Any straight hair naturals with Apl length or longer.

Colocha

acne cream and afro dreams
I'm a straight haired natural at MBL. I've been wearing my hair in predominantly straight styles for maybe a year and a half now.
My first caveat is that I grew all my length before becoming a straight haired natural. I choose to sacrifice significant growth now for style. I also live in an incredibly humid environment. My second caveat is that my hair is very resistant to heat. I was actively trying to heat damage it by flat ironing once a week for three months and my curl pattern didn't change. I went to a salon that flat ironed my hair the straightest it has ever been - 8 passes of a flat iron plus 2 passes of a hot comb. Curl pattern didn't change. This may be because I'm also henna-treated.

Okay after that preamble:
Currently my hair is keratin treated and has been for about 4 months.
If I'm just blow drying (which I do with the RevAir dryer) I wash weekly.
I use Keracare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo, followed up by Aphogee 2 Minute Keratin Treatment for 5-10 minutes, then Keracare Humecto Conditioner for an hour with heat. For leave-ins I use Aveda Smooth Infusion Style-Prep Smoother and It's a Ten with Keratin. Then I use whatever else I want to style my hair. I moisturize throughout the week with whatever I want, usually Keracare Overnight Moisturizing Treatment.

If I'm flat ironing I wash less frequently, maximum every two weeks, minimum monthly. I also add Silicon Mix to the Humecto Conditioner. After the blow dry I use Paul Mitchell Super Skinny to flat iron. After the flat iron I add a bit of grapeseed oil to my ends. I moisturize every so often (maybe once or twice a week) with It's a 10 with Keratin, Keracare Overnight Moisturizer, and Paul Mitchell Super Skinny. I flat iron on 450 degrees.

I also use Olaplex No 3 every so often, probably once a quarter.

My hair is currently very healthy for the regular use of heat but I most likely wouldn't be able to grow my hair to this length with this level of heat.
 
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MilkChocolateOne

Well-Known Member
I wash a deep condition every 7 - 10 days. I wash my hair in 6 sections to prevent tangling. I maintain the same six sections through out the washing, conditioning, detangling, blowdrying and straightening process. After deep conditioning, I apply a silicone based serum to damp hair and blow dry. Next, I use a light heat protectant spray before flat ironing. I maintain my straight hair by putting my hair in 9 large pin curls or by cross wrapping. I tie a scarf around my edges and sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase. I don't moisturize my hair in between wash days. I apply grape seed oil to my ends to keep them lubricated(not daily, as needed). I don't apply heat in between wash days. I take heat breaks. I usually wear box braids in the summer months.

clarifying shampoo: Quantum Clarifying Shampoo

regular shampoo: Giovanni 50:50 Balanced Hydrating Clarifying Shampoo

deep conditioner: Joico Kpak Intense Hydrator

serum applied to damp hair before blow drying: One N' Only Argan Oil Treatment or Kenra Professional Platinum Silkening Gloss

heat protectant spray used before flat ironing: keracare silken seal liquid sheen spray or fantasia ic heat protector straightening spray

blow dryer: Chi Handshot or Rusk W8less

flat iron: Sedu Classic 1.5 inch Flat iron (at 350 degrees) or Sedu Revolution Flat iron (at 340 - 400 degrees), I try to keep my flat irons below 400 degrees. I can get bone straight results with these temperatures. The secret is a smooth straight blow dry.
 
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Godsdaughter001

Well-Known Member
I've been wearing my hair straight since the pandemic. I wash and dc every other Saturday. When I DC I use my steamer or heat cap or both. I've been using Aveda products while wearing my hair straight: Aveda botanical repair strengthening conditioner, Aveda botanical repair leave-in conditioner, and using Aveda smooth infusion prior to blowdrying. When I blow-dry, I use the tension method and divide it into 8 sections (sections of 4 and then divide those 4 sections in half). I flat iron using the Babybliss (b/c of a thread I read here on LHCF) and I use Aveda Brilliant Anti-humectant pomade and Aveda Brilliant finishing gloss. When I get ready for bed, I wrap my hair (in a circle) and it stays straight for 2 weeks.

My hair length is b/w MBL and WL (grazing WL), hair type is 4a. In the past 2 weeks, I finally learned how to combat the frizzies and poofy hair :yay:

Next week I plan to hide my hair for awhile to gain about 4 more inches. But, I have not experienced any breakage or heat damage.
 

levette

Well-Known Member
I'm a straight haired natural at MBL. I've been wearing my hair in predominantly straight styles for maybe a year and a half now.
My first caveat is that I grew all my length before becoming a straight haired natural. I choose to sacrifice significant growth now for style. I also live in an incredibly humid environment. My second caveat is that my hair is very resistant to heat. I was actively trying to heat damage it by flat ironing once a week for three months and my curl pattern didn't change. I went to a salon that flat ironed my hair the straightest it has ever been - 8 passes of a flat iron plus 2 passes of a hot comb. Curl pattern didn't change. This may be because I'm also henna-treated.

