Naturals- What's the best way to straighten?

Still Sexy Stewardess said:

Nonie, thanks for the info on this method. It looks interesting.

Question: How do you get the scalp dry? If your scalp is wet, doesn't it re-wet the hair and cause reversion?

Click to expand...

Most people say it's best to do it on damp hair, so your scalp isn't wet...or it dries during the process. Remember you're sectioning out a very narrow strip and as you start to press from the base to the tip, one pass, you'll find your scalp doesn't even feature in the process. It's important that your hair isn't dripping wet coz the hot water can run down and scald you.

When I did my "safer" method, my hair was already first fully dry and stretched. I used Curlformers to stretch my hair because I wanted to cut back on use of heat. (I know most people believe in blow drying but I just imagine that sucking out all the moisture from my hair so that it's crisp--especially since I know a lot of products make my hair sticky so I prefer to "moisturize well" during the conditioning stage so I don't need a lot of products. Also I believe WTD presses do indeed leave hair softer, which to me is a sign of moisturized hair.

For the WTD stage of my safer method, I would undo a CF, and spray the hair (it was a very small section) with John Frieda Frizz-Ease Heat Defeat Protective Styling Spray (instead of plain water as in the past). I made sure each strand was very well coated. My scalp wasn't wet. I did this to every CF section, as I got to it. Only one pass of the flat iron was necessary for this. I didn't rush but I didn't hold it on one section of my hair but kept the iron moving. I was also holding my hair in a stretched mode with one hand while the iron dried it, releasing the stretching hand as I got to it so I could iron the ends. My hair looked like it had been blow dried when I was done.

And then came my final press where I seal the hair with a serum. I don't wet it at this point. I just section out narrow strips, coat very well with John Frieda Frizz-Ease Hair Serum, Thermal Protection Formula (When I say "coat very well" I don't mean use a lot. I mean use enough to make sure the strands are well coated. I focused on the intention to protect each strand and to seal it). Again I would apply to each section as I got to it, then press. The end results were a nice smooth finish.

^^^
Excellent information, Nonie. Thank you! I think I'll try your "safer" method. Like you, I'm a bit skittish about blow-drying myself. Your method is definitely worth considering! Thanks again for giving such a detailed answer. I loved the satiny finish on your hair.

Soliel185 said:

Click to expand...

fyb87 said:

I'm the one in white shirt on the far left.

Click to expand...

Ok soo both of ur hair looks sooo pretty...def see the swang...and so silky and shiny!! oh boy I hope mine looks like that...

how long does it last?!?

SimplyBlessed said:

Ok soo both of ur hair looks sooo pretty...def see the swang...and so silky and shiny!! oh boy I hope mine looks like that...

how long does it last?!?

Click to expand...

Oh...about a month or so...
(I used a dry shampoo to keep it fresh and guard against reversion and I only touched up my edges once.)

Thanks to Nonie, I now have a "best" way to straighten.

I went from damp to dry with my Chi Wet to Dry Flat iron.

Last night I did an Aphogee protein treatment,
- followed by Roux Porosity mixed with Aphogee balancing moisturizing conditioner and braided each section of my hair.
-Sat under the dryer for 20 min.
-Rinsed hair with braids in.
-Next morning, undid one braid at a time and sprayed w/ Aphogee Provitamin leave in conditioner.
-dabbed Dudley's creme press(used the last of it, will use Shea Butter in the future!)
-flat ironed each section while preceding with a fine tooth comb.

Easiest process ever!!! Thanks to Nonie!!!!

Okay
This is my hair completed from Damp to Dry flat ironing with my Chi Wet to Dry.

Again, Thanks Nonie!

i roller set and flat iron roots...gives me volume and makes my hair soft, silky and shiny...

Newtogrow said:

Okay
This is my hair completed from Damp to Dry flat ironing with my Chi Wet to Dry.

Again, Thanks Nonie!

Click to expand...

Very pretty! Thanks for sharing. I don't know if any of your products were heat protectants, but if not, use some next time and you'll even be happier with your hair as you will not smell the usual smell of "straightened hair" any time during or after the process. And even after you wet it, no smell. But for years I never used a protectant so I think you'll be OK.

Thanks for posting your results.

Nonie said:

Very pretty! Thanks for sharing. I don't know if any of your products were heat protectants, but if not, use some next time and you'll even be happier with your hair as you will not smell the usual smell of "straightened hair" any time during or after the process. And even after you wet it, no smell. But for years I never used a protectant so I think you'll be OK.

Thanks for posting your results.

Click to expand...

This is what the bottle says,
Aphogee Pro-Vitamine Leave-In Conditioner: Use this lightweight conditioner after shampooing before drying to smooth and detangle and daily before heat styling to on all hair types, to protect and prevent vital moisture loss.

On the front: Adds lightweight moisture, Improves Body and Shine, Protects against Heat

Just came back from getting my hair cut from Hair Cuttery, so I won't be heat styling again for at least another six weeks;0)

Newtogrow said:

This is what the bottle says,
Aphogee Pro-Vitamine Leave-In Conditioner: Use this lightweight conditioner after shampooing before drying to smooth and detangle and daily before heat styling to on all hair types, to protect and prevent vital moisture loss.

Click to expand...

Oh cool!

ETA: I meant to tell you, your shrinkage is like WOAH! That third pic really showed how different your shrunken hair is from your straightened hair: like night and day!

Newtogrow said:

Okay
This is my hair completed from Damp to Dry flat ironing with my Chi Wet to Dry.

Again, Thanks Nonie!

Click to expand...

your hair looks great!
how was Hair Cuttery? i'm thinking of getting a trim there when I straighten next time...

