by
Chinwe
By Chinwe of Hair and Health
heat training Noun
the loosening of one’s natural curl pattern through the regular application of high heat. This process is usually gradual and subtle. (Loo’s definition.)
Heat training is essentially a form of heat damage, which is why I have been so against the technique for some years. However, my thoughts have changed recently since seeing a class of “healthy” heat-trained naturals arise.
“Healthy heat-trained hair” may seem like an oxymoron but I can argue the same with “healthy hair”. Our strands face damage on a regular basis through sun exposure, styling, washing, detangling, and other forms of wear and tear. So where do we drawn the line between what is healthy hair and what is not? I think it reasonable to draw it between hair that is strong and supple (healthy) and that which is breaking and brittle (unhealthy). To me, hair that retains a reasonable level of strength and suppleness is hair that is healthy. That being said, there is such a thing as heat-trained hair that is strong, supple, … and thus healthy. However, this is only true for some ladies. Keep in mind that heat training can work well for some naturals and not so well for others. For the former group I answer the following question …
comes with a loosening of the curl pattern. For some naturals, the mass of curls/coils/kinks makes detangling a very tedious task. Generally, I’d say, “suck it up”, but as my hair has gotten longer, I can truly understand how brutal such a task can be for some naturals. It can be brutal to the point of mechanical damage (e.g., breakage from impatient combing sessions).
will form if the hair is heat trained. What is a single-strand knot (SSK)? It is essentially a knot formed from a strand of hair that has wrapped around itself. What is an environment conducive to SSKs? A mass of coils and kinks. SSKs translate into more trims and sometimes breakage. Heat training or other hair care steps (read here) can mitigate this issue.
comes with easier detangling and fewer SSKs. “Proper” heat training can theoretically help some naturals achieve longer lengths. Will I ever heat train for length retention? In all honesty, I do not know yet.
is another benefit of heat training. It becomes easier to achieve stretched or straight styles when desired. Additionally, these styles will last longer.
Ladies, would you consider heat training? In your mind, what are the benefits and disadvantages?
165 Responses
I wouldn’t personally heat train because I know my hair and how it reacts to products and heat especially. I got some heat damage back in 2014 from a hard press that wasn’t done correctly and I haven’t flat ironed my tresses since until this weekend after taking out my box braids. I did a full blow out and one pass of the flat iron just to get it a tad bit more stretched but my overall goal isn’t to have straight hair, just a healthy and curly bush ahaha. What I don’t agree with is how the natural hair community has all of these damn rules. Most of their rules go against regimens our mothers practiced on our hair during childhood, which is odd to me because my hair was flourishing when I was a kid before putting a relaxer in it. Not all, but some naturalistas are really scaring ppl out of never applying heat to their heads as if it’s equivalent to a relaxer when it’s not. Same goes for using grease, which is ridiculous as well. I say do what you want to your hair. Different strokes for different folks.
Although some people may think negatively about what I’m going to say, i love it. My mother, since the age of 2, blow dried my hair after washing hair. Even though it sounds bad, its really wasn’t. She always grease my scalp and kept some moisture. I am 14 and she still does this for me. My hair has remained strong, natural, and long. As of now, my hair reaches half way down my back. Btw, i have type 4a/b hair. Maybe, she has been heat training my hair for my entire life.
Currently my hair has been heat trained for about 7 months and I have not seen any issues thus far. I still have my length, I still have healthy hair and I have less hair balls when I wash my hair. I still have bounce and my hair is still the same thickness that it has been. The only difference for me is when I let my hair air dry, it basically dries straight except for the roots and some areas of my hair are a little tighter than others. But all in all I have not run into any issues. Naturally I am a 4c.
Heat training is damage. Period.
Yes, my hair’s been heat trained for a while now. But I still make sure heat is always moderated: https://www.naturalhaircarenews.com/2014/06/06/should-you-ever-use-heat-on-natural-hair/. Like everything else, too much is a bad thing.
Initially, I used to flat iron my hair weekly because I used to wash my hair weekly due to a dandruff problem. Now that i no longer have a dandruff problem, i flat iron it twice a month and my hair reverts back just fine. My hair is below my bra strap and growing fine. My hair type is 4a/4b. Everyone’s hair different, but what works for me is I use a concoction of 10 organic oils that I mix together myself, I deep condition every time I wash it, and I only use products that are organic or close to it. The bottom line is you have to keep your hair healthy if u plan to use heat frequent . if you’re not consistent, u will end up with unhealthy hair.
ja, I appreciate your comment.
Do you blow-dry your hair with every wash also?
In two years of being natural I have had my hair professionally blown dry and flat ironed only twice but now I would like to do so every 2-3 weeks (at least during fall, winter, and spring). However, I want to continue my long hair journey as I’m almost bra strap length. I’m thinking of doing my own pre poos prior to going to the salon with oils/conditioner.
Do what you do, but I’m not digging the anti-kinky vibe of this “heat training” fad. Instead of being pro- a certain hairstyle (“Try this new look!”), it’s anti- another hairstyle “Loosen up those kinks, ladies!”).
Like I said, so what you do, but seems this site is going in a certain direction, so why not just do a feature on the best relaxing systems and get it ver with? B/w the weave promotions and the heat training guides, seems like the next move is to become an all-inclusive black hair care site since this site needs new material and has lost its “natural hair” focus.
I think everyone is getting too wrapped up into labels. Heat Trained? I guess I’ve been doing that since I went natural in middle school. And even then it wasn’t “going natural.”
Heat training helps me keep my hair long, healthy and my coils are looser when I want to wear it curly. That’s IT. Nothing else. No “Well, your hair is looser so it’s damaged and you’ve failed as a natural” or “You might as well get a perm.”
It doesn’t matter if you have thick or thin strands. I have thin strands and my hair is healthy. Just like going natural is a process, learning how much heat to use and how often is acceptable is a process as well. Just stop thinking in the terms of labels and experiment.
I think it depends on the type of hair you have. When I use heat on my hair continuously,it breaks over a period of time. I cannot retain length while using heat on my hair. How do I manage to heat train my hair without the breakage.
From my experience, heat training your hair and retaining your curl pattern IS possible when your individual hair strands are thick. My friend who straightens her hair weekly has healthy, thriving hair that returns curly when she wears it in its natural state. I am pretty sure that heat has little effect on her hair and curl pattern because she has very thick strands. I, on the other hand, have very fine strands and I can immediately see a difference when I repeatedly straighten my hair. When using heat often, I usually lose most of my curl pattern and my hair stays pretty straight even when wet. Although, I try to stay away from heat as much as possible now, I do think it is possible to have healthy hair while heat training. I used to have my hair straightened every 2 weeks by a hair stylist and my hair thrived. Yes, I lost my curl pattern, but my hair was easier to manage, grew at a good rate, and was all-around healthy.
I heat train my hair. I only press it when my ends and roots shrink like crazy. After my straightening period, I take a break and my hair eventually coils back, though not fully (Which I enjoy since my curl pattern isn’t visible in my type 4 hair). My hair grows fast still(It always has) Also, I don’t straighten the hair all the way. I use big sections, which allot the roots to remain thick. And I don’t have much issues unless I become lazy and skip heat-protectant.
Also, I found that it calms your ends. If your ends seem crazy and frizzy all the time, you can control that with heat. But always use heat-protectant and never put the iron on MAX! I put my iron as low as I need. I recommend it for hair that just feels tough all the time.
And can someone tell me if Vaseline is bad for your hair? I use it to straighten because it keeps out unwanted moisture and helps my hair straighten. It fades out in two days and I apply moisturizer and some more vaseline.
The benefits of heat training.. are not beneficial to women craving curly hair on a permanent basis. If you wear your hair straight all the time I think it’s great in moderation.
Hey this is never ever mentioned, but I heat train to DEFINE my curls. Without heat, my hair is pure frizz. Now after applying heat occasionally, I have a head full off corkscrews! The key is to only apply heat When & Where needed to avoid making curls too lose. My edges & nape are a loser pattern so I avoid heat there all together & just flat iron the crown to match. Then I’ll do a protective style to hide the 2 textures until next wash. It works beautifully! I have complete control over my curl pattern lol. I plan on making videos on this in the future
Me, too! When my hair gets too frizzy or the curls get mangy, I straighten it and it’s like straightening a telephone cord- the curls pop right back and look perfect!
First let me start by saying that I did not go “natural” or on a healthy hair journey, I’ve never had any relaxer before, like ever in life. I have always been natural and as a child I did get my hair pressed and then began getting it flat ironed. for me I have always worn my hair straight during the cold months(because it lasts) and curly in the hot and humid months. I have never had an issue with my curls coming back. I have different curls on my head but the areas that naturally grow loose have stayed that way as well as the parts that are slightly tighter curled. I guess I’m just lucky because my hair hasn’t changed, as I am able to go back and forth between bone straight and curly with no issue.
