Natural Hair straightening

pinkcottoncandy7

Hey ya'll
  I have a friend whose daughter owns a really nice salon in the area and she wants to gift me her services for the wedding. I wanted to get my hair straightened for the wedding but I have heard stories about natural hair being damanged and not reverting to the original curl. I notice some of you flat iron your  natural hair..any issues with this?

ThunderKitten2011

Personally ( and I have relaxed hair) I don't like the flat iron when I am doing it myself, seems like I am pulling it too much or something. But when the hair dresser does it, it looks so great and doesn't seem to be any damage.

chescam

I've been natural for 3 years. When it comes to straightening, I prefer the flat iron over hot combs. When the hot comb is used it takes about 2 weeks for my hair to revert. On the other hand, when I straighten with a flat iron the hair reverts once I wash it. My hair dresser said it's all about the technique when using the flat iron. My hair is really kinky and she gets it relaxer straight. I suggest trying it out before your wedding day and see how your hair handles in the humidity. 

sweets18

I have been natural for almost four years and I keep my hair straight. I am going to get it straightened a couple of days before the wedding and it will stay even in the June heat in Georgia primarily because my stylist does a hydration treatment on it which causes the moisture to be sealed in. It works really well. I don't know if that is an option for you, but there may be some type of technique the stylist will use to keep frizziness away. But I would definitely give it a test ride soon.

MrsBoss2012

I am natural and I wear my hair in its kinky/curly state 98% of the time. On the occassion that I have gotten it straightened it returned back to its curl pattern. I was nervous because I also heard stories about losing your curl pattern. I think thats the case if you do it very frequently over a period of time. My beautician had to use the hot comb and flat iron on this kinky/curly head!

Carla1019

I've been natural almost 2 years.

You can do a "Dominican blow out". Basically they wash your hair add a deep conditioner, roller set you and put you under the dryer for 20 minutes. Then they use a round brush and blow dry your hair straight. If you find someone that knows what they are doing it is very healthy and your hair looks and feels like silk for days. I'm able to go once a week because my stylist only charges $25. I make sure the heat is not too hot and we don't need a flat iron unless I want him to do a specific style. Most of the time I wear it straight and my hair blows in the wind.

Warning, not everyone knows how to do it properly and will burn the heck out of your hair with the hairdryer. If the stylist has mastered separating your hair and blowing drying with the round brush you don't need a lot of heat.

Ky925

Usually that only happens with frequent straightening.  For instance my bangs and even the hair close to my hair line is always a little straighter than the rest when my hair is curly due to straightening my bangs and also my hair just being used to being brushed into a ponytail.  If I get my hair straightened by a stylist I prefer the blowout (dominicans) because I do not like lifeless hair and my hair usually has more bounce to it with this method than with a flat iron.  But I do flat iron my own hair on occassion.  Rarely in the summer time because my hair will turn quick once the humidity gets to it lol.  I suggest trying it out before hand just so you know how it will go for your big day.  If the stylist nows what she is doing, you will be fine!! I've been natural for about 12 years.

kittybutton

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_natural-hair-straightening?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:400Discussion:6f062323-c124-4f7b-868f-d6e0f82b047bPost:83868ae8-a335-4d4b-b23b-e1dba53cdceb">Re: Natural Hair straightening</a>:
[QUOTE]I've been natural almost 2 years. You can do a "Dominican blow out". Basically they wash your hair add a deep conditioner, roller set you and put you under the dryer for 20 minutes. Then they use a round brush and blow dry your hair straight. If you find someone that knows what they are doing it is very healthy and your hair looks and feels like silk for days. I'm able to go once a week because my stylist only charges $25. I make sure the heat is not too hot and we don't need a flat iron unless I want him to do a specific style. Most of the time I wear it straight and my hair blows in the wind. Warning, not everyone knows how to do it properly and will burn the heck out of your hair with the hairdryer. If the stylist has mastered separating your hair and blowing drying with the round brush you don't need a lot of heat.
Posted by Carla1019[/QUOTE]

THIS I LOVED my blowout. Like Carla said if they know what they are doing then your hair will stay healthy.

cincy2011

I have been natural for about 10 years and when I lived in ATL I got it flat ironed once a month (except summers).  It always looked great and reverted right back to it's natural curl pattern. 

