When I wanted my hair cut to even up the bottom layers at the end of last year, I flat ironed as best as I could. I did it over 2 days, starting in the evening and finishing the next morning. I guess it took me 4 hours. I did it by small sections using the comb chase method. This was the result (after the cut):
I decided I would try to blow dry and flat iron each week for a while. Just long enough to knock a little of the kink out of my hair so it wouldn't take so long to detangle and wouldn't knot up so much. I'm plagued by single strand knots and my hair takes soooooooooo long to detangle regularly. So every week since the cut, I've blow dried and flat ironed. That's 3 times total including the flat iron before the cut. This last time I did big sections and didn't use a comb at all. I just flat ironed big sections pulling for some tension. It took about 20 minutes This is the result:
So it's straighter now after 20 minutes than it was after the first 4 hour job! All it took was a few consecutive flat iron jobs to get my hair to the point where it can get straight enough (for me) in a very short period of time.
This is the level at which I want my hair. It's also faster to detangle. I just have to see what I have to do to maintain it at this level. Maybe flat ironing once every 2-3 weeks?
I am making sure to note the state of my hair after every wash to make sure I'm not getting any straight pieces or split ends. I'm really mostly concerned about split ends, because that's the one hair problem I never really had.
I decided I would try to blow dry and flat iron each week for a while. Just long enough to knock a little of the kink out of my hair so it wouldn't take so long to detangle and wouldn't knot up so much. I'm plagued by single strand knots and my hair takes soooooooooo long to detangle regularly. So every week since the cut, I've blow dried and flat ironed. That's 3 times total including the flat iron before the cut. This last time I did big sections and didn't use a comb at all. I just flat ironed big sections pulling for some tension. It took about 20 minutes This is the result:
So it's straighter now after 20 minutes than it was after the first 4 hour job! All it took was a few consecutive flat iron jobs to get my hair to the point where it can get straight enough (for me) in a very short period of time.
This is the level at which I want my hair. It's also faster to detangle. I just have to see what I have to do to maintain it at this level. Maybe flat ironing once every 2-3 weeks?
I am making sure to note the state of my hair after every wash to make sure I'm not getting any straight pieces or split ends. I'm really mostly concerned about split ends, because that's the one hair problem I never really had.
. Oh, sorry got sidetracked. I would go with the 20 minute job.
I knew i wouldnt be dissapointed coming in ur thread!!!!!
your hair!
If your hair can take the heat right now, then I say go right ahead and flat iron it a little more than usual. Your past regimen has helped to build in strength and balance in your strands to tolerate heat now. Remember that ole saying about whatever you remove, you must replace. Just keep it balanced, and know that pressing or flat ironing can remove some of the moisture from the hair, and make it more susceptible to dryness and breakage. So you might have to up your conditioning (DC's, protein/moisture balance, even add a little more oil) to your reggie. I know you'll keep it in check, cause you are awesome and doing a phenomenal job with your hair's progress!