My hair was at its longest (mid-back) when it was pressed on the regular. However, I had an amazing hair dresser who took care of it really well. She never pressed it “bone straight,” she trimmed it regularly, deep conditioned regularly and just overall knew her stuff. Whether or not it was wearable in a curly style, I’m not sure. Didn’t wear it curly at that point in time. BUT! I spent a year living in Europe and didn’t go to a salon or straighten it. At her advice I kept my hair in braid outs. It grew tremendously and curled well. I liked the pattern. The pattern of style was in part due to the reduction in curl pattern from having it straightened for so long. I have been wearing it curly for the last two years and straightened it for the first time in Dec. What I have noticed is that as it grows I have an more and more single strand knots and the detangling sessions are becoming longer and more tedious. I like the idea of heat training to help reduce the amount of time spent on detangling and also reducing the SSKs. I am wondering if straightening it twice a year would be enough to qualify or if it would have to be more often. Any ideas?
@zigzag
Heat is actually a form of energy, not a chemical in the traditional sense of the word(and if we want to get technical here, water, among several other “natural” products, is actually a chemical, too). The effects of heat on hair result in a PHYSICAL CHANGE, not chemical. Basic chemistry (as you so coyly put it).
By your logic, constantly using hot/warm water to wash your hair also renders you no longer “natural” (since hot water obviously holds heat), which I’m sure everyone here can agree is ludicrous. It truly is not that serious. Any individual’s head of hair belongs solely to that individual and that individual alone, and is no way the property of “the natural hair community”. Make well informed decisions for yourself and do whatever YOU feel is beneficial YOUR hair, and allow everyone else to do the same without being so condescending.
Peace out.
Great response Guestopia…it kills me when my natural friends give me the stink eye when I go get my hair straightened. We’re missing the one important thing about going natural amd that’s to achieve HEALTHY hair. Whether that’s straight…twisted…locs…or coils. I like the flexibility of one day I’m rocking a curly fro..next day it’s bone straight. Doesn’t matter as long as each strand is healthy and strong.
Guestopia, I think we can have an objective discussion without one feeling ‘judged’ by other naturals. As you have clearly stated, heat and chemicals are different but both can damage hair in almost equal measure. We know hair is made up of protein and protein is sensitive to heat. The amounts of heat applied to get the bone straight hair look is high enough to permanently change the nature of hair proteins especially if the heat straightening is done repeatedly. The change will be physical but it will be permanent.
From the article above, the purpose of heat training is to permanently loosen the curl pattern so as to avoid the issues that come with a tighter curl pattern, you cannot say your hair is heat trained if it can revert to its natural curl after a wash. Heat training therefore is a euphemism for destruction/changing of your hair proteins through heat. Though this does not necessarily mean you will end up with unhealthy hair.
I don’t care either way about the practice, but this line of reasoning isn’t true. Yes, heat is a physical property, but when you burn your hair (eg. “heat train” which is basically hair reacting w/ oxygen in the air under the heat catalyst), you can actually alter the chemical properties, which is why many people with heat-trained/burned hair can’t get it to revert.
She heat trains and still has her natural texture.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdAFhKuvPvE&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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I agree with Sabrina. I’m still waiting on someone to show me definitively you can go back and forth between “heat trained” straight and naturally curly. Because if you can do that, then there’s no alteration done to your hair. But I’ve never seen people go back and forth; they either do one or the other because they have damaged (relaxed) their curl pattern beyond being wearable.
I’m with the group that feels heat training is just a form of heat damage. I get it….not everyone who uses heat has damaged hair. I steer clear of it and embrace my curls/coils/kinks and shrinkage. I know there must be a fine line between heat trained and damaged and who knows what that actually is? Being able to go back curly? Some feel with sucessful heat trained hair the curl will be gone but is that even a real determination?
I know there are some healthy heat trained naturals but for how long? THAT is the real question…
I’ve been natural for almost 4 years and absolutely love my 4a/4b spongy,coily,cottony hair. But it is now past bra strap lenght and has become quite time consuming to detangle. I now find that there are benefits to some form of heat training/damage whatever you want to call it, I’ve been over that debate. I feel whatever makes your hair more managable for you is a benefit. I love wearing my natural twists and natural braids and desire to keep elasticity in my hair so I’ve decided that I will only use the blow dryer once a month or every other month.. Bottom line, if it works for you and your hair isn’t breaking and falling out..its a benefit.
I have to agree. I think heat is simply another way to manipulate our hair but. think the natural hair communitys divisive attitude comes from everyone unwillingness toaccept that ALL BLACK HAIR ISN’T THE SAME! No matter what type u have. I think it s a type of hateration. The socalled 4c who can’t flat iron without heat damage shuns the 3b who fl ats irons morning noon. & night!the 2b who cant put a drop of heat in her hair says the 4c can only use heat bc her hair is so much more coarse…that’s why this hair typing is a divisive tool!our hair doesn’t fit in any one check box. You do what works for your hair. Yes, I think technically heat training is simply a form of damage like creamy crack but again..some ppl have perms forever & their hair looks and feels great. Does it matter if their protein bonds r broken by creamy crack or heat as long as the hair performs well? And the person is happy? And since natural used to mean chemically altered, why is heat now the culprit? Its a form of styling manipulation that should be left up to the individual. Stop trying to do what mainstream white america has done to us for centuries which is define who we are and what makes us black.and in this case, what makes us natural! We would be more of a community if wed embrace the fact that our hair is as diverse as our heritage, skintones and all the other things that make usa ppl of color. You don’t get a badge for never using alternative methods on your hair. And the heat using natural doesn’t get thrown in hair rules jail bc she likes to lossen her curl pattern! If you like 75% shrinkage, good for you! It doesn’t make the next girl less than bc she doesn’t embrace it! No amt of straight hair will change who she is…never fear ,the world will always remind us! Staright,kinky, semi straight,bone straight…just relax!(pun intended)!
Now I’m not here to say one is better than the other, but let’s be honest with ourselves: What defines natural? It’s what your hair does -naturally- with no chemical processes. Technically, if you are using heat to permanently alter the pattern of your hair then it wouldn’t be your natural hair pattern. Just because it isnt as harsh as a relaxer or a texturizer doesnt mean that you’re still natural. It wouldnt be what your hair does naturally. Using gels or curl defining creams arent in the same category as permanently changing the pattern of your hair. When you wash your hair after using gel or what not, it goes back to its natural state. If you decide to heat train your hair with the hopes of -permanently- changing your hair pattern then you wouldn’t really be natural anymore. Heat, in the long term, is still a chemical process ladies. Basic chemistry.
Only a small percentage of women use no heat at all on their head. I made myself an oath not to use chemicals or heat for ten years. So when I’m 28 I will allow myself to blow dry. I have single strand knots but I would prefer those to split ends caused by heat any day. Straightening the hair once a year is something I may do after 10 years but I would only use a blow drier with a roller-set. No direct heat for me. I never knew what to do with bone straight hair. Sure it’s convenient but it’s also SO boring. I’ve embraced my texture and I have 4C hair. Thanks Zigzag for telling the truth about being natural. I see you get it.
You can have healthy hair regardless of whether or not you “heat train” or relax, or you are natural. Using a flat iron every now and then wont bald you. Personally I have relaxed hair, which I wear “naturally”(no heat) 95% of the time. So yes I put chemicals in my hair every 3-6 months, and heres a shocker my hair curls up the second my hair gets wet. Neither Heat training or relaxing will completely rid you of your natural texture. I think as Black women we should be able to wear our hair in any style we please without being judged by our counterparts. Most importantly lets all remember its just hair :).
I don’t see the big deal.All races manipulate their hair in some way.
Why are we so obsessed about the following:
*perfect curl pattern
*wearing our hair in its un manipulated state
If I don’t manipulate my hair and do braids or stretch it after washing it I have breakgae and lots of knots now if that what natural means I am not interested! :/
I listen to my hair and style as I please, damage occurs all the time it’s called wear n tear I focuse on preserving my hair.
