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Thread: How to straighten hair without damage?

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    Featured Member Lizette's Avatar
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    Default How to straighten hair without damage?

    I have naturally wavy hair, waist-length. It used to be soft. Now, it's crunchy. I flat-iron my hair for work. I know that I have to cut off a few inches.

    How do I prevent such damage? I have split ends everywhere. 2 months ago, before I started dancing, my hair was healthy and soft. I sometimes leave it wavy, but I do not get as much attention as I do when it's straight.

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    Veteran Member Jillian's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to straighten hair without damage?

    i straighten my hair too - actually i'm working on it as i type this. Recently I picked up some of the pantene pro-v's red head line, I had the shampoo and conditioner and recently after my highlights I bought the red head radiant repair moisture rich stuff for the shower and then when my hair is damp before I blow dry it I put in the red expressions strength seal fortifying spray - I think they make this stuff for all hair colors, but I have had a noticeable difference in softness with my hair.


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    Featured Member Lizette's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to straighten hair without damage?

    Pantene gives me pimples on my back. Though, my hair feels silky smooth.

    I have very fine hair that damages easily. I might just have to live with the poofy Harry Potter's Hermoine coif.

    Maybe I should get more layers or something. But I do love the way it looks straight.

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    Default Re: How to straighten hair without damage?

    I overheard a girl who was getting her hair done asking the hairdresser about her straightening iron. The one the hairdressers use is like $125, but it works really really REALLY well. Also, she said if you left your hair damp, not wet, but just damp to the touch, when you were straightening it, it protected it somewhat. I straighten mine lots. Another thing you could do that I used to do is blow dry it straight first, then use the iron on it. Mine never got bad when I did this. Also, I would ask the salon you go to what conditioner would be good for your hair since you straighten it alot. Try some hot oil treatments also.

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    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to straighten hair without damage?

    I have very fine, naturally curly hair, as well. I found that using "extra conditioning" products that are made for "frizzy/curly" hair weigh it down way too much. I now use Redken Smooth Down shampoo and Extreme Rescue Force conditioner. I also only wash my hair a couple times a week (usually once a week, but if I work, I'll wash it a bit more) and then just let it air dry on the days that I don't need to style it.

    To straighten my hair: I let my hair air dry. When it is *almost* dry, I use a blow dryer and a paddle brush to help straighten my hair (use a natural bristle brush). When my hair is dry, I lightly mist it with conditioning spray and then a gloss spray. Quickly brush it through all of my hair and go over lightly with the hair dryer. The last step is hitting it with the straight iron. I only go over each section once...then I spray a light mist of glossing spray over my hair and again brush.

    If you have a few frizzies, don't worry about it...it won't be that noticeable, and if you continue to brush your hair with a natural bristle brush, they'll smooth down. The "hair drying" brush (the plastic ones) tend to cause more breakage in naturally curly hair because of the kink factor and the fact that the plastic bristles are not flexible, so it grabs the hair and *pulls* it out. A natural bristle brush will not do that...so you'll probably see a lot less breakage.

    BTW...my hair stylist says that you should NEVER put an iron to your hair when it is wet/damp, unless you are very skilled and you have the *proper* equipment/products. Not all hot irons are meant for wet/damp hair which could damage your hair even further.

    Hope that helps.

    Also, one more thing...make sure that you are taking your vitamins. I got vitamins for hair/nails and my hair looks so much better in just one month.

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    Veteran Member Stipperella's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to straighten hair without damage?

    I hope this dosen't confuse instead of help but i remember when i was young my mother would put two big Velcro Rolls on my head and then wrap my hair around them holding my hair with TONS of pins. This would straighten my hair wihtout using hair dryers of irons, but dont'know what its called. I tried doing it to myself but don't know how. anyone know what i'm talking about???

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    Default Re: How to straighten hair without damage?

    Lizette, are you using a ceramic iron? If not, I highly suggest one to minimize hair damage.


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    Member ~Christina~'s Avatar
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    Default Re: How to straighten hair without damage?

    I also have long hair and straighten it almost daily to avoid the frizz and fly-aways (natural wave). My mother is a stylist and these are her recommendations to me...

    -Always use "salon" shampoo and conditioner (ex. Sebastion, Matrix, Biolage, ect.)
    There is also a salon "stripping" shampoo for build-up that I use once every 3 month (more often with store-bought brands)
    -Trim your ends every 6 weeks (will also make it grow faster...split ends get cut off...hair wont split and break off half way up the hair shaft leaving the fly-ways)
    -

  9. #9
    Pamela
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    Default Re: How to straighten hair without damage?

    I dunno ladies, i think long term it will cause some damage. There is a creme you run through the hair first (actually many) and then flat iron, this may actually be good for the hair if done right, as heat and certain conditioning products penetrate the shaft, making hair healthy. Don't know how to do this myself, but makes sense i guess.

    Again dunno.

    Pamela

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    Veteran Member luckischalk's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to straighten hair without damage?

    When I straight iron my hair I let it air dry first, your hair will come out just as straight but it will not get all of the damage from blowdrying and straigtening. Also all Bumble and Bumble products are great (esp. Gentle Shampoo and Ultra Conditioner, tonic lotion). Hope this helps, I have long hair wavy naturally, straighten it to make it straight, not the least bit damaged. Get a cut every 7 weeks and try to straighten no more than 3 times per week.

