Weekly Heat: What are you all afraid of?

[Butterfly08]

Because I used heat about 2 - 4 times per week in college (when I had nothing else to do ) and my hair promptly broke off and/or thinned out. Rollersetting and cowashing is much healthier for my hair, which is not quite fine but not coarse either. Now when I wear my hair straight it is very thick with tons of body, and is a nice surprise for me and folks around who are used to seeing me with either a bun or curly hair.

 

[Butterfly08]

Weekly heat doesn't hurt MY hair, but my hair is very VERY strong naturally. I've been WL and everything in between so I know that heat isn't bad FOR ME. What I DON't suggest is heat and bleach I've done that before and I won't do it again.

I'm bleached now, and even though I know better how to care for and protect my hair from heat, I still don't want to push it. I am trying to get to MBL (I'm BSL now...gotta update my siggy ) and I have been able to both gain and RETAIN length by not using heat regularly. Even after a 5 month stretch my hairstylist said my ends looked good and only needed a light dusting. With constant heat I am sure they would be open and raggedy. erplexed

 

[Aggie]

Too much heat gives me split ends like crazy. So in my opinion it's a trade off, more heat=more trims=less retention.

, what she said...

 

[India*32]

Okay, hubby just took this picture of me. I last washed/cond./flat ironed on Friday. Sorry it's sideways, but you get the point.

Hey Christelyn, I think you had folks going. I didn't read until page 5 that you were natural. Our natural African Textured hair is strong. I just can't take the comb outs, Too tendered headed, even at 47. I love my long straight hair.

Smile

Simone

 

[tresmonk]

No fear here...I avoid heat because I prefer curly or textured styles over straight hair. So, I see no reason to use heat.

I'm glad your new regimen is working for you.

hello, newby here! what is a texlax?

 

[Christelyn]

hello, newby here! what is a texlax?

I'm not completely sure, but I think it's just a relaxer put on the hair long enough to loosen the curl but not make it straight. Am I right girls?

 

[Aggie]

I'm not completely sure, but I think it's just a relaxer put on the hair long enough to loosen the curl but not make it straight. Am I right girls?

This is correct Christelyn. You can also add oils and/or conditioners to the relaxer to reduce it's strength. This is especially helpful when self relaxing and need the extra application time.

 

[exoticmommie]

My hair can't take a lot of heat, nor a lot of protein. Too much protein makes my hair tangle. And too much heat, my hair either becomes thin or damaged. And I can't stand see through ends. So the less heat the better.

I think I would have this problem still even if natural.

 

[Tinkerbell19]

I use to flat iron my hair 1x2 times per wk before joining lhc. Now I have sworn off direct heat for 15 mths because my hair grows the fastest when I just leave it alone but best believe once I get to apl and beyond I will be flat ironing again but with a heat protectant for sure.

 

[sxytia07]

my hair was overprocessed and heat was making it worse so i stopped using it when i found hair boards.

after over a year without direct heat i have simply realized that i still achieve all of the same styles as those who use direct heat.

 

[DDTexlaxed]

I want to do this so bad, but I am not good at it. It also takes me 2 hours to get a strait style. It tests me so much because my curls look great, but they don't hold. My hard work looks like crap.

 

[alopeciagrl]

Well I am natural and like to wash and curl once a week. However I've had a hard time retaining length due to split ends. So I've tried listening to the ladies on the board when they say to keep the flat irons out of your hair. I have tried blow drying then rolling my hair with satin rollers. This is working for me and helping to keep the heat away.

I know it seems harmlesss at first. When I first began wearing my natural hair it was so amazing how it could be curl straight. I looked forward to it every week. My ends were freshly trimmed seemed like nothing could go wrong. But after about three months I noticed my ends spliting. My guess its from blowing drying and flat ironing mostly.

But good luck to you but don't abuse the flat iron.

 

[MizAvalon]

Weekly heat is unacceptable to me. Even when I did use heat more, I never used it as often as that.

 

[SelfStyled]

I am not afraid of it- It's just that I am growth mode right now, and probably would have to trim way more than I would want to.

My hair is already thin, I think the heat would make it thinner.

Also, I SWEAT when I work out, I work out at least 5/7 days- so it would be pretty point less for me.

 

[Barbie83]

bumpping......

 

[brownbean96]

Bump..Bump

Chirstelyn - questions.

What expensive flat iron do you use? I've been contemplating doing a weekly heat regiment for a bit but want to use good products. I'm not afraid to spend so if you don't mind, can you list what flat iron you use

I have heard of L'occitane - which products do you use?

A total newbie question - what is SMB? Is it a product? You mention that you use or apply this before flat-ironing.

Thanks!

This is my third week. Previously I used heat with a pressing comb/flat iron every two weeks or so. However, I finally invested in a superior and very expensive flat iron that does not require me to press my roots and gives me that just-from-the-salon look. I'm also using a wonderful nourishing shampoo and conditioner from L'occitane. No one here has heard of it, its the best kept secret.

 

[SherylsTresses]

Weekly heat kept my hair dry and my body is heat sensitive anyway. It just doesn't work for me.

 

[Irresistible]

afraid I would slowly lose all my hair , my hair could never take that much heat

 

[doll-baby]

Well for me my hair tends to be dry and I'm afraid that consistently using direct heat (even with a protectant) will exacerbate the problem and thus lead to split ends and breakage.

