by
Black Girl With Long Hair
People with curly or wavy hair will pull, blow, iron, treat or do practically anything else to get straight hair. That can’t be good for your hair health, right? Some treatments aren’t even good for your personal health as Del over at Are You A Beauty recently reported in her piece about the Brazilian hair straightening system.
We here at the Beauty Brains thought it would be helpful for you to know the 7 most common ways to straighten your hair and the pros and cons of each.
1. Hairdressings & Silicone Creams. This is a classic hair product based on oily materials like petrolatum, mineral oil, and lanolin. Silicone creams work the same way but contain materials like dimethicone or cyclomethicone. Apply the product all over your damp hair and comb straight. The oils coat your hairs preventing them from curling up when they dry. The most famous of these types of products is VO5 Hairdressing
Evaluation: Incredibly effective on all types of hair. Non-damaging and relatively inexpensive. The downside is that your hair will feel greasy, get dirtier faster, and can look weighed down. The effect will last until you wash out the product.
2. Brushing and blow drying. As hair dries, it tends to curl up. This is a direct result of the water content and the chemical bonds existing in the hair fiberproteins. If you can hold your hair straight with a comb and blow dry it, it will hold that position. It’s a bit like using an iron to straighten the wrinkles in clothes.
Evaluation: This method is simple, moderately effective but depends heavily on the skill of the person doing it. It’s much easier for a stylist to do than for you to do it on your own hair. It is slightly damaging, will not work on extremely curly hair, and frizzes out in humid weather. It will leave your hair feeling more natural than hairdressings or styling products. So, if you don’t want to spend much money, get a good hair dryer and trying combing out those curls. It may take some time but it should work.
3. Flat Iron. If you have really curly hair and the blow-drying + combing method doesn’t work, try using a flat iron. After washing your hair, you comb it and use a flat iron to get it dry and straight. It uses the same principle to get your hair straight but it is more intense and effective on nearly all hair types. Here’s a short video showing how to straighten hair with a flat iron.
Evaluation: Flat irons will work with almost any hair type. If you know what you’re doing it can be done relatively quickly. Unfortunately, it is more damaging to your hair than a blow dryer and will frizz out when humidity is high. Once you’ve bought your flat iron it’s a relatively inexpensive way to get a straight hair style.
4. Styling products. If you don’t like the greasy feeling of hairdressings and don’t want to take the time required for flat ironing, then styling product straightening might be for you. These products coat the hair with polymers that rigidly hold the hair straight. Things like hairsprays, gels, mousses, and putties can all be used.
Evaluation: Styling products are effective but require some skill in applying and shaping your hair. They will hold the hair straight better than the blow drying or flat iron methods. The effect will last only until the products are washed out. The primary downside is that your hair may not look and feel natural.
5. Brazilian Hair straightening. This method is the hottest new hair styling treatment in salons. It even made it into a story in the New York Times. Your stylist applies a keratin protein formula and uses a flat iron to get your hair straight. Theoretically, the protein will crystalize on your hair and keep it in a straightened state. You are then encouraged not to wash your hair as frequently because you’ll reverse the effect.
Evaluation: This procedure works but at $150 it hardly seems worth it. If you wash your hair a few times the protein will come right off and your hair will return to it’s natural, curly state. There’s also the issue of a significant amount of Formaldehyde being included in the formula. It shouldn’t be a problem for you but I certainly wouldn’t want to be the stylist who gets exposed many times a day. This procedure works but you can get the same effect using a flat iron, styling products and less frequent hair washing.
6. Japanese straightening system. This is a more permanent way to remove the curls from your hair. At >$500 per treatment, it is the most expensive of all the methods outlined here. For the Japanese straightening system the stylist applies a special formula all over the hair. Then they use a flat iron and neutralizing solution to get the hair straight. With proper care the effect should last for 6 months.
Evaluation: The high price of this procedure has kept most people away from repeat procedures. While we haven’t been able to see the exact formula the description of how it’s applied sounds suspiciously like a hair relaxer. The fact that a neutralizing solution has to be used suggests a bond-breaking, chemical reaction. Kudos to the inventor for convincing people to spend that much money on a less harsh version of a hair relaxer. This procedure will permanently get rid of those curls but it’s expensive and incredibly damaging to your hair.
