Nice & Wavy
Well-Known Member
Awesome, pics!!!
Hey ladies!
Okay, so because of the overwhelming support I've received from my original thread (http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=316261), I've created a tutorial for what I use and do when I blow dry and flat iron my hair.
I don't have pictures of me blow drying my hair or flat ironing because I wasn't expecting such a response, but I'll try to see if I can get one together the next time I do my hair.
Disclaimer: This is what I do for me and MY hair. What I do for ME might not necessarily work for YOU. Also, for those who you who wonder what the constant heat has done to my hair, here are some comparison shots.
APRIL 2007
DECEMBER 2008 (Includes a 1" inch I did after not trimming my hair since April of 2007.)
Also, I use the Sedu Original flat iron in 1.5" that looks like this:
So let's begin!
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
A paddle brush (Picture of what I use is picture below)
Boar bristle round brush
Shea Butter (I use Nasaabs, and to make this more user friendly I microwave it for one minute so that it's liquified.)
Leave-in Conditioner (I use Lacio Lacio, prior to this I used NTM)
Biosilk
Sabino Moisture Block
Heat Protectorant (I use Paul Mitchell Heat Seal)
Blow Dryer, preferably with Ionic settings (I use some cheap Revlon brand because my previous one broke)
Flat Iron (I use and LOVE Sedu)
This is the brush I use:
BLOW DRYING TECHNIQUE
1. Once you finish washing your hair, part it into four sections and separate with duckbill clips. Use about a dime size amount of leave in, and shea butter (substitute this for the Sabino or Biosilk if you live in a humid area) and apply to each section of hair. Spray your heat protectorant down each section as well and comb through. I start from the back and take the blow dryer on a warm setting but on high power and run it along the shaft until the hair is a bit drier but just slightly damp. Take the brush and brush your hair while keeping the air on the section your brushing. Once it's dry, clip it back up and proceed onto the next section.
If you want your roots to be ultra straight prior to flat ironing, I would start by using the boar brush to pull the roots taut and run the blow dryer along the roots to straighten them out. Sometimes I do this, sometimes I don't, but because of my flat iron and technique, it doesn't make a difference in the overall outcome of my hair.
2. Once all four sections are done, turn the blow dryer on cool and run it through each section about twice. I've been told this is good for the hair, it's just become a part of my routine. I don't notice a difference when I do or don't do this.
FLAT IRON TECHNIQUE
If you're using a Sedu, I'd recommend the 320-360 setting.
1. Starting from the back, take a small section about 1/2" thick and 1" wide, and place the flat iron at the roots. I run it along the roots twice, and then once down the shaft. You should flick your wrist as you run the flat iron down the shaft if you want to create a bump. (I do but I also pincurl).
If you're using shea butter on your hair, you should only need to put the flat iron to your roots once, twice maximum. I keep the flat iron on my roots for about 3 seconds before running it smoothly down the rest of my hair. Continue to do this for each and every section until you're finished.
When you're done, it should look something like this:
Then I just pin curl my hair in six sections, which in the end turns out like this:
And when I take down my pin curls, it looks like this:
I hope this helps, again I'm sorry I didn't take pictures, at the time I didn't think it would be so requested! Next time I do this, I promise I'll try to put something more concrete together.
This feels like so long ago! 