 

[Pooks]

My hair can only take heat in very small doses. When I was younger, I started going to a salon every 2 weeks for a hard press (several passes with a comb heated in an oven thing). My hair was super straight, when I washed it it looked texturised, and eventually my hair just got so thin and lifeless I knew I couldn't go on doing this .

When I found the boards I became really scared of using heat (after purchasing a flat iron and using it on my hair in twists with heat protectant, I still ended up damaging my hair... erplexed

Blowdrying too frequently gives me thinner hair throughout my length, leads to breakage most of the time, and a noticeable texture change. My scalp flakes like crazy too - its just not worth it!

Now my sister, has fine natural hair that she blowdries often, if I did what she did, my hair would self-BC!

I just decided from now on I'm exploring a minimal heat approach, very minimal. Different strokes for different folks...

 

[*fabulosity*]

Weekly heat doesn't hurt MY hair, but my hair is very VERY strong naturally. I've been WL and everything in between so I know that heat isn't bad FOR ME. What I DON't suggest is heat and bleach I've done that before and I won't do it again.

OMG.. I could write this story myself. Bleach and lack of moisture did it for me. But when I was WL; I didn't want all of the hair on my head.
I think it is also about technique. That being said; I try to lessen the heat and the BKT is helping; but I'm not one of these people that wants to be in a twist out or a bun "erryday". Not knocking those that do; but I enjoy my hair and it looks good. We all have different goals for our hair. Mine is to be layered BSL or MBL. I have no doubt that my regimen with its protein and moisture balance (now I know) will get me there.

Sometimes I feel that the absolutely no heat nazis and the no relaxer nazis can tend to gang up on folks. I'm here for information sharing; not to be preached to. What works for one won't work for most and so on and so forth. I don't knock the natural thing (I like them sometimes) but my go to is my hair down with big curls. Now with the BKT and my satin foam rollers; I can get this look with less heat... but still there is a heat component. That I don't plan on getting rid of completely. I'll listen to my hair.. but for right now my hair and my ends look great. I dusted them myself (pats herself on the back) for the first time since 10/08.

ETA: And yes I've maintained this regimen for greater than 3 months.. lol..

 

[Lovestyr]

I am not a fan of straight hair. I prefer curly hair and to achieve that look I rollset.

The issue with the weekly or daily heat usuage I think over time this will break your hair off.However, if it works for you. More power to you!!!

 

[femmemuscle]

i'm not sure if it has anything to do with hair health, genetics, or curl pattern. unfortunately, i went overboard trying to make 4b/c hair match "yaki" weave hair. With working out or sweating 4 - 5 times a week, guess what happened?

The flat iron won and the hair lost. this is due to flat ironing at least 3x a week. Thanks to the advice of my stupid beautician who said: "it's okay to do it, as long as you use a heat protectant."

i think once a week is fine, but beyond that, it's risky.

 

[WorkInProgress88]

Too much heat gives me split ends like crazy. So in my opinion it's a trade off, more heat=more trims=less retention.

.same for me

 

[marta9227]

Bumping! What's the consensus here? I'm interested in using heat once a month and maintaining straight hair by wrapping. Anyone had luck with this?

 

[GodsPromises]

I don't think you will even have a consensus on the heat agrument. Some will say yes some will say no. You have to do what's best for you. I will say only use direct heat on clean freshly washed hair and no more than once a week.

As for myself I'm natural and I use heat once a week, it's the best thing for my hair. My hair is fine and I get split ends no matter what I do ~ whether wearing it in twist outs or flat ironed hair I still have to do small trims every 3 months or my hair looks a hot mess. I wash, blow dry using the tention method and flatiron then pin curl and my hair looks it best.

Bumping! What's the consensus here? I'm interested in using heat once a month and maintaining straight hair by wrapping. Anyone had luck with this?

 

[BlaqBella]

I agree^^. Lately though I have been braiding every other week and doing different kinds of roller sets on the ends (on blowdried/ natural hair) and my hair is retaining well. But I have flat-ironed every week for years. Had to cut alot in January (abusive situaton and out of it now). Well my hair is back at the length I had before the cut (in January I barely had a ponytail/ longest strands were about 4-5 in.) My ponytail went from 3 in or nonexistent to about 8 in. Longest strands are now about 11-12 in. with weekly heat and trims every 2-3 months (sort of following yt's sisterwithrealhair's method/but I use more heat than she does).

 

[LovelyBwonderful]

Well I am natural and like to wash and curl once a week. However I've had a hard time retaining length due to split ends. So I've tried listening to the ladies on the board when they say to keep the flat irons out of your hair. I have tried blow drying then rolling my hair with satin rollers. This is working for me and helping to keep the heat away.

I know it seems harmlesss at first. When I first began wearing my natural hair it was so amazing how it could be curl straight. I looked forward to it every week. My ends were freshly trimmed seemed like nothing could go wrong. But after about three months I noticed my ends spliting. My guess its from blowing drying and flat ironing mostly.

But good luck to you but don't abuse the flat iron.

can you share a pic of your hair doing this? I've thought about doing something like this before but just felt like I would end up w a dry puffy mess haha

 

[marta9227]

Sisterwithrealhair is one of the people I've been checking out, along with the Glamtwinz.

Sent from my ice cold evo 3d y'all!

 

[juicecard]

Ive been using heat on my hair for years and will continue. I found for my hair, relaxers were my hair devil. I am proud to say that Im 3yrs natural and my hair is healthy and strong. I do believe in deep conditioning with a heating cap or sleeping with it on.

products Etae, henna, Wen 316, Moisture Block, Aphogee protein, and Organix

Dry Oil