nina2214

Hi, I really need some guidance here. I'm African-american and Puerto rican, and I have 3C hair/4A hair. It's really thick, curly, and coarse after washing it, and very hard to straighten. With the straightener that I have now, it takes me 3 to 4 days to get my hair to stay straight without getting very puffy again Once those 3 or 4 days have passed though, I keep my hair in loose curls and it it stays very manageable until I wash it again.

I REALLY need a flat iron that will help me maintain my hair better. I'm hoping for one that will leave my hair silky, pin straight, and one that will hopefully have ceramic plates.

I once went to a salon and they made my hair similar to that of someone with naturally silky, fine hair. I'm hoping for a flat iron that can easily give me those results again after I blow drow my hair.

I've looked into many different brands, and have heard great things about the FHI, GHD, and Profashion (all professional flat irons). I just DON'T want the CHI.

PLEASE HELP!!!?

Gretchen

Hi there and welcome! I moved your thread over here; I think you'll get more help here!

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Gretchen
NaturallyCurly.com co-founder
3A

You are beautiful!

Ronnieaj

I very rarely straighten my hair, twice a year max, but I love my FHI Runway. It's not cheap (mine was $350 I believe), but it is ceramic and keeps my hair straight for days. I only go 7 days, so I don't know how long it could stay straight, but I straighten once, touch up the roots on day 3 or 4, and then wash on day 7. Hope that helps some!

Jo Somebody

Did ya now? Didn't you hear we were mean?!

Anyway, this might be a silly answer, but couldn't you just ask your salon which brand they used? Also, they might be selling some used ones. Worth a try!

I've never owned a flat iron, so I can't help with brand recommendations, sorry.

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My hair is in the 4s, low in porosity, high in density and coarse.

Love: QB - all of it, Bobeam - shampoo bars, Darcy's Botanicals - Pumpkin Seed Conditioner, Coconut Cupuacu Pomade, KBN - Shealoe Leave-in, Oyin - Juices & Berries, Kinky Curly - Knot Today, Ayurvedic treatments, my Denman and the cloud of kinky goodness on my head that I get to play with!

3c4d7zwhatevs

Love. This. Iron.

Also, before this one I used the FHI Platform, which is cheaper and stil had adjustable heat. Always with a protectant.

Did you post in the straightening thread? It is possible you will get more answers from folks who straighten more regularly.

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4a/3c curls
Fine strands, not as densely-placed as I would like
Ayurvedic herbs are the TRUTH
Team Wash and Go!
iHerb code:UYA010 - get 5% off your first purchase

CurlyElectra

I heart my Sedu and they are often on sale at Folica. I got mine for like half off for $60.

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- AmberBrown

subbrock

How do you straighten your hair? I've found that it's more about the technique you use than about the brand of the iron itself.

Blame it on the cell phone...

westndnbeauty

As a previous poster eluded to:

I think straightening kinky/curly hair has less to do with the flat iron itself (although I do recommend ceramic with a temperature gauge) and more to do with the condition of your hair before hand. Do you realize the more moisturized your hair the easier it will be to flat iron and ultimately straighter and silkier.

Recommendations
1. Deep condition your hair with your most moisturizing deep conditioner for an extended period of time just before flat ironing

2. Blow dry your hair using the tension method -- The blow dry is the determining factor in the final results of your flat ironing.

2. Use a flat iron with adjustable temperature and ceramic plates

HERE is my tutorial on straightening natural hair

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subbrock

Just wanted to add that you don't have to blow dry your hair to get it super straight. I never blow dry mine, but I do the comb/brush chase method. It works well and I only need one or two passes of the flat iron.

Blame it on the cell phone...

nina2214

Thank you