7. Relaxer. If you want straight hair there is no more effective method than getting your hair relaxed. In this procedure a caustic chemical is applied to your hair and a chemical reaction occurs. The hair is then physically straightened and a neutralizing formula is used to reform the chemical bonds in the new straight shape. You can even do this to your own hair at home using a product like Affirm relaxer. Careful because the chemicals in these formulas can be dangerous.
Evaluation: There’s no doubt about it that this method will permanently take the curls out of your hair. It will also be more effective and cheaper than either the Brazilian or the Japanese systems. However, it will also be the most damaging treatment you can do to your hair. Your hair will break more easily and will feel dry. Eventually, your curly hair will grow back so you’ll need to continue to relax hair if you want it straight.
We get so many questions here at the Beauty Brains demonstrating that everyone wants what they don’t have. People with straight hair want curly hair, those with curly hair want it straight. Fortunately, clever cosmetic chemists have come up with ways to give people whatever they want.
Wow. Seeing that all these treatments affect the hair negatively I guess it’s a matter of picking your poison :/ Ladies, have you tried any of these treatments? How did they work out?
And be sure to check out The Beauty Brains for more amazing haircare articles.
96 Responses
If you don’t like chemicals on your hair, if highly advise you avoid Brazilian Keratin Treatment. It contains formaldehyde, which can cause cancer. I highly advise you avoid BKT.
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For the record, Japanese hair straightening is NOT damaging to the hair if done properly. It can actually be GOOD for the hair. Just make sure the serums aren’t left on past the recommended time limits. You’ll love it.
Actually Japanese Hair Straightening is almost damage free. You get the bone straight hair without the terrible damaging side effects.
Someone with straight hair like to change curly.
Nice approach, This post is published in 2011, Now it’s still worth it.
Thanks
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The method of straightening hair that you sharing is very good posting and thanks for that.
All the 7 methods for hair straighting is effective but i preffer to use 2nd.
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Very nice methods of hair straightening you shared with us.i like all methods.thanks for the sharing.
I read your post and its such a very nice methods to give a new look for your hair by using hair straightening and your methods are so simple.Thanks for that.
You can always use these same products on your REMY hair extensions. REMY means the hair has not been altered. Brazilian and Peruvian REMY are pretty popular these days.
I recommend body wave extensions from forever hair extensions. https://myforeverhair.com/us/our-hair/shop-brazilian-hair/body-wave-brazilian-hair.html
I read this piece of writing fully on the topic of the difference of newest and earlier technologies, it’s amazing article.
These are great methods for hair straightening. Also High end flat irons use whole ceramic plates which is the best flat iron for natural hair because it causes minimum damage to the hair http://www.bestflatironfornaturalhair.net
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I have naturally curly hair that I love to straighten. You should use the shielo smoothing conditioner, since it has amazon oil in it. It’s a perfect balance of clean and leaves my hair soft and moisturized. I’ve even worn it curly around the house without putting mouse in my hair to keep it tame.
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I am biracial with three hair textures. My hair is fluffy at the front, indian-silky at the sides and very coarse in the middle. I have natural hair so combing these textures on a daily basis without tearing my hair off is not an easy task. In order to loosen my curls, i do an orange or lemon juice/henna mix treatment (the mix should have the consistency of mayonnaise) every month.i let it stay on my hair wrapped in a plastic bag/cap for like 4 hours, then i rinse it off with A LOT of warm water,a mild shampoo and/or a VERY slippery conditioner (cos it doesn’t always get off easily). Then i moisturize my damp hair with raw shea/coconut oil mix plus half a teaspoon of raw organic honey. Honey is also anti frizz; been doing this for many months in order to get loosed curls; results don’t come out right away so be a little patient
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No straightening products have worked on my hair. 100% natural works for me. Everytime that I tried a new product, my hair would be extremely dry and my ends would be split on the regular.