I didn’t damage my hair at all and I get it done every 2 weeks at the dominicans. Maybe I’m lucky but I take very good care of my hair especially after I was wearing wigs for so long!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_0UWOANpKY
I’m BSL/MBL and I’ve been considering heat-training recently. The reason s are:
1. i want to see more of my length
2. i want to avoid more SSKs
3. I want easier manipulation
The reasons I am not going to heat-train are:
1. i think i look better with curly hair
2. i don’t want to risk damaging my hair beyond repair
3. I have had good length retention and don’t want to jeopardize that with heat.
Funny you mention longhairdontcare2011 because in her videos she said she recently had to cut off 6 inches of her hair because of the damage heat has caused and she is going on no heat from now on to see how her hair can get back to full health
I think that blowing my hair on low heat is the only option for me. Whenever I braid my hair wet and then let it dry naturally, I actually have more shedding and breakage. I normally do a hot oil treatment before I shampoo my hair on my scalp, then shampoo and condition. All of this is done while my hair is in maybe five cornrows. I comb it out with a big comb, then blow dry each section with a denman brush. I also find that as long as you use a conditioning shampoo, deep conditioner and leave in conditioner the products don’t really matter. My hair is about 16 to 18 inches long when straight. I agree that you have to do whatever works for your hair type and the bottom line is that if you see breakage, you are doing something wrong!
My Mom, my sister,my daughter & I are all natural. My Mom, my sister and myself have a hard time reverting back to our natural texture after temporarily straightening with heat, so we’ve stopped using heat all together. My daughter’s hair however, doesn’t have that same problem. It bounces right back to her natural texture as soon as it gets saturated with water. She’s 12 and wants to start experimenting with styling her own hair, so I began blow drying it for her once a month to make it more manageable for her. Between blow drys, she mists it, puts on a leave in conditioner & braids it up nightly. In the morning, she styles her braid outs. Her hair is fairly long & I don’t want her to get frustrated with it and cause any breakage. This method works for her & she’s actually gaining length faster than the rest of us. Even though her hair is a more coiled texture. I dont consider her hair any less “natural” than ours because I do this for her. I say, do whatever works for your individual hair type.
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TodayI wonder why I love to stalk this blog…as I’m relaxed…and then I realized…how much I like the DRAMA in the comments…ohhhhh, and the fact that even though I am relaxed, I pick up GREAT tips.
QML above mentioned that when she was relaxed she did not take care of her hair and did not pay attention to it which led to it breaking and not growing long, and that all of that changed once she embraced her natural texture.
I admire all the women that has gone natural, I just don’t see myself doing it any time soon, and it’s not because I have an inferiority complex or hate myself. It’s because I know what works for me and what I like. I personally feel that my hair is more manageable and versatile in it’s current state and I do pay attention to and take care of it and it is THRIVING, longer than it’s been in years. (Well, the scissor happy stylist being out of my life also helps, lol)
And thus I kind of can’t understand why women would criticize one another for their choices if it works for them. I love the natural look on other women, hell, maybe one day I’ll transition too, one never knows, but right now it’s not for me. At the same time I expect the same kind of respect from naturals regarding my relaxed tresses and accompanying healthy hair journey.
After all people, it’s just hair. None of us need validation from anyone except ourselves. I can even imagine that God doesn’t care whether or not one is natural, texturized, texlaxed, relaxed, permed, coloured, hennaed, bleached or bald. So why are so many so eager to jump on their high horses? Just wondering…
Timing is everything, One day, when my dahutger is ready, she told us she needs to go pee pee. We keep encourage her and give her sticker for being dry. Watch her body clock, and send her same time everyday. Do use those plastic underwear, it is not working.
I only heat train my hair when I want to trim it. Last time I heat trained, my hair got damaged. I experienced alot of breakage and lost some of my curl pattern. I doubt I will be doing it anytime soon. I now feel like I wanna cut my hair and grow it out all over again.
Heat Training/Heat Damage same thing. I think saying heat training is sugar coating what is really going on. I have seen women who have claimed to be heat training and it just looks like heat damage to me. No shade to anyone who chooses to do it. I just feel like they should stop living in denial.
I think its fine as long as your not apply heat too often.. I considered myself natural I dont relax my hair… I personally think if you straighten your hair your still natural.. there no chemicals and you can alsways go back to twist/braid outs.. I would just say just do it like every thing else, in moderation.
Wow….we are really splitting hairs (no pun intended) over this issue. We all know somebody, who knows somebody, who knows somebody who successfully applies heat to their hair. I thought that heat training meant that eventually you would lose your curl pattern. Sadly, some people think that the curl pattern is what makes you “natural.” We all manipulate our hair in some way. When you add that eco styler to define your curls…you are manipulating your hair to do something it does not naturally do or enhancing what it naturally does… Same with heat training. You are manipulating your hair to do something it does not naturally grow to do. It’s really not a big deal. I think the issue really comes from slight bitterness and jealousy. You sweat, suffer, and sob over detangling for hours, clipping those ends, and taking hours to manipulate your hair without heat (when you could speed up the process using heat) and then you turn to your sister who has hair beautiful shiny hair in half the time. SO WHAT! let people live. The real key is understanding what your hair can or cannot handle. I think most of us can admit that when we used that creamy crack…we did not pay the type of attention needed to grow our hair. THATS why it did not grow! THATS why it broke off. We relaxed it and failed to moisturize or relaxed it to stick it under weaves. EVERYONE BREATHE… we will ALL have beautiful hair if we stop looking at others and continue focusing on OUR hair. God Bless 🙂
OMG. I LOVE your comment! I could not have said it better. BRAVO!
Agreed
Amen amen!!!!!
I see the point you are making but comparing heat training to manipulating your hair with Ecostyler gel is like comparing apples to oranges. It is not even in the same category. Heat training your hair is when you regularly straighten your hair using LOW heat on your hair to increase managibility while enjoying wearing it out as straight hair. Using gel on your hair in its shrunken state just defines and takes away the frizz in your hair but LEAVES YOUR CURLS OR COILS EXTREMELY DEFINED WITHOUT FRIZZ. It is important to keep in mind Ecostyler gel cannot give you curly hair, if your hair lacks a curl pattern then the gel will not enhance or do anything for you. LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE GEL IS NOT A CHEMICAL IT DOES NOT ALTER OR REARRANGE THE PROTEIN BONDS IN YOUR HAIR LIKE STRAIGHTENING YOUR HAIR CAN, EVEN WITH HEAT TRAINING, OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME! THEREFORE YOUR HAIR IS STILL NATURAL AND UNALTERED WITH GEL IN YOUR HAIR. WITH HEAT TRAINING YOUR HAIR IS NATURAL BUT ALTERED BECAUSE APPLYING HEAT TO YOUR HAIR STILL DOES ALTER THE PROTEIN BONDS IN YOUR HAIR. AND PRESSED HAIR OR STRAIGHTEN NATURALLY CURLY/COILY HAIR IS ALTERED SIMPLY FOR THE FACT THAT THE HAIR DOES NOT NATURALLY GROW OUT OF THE SCALP STRAIGHT. SO IN ESSENCE COMPARING USING GEL ON YOUR ALREADY CURLY HAIR TO STRAIGHTENING YOUR CURLY HAIR BY ALTERING ITS TEXTURE WITH A BLOW DRYER OR FLAT IRON ARE LIKE COMPARING TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. THEY SIMPLY DO NOT GO TOGETHER PERIOD. IT IS LIKE COMPARING APPLES AND ORANGES. That is it my rant is over. Both methods and techniques do not make you any LESS NATURAL, AND REMEMBER, ALWAYS FOLLOW A REGIMEN THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU.
Best comment ever!!!!! You took the words right out of my mouth!! The natural hair community needs more unity.
I consider myself a heat trained natural as I blowdry and flat iron weekly. I think that many people fail to realize that not everyone goes “natural” with the intent of wearing “natural styles”. I decided to stop relaxing my hair because the chemicals were too harsh and caused breakage. Although I do have “heat damage” I can still wear wash and gos and other natural styles if I choose. However, I will always consider myself natural because when the humidity is high, my hair reverts and if my hair gets wet, it is not relaxer straight. I still do not understand the need to call it “heat damage”. Do we call people who relax, “relaxed damaged” because their natural curl pattern is altered? If people can have healthy and long relaxed hair, I dont understand how the same cannot apply to heat trained natural hair.
I agree completely!! I went natural 2 years ago today and I always keep my hair straight…my hair is long , shiny, soft and full of body! It grows fast and it not at all damaged by heat. I only flat iron my entire head about every 3weeks when I wash it. I keep it wrapped at night and my hair stays straight. Humidity in the summer time is a bit difficult to deal with but i just try different styles. I never went natural with the intention of wearing my hair curly all the time, I just wanted the thicknesses back in my hair and I got it.but if i wanted to wear it curly, it curls back up when i wash! I love my natural hair and wouldn’t change a thing about it!!
