Flat Ironers Transition

bellavie · 09-20-2011, 02:49 AM

I am transitioning from flat ironing for 4 years. I stopped relaxing 6 years ago. So the relaxer is gone. What I'm dealing with now is getting my hair to remember its curl after years of flat ironing. It drinks oil and conditioner like its no tomorrow. So I just listen and co wash in the morning and add coconut oil at night. The curl pattern is not consistent yet. There are waves, curls, spirals..all sizes ...all over the place. I just did a twist out tonight for the first time. Hoping this will help my hair remember the pattern.

Anyone else out there transitioning from flat iron damage. What's working? Tips ...I'm trying to be patient with this but I have a wedding in a few weeks and I don't want to resort to a flat iron to look cute for pictures. (I'm starting to cave in

)

marioma · 10-02-2011, 02:50 AM

you ve been 4 years wizout flat iron and still dont see curls? i am transitioning from flat iron a month now and i already see a difference ..anyway it takes some patience i cant wait to have long uniform spirals , conditioning really helped me , i wear my hair half up ..it looks more acceptable , for the wedding i know it 's hard not to flat iron thank god i dont have to go to any weddings soon , try hair accessories like silk flowers maybe , it looks cute , for me i would straighten my bangs

Trixie1979 · 10-02-2011, 12:51 PM

I used to flat iron. I was doing it everyday on a really high heat for a good month and destroyed the little curl I had(think I'm maybe a 2b/c). That was a good year ago now. I got a hair cut a couple weeks ago and am finally seeing curls come back!! YAY!!! I'm going to have to wait a good while yet to have it all back curly.

At the moment I'm still washing and using a blow dryer on my hair because I dint know what else to so with it.

I've been wanting to ask what a twist out is?? And how is it done?

naturalnewb · 10-02-2011, 04:05 PM

Hi there. I have no personal experience with this issue since I haven't flat ironed in quite some time, but I have looked into it a smidge because I know I'll eventually want to straighten my hair for an event/holiday of some sort. As far as I can tell, everyone says to try a protein treatment followed by a deep conditioning treatment. Though this plan of action is not a guaranteed remedy, it might help bring your curls back to life.

That said, if you want more feedback on this topic, try posting the same question on the "Straightening/relaxing" thread.

bellavie · 12-23-2012, 04:37 PM

It was 4 years with flat iron and I was dealing with trying to undo 4 years of damage. I've been conditioning the heck out of my hair and finally its looking normal. But I'm still trying to find my product cocktail to keep things nice. Thanks for the tip of half up and half down. Love that idea!

Always@night · 12-23-2012, 06:24 PM

I flat ironed my hair religiously throughout my freshman- junior years of high school which resulted in unhealthy hair and heat damage.
Some things that have worked for me include:
-Not flat ironing once a week as i used too( now a freshman in college I have only flat ironed 3 times in a 9 month period)
- Deep conditioning weekly or biweekly
- Protein Treatments
-Protective Styling
- I started Co washing and the CG Method
-Using A Leave In
-Olive Oil
- Patience
- And coming to the realization that i didn't have to flatiron my natural hair to be pretty, and that my curls were beautiful.
Good luck and try to be patient with your hair. :-)

AngelKate18 · 12-27-2012, 08:18 PM

I think she meant she was recovering from consistently straightening her hair for four years, not transitioning for four years.

bellavie · 03-11-2013, 03:26 PM

Yes thats true I stopped relaxing my hair several years before I stopped flat ironing. Then I needed to transition from heat damage. Even with a good cut my curl memory was slow to return. Protein treatments really helped. Deep conditioning also really helped. I just started to do protective styling...that has really really helped my curl memory return. This is a real journey. Thanks for all of your input.

MLmaya · 04-18-2013, 07:11 PM

I've been straightening my hair with a flat iron since age 14...I did stop for a while when I was 18/19 but then I picked it back up again. My hair right now is doing some crazy stuff left on its own...ringlets in front, straight hair in back! It needs to make up its mind!