I am half greek and I have super thick, kinky curls that frizz out like crazy. I want to find a natural straightening treatment that won’t damage my hair. Hair is just so much easier to manage and deal with when it’s bone straight. Does anyone know of any natural treatments?
Hi! I am a hair stylist and first of all I want to tell you what hair growth tips I’m using for me and for my clients. Including hair straightening methods.
As I learned before the hair consist of eighty percent protein. B vitamin allows it to grow faster with blending in protein.
The new cells are born more quickly and these B complex vitamins help them to grow and produce new cells in higher amount than its normal rate.
The most important tip: just massage you scalp… shampoo every other day and don’t blow dry or straighten(or apply any heat) for a while trust me you will see a difference … i noticed 4 inches IN JUST 2 AND A HALF MONTHS. My clients are also very happy with their hair growth rate.
I followed a lot of other advices from a website and I can vouch that are working 100%. This is the site: https://howtomakeyourhairgrowfasterr.com
I am a mixed woman (half Black and half Indian). I love my natural hair which is curly, thick and does whatever it feels like on any given day. One thing I love about being natural is the numerous ways I can wear my hair. Super curly fro, twists, twist outs, bone straight. When I wear it bone straight I’m not hiding my natural hair or hiding my true self. My Indian mother has long straight hair. I view beautiful hair as straight like my mother’s, curly like mine, and extra curly like mine can be some days.
Not every black woman who wants to straighten her hair is announcing her self-hatred or hatred of natural black beauty.
I would say that the Brazilian treatment is much more damaging than the Japanese. I have had both treatments, and after several Brazilians, my hair was rendered limp, and was at all different lengths from where dead hair had broken off. My curl pattern never returned to its normal state. I have a 4a curly pattern naturally, I ended up with these weird, semi wavy strands. I was almost forced into getting the Japanese by my mother and stylist as a way to unify my texture. Since getting the Japanese (it will have been twice now), I have not seen nearly the same amount of breakage. My hair retains moisture, is shiny and healthy, and I rarely need to touch my hair with a straightening iron, like I would with the Brazilian to get a straight look.
I actually toyed with the idea of quitting straighteners all together, but my hair grows for too slowly for me to go without another Japanese touch up on my roots before the semester begins :/ Maintaing my thick curly roots with my straight ends just makes it very difficult to be happy with my look. But I hope that day I will be able to go natural again.
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As a caucasian woman with naturally curly (not wavy) hair, I would like to correct a misconception. LOTS of us have curly, frizzy hair.
I live in Florida and my hair is very problematic. If I could find a safe way to get rid of my frizz, I would love it!
That’s no revelation to me Sheila.But there’s a huge diffrence between frizzy and kinky, which would be your ultimate nightmare. If caucasian women across the world were to suddendly wake up with kinky hair, they’d probably commit suicide.
This is part of the selfesteem issues that many “black” women deal with.
Hey ! I use this hair straightening technique – look at #3 “Blow Dry Techniques” – https://www.shielo.com/styling/straight-hair.html
I followed the steps exactly 6 months ago and OMG – its my favorite technique now and gets my hair so STRAIGHT! Try it…
Here is the link to my technique! I like my hair BONE straight and I am a natural girl. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozJ3uOt8fyI
my hair is not straight it is very thick curly & soft (i luv it) & ive ben natural for 8 months now
i dont use heat on my hair at all and it is natural (i let it airdry after washing it)
4 me, using damaging heat or chemicals to force my hair to be something that it is not by destroying and changing my natural curls is just wrong
self-love is about loving your self not trying to make your hair look like someone else’s natural hair texture (straight)
if the majority of white women started buying fake hair (wigs/weaves) that looked like our natural afros, braids and locks the entire world would see that they hated their own naturally straight hair and wanted to hide it, cover it, change it to be/look like something that it is not
if the majority of white women started putting chemicals on their hair to make it very curly (like an afro) people would assume they had gone crazy, everyone would laugh at them and tell them that they need to love who/what they are and stop trying to have hair like a black woman
so WHY do most black women not recognize the fact that straightening their hair (w/ heat, chemicals, WHATEVER) is an outward expression of inner self-hate, self-dislike and a desire to have hair like white (and other nonblack) women?
