styling back then just to prove to myself that it would grow. It did work but my hair was too thin. Then I did a few mini chops to cut the relaxer out. My APL looks much better than my MBL ever did. I will try to attach 2 pics showing the difference:

relaxed: This is the best my relaxed look would get. I had to fake thickness with big rollers.



Natural (you can see the thickness).

 

JudithO

Well-Known Member
No heat user here. My 4c hair is too kinky and too fine for a blow dryer. I've been retaining steadily - no plans to use heat anytime soon. Been natural before and heat killed my hair... so ya... except I get a reniece appointment or something like that.. I'm good!
 

CaliiSwagg

Well-Known Member
I'm at bsl now and probably straighten once every couple months or so. However, the longer my hair gets the more it is in a bun. I do keep up with my Trims tho.
 
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