2014 Updated Flat Ironing Routine: Sleek, Straight, Natural Hair WITHOUT Heat Damage

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FINALLY.

Ya'll have NO idea how much of a long time coming this video and post has been. I've been trying to edit this video for WEEKS. Every single time I opened the video, files corrupted, footage was lost, and narrations disappeared. I felt like somebody was working REALLY hard to get me to not put this video up! But it finally came to pass, and I am excited!!! Thank you all that have been soooo patient with me while I've been trying to work out the kinks in my janky @$$ Samsung laptop. I really appreciate it <3.

For those of you that have been asking, here is the full breakdown video of how I straighten my natural hair.  I have managed to successfully straighten my transitioning and natural hair WITHOUT HEAT DAMAGE since I began my natural hair journey in 2012.  Everything is pretty much the same as it always has been done, I just recently incorporated roller setting into the mix to mitigate blow dryer damage and also began upping my temperature setting as I realized what my hair could handle.









The products may change, but the purpose behind them doesn't. I always use shampoo to cleanse prior to straightening, and I always use a deep conditioner that contains cetrimonium chloride (to improve tensile strength). Heat protection is a must, and I always rely on silicone-based serums in that department.

When it's time to revert back to natural hair, using the same shampoos and deep conditioners I began the process with is a vital step. The hair must be stripped of all the silicone buildup that helped straighten, heat protect, and prevent reversion.

All of the steps are outlined in the video, but here they are with the products used included:

Step 1

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Shampoo twice - once with TGIN Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo and the second time with Lawrence Ray Concepts Complete Cleanse Shampoo. This ensures that any dirt, oil, or product buildup is long gone from my hair prior to straightening. It also preps my hair to receive the Eva NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask for deep conditioning -- it contains jojoba, proteins, and cetrimonium chloride to hydrate and strengthen my hair, which will help prevent heat damage.

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Step 2

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Roller setting - I applied a moderate amount of ApHogee Keratin and Green Tea Restructurizer Spray, followed by ApHogee Style & Wrap Mousse and Garnier Marvelous Oil Frizz Defy serum to provide heat protection, tame frizz, smooth my hair, and add shine. I used approximately 18 of the Annie brand jumbo rollers/perm rods with the elastic fastening ends. My hair air dried for about 3 hours.

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I don't know what that black comb thingie is. I just used it to detangle, lol.
Step 3

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Blow dry - since my hair was still damp in some places, I used a type of tension blow drying method to achieve a straighter blowout with less direct heat. I applied the Infusium serum, removed tangles with my paddle brush, and then blow dried. Using medium heat and high speed, I moved the blow dryer along the shaft of my hair, keeping a safe distance while simultaneously pulling the hair taut through the paddle brush. The end result is a straighter blowout that took less time and heat to achieve, which helps safeguard against heat damage.

Step 4

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Flat iron - in super small sections using the chase method. My Glam Iron is heated to 212 degrees Celsius, which is about 413 degrees Ferenheit. Feel free to adjust your iron to whatever temperature works for your hair. In each larger section, I apply more Garnier Marvelous Oil Frizz a Defy serum before  parting off smaller sections to flat iron. I make only two passes with each small section - once with the Glam Iron by itself, and the second time with the fine tooth comb ahead of the iron, so the iron is "chasing" the comb down the length of my hair. This guarantees super sleek, smooth, frizz, and tangle-free results that last.

Step 5

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Silk wrap - wrap hair in the traditional old school way with the paddle brush, then secure cling wrap around the hair, pressing out any air pockets. Over that, I put on my satin scarf and sit under my Softhood Dryer for 45 minutes to an hour. Sitting under a traditional hooded dryer works the same way. This step locks in the straight hair and helps prevent reversion, which helps me be able to wear my straight hair longer.

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Step 6
Take down and enjoy! I use the Ion Pomade Wax to slick my edges back for a polished look without reversion. Werk!

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Product & Tools 411:

Lawrence Ray Concepts Complete Cleanse Shampoo, $26 www.lawrencerayconcepts.com
ApHogee Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer Spray, $7.99 Sally Beauty

ApHogee Style & Wrap Mousse, $5.99 CJ Beauty Supply (for my LA folks that's in Inglewood on Crenshaw & Imperial #alittlehood)

Annie Cold Wave Rods, $1.99/pack CJ Beauty Supply

Garnier Fructis Marvelous Oil Frizz Defy, $4.99 Target 

Infusium 23 Miracle Therapy Leave-In Treatment Serum courtesy of Infusium 23 (not sure where to find it in stores, but any comparable silicone-based serum will do)

Conair Ceramic Paddle Brush, $10 Target

Long Locks Pro Hair Care Glam Iron, courtesy of Long Locks Pro Hair Care(not sure of the price, and the online store is currently down -- sorry ya'll!), www.longlocksvirginhair.com

Hairflair, Ltd. Deluxe Softhood Dryer, $15.95 www.curlformers.com

Ion Pomade Wax, $7.49 Sally Beauty

Any questions about the video? Drop em' below!

More on heat straightening:
Ingredients you need to know before you flat iron your hair!
6 Heat Protectants that Won't Break the Bank
My 2013 Heat Straightening Routine

4 Comments

  1. Love the techniques! Your hair looks great!

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  2. Beautiful hair! Why dont you use a round brush instead? Then you Will get the hair almost straight already during the Blowout process.

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  3. Hi Li! Thank you! I don't do round brushes because they tend to yank out my hair :)

    ReplyDelete