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    Default Re: How to straighten hair without damage?

    I had the same problem, until I started using a Ceramic straightening iron. Chi has a REALLY good one, and so does hot tools. They're pretty expensive $80-$150 but they're really worth it, and last a long time. Do not bother with the cheaper "ceramic" irons from drugstores, because they part touching your hair is still metal, and still causes damage (my hairdresser told me this AFTER I tried it and messed up my hair more!). Hope this helps.

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    Featured Member Tiff_7_17's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to straighten hair without damage?

    If your hair is waist length, you should be getting trims ever 5 weeks or so.
    Pantene Pro V will temporarily make your hair feel soft, but it comes with a price. There is SO MUCH wax in Pantene, and it coats your hair, making it feel that way. However, eventually your hair will accumulate the build up and it will get dull. Ask any pro stylist about Pantene and they will tell you that, i've seen a stylist take a razor to a girl's hair who'd been Pantene faithful...the wax just flaked right off.
    Don't straighten your hair damp, it will frizz out, just like you aren't supposed to curl your hair when it's stlightly wet...it's still a heat tool.
    Air dry your hair, and spray it with a professional line protectant cream/spray (I like AG and Redken, but whatever...lots of pro lines make them now) and then straighten your hair with a ceramic iron, never a cheapo metal one.
    I have one by Isis and I got it for around $100 dollars canadian. I have hair down the middle of my back with virtually no damage, (and as you can see from my pic, i'm no natural blonde, my hair is highlighted to shit) by following those steps.
    Hope I helped a bit,
    Tiff

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    Default Re: How to straighten hair without damage?

    I have a Jiberre ceramix straightener, was about $40 at Sally's. I use the Matrix Sleek line heat spray and coat the hell out of my hair. Its keeping the extentions looking decent, but not as amazing as in the beginning. Unfortunately, the job we do is not conducive to keeping hair healthy for long.

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    Senior Member Schea's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to straighten hair without damage?

    I can tell a HUGE difference since I switched from a metal straightener to a ceramic. You are gonna pay a lot more for a good quality straightener, mine was almost 200 and it's by rusk but my hair now feels healthier!

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    Veteran Member Cianna's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to straighten hair without damage?

    I would switch between a salon shampoo and conditioner and a drugstore shampoo and conditioner and rotate back and forth so your hair doesn't become immune to either of the products. Also, this wont hurt your wallet as bad.

    Use deep conditioner once a week and rinse off with luke warm water.

    Get a trim every couple months, it will actually stop breakage and let hair grow faster.
    Try those hair pills from Wallmart! I have 4 bottles left. The first month I did not notice any difference whatsoever...and then all of a sudden-bbing! Soft and manageable hair.

    Use a ceramic hair iron rather than a metal one. Blowdry hair first so it is warm and smooth before the iron hits it. Spritz with a silicone based protectant first, I recommend anything by Bumble and bumble.

    If you are doing all this stuff and your hair still looks and feels like straw, then you need to stop using all heat on it. Figure out a way you can style it using minimal heat for a month-then see how it is!!

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    Member sexyangel's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to straighten hair without damage?

    Have you tried getting it professionally straightened? It's a kind of perm, but instead of making your hair curly it makes it straight. It lasts for about 3-6 months depending on your hair type. It's the type of perm the black girls get to straighten their hair. Also try Thermasilk shampoo and conditioner. My husband's cousin uses it because she straightens her hair all the time and her hair is really soft and healthy looking. It's made to work on protecting and softening when it's used with heat. You can get a ceramic straightning iron for $30 at Sears. I think Walmart has them for cheap also.

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    Veteran Member Cianna's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to straighten hair without damage?

    Staightening hair will ALWAYS cause damage. I just got my hair highlighted yesterday, and I talked to my stylist about it. All you can do is lessen the amount of times you do straighten your hair.

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    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to straighten hair without damage?

    I'm really digging the new Jade straighteners...I'm just not really wanting to spend the money on them. LOL...maybe I'll wait a little while and then buy it cheaper when they come out with something newer.

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    Senior Member Fathom7's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to straighten hair without damage?

    I have naturally curly coarse hair and I gave in recently and bought the ceramic 1" flat iron my stylist uses on me. Such a huge difference. I also quit using Pantene* and OTC hair products. I buy Bumble & Bumble products that work wonders and keep my hair super soft and doesn't dry it out or weigh it down. As for repair I think you should get some hot oil treatments on a regular basis.
    *Pantene is horrible, it actually eats away at hair and that is why some people claim to have softer hair, it's because the hair has been stripped. (Or at least for me that is what happened)

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    Default Re: How to straighten hair without damage?

    I swear by Biosilk products...........

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    Featured Member rusdancer's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to straighten hair without damage?

    My hair is very very baby fine (but thick enough),platinum blonde and waist length.Looks very nice straightened,but gets extremely dry after every straightener use (ceramic with an infra-red light,Sallys).I wash it with Fructis,and then after conditioning,leave in a deep treatment by Pantene,and then a liquid polisher,Frizz ease,and it looks very shiny.Hair like mine cannot stand a straightener more than 1-2 times a week.Thicker,coarser hair is much more tolerant to straighteners,but will probably dry out somewhat as well.

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