I for one “comb train” my hair. I know I should handle my hair the way it grows out of my scalp. But I have this pesky career and social life that doesn’t allow me to spend hours fingering combing through it. And I don’t think I’d look good with free form locs. Please do forgive me. I also “heat train”. You know blow outs during the winter. I even flat ironed a couple of times after three years of being “natural”. Clearly I’m doing something wrong though. Maybe it’s the heat protectants, or the deep conditioners, or the fact that I never use more heat than my hair can take. But my hair still shrinks 80%. No change in my curl pattern! But it’s only been 3 years and I’m sure–10 years from now my curls MAY loosen and I’ll no longer be natural. I would have effectively denied my love of black beauty and accepted our fair skinned counterparts as superior. I can not let this happen. From now on, I will stop doing the things I like with my hair, so that I can be accepted by the natural hair elite.
Lmao!! Sarcastic undertone is %100 effective In this comment.
Great tips from all of you!! Thanks and keep them coming I think the best tips come from those that have had ecripeenxe, and I personally appreciate your tips as Jada is going to be toilet training soon. I welcome all of the help I can get!She has shown a few signs of readiness and her teacher and I watching closely for the perfect moment to start the task. Thank you Vero for the support!Candice
Blowing out hair and heat training are two different things. If there is no change in your curl pattern – then its not heat training. Heat trainign is supposed to loosen the curl pattern.
Thank you. Why are people even bringing up blow drying? Blow drying your hair after washing is not a big deal. Heat training isn’t really either. The issue is damage. You have to realize that people will jump on bandwagons not really knowing the bad effects it will have on their hair.You may not have the kinda hair that can heat train. Do you really want to find that out too late. Just do your research and tread softly. Blow drying even on a cool setting leaves my hair and I suspect many others with severely dry brittle ends. I LOVE the convenience of blow drying after cause it speeds things up, but its not worth the breakage. It doesn’t make you less a natural if you chose to do something different than the “rules”. I don’t think there is anything wrong with giving naturals a warning and heads up about this stuff. There are not natural “rules” to follow but are guidelines to give folks a starting point. These things are not set in stone. Stop hearing a tone that isn’t there.
Thanks. People seem to think using any heat and heat training are the same thing!
I would like to try the low tension method of blowdrying while holding my hair in a stretched position. I agree completely. When I use heat my hair tends to start to break after a few sessions. Now I’ve researched heatless stretching techniques which have worked very well. I agree. No one is saying anything is wrong with heat training, but I don’t understand why a lot of heat training insist on being called natural and insist on going on about a ‘friend’ with waist length heat trained hair. So what?
Her hair is not your hair or anyone else’s! It is a form of controlled damage and not everyone can take it. Just because your mum and best friend heat trained for 10 years and now their hair touches the floor doesn’t mean that is an effective method for everyone. Also, if people don’t see you as natural so what! You do what is easier for you because you are the one stuck with you hair.
they probably “insist”, as you say, because by the understood implication of “natural” they have not used chemicals to alter their curl pattern. if someone wants to make it more complicated than that then that’s their prerogative, but there are other perspectives out there that may provide those who haven’t found much luck with more revered natural hair styling techniques some beacon of hope regarding length retention and reasonably healthy hair.
it’s an option for those whose strands can take it and at the end of the day, damage is a relative term.
Best. Comment. Ever.
LOL, love this!
ha ha ha this post was entertaining, do you boo! If it AIN’T BROKE WHY FIT IT?
I dont believe in “heat-training”…I refer to it as long term heat damage.It doesnt matter how far apart you keep you straightening sessions after a while whats happening is you are unraveling the protein structure of your hair(which is what causes it to coil.)Eventually the strands will become completely straight which means you literally burned the protein.Heat kills protein.How can hair be healthy if you have killed a vital part of it? It might look good but that doesnt mean its healthy. And once a month isnt for everyone because I straightened my hair twice in two months and suffered light damage.So to each is its own. I think people with thick strands can get away with this easier than someone like myself with fine/medium strands. I protected my hair well, but my hair just doesnt like heat.It thrives in its natural state better.I have thick 4a hair with fine strands.This is not for everyone.
This convo is right on time for me. I transitioned for two years w no heat and no manipulation on my hair just buns. Not knowing my hair have at least 60% shrinkage! I finally flat ironed my
Hair and to my surprise I am BSL. I love the look and feel of mt
Semi straight hair but I also love love my curls. I was considering heat training so I can get that bone straight look. But the though of losing my curls saddens me. After putting my hair up in buns for so long I want to let it flow and enjoy it like ive done my curls… I was hoping I could have it
Both ways lol
Hi Venus! Check out SimplYounique YouTube channel. She’s not afraid of heat at all. She straightens often and do curly styles. So maybe you can get some tips and tweak it for your hair personal needs. She’s a great example of having the best of both worlds. Good Luck!
the term heat trained is like a clever marketing trick.
it feeds into so much of the (negative) ideas we have about our natural hair.
lol.
other races blow dry their hair after they wash it… is their hair not considered “natural”?
When I was younger my mom washed/blow dried and pressed my hair every Sat. It always reverted back to its natural curls after my wash and I must say I had a thick healthy hair. In middle school I begged my mom to let me get a relaxer so I wouldn’t have to sit through those pressing comb session. Needless to say my hair was never the same.
Now that I am 26 I have recently big chopped and im remembering the struggle with my thick hair and it is not even long right now but goodness. I blow dried my hair and braided it and put my juices and berried in it as my husband would say and plop my half wig on when I go out the door. I will be doing this until I am comfortable with the length of my hair to wear it out.
Do I consider myelf as a natural? yep sure do
*myself
berries… lord at these typos
When I first became natural, I did follow a lot of natural hair “rules.” Although some were very beneficial, they were also time consuming. With that being said…I minimized a lot of steps and have completely cut my styling time into half and still receive the same benefits of having, what I think for myself is, relatively healthy hair.
My new routine includes the use of cold air blow drying with every wash (1.5-2 weeks, so two or three times monthly). I blow dry on cool setting, only to stretch my natural hair for manageability after it has air dried for some amount of time. I have retained length with this regimen. I love this regimen because I’m not spending my life worrying about my hair like I used to do. Will I use an extreme volume of heat to loosen my pattern? Although I do use a heat styling tool in moderation, I don’t think so, but I’m not against it.
This is the real freedom that comes along with being natural, doing what you want to your hair, not worrying, and being happy with it.
LHDC and longhairdontcare2011 are two completely different Youtubers. Please make sure you are referring to the proper person. LHDC transitioned to natural over a 2-3yr period and wears largely twistouts and braidouts, with a hubby going on a loc journey and two kids with gorgeous hair. Longhairdontcare2011 has the nose piercing and the waist length hair which she wears in protective styles – braids and twists.
I dont have any opinion on this, i think any manipulation of the hair, mechanical or chemical can be damaging, and you just have to pick and choose what is most do-able for your texture and the style you wish to achieve, and deal with the short-term and long-term consequences.
Thanks for the clarification.
I wouldn’t do this on my own hair because it doesn’t respond well to heat in general and it has a tight but weak curl pattern (by which I mean, it straightens easily and also has a hard time reverting after straightening, even with heat protectant). I don’t see why this is so bad, though… it’s like the chemical processes I guess, but without the damaging chemicals. I think the “what is natural” battle is kind of futile, too, because if you get down to it, unless you wash your hair, shake it dry, and don’t touch it whatsoever you’re not just letting it be completely natural. The same goes for makeup, body, clothes… we style our natural assets as we please, and sometimes that’s because of shame about how we are, but sometimes it’s just for fun. I think heat training and still having very textured hair isn’t trying to conform to some western beauty norm because it still breaks the mold.
I find natural hair ‘sisters’ to be some of he worst critics ever. As if it’s not hard enough having to deal with the ignorant people who pressure you into relaxing your hair again, you now have to deal with natural ‘sisters’ who try to judge just how natural you hair.
Personally, I don’t heat train because my goal is to get waist length hair that is waist length in its shrunken state! Yes, hard for a 4b/4c/4-I-don’t-know-what-curl-pattern-it-is-but-it’s-really-curly natural hair girl. LHDC’s hair is gorgeous! I would love to try heat training but I am so rubbish at doing hair that I think I’d ruin it. I’ve just about learned how to wash my hair and limit tangles so taking on a heat training project is beyond me. Plus, I’m enjoying the curls I have now. Moral of the rant: do what you want!
thank you, well stated. when my hair gets to waist length (straightened) i aim to “heat train” once more. because then i won’t have to be going uphill to grow the hair; it’ll simply be a matter of maintaining the length that i have at that point. for now i’m totally natural with protective styling at the forefront til i get there. i’ve seen many examples of long and healthy natural hair that implement heat to maintain, and i think they’re just as beautiful as the totally natural heads that do twist/outs, braids, afros, etc. there are so many more ways to have natural hair, and i think that narrow approaches do no one any favors.
