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For a night out or special occasion, the flat-iron can be a girl's best friend. Here are a few tips that have helped me achieve healthy, sleek hair at home!Start with a heat protectant
Always begin with a heat protectant. Apply a serum or moisturizer to blow-dried or air-dried hair and let the product penetrate for 2-5 minutes before straightening. This product will provide a barrier between your hair and the flat-iron.
Fantasia serums or Biosilk are excellent for flat ironing because they both leave the hair light and bouncy. For those looking for natural products, Jane Carter Nourish and Shine and Hydratherma Naturals Heat Protectant are fantastic.
Work with the process
While ironing, grab each section with a rattail comb (for relaxed) or two fingers (for naturals) to help pull the hair taunt as you straighten. It will help the flat-iron work more efficiently and effectively.
One or two swipes is enough
Its a common mistake to pass over the same section of hair three, four or even five times. But this is extremely damaging to our fragile strands. Make sure to only iron each section one or two times. If your hair is not cooperating, try smaller sections or, at least, breaking your section in half.
Loosen grip on the ends
Always remember that the strongest, most resistant hair is on the top of our heads. Try to reserve the most heat and pressure for the roots and gradually loosen your grip on the flat-iron on your way down the hair shaft. This will lessen the amount of heat and pressure applied to your fragile ends.
I hope this helps! For more tips and techniques, please join me at www.healthytextures.com.
Comments: (12)
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By: Hazel on 12/04/2008 5:04AM
Watch out ladies! I wear a natural. I decided to have my hair flat ironed for a special occasion. Guess what? My beautician colored my hair and flat ironed it and it never I repeat never snapped back. Although it was gorgeous I prefer natural hair. Braids, wigs, weaves until I'm at the natural length I want. Anyone have that experience? Oh, it was a ceramic iron and the same color I've been using for over a year. Will I never be able to flat iron my hair? Help me sistas!
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By: Alicia on 12/04/2008 12:24PM
A flat iron will damage the texture of your hair if used at too high a temperature. I'm natural and usually wore two strand twists done at a salon. I lost touch with my stylist and I'm not proficient at braiding or twisting my hair. I bought an Ion flat iron at Sally's that has tourmaline and ceramic properties. It straightened my hair really well and I was pleased with the results. I used it for about 2 months (February-March). I thought I was proactive in using it only every two weeks as opposed to weekly. Well when I started getting the twists again, the ends of my hair (appx. 2-3 inches) were absolutely too straight to hold the twist on its own. Never thought I would say my hair was too straight and not nappy enough! My hair looked liked I had several inches of new grouth and relaxed ends. So I tried the rest of 2008 to try to get it to "snap back" to OH (original hair). I tried protein treatments, conditioners, keeping it in braids, etc. But the flat iron basically made the ends of my hair into relaxed hair. The damage was done. The hair will not "snap back." So just last week, I had the ends of my hair cut so I could again have OH. My suggestion is too not use the setting on flat irons designated for "Coarse" hair where the temperature is usually over 400 degrees. I would use a lower/mid-range setting to get similar results. I plan on sending my flat iron to my sister in Georgia so I won't be tempted to use it after all the effort it took to make the decision not to use a relaxer and grow my hair out naturally.
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By: Sexxxy s on 12/05/2008 3:48PM
I also wear my hair natural and flat iron it every so often. I've noticed that some of my ends are somewhat straighter but for the most part my hair snapped back. To the previous poster thanks for the info. I'll make sure that I won't have the heat too high
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By: Any Suggestions? on 12/06/2008 1:43PM
I am an african-american women and I used to braid and sew weave into my hair for 3 yrs. I taught myself how to and I cut my hair just as if I were to go to a salon. I had a good stylist for about 2 years 2000-2002 but $$$$ was tight and wasn't working, and the salon closed. I've been using Organics Best Olive Oil Conditioning Relaxer System( Normal) for about 5 yrs on my hair. I recommend it! My hair texture is fine and have natural wavy curly hair when washed. When I would take my braids out, I would relax it with that relaxer. I wonder why it didn't take in getting my hair straight once every 3 months? Then I realized, my hair had a residue of dirty hair, and the combinations of hair gel and sportin wave for the edges it never relaxed my hair that good.
In March, I relaxed it with the organic relaxer and braided and sewed in my hair. I went for 6 months with my hair sewed in my hair. My hair grew even longer with the new growth but, shed a lot after washing. I did before I sewed my hair cut the split ends. 2 months ago after taking my braids out, I waited and put the organic relaxer and still my hair and wore it in a ponytail for 2 months because I didn't have a style and plus my hair wasn't straight enough? I would braid my hair at night, take it out and put it in a ponytail. It looked natural wavy and full. $$$$ is tight and so that's why I do my hair myself. What I did this time before relaxing it, 4 days ago I blow-dried my hair on a low-setting to try to get the dirt, sportin' wave, and gel out.
I relaxed my hair yesterday and turned out nice. I have natural wavy-curly hair and I seen that my hair had grown passed my shoulders and was pleased. I shampooed, used mayonnaise for condition, used extra-virgin creme moisturizer that came with the kit, applied TCB hair scalp ,blow dried it out, and was still wavy? So, I had bought this Revelon HAIR STRAIGTENER and a took a section of my hair and applied Isoplus Spritz holding spray, and made it straight. My hair had a nice shine to it. This was an all day process because my hair had grown and it took time to straighten my hair. I take that back, I took breaks here and there. I was so pleased to see the length of my hair past my shoulders and it was already in a style and wanted to wear my hair out this time. My bangs or long so I, parted my hair on the side and it looked like I just went to the salon. I noticed after my hair was straightened, some of my ends frizzed up a little? My hair too me, didn't look damaged?
