How can I prevent my hair feeling like cotton candy after I straighten it

[Jas93]

I love my natural tightly curled hair, but I do get bored of it sometimes and what to change it up by wearing it straight. I use to straighten my hair 3 to 4 times a year, but I'm about to just give that up. It's not that my hair doesn't get straight, it not that its tangled, my strands stick together like cotton candy or spider webs :/ I does this whether or not if I out product in it or not. The fact that my hair is super thick, doesn't help. It does not lay down at all. It never did when I had a relaxer. It was and still poofy 100% the time when I straighten it. I like poofy look when my hair is curly. I'm not trying to go for a bone straight look, I just want it to sticking together and lay down some.

I keep my hair moisturized. When I straighten my hair, I do it with a comb. Like put the comb in front of the flat iron and pass it down on small sections of my hair. I've gotten it professionally straighten, but that was a waste of money. So I don't know

[Anonymous]

You're definitely doing something wrong. I can get the kinkiest most curliest hair silky straight with the flat iron.

Here's what could be going wrong

-Your hair isn't as moisturized as you think it is

-Split ends/damage

-Not enough heat (if you have really coarse and curly hair 200 degree isn't going to do the trick you should be around 300-400)

-Sections are too big (the coarser you hair the smaller the section)

-Follow the flat iron with a brush not a comb (if you have coarser/curly hair)

-Humidity will revert your hair no matter what

-Not straightening the roots or ends well enough

-Not clasping the iron tight enough (you need tension, not only heat to get hair straight)

-Hair that is not uniform in length (its is harder to straighten hair like that because the longer pieces get less tension).

-Too much protein

-Hair isn't 100% dry

-Hair isn't clarified (there is some product buildup left on your hair, you want your hair to be as clean as possible when you straighten it, the only think you should have in it heat protectant but it should be fully dried before staightening)

If I knew you in real life I would straighten the hell out of your hair. I have 3b/3c hair type but my mom has 4b/4c hair type and I can get her hair pretty much as straight as I can get mine.

[Jas93]

t I don't really use shampoos because it does more harm than good for me . I don't use a lot of heat, in fear of damaging it. I don't know what degrees it is , its 0-20. Other than that, I do the opposite of the majority of the things you listed. What ever does apply to me, I'll change to see what happens. If only I did know you in real life :(

[Opinion Owner]

Well in order to get your hair straight you need a higher temperature than someone with straight hair. You want to be closer to 20 than 0. Test it out on a small piece but I'm pretty sure you need higher that 10 heat setting. Hair can withstand heat up to 415 degrees as long as you use heat protectant.

You don't need shampoo to clarify your hair. You can use apple cider vinegar then go in with a conditioner afterward. You can also use baking soda and phosphate-free shampoos don't harm the hair.

[Opinion Owner]

If you don't use product in your hair you probably won't need to clarify your hair at all, but if you use a lot of oils, gels, and/or pomades, sprays, or any kind of styler in your hair you definitely do if you're straigtening it. Its not much of an issue when its curly though.

[Jas93]

Thank you! Thank you And thank you. One more thing, how can I keep my hair from reverting? Humidity is almost unavoidable, with me living in the south. I can be in a cool setting, and 30 min after straightening it, it starts curling back up. I keep it braided while in the house and in the shower. Also, I wrap my hair up twice and keep the door cracked when showering

[Opinion Owner]

Yeah for humidity there's not many options that you have. There's keratin treatments, moisture blockers, and anti-humectants that help. I have never tried keratin treatments but I heard good things about them. As for moisture blockers and anti-humectants they can only do so much. They won't prevent your hair from reverting but they make it so that your hair doesn't revert as easily.

[wifeylifey]

ooooh I love your hair. I am so happy that so many black girls are going natural and embracing their god given beauty without conforming to the media definition of what hair should be... anyway to answer your question I often use organic shea butter on mine and leave in conditioners work well.

[Jas93]

Thank you:) Do you use it before or after you straighten it? I've used shea butter, but I only use as a sealant when my hair curly. Do you use it as a heat protectant or something?

[wifeylifey]

I use it as a moisturizer

[lauramor]

I wear this link

[Prof_Don]

My sister (actual sibling, not just 'fellow black comrade sister lol) perms her hair every 2-3 months (not SUPER STRAIGHT, just to make it easier to manage) and uses Motions protein deconstructor when she washes her hair. She said she has no problems with "stringy hair" after she started this routine.

She also recommends using a heat protecting product (the beauty supply clerk can help you with choosing one) right before you straighten your hair.

Her username on this website is lilsis909.

[lilsis909]

He meant protein Reconstructor. Get names right juju b.

If you are looking to go back to completely natural you can look up different blogs. I like to read Her Name Is Kim for that info.

[Prof_Don]

Little sisters will be little sisters even on the Internet! :-P

[Jas93]

Lol thank you both. That's something I really need to invest in, heat protectant. Definitely going to try The Motion Protien Reconstructor. I hope it's cheaper than alPhogee.and I'm going look up that blog, so thanks both of you :)

[Prof_Don]

Glad to help. 8-)

[JamielovesKU]

Try keratin treatment and see if that helps

[Jas93]

Is it permanent? Like is it anything like a texturizer or relaxer?

[JamielovesKU]

If you get it straightened that way then itll be straight for up to 3 months, if you don't and you just want the hair to be silky then don't get it straightened

[JamielovesKU]

Itll look like this if you get it straightned and will last

[Jas93]

were you trying to post a link?

[JamielovesKU]

Yea here it is link

[Jas93]

Thanks! I think I might give it a try. after doing some research

[JamielovesKU]

Good luck :)

[Anonymous]

All that heat can't be good for your hair as a natural girl.I'm just saying. :/

[Jas93]

I don't use a lot of heat on my hair. Flat irons are my only source of heat, which I only do once evey 3 to 4 months. When I do flat iron it, it's on a low setting and I only do one pass so my hair is good.

[Opinion Owner]

oh okay,that's good to hear that it isn't frequent heat...

[Anonymous]

If you live in the south you need a perm to keep straight hair

[Jas93]

I'm natural so that means no perms/relaxers for me. They aren't always the solution.

[palek]

I dunno. Looks nice as it is though.

[tiredofwaiting]

Put olive oil in it maybe it is really helpful.