Which is healtier: Flat-ironed natural hair or rollerset relaxed hair?

[Celestial]

When I had natural hair I pressed it every two weeks for years, over time my hair became extemely damaged as a result. I've been relaxed for about 4 or 5 years now and my hair started to become damaged from two much roller setting too. So I try to use very little heat now, because I've learned that either way over time it will start to damage your hair natural or relaxed.

Wow, this never happened to my sister hair. My sister is 15 years old now and my mother was pressing her hair since she was 7. There is no damage to her hair.

 

[Saffirejuiliet]

When I had natural hair I pressed it every two weeks for years, over time my hair became extemely damaged as a result. I've been relaxed for about 4 or 5 years now and my hair started to become damaged from two much roller setting too. So I try to use very little heat now, because I've learned that either way over time it will start to damage your hair natural or relaxed.

I honestly do not know the answer to the question OP. However, I can agree with what spelmanlocks said. I have been natural my entire life and used to get my hair press at a salon faithfully every two weeks (from the seventh grade to college) and my hair became heat damaged (i.e. thin, stringy, and limp). I remember people use to tell me that natural hair could never be damaged...that was a big LIE. It can happen. Thank goodness hair grows again! I honestly think the answer varies per individual and what hair practices and products (i.e. heat protectants, leave ins) are implemented.

 

[Ivey14]

This is what me and my family can't figure out. What damage is exactly being done. My mother only straightens my sister hair with a hot comb and since the breakthrough of the new flat-irons she now flat iron her hair. My sister hair isn't damage. It doesn't thin out; break; shed; and it remains thick and grows. Her hair doesn't resort back immediately after washing it. It take about 7 washes for my sister hair to resort back to normal. I don't know why people say that it damages the hair.

I am just going by what I've read online about heat damage—do a "google" search or something. And actually, I read that a sign of damage is when you start to lose your natural curl pattern. "Repeated heat can eventually permanently damage the curl pattern." (http://www.urbancurlz.com/2008/09/problems-solutions-curl-pattern-enemies_09.html). This may explain why it takes a bit for your sister's hair to return to its normal state?

Or maybe it simply varies by hair types and different people in general. Some people may be prone to breakage quicker and more so than others? Maybe she is one of the few with really good hair genes? I dunno, I'm not a hair specialist. Also, there many products out there that can mimic the appearance of healthy hair, your sister doesn't use ANY PRODUCTS AT ALL on her hair?

I think the only way to know if damage is being done or not, is by taking a strand of her hair and putting it under the microscope. Or how about posting a pic of your sister's hair? So we can all see for ourselves if it's damaged or not. Maybe we all have a different view of what damaged hair looks like?

And heat damage doesn't stop your hair from growing, as my hair has grown just fine even after flat-ironing it for 2 years. Hair will grow no matter what, unless you're sick for whatever reason.

 

[PinkSkates]

I honestly do not know the answer to the question OP. However, I can agree with what spelmanlocks said. I have been natural my entire life and used to get my hair press at a salon faithfully every two weeks (from the seventh grade to college) and my hair became heat damaged (i.e. thin, stringy, and limp). I remember people use to tell me that natural hair could never be damaged...that was a big LIE. It can happen. Thank goodness hair grows again! I honestly think the answer varies per individual and what hair practices and products (i.e. heat protectants, leave ins) are implemented.

Hey OP, the bold comments in red made by Saffirejuiliet is the best answer to your question. I have been pressing my natural hair straight for over a decade now and my hair is in excellent health and I reached my length goals. So, obviously heat has not been detrimental to my natural hair. And my hair shrinks up immediately as water hits it.
It truly is an individual hair issue.

 

[jennboo]

Honestly, neither are really healthy.

But pressed natural hair looks waaaayyy better

 

[kblc06]

Being a rollerset natural works best for me; if you have fine hair, heat can be especially damaging even if you're natural. But, being relaxed and using no heat worked well for me as well . It's all about style preference really

 

[gymfreak336]

I think it depends on technique and method and your hair type.

Many of us have had a press n curl sometime in life and now with the technology put into flat irons and products designed for thermal styling, heat styling is not the same ball game anymore. You are better off heat styling today than you were yesterday.

With relaxing, again, you have products built "Stronger better faster"

For me, it comes down to execution. If you are going to relax, please relax properly with a system designed for your hair type, with the right companion products, and to the right level of straightness.

If you are going to press, you need proper tools, refinement in your technique, and a regular wash and conditioner regime.

I think some hair types have an easier time preserving health even when relaxed while others have to work harder to do that with chemically processed hair. I think pressing has some inherent benefits to preserving and maintaining hair health that relaxing just can't have.

 

[fyb87]

I think if your hair is healthy period it doesn't matter if you flat-iron or rollerset. I mean if you are flat-ironing your hair every day whether it be relaxed or natural that definitely wouldn't be healthy for your hair.

I've been relaxed and now I'm natural (natural longer than relaxed) and their was no difference in the health of my hair. It has always been healthy becaue I've always taken care of it.

 

[wavezncurlz]

I think rollersetting natural.