I agree, you should do what you are comfortable with. I figured out that with my also very coily 4a hair that shrinks to 50-60% of true length I would have to grow hair to my feet to have it waist length shrunken! lol.
lol i can relate. mine draws up about 40 percent when dry and i know that when it gets longer i’m probably not gonna wanna be bothered. it’ll be either straighten or cut. btw, i love your site. it’s very well put together, informative and impartial. thanks for creating it!
Would I heat train? No, I don’t see the point of destroying the curl pattern for the sake of being able to pull a comb through my hair.
Do I care if others hear train? No, people can do whatever they want to their own hair. But this training business is simply not for me.
Do whatever you want to do with your hair, do it. I don’t know what natural means for other women, but for me it means not putting a relaxer in my hair. And mostly wearing my hair in twists, pin ups, twist outs. But I’m interested in wearing my hair straight for a different look, it just doesn’t stay straight.
Now for those who use henna to loosen their curl patterns, are they supposed to be considered not really natural either, or even having “damaged” hair? Or if they didn’t want the henna to loosen their curl pattern, has their hair been damaged if their curls don’t return? No. That’s an effect of using henna that you know going into that whole process. And henna is a protein treatment that is supposed to help and condition the hair. Even though heat doesn’t have any conditioning benefits in itself, it provides one similar effect in loosening the curl pattern, or at least for some it does.
Anyway, I can’t care what you do with your hair, blow drying my hair works for me, and when I don’t have time I can manage. Do what works for you!
Im confused I thought heat training was the slow process of eliminating your curl pattern through heat?! like if youre a 3a hair pattern you slowly work towards a 2a?
why are people talking about keeping curly hair and being able to rock curly fros? i guess i need to wash the video…
If you are keeping your curl pattern but just wearing it straight sometimes, then why isnt that considered just temporary straightening?? someone paint me a picture
THANK YOU. Thought I was the only one confused…I had no idea that there were degrees (pun unintended) of heat training. I thought the goal of heat-training was straight(er) hair.
I’m of several minds about this subject:
1) I don’t care what other people do to their hair, so long as they don’t tell me what to do with mine. Heat training is something I’m not even remotely interested in doing.
2) There are many ways to damage the hair and still have it “look healthy” to the untrained eye. For far too long black folks in particular have cared more about looks than health when it comes to hair and this is just another example IMO. I put heat training in the same category as lifting color from hair: The results may “look” healthy, but are they really?
3) Having watched some of LHDC’s videos this is the first I’m learning of her hair being heat-trained. Now that I know that she’s not working with her (from-the-scalp) hair texture, I’ll evaluate her videos differently from here on out.
4) Heat-training isn’t new…we just didn’t call it that back in the day. 40+ years of irons on natural hair WILL change the texture.
5) SSKs are inevitable with coilier hair types as they grow. That’s just how it BE. If you’re going to obsess over every SSK you get on every strand of hair, then yeah, maybe long natural hair ain’t for you because they’re not going anywhere. Interestingly, and counter to expectations, when I encourage my 4b coils to coil, I see fewer SSKs.
When I was about about 7 or 8, I remember my mother and hair stylist (a 70 year old woman) talking to each other about “heat training” my hair so it would be more manageable, and that was over 20 years ago, so the terminology/idea is not new. It probably just wasn’t heard as much since we didn’t have the blogs and Youtube back then.
+1 Especially #5. Since I’ve gone curly girl and wearing my shrunken WNG my detangling and SSK knot situation has improved 1000% over when I was doing stretched styles like curlformers and twists.
@ta ney-ney
Hey I was the one who posted about wearing my hair straight a few times but also wearing my curly hair most of the time. I must say I may have jumped too quickly on this topic since I do NOT heat train my hair but most of the times when topics like this arise there are a few ppl who believe heat to be the devil and those who use it however sparingly as not comfortable with themselves or their hair. Like I stated before I have been natural ALL my life so I never had hang ups about my hair so I find it somewhat comical when someone who just recently started embracing their natural hair decides to say that somehow because I use heat here and there that I have a problem with my hair.
After reading all the comments on here I can see that most of them are indeed directed at heat training and nothing more so I did jump the boat on this one. (I blame it on me being on too many hair forums where topics went left real quick, lol) I’m just typing this to explain my post since I can’t delete it.
Heat training – a cop out! Either you’re going to deal with your natural hair or you’re not! Don’t play on words – heat training – aka pressing, applying heat to straighten, lengthening or otherwise to appear near straight. To change the texture of your hair!
As black people, we’re still very ashamed of our hair. When I read black people saying they don’t know how to deal with their hair!! Hold on – what were you born with??
Don’t be delusional…. in other words, to thine ownself be true… and stop trying to fool other people.
For me it just happened, I used to protective style with braids, twist outs, buns, wash n gos but then it got to a point where it was time consuming. With graduation’s and prom seasons along with my moms wedding being in the same time frame, I found myself straightening my hair twice a month which lead to my curl pattern changing. Did I intentionally do it, no. Am I ashamed of my hair? Nope I love my curls more than my straight hair.
It depends on the person and the hair… My sister heat trains and I don’t, I don’t like the results but she does – over time her hair is getting straighter and straighter. She’s had to do some trimming and “take a break”. At the end of the day – Keep Calm and Do You.
eh about this topic. Why do people do stuff to their hair that they know most naturals consider to be unhealthy( and at its basic core heat training is not good long term) and then feel the need to seek other’s opinions to make it valid? Why does one need consensus from internet strangers about what you do to your hair? Heaven forbid someone disagrees. Then your a nazi. Basically you’re gonna do with what your comfortable with. If heat training, relaxing, tex-laxing works for you then GOOD. Don’t feel bad. Stop advocating for your cause. Don’t even feel guilty. You found something that works for you. Be comfortable with YOUR decision.Just be upfront about what you do when you participate on blogs etc to let folks know the results may not be the same cause I do such n such. There will never be one single method or hair care regimen that works for all naturals. I’m starting to realize that what bothers some naturals don’t necessarily bothers others. Like the ssk that everyone keeps taking about on all the blogs in forums. SSK and tangles are kind of what our hair does. Notice the article says LESS detangling time and LESS ssk. Not never ever again. Those things are like dryness and breakage are apart of being nappy headed. Get over it. All we all can do is try to prevent those things from getting out of hand. Proper hair care which ever way you choose does just that. These squabbles are pointless we will never agree because we are much to diverse in opinion. The proof is in the pudding as they say. If your hair isn’t falling out then hey who am I do judge?
I agree nothing wrong with heat trainers but they seem desperate to be seen as natural and have their hair choice validated. Funny naturals who colour don’t seem to hold that insecurity. If you heat train, so what? Why do you need other people to either antagonise or back you up so you can go on justifying your choice? I think at that point you’re justifying it to yourself more than anyone since when it comes down to it no one is going to bed at night worrying about your hair except you. Outside of the Internet most of us are hard pressed to find a natural community. This idea that there is a natural council and rule book is silly.
Agree 1 thousand times!
‘Heat training” is not for me or my very fine type 4 strands, but DO YOU.
Being in my 4th decade of life, I’ve come to see many changes with my hair (body, mind, etc too-some could be considered (-) but many of these changes I consider to be(+); it’s really about adapting…anywhoo) especially with density. No one can predict the future, and I certainly never thought I would loose the density I took for granted as a child, teen, and young woman; but alas, I did. So for me, the kinkier, the better =)
Besides, I want the world to see what the outspoken Kola Boof labels ‘The PROOF’. To life ladies!Cheers!
It actually decreases the versatility of your hair because you can ONLY wear stretches styles, as opposed to shrinkage allowing for afros and afro puffs but also being able to stretch out. So that last one doesn’t seem true to me. Even the third one is a little sketch. Maybe it’s just me, but I already try to minimize the harm done to my hair, so applying heat is only going to weaken it and make retaining length harder.
…That being said, when my hair is down to my back I might reconsider >.< I'm afraid of limp hair though lol
The ridiculousness of this conversation is incredible. If you want more manageable hair, do what you want….relax, texlax or heat train your hair. This aversion to the “creamy crack” is too much. For some people it works! Almost everyone on this site, tries to stretches their hair so it is more manageable. They are not earring it in its most natural state. They use all these products that will stretch the hair and has no resemblance to the natural texture. Stop sitting on your high horse and let people do what they want to their hair.
love this response
+1. Love it! It’s absolutely true. The only true naturals are those who wear shrunken hair every day not twist outs right?!
