So I have been on this journey round about 3 years now and let me say, as any journey has them, there were highs and lows, twists and bends but I do not regret ever going natural. I am now comfortable with my hair and even on days when it decides to be stubborn and just wants to pick a fight, I know how to go about calming it down now. Just like a couple that have lived together long enough and have come to know and accept each others personalities. Anyways, to celebrate my 3 year mark, I straightened my hair. Yes I used heat on my hair. This is something I have done once before at my 2 year mark and I thought of repeating it this year. No I don’t think I will get heat damage and as you will see in the video, I am a real chicken when it comes to using heat on my hair. I really played it safe. Too safe actually and my hair looked more like a blow out than a flat iron. Let’s get into how I went about it.
Preparing my hair
My hair had been in twists so my scalp was rather dirty although I had washed it several times while in twists so I washed my hair again using Rhassoul clay (this clay is amazing you guys. more about that in another post) After cleansing my hair, I did a protein treatment. I thought if I am going to expose my hair to heat, it better be at its strongest. After rinsing the treatment out, I conditioned my hair and applied my leave-in conditioner mix. I put my hair in bantu knots and let it air dry to about 90%.
Blow drying my hair
Before blow drying my hair, I sprayed it with Tresseme heat defense, with upto 230 degrees Celsius heat protection. I used my trusted Philips Compact hair blower that I bought some 12 years ago while still in college. I used it on low heat and did the tension method. This I am sure although it stretched the shaft of my hair, did not stretch my roots well enough. I blow dried my hair on Friday night and only flat ironed it the next morning. I don’t know, could this have also contributed to my frizzy hair? Those in the know, please advise.
Flat ironing
I used a Carmen flat iron that I got from Dischem for about R400. Before flat ironing my hair, I sprayed a bit of the Tresseme heat defense again to my hair. (I know I should not have done that but I am such a chicken when it comes to using heat on my hair) And my flat iron has a steam function as well, meant to infuse moisture into the hair and as you may know, moisture and straight natural hair equals frizzy hair. So, after flat ironing all my hair, it looked straight, a bit frizzy and my roots not stretched at all. That’s what I did and I have kept it stretched for one week now. I do not know how long it will last but I think I will wash my hair before it hits two weeks in this style. In the meantime, I lightly twist it or band it to keep it stretched. Tried a few styles as well and am trying to enjoy my hair.
Watch the video for my length check and more information on how I flat ironed my hair. Don’t forget to join the conversation in the comments below. What I would like to know is, Do you use a heat defense spray/serum when using heat on your hair and how would you go about flat ironing your hair for best results?
2 comments
Hi Ruth. May I call you Ruth? I flat iron my hair once a week. I use the GHD styler which in my experience works best on all hair types (tried and tested by all my friends that are constantly borrowing it from me). After washing and conditioning my hair I put some Loreal New Studio Silk & Gloss Hot Straight Cream on it. A small amount will suffice. I’ve tried all the heat protection sprays, including Tresemme but found that they left my hair very oily and artificially shiny. The Loreal hair cream (which has a texture that is more like a lotion) works like a charm. I put some on before drying my hair (with a hairdryer). Then usually straighten it right afterwards or the next morning. I don’t reapply the heat protection cream before straightening because experience has taught me that it only leaves your hair oily and stiff. If needed I apply a little bit of grapeseed oil (since it’s very light) afterwards to seal the hair cuticle. It always does the trick. Oh and my hair is healthy as a horse. A horse’s hair that is ;). Good luck.
Thanks so much Curlwhirly for sharing. Will try that next time.
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