THINK ABOUT IT!
If God wanted you (or me) to have straight hair then that’s how He would have created us and our hair would grow naturally from our scalps as straight hair instead of as spiralling coils & curls
its just like bleaching your skin to make it lighter/whiter
i hope 1 day the majority of black women will stop doing things to show the world just how much we do NOT love ourselves and our natural, God-given features (hair texture, skin color, lips, noses, etc.)
[img]https://bglh-marketplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/1afro.jpg[/img]
Your comment applies to only one group of black woman and girls out there, I have been going natural for a year after being a chemical girl for 14years I decided for the change , I don’t know what curl type your hair may be, but have you ever considered how hard and time consuming it is to maintain a Afro or locks, even simple cornrows or plaits done with your own hair.
Yes our hair is beautiful but for many also restricting, having a tamed hair style helps many working people be able to do their daily hair routines faster, Or young girls get to school quicker. Having straight hair is not the problem it’s the inner attitude .
After being natural for a year I know remember why I went straight in the first place, my natural curly state hair cannot take the stress of combing or the weight of the curls this is resulting in hair loss and I’m completely natural , I only use natural hair product meaning anything I won’t eat I don’t put in the hair.
After deciding to tame my hair with heat ,yes a hair dryer and flat iron I found the hair loss has stopped mostly because my hair is not under stress and is easier to manage . There are white people who embrace black hair and even in the high fashion world you can evidently see this.
Stop penalising black people who choose to find a hair solution for their type hair, you don’t see white people doing it to each other when one decides she wants a perm or if another decides dreadlocks they faster embrace the difference than we would.
Being natural does not make anybody more righteous than the other neither more healthy , all hair is beautiful and whatever we choose to do with it should not be a problem unless we are harming our health
Ditto and it’s not the attempt to wear it straight thats the problem, its the mentality behind it.
Thank-You. Going natural is not easy.
Olympia:
Your message is noble, and I believe for the right reasons you are expressing concern. But really, part of your argument is weak, and unrealistic. You say for instance, “If” white women were to to certain things to emulate black women’s hair then. We’ll that’s not happening because shinier, moveable hair became synonymous with American beauty in the 80’s and overwhelmed the afro’s of the 70’s for “blacks”. That trend will not be reversed, especially when all the major public females have signed on to straightening, including the first lady. I would even project to say the “solution” will come in some biological component that will be invented to safetly change hair texture without applying chemicals. There would be big money in that invention. In that case, men would go back to it too. I, for one would be the first to sign up.
Also, there is another reason why “black” women will continue to pretend they have naturally straight hair. More hispanics and asians entering the country will force their hand to compete directly for jobs. Keep in mind, that they ( have their own language(s) and are still more unified than (we) so called “African Americans”. Unfortunately, if you can’t beat em’ join em. Therefore, the bi-racial look: aka: Halle Berry, Vanessa Williams, Rosario Dawson, and Soledad Obrien etc, will be the model that “black” women continue to pursue. Which ultimately will mean interracial breeding. Because currently, the only natural way to straighten hair is through genetics. I didn’t make the rules, but I can see what’s coming…
You know, Olympia, its comments and mind sets like yours that really keep racism and the ensuing stupidity alive.
How about this; women of color can do whatever the hell they want to their hair without it being an issue. I am mixed and have struggled with my hair for decades. It’s dry, frizzy, tangles easily and is basically unmanageable (on a very basic level, not just an aesthetic level) . Discovering flat irons and Brazilian treatments have been a God send for me. It’s not because I want to look white or whatever other silly ideal you’re attempting to rally against – it’s because I can now actually DO something with my hair besides pull it in a pony tail or bun. Instead of having daily fits with my hair, I now only have to deal with it on a weekly or biweekly basis. It also no longer gets impossibly tangled and painful. In your zeal to make this an “Us Vs Them” battle, you’ve failed the realize not all of us really give a sh*t about the beauty ideal – some of us just want hair that doesn’t rule our lives!