I like the idea of people doing what they want, but the idea that ‘true naturals’ only wear shrunken hair is silly and just as silly as people caring about how others stretch/heat train or whatever they do to their hair. Does that mean everytime a white person decides to wear rollers, she ceases to be natural or everytime someone combs their hair, they cease to be natural. Combing hair alters anyone’s hair by stretching it out, so for the few minutes u do that u aren’t natural. Everyone does something to their hair because no hair type is designed to be left on its own unless u want it to lock and this applies regardless of race!
Hair isn’t a self sustaining thing, much like the rest of the human body. Its designed to be washed, combed etc. For people like me with the 4b hair, twists etc are the only way to wear the hair out without locking. Picked out afros aren’t anymore ‘natural’ than twist outs. Twist outs are along the same lines of washing hair for people like me, if hair is to be worn free of plaited styles.
This is different. Twist out can be convenient. Braiding is a time homored tradition. not twist outs. Some women spend hours or a full day to wash and style their hair. This is insane! But if you have that time to spend, more power to you. In the end, do what works for you. Even if that means using chemicals to make life easier. Most of us use some chemicals anyway in our products. My grandmother never used hair products in her life. She used soap and water and her hair was beautiful. She was a true minimalist! Love your hair and do what is convenient. Their is no true rule or answer.
Don’t get me wrong, I definitely agree with you Nooni, what I said was a joke(tone does not transport well on the internet!). Twist outs are no more natural than heat training is. Constant tension braiding also has the potential to alter texture by overstretching hair. Some people seem to go by a rulebook that that some of us clearly missed.
Heat training is not a mindset, like some people here are suggesting, that we feel that our hair is in need of ‘fixing’. It is a choice that speaks to the fact that hair is in fact not self sustaining.
How different is a natural who never uses heat but who wears twist outs 24/7 from me who heat trains? We are both showing the world less than ‘natural’ hair textures aren’t we? The fact that one change is permanent has no bearing because people are still seeing an artificial texture either way.
The way I see it, if you don’t put chemicals in your hair you are natural. Everything else is a styling choice.
I think heat training is fine, since it has nothing to do with me, but comparing heat training to twist out is wrong. Heat training fundamentally changes the physical structure or your hair. If you wet your hair after a twist out,it will revert back to its fully natural state.
Heat training us a form of controlled damage and it will not revert back to a natural state, but to a looser version. That’s like saying someone with a texruriser is the same as someone who wears twist outs, because the end results looks different to the natural texture. BUt they are both very different techniques and have very different effects on the hair.
Personally, I don’t really consider heat training natural because it fundamentally changes the physical structure of the hair. I know people say a lot of things damage the hair like combing, normal wear and tear etc. This is true, but if we see all forms of damage in the same way then what exactly is the difference between someone with relaxed hair and someone with natural unrelaxed hair?
I think as heat trainers as sort of natural, but not fully if you know what I mean. But its not important what I think of someone else’s hair or what my definition of natural is because its ok for everyone to have different opinions. We all don’t need to share the same thing. I think its silly that someone said earlier that they actually hide the fact they heat train. Why are you hiding it? EMbrace what you do. I don’t think it is good for people to create false impressions.
ALso, sorry I misunderstood the joke. Personally I stretch my hair using the african threading technique or canerowing.
+1
for me it depends on the context. i still considered my hair natural while i was regularly using heat to the extent that i almost never wore my hair naturally styled, if that makes sense. but this year i considered myself transitioning out of heat so from that context i differentiated between my heat training days to my more naturally-styled days. so it depends on the speaker’s point of view.
but i will say there’s definitely a difference between heat training and relaxing/texturizing because the difference and versatility is like night and day. overnight when i decided i wanted to quit using heat, i instantly was able to go right back to wearing my curls. they came back to full force after a few washes coupled with a few inches cut. boom. not much of a BC needed but if i’d texturized that would have called for an entirely difference scenario.
so there’s a lot of variation there among those terms.
ha! morally wrong?
or flawed logic wrong?
actually i think alma makes a very good thought. She is right in that you can stretch your hair by repeatedly doing certain styles. so to what extent then, by this narrow definition of natural, is one who twistouts or braids out natural?
the general definition of natural, and the one i stick to, is someone who doesn’t use chemicals to alter their curl pattern. That’s the definition that all of us generally agree with. The rest of the confusion is merely semantics.
@ Alma: “How different is a natural who never uses heat but who wears twist outs 24/7 from me who heat trains? We are both showing the world less than ‘natural’ hair textures aren’t we? The fact that one change is permanent has no bearing because people are still seeing an artificial texture either way.”—————-> NOT TRUE!
Ummm how about if you touch or style your hair in any way via a comb, brush, fingers, washing, conditioning, etc, you are showing an “artifial texture” as you say. The only way that a person can truly show his or her natural texture completely is by having free form dread locks.
Comparing twist outs to heat training is like comparing apples and oranges. But if you have to believe this flawed logic to make yourself feel better, then go ahead.
Braiding is a time honoured tradition? Who are you speaking for exactly. You don’t know what my background is to tell me what counts as a tradition. Twist outs and braid outs have actually been used in my family for generations – we didn’t call them by that name, but plaiting/twisting your hair and then undoing it is hardly new.
Thank you!!!!
I think in time most naturals will get to a point where they don’t give two craps what others do to their hair and stop trying to police other people. I know i’m there already. There are too many important things in this life to get riled up about.
Right! At the end of the day one has to do what is best for THEIR hair. For some it is using heat, others keeping their twa, twists, using henna, etc. Personally I am not a slave to these self impose “natural hair rules”. I do whatever I want to my hair and what is easiest for me mostly protective styles so I have no reason to use heat but who knows down the line maybe nut at the end of the day it isn’t that serious.
I agree. Take it easy Nooni. I was talking in general. As a little girl, I wore 2strand twists….I considered them braids. So we all use different terminology for different techniques.
So don’t try to police people but its ok to police the genuine thoughts of other commenters using the old Internet tactic of shouting people down and trying to curtail their true opinions.
If nobody cares and things are more important in real life, why are you and the rest of the uninterested-but-jumping-on-every-comment brigade even here. This site thrives on the debates of the commenters, no other hair blog site is so built around or generates so much debate. Like everyone you want your say so disagree with people but do not try to shut down the debate under the premise that people can do what they want. Of course they can but this site is a forum for discussion on hair techniques, methods and choices. Lets not pretend it’s just hair because it never was for black people or will be.
I’m not sure if this is directed towards me, but if it was when did I ever put forward the opinion hair isn’t important or even imply that. You seem to be inventing arguments on my behalf and then shooting them down. I didn’t police anyone or imply that others opinions should be curtailed. Most of the opinions on this topic seem to be do whatever you want with your hair, which is essentially what I said – so why aren’t you attacking anyone else.
We were discussing choices and opinions and I put mine forward. Never said others can’t do the same.
No Nooni, this is towards df and her co-signers.
For me “heat training” didn’t work. I didn’t know that was what I was doing, I just blow dried and flat ironed my hair 2 or 3 times a month, I was a former straight hair natural but for MY hair as fine and delicate and prone to breakage as it is…a no go. For others it works beautifully. My hair burns easily so little to no direct heat works best. If it works then go for it.
I don’t get it. Heat trained = Heat damage. Point blank period.
Agreed.
I have very thin and when I say thin I mean thin hair (low density). I use heat to help create volume. After washing and conditioning my hair I blow dry it. It leaves me with a lot of volume to then style my hair however I would like whether it be twist out, bun-outs, braid outs etc…. I also use the diffuser when I just want to plump up my curls and rock my curly fro, without the use of heat my hair would literally lay flat on my head like lil limp noodles.
I don’t do it all the time though because most of the time I wear my hair up but sometimes I want to show of my curls and if heat helps me achieve that desired look than I’m all for it. I’ve been natural ALL my life and never had heat damage. Everyone’s hair doesn’t respond to procedures the same just as everyone’s hair doesn’t respond to products the same. So others can knock using heat if they want but its never damaged my hair.
I would like to state however, I don’t use heat to train my hair, to loosen my curl pattern or any of the things mentioned above.
the whole reason for me going natural was to acheive healthy hair. I’m interested in heat training but also scared that I’ll end up with the same results i once had when my hair was relaxed. I gues I’m still learning
Me too!
I would heat train (I really don’t like that term) but I’ve put in two years into growing out my relaxer and 6 months of being natural. I don’t want to mess all that up
At first I was anti-heat, but its taking me soo long to do my hair. Now I blowdry about once a month to put a protective style in. And strangely enough my hair is so soft now. But in the summer I don’t use heat, cause its already outside lol
I don’t have an issue with naturals that straighten their hair.I do question it being called “heat training” as I wonder if that is applicable to other races too?
