If you straighten your hair occasionally, how do you do it?

curlypearl · 06-15-2012, 06:25 AM

What method do you use when you straighten your hair? I'd like to wear my hair straight sometimes when dews are low because my hair doesn't curl as well and when it is windy. Also, I can go more days without re-doing it.

I'm interested in the least damaging way to straighten it.

Rimi · 06-15-2012, 07:01 AM

I'm not sure if you'll want to hear from me, as our hair types are quite different. But i'll answer anyways!

Before I straighten my hair, I wash, PT and then DT all the day before, simply because it would be too much to do it all in one day. The next day, I check my hair to see how dry it is. I like to blow dry my hair when it's about 20% damp, so I'll spritz it with a bit of water and avj before blow drying. I section my hair into four parts, and apply heat protectant as I blow dry (Fantasia IC heat protectant and CHI silk infusion). Before I flat iron, I apply a bit more CHI silk infusion, and I flat iron at about 375 degrees.

HTH

curlypearl · 06-15-2012, 08:16 AM

Thanks Rimi. I've heard very good things about Chi Silk Infusion. So far, I've resisted buying a flat iron. I used to blow dry it, then my hair was falling out from too much pulling and my derm. suggested going curly. (That's how I came to nc.com)

Now when I straighten it (mostly in winter) I've been doing a roller set, which doesn't make it really straight, but definitely different from curly. I might buy the Chi. My pj is kicking in. (hee)

smasters467 · 06-15-2012, 08:41 AM

Hey curlypearl!
When I "straighten" my hair, it's never really straight, I don't like how straight hair looks on me anymore. I wear it more in waves and big voluminous curls. I always use cones when I wear it that way. Basically, I just do a blow out with a round brush, the diameter of the brush will determine how curly my blow out is. I use the exact same method as Chaz Dean does on his Wen models. It's fairly easy and looks great, and I avoid the damage from curling irons and flat irons. Here's a video: Round Brush Blow dry - YouTube
She has another video that's basically exactly the same but she pins up each section so the curls are tighter. This is my favorite technique if I'm not wearing my hair natural.

HTH

ETA: To make sure you get the most from this technique you have to use a boar bristle brush with nylon bristles as well, I've tried it with other brushes and they either pull my hair or burn it, or just don't work right. I bought mine at Sally's for $5.

curlypearl · 06-16-2012, 09:22 PM

Hey smasters - how nice to hear from you! I often use your technique when I'm wearing my hair curly.

I've read a lot about the boar bristle brush. I think I'll invest. Thanks for responding!

modegrrl · 06-24-2012, 12:58 AM

I usually only straighten to avoid second-day issues. In order to get a brush through it if it's tangled, I spray the brush with dry oil. I use a flat-iron or big curling iron. If it needs it, I run serum or oil over the top. I never straighten on wash days.

princesspie · 07-02-2012, 07:10 PM

I've been trying to figure this out too as I want wash it less in winter... and this is what I've found works best for me so far.

- I condition with something very moisturising (in my case Biolage conditioning balm).

- I apply a lot of leave-in (MOP mixed greens cond) because if I don't my hair looks like straw.

- I apply a few drops of coconut oil as a sealant. Naughty, I know.

- I let it air dry most of the way.

- I blow-dry then straighten.

- If I need to tie it up I use a scrunchie and tie a low, half ponytail so I get a bit of a messy wave at the bottom.

I find if I don't use silicon I can go a week without washing it. I've just got to figure out how I'm going to PT (either by using a PT or cowashing with a conditioner that has protein).

curlypearl · 07-03-2012, 05:03 AM

Hey Modegirl - thanks for responding.

I'm such a weenie (how do you spell that?) that I've never bought a curling iron or flat iron. I'm always sure I'll burn myself - but I'm also always tempted to buy it! `

Princesspie, I'm curious. Why is using cocoanut oil as a sealant "naughty"? Are we 3A's (and in my case some 3B) not supposed to seal? I tried cocoanut oil years ago and found it a little heavy so I switched to the oil in my siggie. Like you, I'm limiting my use of silicon because it make my hair greasy. Thanks for responding!

princesspie · 07-06-2012, 02:33 AM

I'd read somewhere that putting oil in the hair before straightening fries it?

ss40 · 07-06-2012, 06:01 AM

I use the Carol's Daughter chocolat collection & a blow dryer & a titanium flat iron. I wrote a blog review with
b4 & after pics. It lasted 5 days with insanity workouts for 2 days that week. If I wanted to hold on 7 days I probably could have.

Everything in moderation?

curlypearl · 07-15-2012, 06:27 AM

Thanks for responding SS40! I've always been afraid of the flat iron because I'm such a klutz I'm sure I'd burn myself.

Meanwhile, I got such a great haircut (Cristen at Takamichi in NYC) that for the time being I'm going to wear it curly, but I'll refer back to this thread when the weather gets cooler. In really cold, windy weather I prefer to straighten it. I'll think about buying a flat iron then.

LindseyLoo003 · 07-16-2012, 11:23 AM

Anybody have thick 3a/b hair tried the blowout method on the video? My hair goes flat so easily on top and loosens up easily but I can never get it all the way straight and I would feel guilty if I used w flat iron again. Not so much my blow dryer though

Sent from my Droid using CurlTalk App

RedCleo · 07-30-2012, 08:18 AM

Like some of the posters above, I don't straighten on days that I wash my hair. Sometimes I straighten at the very end of the day so I don't have to do all that work the next day.

It often helps me to put it in tight French braids while it's wet, keeping it combed and smooth while braiding, and using some hair spray to keep the flyaways at bay. This helps straighten my roots, which can be harder to get to, as well as the back of my hair which is much more coarse. It also sets my part and partially straightens my hair. Then when it's dry, it's easier to straighten. I never give myself a blow-out; I'm terrible at it and don't like the results. I think I have too much hair for this to work on me. My hair is very thick on top of being curly.

I have found that coconut oil helps immensely when straightening my hair. I use it all the time, but I noticed after I started using it that it was easier to straighten. It seems to smooth the cuticle and help keep the frizzies and extra bulk at bay. My hair is so dry that I could use a ton of it and not look greasy.

When my combo curling/straightening iron died a few months ago, I bought a dedicated straightening iron for my bangs. It is a Remington that is keratin-infused. Not sure how or if that part actually works, but it does work well for straightening my hair. It has variable temperature settings. The default is 375* I think, but you can go up to 450* or down to 325*.

The key to using a straightening iron, or so I've heard, is to always keep it moving so as to not damage your hair. Sometimes it can take 3-4 passes of the iron to get my hair straight. It also helps to use a flat iron spray or other product to help protect against heat damage.