Okay after that preamble:
Currently my hair is keratin treated and has been for about 4 months.
If I'm just blow drying (which I do with the RevAir dryer) I wash weekly.
I use Keracare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo, followed up by Aphogee 2 Minute Keratin Treatment for 5-10 minutes, then Keracare Humecto Conditioner for an hour with heat. For leave-ins I use Aveda Smooth Infusion Style-Prep Smoother and It's a Ten with Keratin. Then I use whatever else I want to style my hair. I moisturize throughout the week with whatever I want, usually Keracare Overnight Moisturizing Treatment.

If I'm flat ironing I wash less frequently, maximum every two weeks, minimum monthly. I also add Silicon Mix to the Humecto Conditioner. After the blow dry I use Paul Mitchell Super Skinny to flat iron. After the flat iron I add a bit of grapeseed oil to my ends. I moisturize every so often (maybe once or twice a week) with It's a 10 with Keratin, Keracare Overnight Moisturizer, and Paul Mitchell Super Skinny. I flat iron on 450 degrees.

I also use Olaplex No 3 every so often, probably once a quarter.

My hair is currently very healthy for the regular use of heat but I most likely wouldn't be able to grow my hair to this length with this level of heat.

Thank you. Honestly at my age I’m almost 50 and I don’t want to use relaxers anymore and prefer the press and curl as an option. Having mbl hair sounds lovely but I know it most be time consuming
 

levette

Well-Known Member
I wash a deep condition every 7 - 10 days. I wash my hair in 6 sections to prevent tangling. I maintain the same six sections through out the washing, conditioning, detangling, blowdrying and straightening process. After deep conditioning, I apply a silicone based serum to damp hair and blow dry. Next, I use a light heat protectant spray before flat ironing. I maintain my straight hair by putting my hair in 9 large pin curls or by cross wrapping. I tie a scarf around my edges and sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase. I don't moisturize my hair in between wash days. I apply grape seed oil to my ends to keep them lubricated(not daily, as needed). I don't apply heat in between wash days. I take heat breaks. I usually wear box braids in the summer months.

clarifying shampoo: Quantum Clarifying Shampoo

regular shampoo: Giovanni 50:50 Balanced Hydrating Clarifying Shampoo

deep conditioner: Joico Kpak Intense Hydrator

serum applied to damp hair before blow drying: One N' Only Argan Oil Treatment or Kenra Professional Platinum Silkening Gloss

heat protectant spray used before flat ironing: keracare silken seal liquid sheen spray or fantasia ic heat protector straightening spray

blow dryer: Chi Handshot or Rusk W8less

flat iron: Sedu Classic 1.5 inch Flat iron (at 350 degrees) or Sedu Revolution Flat iron (at 340 - 400 degrees), I try to keep my flat irons below 400 degrees. I can get bone straight results with these temperatures. The secret is a smooth straight blow dry.

How long have you been following this regimen? Are you able to retain length?
 

levette

Well-Known Member
I've been wearing my hair straight since the pandemic. I wash and dc every other Saturday. When I DC I use my steamer or heat cap or both. I've been using Aveda products while wearing my hair straight: Aveda botanical repair strengthening conditioner, Aveda botanical repair leave-in conditioner, and using Aveda smooth infusion prior to blowdrying. When I blow-dry, I use the tension method and divide it into 8 sections (sections of 4 and then divide those 4 sections in half). I flat iron using the Babybliss (b/c of a thread I read here on LHCF) and I use Aveda Brilliant Anti-humectant pomade and Aveda Brilliant finishing gloss. When I get ready for bed, I wrap my hair (in a circle) and it stays straight for 2 weeks.

My hair length is b/w MBL and WL (grazing WL), hair type is 4a. In the past 2 weeks, I finally learned how to combat the frizzies and poofy hair :yay:

Next week I plan to hide my hair for awhile to gain about 4 more inches. But, I have not experienced any breakage or heat damage.

Your siggy picture is beautiful.
 

MilkChocolateOne

Well-Known Member
How long have you been following this regimen? Are you able to retain length?
At least 10 years, right now I have long layers, shortest layer app, longest layer bsl. I used to be mbl. I had to cut some heat damaged ends from trying a titanium flat iron. I have been in braids most of this year because it’s been easier. I maintain my length around bsl because it’s easier to maintain healthy ends at that length. I would have to give up heat if I want waist length hair.
 
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Colocha

acne cream and afro dreams
Thank you. Honestly at my age I’m almost 50 and I don’t want to use relaxers anymore and prefer the press and curl as an option. Having mbl hair sounds lovely but I know it most be time consuming
Thank you! Honestly it was more time consuming when I didn't use heat. Now I devote 5-6 hours to wash day and maybe an hour total per week to my hair. This is the only way I can look how I want to look without spending hours and hours on my hair.
 

MilkChocolateOne

Well-Known Member
Thank you! Honestly it was more time consuming when I didn't use heat. Now I devote 5-6 hours to wash day and maybe an hour total per week to my hair. This is the only way I can look how I want to look without spending hours and hours on my hair.

same, my straight hair is predictable. styling takes less than 10 minutes. I spend the same amount of time prepping for bed.
 
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