As all races do suffer damage using heat and some straighten it several times a week or everyday! O_o I don’t have any sources just my own opinion.
I have a friend that straightened her hair on a daily basis and her hair out the shower was such a mess, she couldn’t leave the house without it straightened.
it’s great you mention that. several white girls have told me that because they apply heat to their hair almost everyday, their hair is straight and won’t revert to its original pattern which, though by my standards could have been considered straight to begin with, usually had more of a waviness to it that frequent flat ironing caused to loosen permanently. therefore, you’re absolutely right, that women of other races can “heat train” and suffer the effects of “heat damage” too. the difference is that for them the change isn’t as drastic as it is for us, it usually doesn’t have quite as bad effect on their hair (simplly because the texture difference isn’t nearly as dramatic) and they don’t make as big a deal about it as we do in natural hair forums lol
the question of whether it can be called heat training…idk, because to my knowledge, they don’t straighten theirs with the intention of permanently acquiring straight hair- i think they view it more as a mere temporary effect of the heat.
but then again, not all black girls/women that regularly straighten their hair do so for the purpose of changing their curl pattern. as with women of other races, i think that for many of us it’s just a mere consequence of our desire to obtain temporarily straight hair.
A tan is not a skin response to damage: a tan is a skin response to protect people from the sun.
I think there are too many natural trying to write the book of “the perfect natural”. For me, having your hair natural is not putting harsh chemicals that will damage your hair.
Heat training is a form of damage however. I agree with you that your hair is still natural, applying heat to the hair is not a chemical process; but it doesn’t make it any less damaging than chemicals.
I love this site & the topics discussed. So refreshing
As long as it’s not a relaxed it’s fine with me. I prefer my natural texture but if you want to heat train then more power to you. I think it’s similar to women who wear their hair stretched most of the time because it’s easier to manage. We have to accept our hair does take work and natural hair care is new to most people so they have to do what works with their schedule.
I have to agree with the other lady that you got to do what’s best for your own hair. I know a few people who perm their hair and its thick and looks healthy, a few that have never permed but get their hair straightened and theirs looks good as well. I think ill leave this be till i get a better handle on just maintaining my hair as is, then after i know what works for my hair i can experiment…a little. Maybe try it on a small section in the back and see how that hair responds to it.
i think its semantics.
if you use heat to make your hair manageable – what’s wrong with that? (please don’t answer)
now there are degrees of heat and i’ve learned that blowdrying on a cooler setting works wonders on my hair and i still have my curl pattern.
i’ll never be a wash n go girl, but i do love my natural hair.
I would never do this. To me, it defeats the purpose of my being natural, i.e., seeing, styling, & working with my natural hair texture as it grows out of my scalp.
Also, I hate the smell of burning/heated hair.
Oh hell no. ce n’est pas pour moi
Oui mais tu n’as meme pas essayer.
why? why would I want to?
I transitioned and big chopped because I wanted my natural texture back so I would never “heat train” my hair. Will I straighten it in the future for a versatile style? Absolutely. I just don’t wanna to risk having heat damage all because I want to retain length and have an easier detangling process. If that’s the case, I would’ve continued getting relaxers and kept it moving. I’m only speaking for myself though. If other naturals decide they want to heat train their hair, by all means go for it!
I wrote about this on my blog last week – https://naturalblkgirl.blogspot.com/2012/10/long-time-no-see-heat-and-natural-hair.html I am attempting a once a month heat regime and will be posting my progress in 6mths.
In my blog post I neglected to mention a woman from the YT channel My Natural Sistas, they are actually 3 sisters that are natural w/ diff. hairtypes.
Here’s their blog: https://mynaturalsistas.tumblr.com/
SSK are killing me every day I have to snip my hair because of them.
Wait so willingly altering/damaging your curl in order to maintain a looser look is now considered ‘natural’? Well I’ll be damned.
I’m newly natural, just under six months, and it is very frustrating to me to see all the banter about what’s natural and what’s not. If someone is blow drying their hair (read using heat to losen curl) that has not been straightened chemically to make management easy…one that’s their business. Why do they have to get a relaxer or only wear it curly to avoid upsetting someone’s idea of “natural”???? two…that’s their business. What works for me is not going to work for someone else…period!!! I went natural to avoid having to use heat, to remove the chemicals from my body…but it isn’t the same for everyone. Why can’t you have your cake and eat it too????
I just started to see ssk’s in my hair, and it’s becoming a nuisance. Unfortunately I’m not at a length where stretching my hair works aesthetically, so I’m going to try other methods I’ve read works..like oil rinses. I can see how longer haired naturals would find this method benefical to length retention and schedule. Do what works for you!
LHDC is actually the person who changed my perspective on heat training. Before, I just considered it heat damage but her hair doesn’t look damaged at all, and it’s not like her results aren’t desired. To me, heat damage is when your hair doesn’t return to its natural curl pattern but you wanted it to, and if your hair suffers breakage from the heat.
That said, I can see the benefits of heat training, and if I ever decide to grow my hair very long, I’d consider it. But I enjoy afros right now, so I’m strictly no heat.
I don’t think ill of heat trained hair though. I think all healthy heads of hair are beautiful and LHDC’s mane certainly is wonderful.
That’s like white people saying they have a “healthy tan” when a tan is your skin’s response to DAMAGE. I think heat “training” is the same old mindset that kinky hair needs to be “fixed, tamed, or TRAINED”. If you want to straighten your hair, it’s yours. Do what you want. But trying to mask it as “heat training” because you still want to feel like you’re team natural or something is silly.
+1 Very true. Some folks can tan and be fine, others get sun damage and skin cancer. My hair hates dry heat. Even when I relaxed I never used any heat.
Thank you!
Is the writer heat trained? If this is successful for her, can we see pics? I feel like heat training is often advocated as an option by people who do not heat train themselves but are just suggesting options apart from relaxing to frustrated naturals who complain about their hair’s manageability. Otherwise I remember Brittanynic and longhairdontcare on youtube being held up as the success stories of heat training. I have fine hair so it wouldn’t work for me but I can only speak for my hair. Beyond that I haven’t seen much evidence of the success of long term heat training.
Black people have always heat trained. Ask your mothers, aunts, and older women in your family who got press and curls. That is heat training. My mother had beautiful hair down her back from that method. My grandmother too. This is nothing new guys. It is just not on you tube.
The defensive reaction people have is always surprising because if people are happy with their choice then why all the snarky comebacks as if someone is trying to rain on their parades and the inevitable ‘perfect natural’ spiel?
Personally, I don’t care what people do to their hair but I wonder as to how effective it is long term and whether or not it does not cause severe damage in the long run. We always have the few exceptions thrown at us as the successes of heat training and people advocating it but I have never seen their hair or heard any long term users testimonials. I don’t doubt that for some it is their solution to hair issues but sometimes it seems to be proffered as a great hair choice without the presentation of the possible cons or even the admission that this will work better for those who do not have the thin/medium or fine hair type.
As to parents, elders and grandparents heat training, I did not grow up around anyone who was heat trained as in their hair was slowly straightened until it did not revert. I grew up around people who used the hot comb occasionally as a ‘special occasion’ thing. If anything, where I live, the back to back weave is the styling choice du jour. The hot comb is defunct.
I think just do what you’re happy with in the end but just because someone questions heat training, doesn’t mean they are a natural nazi etc. we all question some method, technique or regimen, this one just seems to push some very painful buttons for a lot of people….
I have two friends who heat train and you would think their hair was weave.
one has hair to her midback- pretty gorgeous thick hair. she rarely wears her hair without having added heat. she washes and flat irons her hair once a month, just like Sista with real Hair on YT. Her hair is obviously healthy.
another of my friends has hair to her BUTT, i kid you not. I have only seen her hair natural one time, because she flat irons her hair once a month and it stays bone straight the entire time. I knew her back when her hair was “only” MBL and it is probably even healthier now, but it was always radiant and gorgeous and silky thick. even hair from root to ends, no splits no breaks, NADA.
Both of them heat train regularly, but are cautious with how they use heat and so limit the usage. and it WORKS for their hair. i wouldn’t have believed, either, if i hadn’t seen people personally, like these two, for whom it seems to work.
and this, of course, over a period of years, too. so i guess that even in the long term, if applied with care, it can aid rather than hinder.
Black people have always heat trained.
Really? Generalisation much? MY mother, Aunts and older women in MY family rocked braids and threaded styles, thank you very much.
+1 same here
Ditto. Another example of America = the world and AA = Black people.
I don’t think Loo is heat trained as far as I’m aware but I have heat trained my hair in the past. The benefit for me is that I am able to avoid ssk’s without having to wear my hair in some sort of braided style 24/7. I am happy to share pictures of my hair, they are on my blog here https://www.curlycurvy.com/ I am now grazing waist length based on yesterday’s wash day.