Before I straightened my hair, I did nothing to it. Wash, natural dry and maybe some gel to tame the frizz (which never worked). Never did I have a slew of white people telling me I should “tame my hair”. I did have plenty of black women telling me what I should do to “look better”. That led me to trying some very stupid things (including harsh over-the-counter relaxers that fried my hair and hot combs which singed my hair). So who is exactly pushing this ideal? White media may set the standard but it’s up to us individuals to decide what works for us. I never wanted manageable hair to fit in, I wanted it because it makes getting ready to go out easier and because it actually HELPS my hair to not be a tangled mass of curls.
And your babbling about white women not copying black women’s hair…are you high? White women get extensions and perms ALL THE TIME! Even their naturally straight hair isn’t the “ideal”. In fact, I’d say no one has the ideal hair naturally because it’s an ideal – not a reality.
It’s great you’ve learned to form an opinion (as we all know that’s a huge accomplishment) but it’s people like you that make the most banal things into a racial issue. Not everyone is obsessed with race or being held down “by the man”.
You are simply saying what I have known all along. Black people have been taught and brainwashed since the days of slavery that their dark skin tone, hair texture, and facial features were considered ugly and that is embedded into their psyche and has been their mindset about themselves, Many Black people will not admit this truth and some may not even be concious of this. They will swear that they are not brainwashed but yet they steadily straighten their natural hair, or wear long weaves in an attempt to get the Caucasian look. During the days of segregation, for the most part, Black people had more pride in their culture and they embraced their kind of beauty, especially in the 60’s and 70’s during the Black and Proud movement. But when integration came about and Black people were mixed with White people, Black people began to stray away from their roots. The brainwashing from the days of slavery resurfaced again and they began to emulate White people and think that the standard of beauty was to look White or White like and it has taken a life of its own ever since.
What about the old school press and curl?
I’ve always been natural but my mom pressed my hair since i was about 5. I know it sounds young but my mom was single and I had a LOT of thick hair and was a tomboy. She was also a cosmetologist so took really good care of it. Anyway My texture and curl pattern remained the same throughout that time to what it was before my mom starting using the pressing comb (old school cast iron etc.) Now that I use a flat iron my curl pattern is pretty much gone, which speaks the damage of the flat iron.
I’ve found several girls with a similar story and found that pressing was a good alternative for people who alternate between straight and curly. I think that should have been suggested.
What about hot combs, rollersets, banding, or wraps? Seems like some methods were missing…
Side note, are people spamming? ^^ “Get free stuff and make easy money” That post and another early one make no sense.
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I used three products to straighten my hair and the results were amazing! I did not suffer any damage because of the chemistry of the products I used. I used Moroccan Argan oil shampoo and conditioner from organix to wash and condition. Then I put nuNAAT Brazilian Keratin Intensive Hair Mask deep conditioner on by raking my fingers through the whole length and full extent of my hair so that my hair was completely saturated. I let it sit on my hair for 15 minutes under a dryer. I washed out the deep conditioner thoroughly. I towel dried and then added 100% pure Grape Seed Oil and the Brazilian Keratin Treatment Anti-Breakage Serum by Organix. Then I blow dried my hair using the medium setting and the tension method. First I dabbed a small amount of Aveda’s anti-humectant pomade on my palm and rubbed it through out my hair. I then flat ironed my hair at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. I was able to use that much heat and not suffer damage because Grape seed oil has a smoke point of 420 degrees Fahrenheit. Since I did not exceed that smoke point, I did not burn the oil and the oil acted as a lubricant and a protective barrier between my hair and the hot iron. The results were bone straight shiny hair.
I was writing a article about this on Lefta sto Internet today.
I don’t believe that they originator of the article were making any suggestions, I believe that they were just providing information for who so ever to choose which ever optiion an individual may want to try. Sometimes I just have to shake my head!!!!!!
I still relax my hair but since my hair holds heat (heck, it holds everything) I only relax every 7-9 weeks. The other weeks I two-strand twist it, and then roller set them. That way my already thick hair still gets some volume without a lot of heat. I can’t believe folks forgot about the roller set. It’s how I kept my presses for seven weeks dancing 25 hours a week in highschool, and how I weather the weeks between relaxing appointments. I loves my curlers. My sis may call me “granny” when she sees me all wrapped up but the hair stays together. Thank you for an awesome article and bringing the FACTS about straightening processes. This is super helpful!