Rocky91 said:

your hair looks great!
how was Hair Cuttery? i'm thinking of getting a trim there when I straighten next time...

Click to expand...

I took in a picture of what I wanted. I told her that I wanted long layers but I definately need a good cut because of the past damage. She took off about an inch all around. I am very peased.

Damn you all with pressable hair--and I mean that with the utmost love... lol. After having been natural a decade and experimenting with several types of presses, I had to vote "rollerset". lol, I'm sorry, my hair is just too fine to take direct heat like yall can!

Flatiron!!!
i love my flatiron.

i wash/condition
dry either by blowdry or airdry depending on my mood
apply heat protectant
flatiron using the comb chase method. however i dont use a comb i use a boar bristle tension brush to ensure the entire strand (esp the ends) are straight. love it!

now i got to get a lil flatiron to do my roots, cause their always show up curly on camera lol

I wanna see more products soooo... I'm bumpin

silvergirl said:

Flatiron!!!
i love my flatiron.

i wash/condition
dry either by blowdry or airdry depending on my mood
apply heat protectant
flatiron using the comb chase method. however i dont use a comb i use a boar bristle tension brush to ensure the entire strand (esp the ends) are straight. love it!

now i got to get a lil flatiron to do my roots, cause their always show up curly on camera lol

Click to expand...

Do you feel like the bristles tear your ends up at all? I noticed when I stopped using bristle brushes I had way fewer splits and flyaways.

The only thing that gives me "swang" when straight is a good blowdry. The swang will last for the week as long as I don't pile product on.

I let my hair airdry with no product in it but a little Elasta QP H-Two leave-in and just a smidgen of EVCO. Then I flat iron EXTREMELY TINY sections with my Sedu flat iron. The heat protectant I use is Fantasia IC heat protectant/serum in the pink bottle (not the spray). I can keep my hair straight WITHOUT TOUCHUPS for at least 3 weeks!

I rollerset then flat iron.

thanks for all the straightening regimens....keep'em coming...beautiful hair and swang so far...

Because my hair is super thick, I have to blow dry my hair first- If I air dry, my hair will tangle back up and the press won't be as good (on my hair). I then use a CHI or FHI and it gets straight. I use CHI Iron Guard - I think its called.

When my stylist does it, she blow dries it (I dont know what kind of dryer she is using, but it gets my hair pretty straight enough) and then she uses an FHI. Not sure what protectant she uses but its a light misty spray. I think maybe something for Design Essentials.

fyb87 said:

I do not go to a salon to get this done EVER! This is what I do:

1.) Wash hair
2.) Condition Hair
3.) Part hair in middle and put hair in two pigtails and braid
4.) Go about my business and let hair air dry
5.) Once dry section hair and flat-iron

I don't use any of those expensive flat-irons. Just one I purchased at Sally's for at the most $30 that works fantastic.

Here are a couple pics! Oh, and it's not that long anymore. It's WL now. Sorry they are so big.

I'm the one in white shirt on the far left.

Click to expand...

Dang. That sounds just like the regimen I use but I apply grease on it before I flatiron it. I also use the jibere de paris ceramic flatiron from sallys for $30.

It's not necessarily bouncy...but first I blow dry my hair with a comb attachment and then I flat iron it.

I rollerset my hair with leave-in conditioner, and then flat iron it after it is COMPLETELY dry. It takes longer, but my hair does not like blow dryers. One day I'm going to try the banding method...

I used to use a jilbere, but I upgraded to a FHI a while back. There is definitely a difference! (IMO)

I blowdry using the cold shot button with the comb and either hot comb or flat iron. I used to rollerset/flat iron but lost alot of hair.
my siggy is roller set/flat iron
my avatar is blowdry/hot comb

The Secret?

Steam Treatments

Excellent blowdry...
and a great iron.

Well I straightened....I clarifyed - air dried a little - added generic chi silk infusion/silk element heat protectant- dried my roots using the tension method - no comb (and my hair actually got kinda straight) then used my chi - did like 1-2 passes

My hair got reallly straight but too straight for how thin it is ...

I can not get my hair tooo straight b/c its thin...

Hair type: not sure, still trying to figure out, but somewhere b/t 3 and 4 I guess.
If I want bone straight hair this is what I do.
Wash (what ever shampoo you like)
Condition in shower....RINSE WELL!!!!!
FInal rinse with ICE COLD WATER (boy I HATE that part, but it closes the pores and adds a great shine!)
Wrap in a towel, squeeze out the extra water.
Spray 4-5 squirts of Lustrasilk hair culture solution (skip this step if you don't want it so straigh that it's ridiculous. SOmetimes this straight is overkill)
Part hair into 10-12 sections. Twist tight enough to straighten roots and clip. Sit under dryer until roos are dry.
Loosen twists one by one and pull w/ a good amount of tension wwhile using the hair dryer to dry. This straightens the hair and decreases the need to run the comb/dryer thru it 50 million times
Hair is pretty straight by then.
Flat iron in 1 inch sections, and go
Preferrably FHI or Izunami flatiron

SimplyBlessed said:

Well I straightened....I clarifyed - air dried a little - added generic chi silk infusion/silk element heat protectant- dried my roots using the tension method - no comb (and my hair actually got kinda straight) then used my chi - did like 1-2 passes

My hair got reallly straight but too straight for how thin it is ...

I can not get my hair tooo straight b/c its thin...

Click to expand...

Does your iron have temp control? If so, try turning down the heat. My hair is very fine and thin, and can sometimes look "too straight" as well. If I do my regimen like usual, but turn down the heat, I end up with a fluffier/fuller look while still being straightened.

fyb87 said:

Click to expand...

tis all