Straightened Natural Hair

Kandy 4 comments

Straightened Natural Hair

If your not following us on facebook, you missed our status about how we were searching for information on hooded dryers, and hair steamers. I decided to check out Walmart & Amazon looking for a reasonable priced hooded dryer, with decent reviews. I decided to purchase the Conair hooded dryer. I also had to grabbed a few other hair goodies. You know how you can't just get 1 thing while shopping at walmart (sigh.) I also purchased a new flat iron, blow dryer, and heat protectant spray as well, all for a total of roughly $60 (not bad!) Oh and free shipping, and it arrived within 2-3 days (yeaaa buddy.) 

I originally planned on waiting to flat iron N's hair this fall when the weather is cooler, so we wouldn't have to worry about humidity. But I couldn't help myself, I swear that flat iron and blow dryer were calling me.  Plus I wanted to see if it worked well, so I could return it haha. 

N rocked a twistout for the full week. 

I washed her hair with Blended Beauty Soy Shampoo, and deep conditioned with Blended Beauty Herbal Reconditioner. I put her hair into 2 braids, and placed a plastic cap over her hair. I set the dryer temperature to the low setting, and the speed to high. 

She sat under the dryer for 10 minutes, and let me tell you! Deep conditioning with heat, is AMAZING!! Her hair NEVER EVER felt like this! Don't get me wrong, her hair feels good after deep conditioning with a hot towel. But this time, it felt as smooth as butter! I barely finger detangled, her hair separated so easily. I was seriously blown away! I wished I purchased it years ago (always late -sad face-) 

Okay, after I rinsed the deep conditioner out, I added Giovanni Direct Leave In, and it provided slip for me to detangle. Our detangling session was a breeze. I put her hair into 4 sections (two on top, two on bottom.) Then I blowdried one section at a time. I used the cool setting, and used the pick attached to help straighten her hair a bit. Once I completed the 4 sections, I added Bee Mine Luscious moisturizer, and sealed it in with Blended Beauty Hair Oil. Next, I sprayed her hair with our new Garnier Frutis Heat Protectant Spray. I made sure that her hair was well coated with it, to avoid heat damage. 

Then it was time to flat iron. I set the iron on it's lowest setting, it took 30 seconds to heat up (really fast.) The only down side, was due to the automatic shut off, it shut off 3 times. I guess it's not used to being on for 2 hours as we straighten ahaha. I worked in (1/2 inch sections) going down her hair with the chase comb method. Chase Comb Method: Combing the hair slowly, as the flat iron follows directly behind it. 

We finished her hair past midnight. I quickly snapped a few pictures. Then I wrapped her hair in a doubie wrap, like this. 

  and sent her to bed with her scarf.

Here are our finished results 

(click on the pictures to enlarge.)

During our 4 hour hair time. We joked around and watched a movie. While talking, I asked her if she preferred her hair "Curly" or "Straight?" She replied "Curly" I asked her "Why?" She said "Because I'm scared that my hair will end up going into the toilet." ....Leave it to N to think of that sillyness! 

Flat Ironed Hair/School Pictures

Kandy 11 comments

Flat Ironed Hair/School Pictures

N's school picture day was tomorrow. I decided to do a cute simple cornbraid design on the top of her hair, and use Curlformers on the back of her hair. That night, I cornbraided her hair, and then I sprayed her hair with water/conditoner. I added the setting lotion to her hair, and placed about 30 Curlformers in the back of her hair. 

The next morning I woke N up, got her dressed for school. I took out 1 Curlformer, and guess what happened?  Her curl dropped!!! Her hair was still WET!! I removed all of the Curlformers and only 2 curls looked right. Now, I had no clue what to do, and we only had 20 minutes to get out of the door. N became sad, because she wanted to look nice for picture day. So I did the one thing, that I never done before...I used a flat iron!!! (pause for dramatic effect) lol. 

I have heard over, and over, again how heat is the Devil. But honestly, if you don't consistently do it, and use protection, there is nothing to worry about. N is 6 and she sits perfectly still, so I don't have to worry about burns. I whipped out the flat iron and heat protectant spray and got to work. We finished just in time. I didn't have time to flat iron the hair in the ponytail. So I made a quick two-strand twist, and she was out the door.. but not before I snap some pics!

Look how short her ponytail is compared to the rest of her hair, shrinkage is no joke!

3 slanted cornbraids, 2 down her edges, and smaller cornbraids going into a ponytail.

Hip or waist length?? I'm not sure what do you think?

She liked seeing her length, but she did not like her hair out. She came home complaining that her hair got wrapped around her bookbag, and some of her hair got tangled around her necklace. But worst of all, when she came home her hair was looking like Chaka Khan! Don't get me wrong, I love big hair, but that was not the look I expected. Trust me, her hair was EVERYWHERE. On the bright side her teacher gave her a semi-compliment (I guess)?? She said "Woo-Child, I can't imagine doing all of that, Bless your poor Momma". Ehh, I'll take it as a compliment. It may look like alot of work, but what she doesn't know is that, it only took under 20 mins (wink.)

Here is her School Picture :) 

Have you ever flat ironed your child's hair? Was there any pro's or con's from going curly to straight?