Hi.. I’m a licensed cosmetologist and I just finished reading your ideas for straightening hair. I don’t agree with a few of your damaging techniques…especially the one suggesting non licensed persons applying chemicals such as chemical relaxers! These types of products should only be applied by those licensed to do so! That’s how many people damage their own hair by improperly relaxing it then blaming it on the product.also the maintenance should be done properly. Relaxed hair can be more fragile so you have to treat it as such..
I think even if they were properly applied by a professional it still has the possibility to be damaging. But I guess that’s just me. I know I did not follow direction properly all the time, but some of the damage is unavoidable (like scalp burns) and I don’t feel the chemicals are safe at all, even if applied by a professional. The smell alone of a relaxer…it just can’t be safe.
About 15 years ago, when I was too young to know better, I went to a professional to get a perm.over the next few days my hair fell out as if I were on chemo therapy. truth be told, there is no safe way to apply that poison to one’s hair! WE need to accept and embrace our beautiful curls, waves and kinks and stop trying to please the world. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying don’t ever straighten your hair. If you must, avoid the chemicals.
By the way WHY ARE WE BRUSHING OUR HAIR while its wet??? thats a BIG NONO !! none of us are white. That is all !!!!
Okay, did BGLH just recommend that we use synthetic oils ON our hair !!!!!!!!! HELLLLOOOOO !! i think im gonna have to unsubscribe. Synthetic oils & chemicals are linked to various diseases like Cancer, Diabetes etc… synthetic oils & chemicals ARE MANMADE !!!! The Whole purpose of petroleum,,mineral,lanolin IS TO KEEP MOISTURE OUT. SO! tell me what IS the main thing that we need in our hair??????? MOISTURE!!!! WHEN THERE IS NO MOISTURE WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR HAIR?? it gets dry & breaks off. Hair is a nonliving fiber, the only you can do to keep it healthy is PRESERVE IT FROM DAMAGE OF EVERY KIND. Now i am a licensed cosmetologist so i know what im talking about, you can use castor oil which is thick and good for straightening. Make sure it is cold-pressed with no chemicals whatsoever. I recommend Heritage store you can order it online or go to your local health food store. Use essential oils instead of synthetic oils you can never go wrong.
How about roller sets? I usually just roller set my hair when wet and let it dry naturally/air dry. Gives me a “straight” look that still looks and feels like natural hair, and as long as I keep it wrapped at night it can last well over a week.
Forgot about rollersetting…
I’ve been natural for 6 years and my preferred method of straightening is the flat iron. I blow dry occasionally, but I try not to do both at the same time. Maybe I’m not old school enough, but the hot comb doesn’t work for me. The electric doesn’t get hot enough, and the old fashioned one scares me. Plus if you want curls you have to put another form of heat anyway. The flat iron takes care of all of that. I also tried the Keratin treatment and ended up cutting about 5 inches because I got addicted to the straightness, and kept putting heat on my hair. LESSON LEARNED! Lately, I only straighten once or twice a month.
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I blow dry my hair out straight and then flat iron it but not very frequently. I get it professionally done, usually after they wash my hair, I get it deep conditioned, rinsed out, blow dried straight and styled. I have not had a relaxer for 7 years.
I get my hair blow dried and flat ironed occasionally. If I do it myself, I twist my hair and let it dry naturally. My sister is a great stylist and did my hair in the picture below. I did not suffer any damage to my hair and it is still very healthy and strong.
[img]https://bglhonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/300641_2164936562661_1224045383_31785061_170797816_n.jpg[/img]
Even though I get my hair blow dried straight and flat ironed, I don’t feel as though I suffer any damage, and my hair has never been more healthier than it is now. I mean I get the average breakage anyone gets in their hair, but not as intense as it was when I was getting relaxers. Hair looks amazing by the way 🙂
Thank you and I agree! My hair is so full and healthy now. My last relaxer was March 2010 and I cut all of the relaxed hair off July 2010. The texture of my hair straight with no relaxer is so much nicer than when it was straight with the relaxer. I can’t wait until I have 7 straight relaxer free yrs. Living in Tx makes it hard sometimes.