I wanted to know is there anybody out there that has a good recommendation for my some of my frizzed ends (should I use a specific freeze serum or just get my ends trimmed by a professional?), and have had a similar experience. I am not going to use the flat iron everyday but instead, apply a wrap lotion or moisturize my hair at night, and wrap it by putting a silk scarf on it. How often should you use a flat iron? My bangs or long so I, parted my hair on the side and it looked like I went to the salon. It took me 3 years to get the long length of my hair and don't want anybody to trim too much on my ends if I have to. Since I have the length that I want to wear my hair out, I will not sew my hair again. Hopefully soon, I will find a good hairstylist and when I can afford. I know my comment was too LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG, but had to explain my situation so that anybody could better understand my hair type, situation, and can help a SISTA OUT!
Thank you.
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By: Levi on 12/08/2008 4:12PM
I too use a flat iron every two weeks or so and have found that the ends of my hair are so damaged that I need to get my ends trimmed so much more than I ever have needed. I am thinking of retiring it because of this, but am also thinking about purchasing one of those heat protectants before I do...since I love the straight look.
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By: Mila on 12/11/2008 6:18PM
I just wish I would have read this about 2 months ago. I'm a High School Senior and of course, everyone is judging everything I do. I straightened my hair for Senior Portraits and my hair in the back is still just as straight as it was the day I flat ironed it. I tried eggs, mayonaise, and all kinds of stuff to get it back right but it never "napped" back up. Now I wear it braided until I can cut the straight part off. But the funny part about it, is that my hair in the front has a better curl texture after the dreaded flat iron experience.
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By: Britt on 12/10/2008 12:19PM
Hello Ladies! Like the Mila I wish someone would have told me that my natural curls would not snap back once flat ironed-that someone meaning my beautician!! My experience is horrific. I started transitioning my hair last december and in october this year i cut off all the relaxer. to my surprise i had quite a bit of hair and really pretty spiral curls. Well one day i decided I wanted to see how long my hair was so I had it pressed. I wore it straight and flowy for about 2 1/2 weeks and then washed it out.
When I went wash out my hair not only was there a ton of hair in the shower with me but my hair was still straight!! I washed and conditioned it twice and still nothing. My curls were loose and I had straight pieces sticking out the side of my head like i had never went natural. So I freaked and found another stylist who then had to cut off all my hair all over again. I was just sick. and i still have more to cut as it grows out.
Flat irons are great but only for relaxed hair sistas. natural beauties PLEASE dont make the mistake I did you will regret it.
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By: Alex Campbell on 12/16/2008 8:56AM
I have always heard that flat ironing can be too hard on the hair. My mother is a great beautician out of Florida. As African Americans, we gotta do what we gotta do for our hair. It is a never ending process. Great blog though.
http://www.alexccampbell.com
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By: Naturally ME on 12/16/2008 9:09AM
I have been natural for about 10 yrs and have been pressing my hair on/off for the pass 3 years. Within the past 2yrs I'm finding that I like how the straighter looks more so than before. I only had it pressed professionally once. Other then that I press it at home myself (ceramic/tourmaline iron) but I use a pressing oil (good ole Blue Magic.) I don't know if this makes a difference but I find that I have to use this or my hair will be too dry and it protects my hair really good. I've used John Freda Hair Frizz serum which works good but not for the intial pressing after it's washed, this is good to use (for me) when styling/curling my hair during the week.
I have very thick hair, my hair has as always snapped back, I even wore it straight for about 6mos. My curls however were alot looser and I did have some straight ends as well. (It kind of has more frizz to it now when it's natural since it's pressed more frequently-think it's getting confused of whether is should be straight or curly.) What I try to do now since I curreltly like to wear it straight alot is every month I'll do 2 weeks straight/2 weeks natural. Sometimes I'll go longer naturally if I don't feel like pressing it. I find this gives my hair enough of a break so it will snap back (and to get that burnt hair smell out of my hair.) My hair is not as kinky as it was prior to pressing it but it has enough in it to where it still looks natural. I'm very leary of going to the hair dresser cause some of them don't know what they're doing to your natural hair & they're goal is to get it straight has possible BY ANY MEANS NECCESSARY.
I use Creme of Nature shampoo/conditioner, I haven't found nothing better for years (within a reasonably price range) and lately have been mixing it w/Extra Virgin Olive oil which I find it makes my hair feel softer. Hope this helps....
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By: Tiffany on 12/31/2008 2:35PM
I only flat iron my hair maybe once a week; sometimes not at all. I only flat iron the parts that tend to frizz up. I have relaxed hair; it grows really thick and fast and pretty straight. My new growth is soft with deep waves. I go to a salon every 3 months to get a sensitive scalp relaxer, and my stylist rolls my hair and sits me under the dryer for about 2 hours. When she takes out the rollers, she wraps it, and brushes (pin cushion brush) it down. It looks great.
At home, I use the lowest setting of the flat iron, and again, I only flat iron the parts that look frizzy. I wrap my hair every night and tie it with a silk scarf. I wash my hair once a week with Infusium 23 and use the Infusium 23 leave-in conditioner. I either blow dry it and use a round/roller brush, or wrap it with the leave-in and a setting lotion...depends on how much time I have on my hands. I don't flat iron after this process as both leave hair super straight.
To Any Suggestions: it's not good to relaxer your hair and then braid it. That could be the cause of your breakage. If you continue to braid it, do not relax. I think you should just relax the top part of your hair that doesn't get braided and covers the weave.
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