Now I get it straightened maybe once every 2-3 months, and I still have no issues.  I am with everyone else - get a test style done soon so you can see if it holds up, etc.  But I think your hair will be fine!

ejagers

I have been natural ALL my life and I'm 31 now.  Usually I get my hair pressed and it lasts until I get it done again, (usually 2 weeks) even in the Memphis heat.  If you've ever been to Memphis in the summer it feels like you are inside someone's mouth! LOL.  I wear it natural for a week in the summer and pressed for a week.  My stylist uses this spray from lustrasilk and it makes pressing my hair easier, cuts the time to a half an hour.  I never use flat irons b/c they break your hair off.  Currently, my hair is to my bra strap which is the longest it's been since high school.  My stylist is growing it out for the wedding.

cincy2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_natural-hair-straightening?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:400Discussion:6f062323-c124-4f7b-868f-d6e0f82b047bPost:decaf8ef-27f2-47a6-a99a-ab1fa198e82e">Re: Natural Hair straightening</a>:
[QUOTE]I have been natural ALL my life and I'm 31 now.  Usually I get my hair pressed and it lasts until I get it done again, (usually 2 weeks) even in the Memphis heat.  If you've ever been to Memphis in the summer it feels like you are inside someone's mouth! LOL.  I wear it natural for a week in the summer and pressed for a week.  My stylist uses this spray from lustrasilk and it makes pressing my hair easier, cuts the time to a half an hour. <strong> I never use flat irons b/c they break your hair off.</strong>  Currently, my hair is to my bra strap which is the longest it's been since high school.  My stylist is growing it out for the wedding.
Posted by ejagers[/QUOTE]

Actually, I've always heard just the opposite.  In my experience, the hot comb made my hair a hot mess - breaking and weak, and very dry.  The flat iron is wonderful on my hair - maybe it could break your hair off if a stylist doesn't know what they're doing?  But I have been getting my hair flat ironed for 10+ years now and I've never had a breakage issue.  Just wanted to provide another perspective!

ejagers

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_natural-hair-straightening?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:400Discussion:6f062323-c124-4f7b-868f-d6e0f82b047bPost:06882929-3841-432b-9390-6cdd287c7baf">Re: Natural Hair straightening</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Natural Hair straightening : Actually, I've always heard just the opposite.  In my experience, the hot comb made my hair a hot mess - breaking and weak, and very dry.  The flat iron is wonderful on my hair - maybe it could break your hair off if a stylist doesn't know what they're doing?  But I have been getting my hair flat ironed for 10+ years now and I've never had a breakage issue.  Just wanted to provide another perspective!
Posted by cincy2011[/QUOTE]

It could be the texture of my hair too b/c weaves of all kind break my hair off (braids, sew-ins, etc.)  And my hair hair is tamed b/c I've been getting it pressed since I was 10 and yours is probably tamed to the flat iron since you've been doing it for 10+ years.  Besides that, I just looked at your photos, you have gorgeous hair and its really thick.  Mine isn't as thick as yours.  I just know I cannot do the flat irons b/c it makes it thin at the roots.  My sister and cousin had a really bad experience but they bot had relaxers too.

cincy2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_natural-hair-straightening?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:400Discussion:6f062323-c124-4f7b-868f-d6e0f82b047bPost:3bf90475-a4d7-4049-bfe5-6b28dbf5a6aa">Re: Natural Hair straightening</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Natural Hair straightening : It could be the texture of my hair too b/c weaves of all kind break my hair off (braids, sew-ins, etc.)  And my hair hair is tamed b/c I've been getting it pressed since I was 10 and yours is probably tamed to the flat iron since you've been doing it for 10+ years.  Besides that, I just looked at your photos, you have gorgeous hair and its really thick.  Mine isn't as thick as yours.  I just know I cannot do the flat irons b/c it makes it thin at the roots.  My sister and cousin had a really bad experience but they bot had relaxers too.
Posted by ejagers[/QUOTE]

That makes sense!  Thanks for the compliment!  :) 

M1ssJ

It should revert back but PPs all gave great suggestions. I would above all test it out in the humidity

mikimoto6

I have been natural for 14 years. Of that time, I have been wearing it curly for the last 7 years.  I only get my pressed with a hot comb 3 times a year when I get my ends trimmed.  My curl pattern is still in tact after the I get my hair straightened. My mom is a stylist so she has been caring for my hair for a long time.  

I think you have to ensure that your stylist isn't using too much heat.  Excessive heat exposure can damage your hair.

Not to hijack the thread, but are there any brides who are planning to wear their hair natural for the wedding?

pinkcottoncandy7

Thanks you guys so much. I am debating wearing it natural but you guys are right I should do a test drive.