I would hardly say that “no damage” was done to your hair. I can see the before picture and your ends look fried. Not trying to call anyone out, but I don’t think there is any “healthy” way to straighten your hair. To each her own, but there is really nothing “natural” about a black woman with straight hair. It’s not to say that black women can’t want it or attain it, but if your hair is not naturally straight and can only be achieved by damaging your hair with either heat or chemicals then your hair is no longer in a natural state. Lack of perm is not synonymous with natural hair.
Yes but when our hair is in its natural state we still have to manipulate it somehow to get a style. Why can’t we straighten it out with heat instead of twisting of locs? That’s not natural either. Most women in this modern day and age do something to change the natural look of their hair. It may me cutting, changing the color or something. Why when it comes to black women we have to still true to our “natural hair”. Is it being suggested that we roll out of bed wet our hair and go on about our business. Then we can truly say we are wearing our hair natural. I’m happy I have so many options available to me. The girl in pic hair doesn’t look damaged. In natural state it needs a style and this is the option she choose.
You do know there are black women that have natural straight hair, right? My friend has pin straignt hair, and she’s black (Half Somali, half Nigerian)
bA big THANK YOU to the Beauty Brains for posting this for those of us who went natural to have different styling options, not to have our hair in the most pristine of conditions all the time…
Did Type F submit the write up on flat irons???
‘Extremely curly’? There’s nothing ‘extreme’ about highly textured/afro-textued/tightly coiled hair…
That’s how I refer to my hair too, it’s just another way of saying “very.” It’s not that serious.
Agreed, lol. People just looking for something to be mad about.
Extreme- extending far beyond the norm.
No one is mad, she’s just pointing out that many brown woman don’t consider themselves to be the ‘norm’.
It’s just a matter of mindset, do you consider yourself normal or other? It’s nothing to get mad about, just something to think about.
I describe my hair as curly and when I describe people that need to ‘scrunch’ to achieve their style, I call that loosely curled. But when I think of curly, I think of my hair first.
LMAO. Would it be an issue for a “brown” woman to use the term extremely wavy or extremely loosely curled? Come off it.
I just had my hair straightened by getting a Dominican roller set. I think its very similar to blow drying on stretched hair because once I was up from under the blow dryer and the rollers were removed, my hair was just about bone straight. No irons needed.
I would only use marcelles or whatever those things are called to straighten my hair. I don’t like flat irons, they just don’t look as good as the hot comb curlers.
Hot combs were left out!
We dont do Hot combs any more? I cant use a flat iron. It never fully straightens my hair… And I’m not sure what product I should be using to hold it straight…
For real! That’s the most basic hair straightening method. Isn’t it less damaging than the flat iron too?
Hot combs are not less damaging, when you place a hot comb on the stove you have no way to control the heat on it, (unless you have a stove that tells you the exact temperature). Therefor ups the chance of it becoming extremely hot, to the point where you can cause damage to your hair.
There’s electrical hot combs w/ temp control
When you straighten your hair try using a small teeth comb or a boar bristled brush when you flat iron, that will get it straighter. (i used to have the same problem)
Right.. I do a the comb…old school style.
Nice article but I don’t agree on flat-ironing wet hair which is an equivalent to frying it. To help prevent heat damage, make sure hair is fairly dry and stretched, either from a twist-out or blowdryer. Apply a heat protectant then go over with the flat iron.
Yeah, flat ironing wet hair is an absolutely terrible idea.
Agreed! Have you ever heard the sizzle it makes? Scary!
Your not supposed to do that it dries your hair out.
I agree on the obvious error of flat ironing wet hair. And I think the “relaxer” should have been number 6, and the “japanese” straightener should have been number 7 if you only have to get it twice a year.
i have seen this done before. i think people put aluminum foil between the actual iron and the hair.
i wouldn’t do it my self though. lol. after years and years of flat ironing my own hair, i only get my natural hair flat ironed by a stylist once or twice a year.