I’ve noticed less split ends and single strand knots with adding heat in comparison to letting my hair air dry. With that being said now that the weather is changing I will opt for blow-drying my hair since it cuts back time.
This is a tpic I’ve been grappling with. I regulary blow-out my hair after I wash it. Why? It’s easier to manage that way. So in essence, I’m heat training my hair. I have a SERIOUS problem with SSK but when i started blowing it out, I had less SSKs and better length. I thinkn we as Naturals, need to stop judging everyone’s methods and deal with what works on OUR heads. As long as you aren’t applying the creamy crack every 8 weeks, I consider you natural.
Hi Melissa! I also blow-dry my hair after washing. Not only because it’s easier to manage, but my twist-outs are softer, fluffy and have tons of movement :). I never thought of blow-drying as heat training because my curl pattern comes RIGHT back after washing lol. But who knows? Maybe after years and years of blow-drying I’ll see a difference. For now though, I’ll continue blow-drying 🙂
yeah, i think most people will get over it soon enough when their hair gets longer lol…it’s your hair, do what you like with it.
I think people should stop worrying about what others think so much. People will always judge others on something, it is just human nature.
My hair is BSL and I have used heat to blow dry once this year. If a person wants to use heat that is great for them, but I would hate to put out the idea it is necessary for long and healthy hair. FWIW my hair is type 4 kinky curly/coily.
I heat train but never say on natural hair sites. My hair is past my shoulders and I still consider myself natural and others do to. I just think its one of the many benefits of being natural. I can rock it straight one day and curly the next! love it!
Heat-training the hair is like wanting to have your cake and eat it too. Why not just keep your relaxer? All of the benefits mentioned in this article could be used to justify chemically-treated hair. If you don’t want to deal with your curls, then why go natural?
I agree. I don’t have a problem with naturals that heat train, but if you are going through all the effort you might as well texlax or relax. If it were between an every 8 week process to a once a week process, then it’s going to be the one that takes the least amount of time.
For the most part heat straightened natural hair is still thicker than relaxed hair.
Because with heat trained hair, you can retain your texture. You can get the best of both worlds. Little to no shrinkage, less knots, and still have the regal beauty of a big thick afro. Honestly, if a person is really good at heat training or texlaxing for looser texture, people don’t even know it has been.
true. i used to use heat on my hair with regularity and my hair grew to BSL effortlessly. But after that i experienced breakage and split ends and had to snip off the length, so 🙁 i’m back at wearing my hair naturally. but when i had a relaxer my MBL hair almost overnight got so badly damaged i ended up transitioning a few months later and never looked back since. based off these two experiences, i’d take my chances with heat training, since i think that you can control a lot better than relaxer damage. And like someone said before, you get greater versatility because you still have the option of wearing your hair natural. when i was flat ironing no one realized my hair was natural. but overnight i decided to go back to wearing it in natural styles, and all of a sudden people were like “you’re natural? when did you BC or transition?” that’s because of the versatility- it allows for easy and dramatic changes. and generally your hair retains its thickness with heat than it does with chemicals, from what i’ve seen of my hair and that of others who use heat but are otherwise natural. when my hair grows down my back i plan to heat train once more, just not as regularly as i used to. might seem counter intuitive, but generally i still would say that my hair when straightened is much less hassle to style than my hair while natural. there are definite benefits provided it’s done safely and cautiously.
that’s not quite true. the whole idea of heat training is to LOOSEN your texture. it eventually permanently changes the natural texture of your hair. i remember i pressed my hair ONCE for some occasion and after i washed my hair, there were strands that didn’t revert back and remained straight. if i normally wore my hair straight, it would have been fine, as regular application of high heat will do that to your hair over time. it doesn’t mean that heat trained hair (like relaxed hair) will end up splitting and breaking off, but the texture will be different from your natural hair.
According to LongHairDontcare2011 in her video titled “#37: What is Heat Training? Should I Heat Train?”
she says,
“No, don’t use heat traning to change the pattern of your hair, but use heat maybe if you feel like there’s no other way for you to sucessfully grow your hair because without the usage of heat your hair will have either too many splits, too many tangles, or you’ll just grow so frustrated with your hair that you’ll start ripping through it.”
She also claims to only use heat about once a month.
I’ve watched her videos plenty of times for a few years now and to be honest she doesn’t strike me as a “true” heat trainer. I remember when I first heard about heat training and it was coming from women who desired for their hair to be BONE STRAIGHT WITHOUT THE USE OF PERMS.
Does LHDC ever flat iron her hair bone straight? Yes, but it seems occasional.
So what’s my point?
Before people start using LHDC as living proof that “heat training” is healthy and can lead to long hair please recognize that LHDC does ALOT of protective styling— she rocks box braids using her own hair! And if you look at her video titled, “#7: My Natural Hair Journey from 2004-2009” it seems as if she was NOT flat ironing her hair while doing protective styles. You will see some flat iron pictures while the protective styles were out but it seems only later (the latter end of a 5 year journey) she was flat ironing her hair to put it in a protective style (i’m looking at the ends of her braids… straight vs. curly).
Basically she has already put in the work to get the long hair she wants and that was through protective styling. LHDC strikes me as a person who using heat only to manage how FULL her hair will inevitably be without it, espcially since she has chosen to grow her hair so long! She doesn’t walk around with bone straight hair every day (again that seems to be what people want when they want to “heat train). She straightens about once a month and then does protective styles throughout the month (allowing to it fuzz up and doing a style around that).
Totally agree. “Heat-training” more commonly referred to as “damage”.
because a relaxer is a cocktail of very strong chemicals? me personally i went natural because i was incredibly uncomfortable with slathering my head with cancerous chemicals once a month. heated tools definately aren’t that.
Sorry, I know that this site is primarily for natural ladies, but as a relaxed girl, I still find lots of useful tips on how to increase the health of my hair and have it grow. I must then however point out that even prior to me going on my hair journey, I never thought it a good idea to relax once a month, and I always cringed at women that did. Yes, it’s a lot of chemicals, but I would rather carefully do a touch up once every 3 months than bring direct heat to my hair once a week.
Totally disagree. Heat is NOT the devil that some relaxers make it out to be.
Flat ironed/pressed natural hair is most often still healthier than relaxed hair. Period. Before twist outs, wash and gos and braid outs and fros became popular, many natural women wore their natural hair pressed or flat ironed.
Now, it does depend on your hair, but I’d much rather risk the potential damage of heat than a chemical relaxer. The key is moderation.
Wore pressed hair for 10 years. Worked well for MY hair. I’ve worn my hair curly since 2008 and I’m seriously considering going back to more heat (I get occassional Dominican blow outs).
Long hair, frequent wetting just tangles my hair. Even “dry” styles like twist outs. Too much manip. Horrible SSKs and matting. I’ve lost a lot of length because of it. So, yeah, I’m rocking a Dominican blowout now and I’m seriously considering keeping it up every 3-4 weeks.
As others have said, straight natural hair is just that — an option. With relaxed hair, straight hair is the only option, unless you texlax or risk potential breakage by going a long time between your relaxers. Why do all that when you could just blow/straighen your natural curls to their desired texture?
Check out my blowout vs. kinky hair:
https://hairnista.blogspot.com/2012/10/straight-hair-part-3.html
And my article on heat damage:
https://hairnista.blogspot.com/2012/02/is-heat-damage-real.html
Whoops, meant to say that heat is not the devil that some NATURALS make it out to be.
“With relaxed hair, straight hair is the only option, unless you texlax or risk potential breakage by going a long time between your relaxers” I’m sorry, but as a relaxed girl, I need to disagree, as I have been wearing my hair in many different styles including different kinds of curly, and I am not texlaxed, nor do I stretch for incredibly long times. I touch up every 12 weeks and I think that moderation is the key to EVERYTHING in life.
The ‘potential damage’ of heat? Isn’t the whole point of heat training to take advantage of the real damage of heat i.e. the permanent breaking of bonds in the hair? Of course with people who use heat occasionally, if they prepare the hair well, they avoid damage, but that isn’t what this article is about.
Also, if straight was the only option with relaxed hair, those of us who transitioned would have look like fools, unless we straightened our growing natural roots. There are many styles that can add texture to relaxed hair. However, I would say that relaxers are more damaging than heat (of course you can healthy hair with either) in my opinion, but they’re probably easier/less of a hassle. I couldn’t choose between them if I was forced.
Although I have no plans to use heat ever, heat is certainly not the devil, I agree, however it cannot be denied that heat training is damaging since that is what it is designed to do!