Curly Girls Who Straighten: Tips?

tarzy

We talk a lot about buying clothes for some imaginary life (which I have pretty much stopped doing) but today I feel like I'm being tempted by a hairstyle for an imaginary life.

This imaginary life is one in which I have an hour each day to blow dry my very curly hair so that it's straight.

I usually just rock the curls because it's easier, but today, just for fun, I blew my hair out and I'm really enjoying it. (It's wrong to run your fingers through your own silken straight hair and pretend you're in a shampoo commercial, yes?)

I don't know if it's just because it's something different - I've been craving some sort of style shift lately, but I'm not yet sure what direction to pursue. Maybe it's due to age? Straight hair always makes me feel sleek and pulled together, somehow, and the older I get, the more pulled together I want to look.

The problem is I'm TERRIBLE at blowing out my hair. I can't seem to master the art of holding the brush in one hand and the dryer in the other. My hair is super curly so it takes a lot of effort to straighten it (and of course I never get it as straight as they do at the salon.)

I know it would be easier to concentrate on making changes to my clothes. I suppose I need to figure out what's not working for me now with my style, then come back for help with that.

In the meantime - is there some device that will hold the dryer so I can maneuver the brush more easily? Some miracle product that will help relax the curl? I've watched lots of videos on blow drying, but all those women seem to have a kind of manual dexterity I just don't posses!

12 years ago

General

13 replies

Latest reply was from Jjsloane

MsMary

Veteran

My stylist taught me something recently that totally changed my life!

Instead of a round brush, she used a FLAT brush and pulled my hair pretty hard to the SIDE, stretching it out as she blew the air on it. Basically the tip is to STRETCH your hair. I start by pulling my hair to the outside, then I switch and pull it towards the middle of my head, then I lean over and brush it away from my scalp. It works great and takes way less time than a round brush.

If you want a lesson, call Crowned Studio in Pasadena and ask for Christina -- tell her I sent you!

12 years ago

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I agree that a flat brush is better. Round ones always got caught in my hair in a painful way. My hair is not super tight curly but it is pretty wavy/curly and I straighten it to some degree always. I wish I felt pulled together with the messier curls, but I just never have. Anyway, I have my own technique and it doesn't involve a blow dryer.

I let my heat pre-treated conditioned hair dry naturally unless I really need to get it done quick when I will result to the blow dryer (but this is like a couple times a year maybe). Then, once it's dry I use my big 1.5" curling iron as a sort of straightening, or curl loosening device. I do a rather large section at a time (I've been doing it for a long time so I have it down) and I hold the curling iron clamp slightly loose so I can pull it through the hair in the direction I want it to go. If I feel any tugging I release the curling iron so I don't create breakage.

Basically I'm not going for a true "straight" hair style, just looser waves more in the direction I want them.

I've tried a true flat iron but that makes me feel like a flat head and I don't like that look for myself. Plus, you can't get the flatiron close to the head so it leaves a weird "crimp" in my experience.

I use a small dot of a very light styling oil when I'm done to sort of smooth things out, esp. in the back where I have quite a bit of hair.

12 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

I love this brush equipped hair dryer.

http://www.hairdryerreviews.co.....eviews.php

Just like. Salon blow out, no coordination required. I dry my hair to damp dry, by air or regular dryer if time is an issue. then use this gadget to get my hair completely dry. SUPER fab. Not on commission.

12 years ago

Anonymous

This is exactly what I do, down to tne curling of the ends. Since my hair is curlier, I make smaller sections. I also do not use any product.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v.....DErcm5elR8

I also create curls with this technique:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=A.....re=related
No product either.
Have fun, practice makes perfect!

12 years ago

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

tarzy, I should have added that sometimes I actually "curl" my hair on the giant curling iron because it makes *very* loose smoother curls out of my tighter, frizzier ones. I put the iron on pretty high heat, but never leave it in place for more than just a few seconds. And then when you let it go, let it cool before moving it.

12 years ago

Christie

Active Member

Here's what I do ... wear it curly the first couple of days and by day 4, it is just wavy and I can wear it that way or use a flat iron. I've never been able to manage the hairdryer like my hair-stylist does when she straightens my hair *without* a flat iron.

12 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

Well I have been straightening my hair for years just using the hair dryer and a large round brush. A flat brush does not allow me to get the shape I like. I am more likely to get the look and volume I want by blow drying and then a quick swipe if the straighteners...but most days I don't need the flat irons:). Practice makes perfect I say. I have been keen to try the heated brush products and may do so. I have always felt it was worth the time in the mornings as I don't like my hair au naturel. I only use heat protectors and conditioning products but no styling products as such:)

12 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I rarely go straight, but when I do I use a combo of what Texstyle and Christie mention. Definitely next day, or the next, or the next, never freshly washed hair. Day 1 I usually air dry to curly. Day 2 or 3 I can either go looser curly or do the the curling iron as somewhat straightener trick for more wavy than curly. Day 3 or 4 I can get out the flat iron and try to tame the stubborn waves in the back of my head. I have a lot more hair though and maybe chin length isn't so labor intensive?

12 years ago

tarzy

Veteran

Christie and Mo - that's interesting. I have always assumed that I had to start with wet hair to get it to go straight. I've never thought of trying to iron or curl it when it's dry. (My hair is quite curly - not just wavy.) I really need to experiment more!

You still have to use some sort of product, though, to protect the hair from the heat, don't you?

12 years ago

Christie

Active Member

Tarzy, mine is quite curly (looks a lot like your curls) which is why getting it straight works for me after a few days. I live in a dry climate, so don't have to deal with humidity. That might be the reason my curls do relax after a few days.

I use a flat iron so infrequently (like once or twice a month) that I don't use any special heat product.

12 years ago

Anonymous

I used to battle with my frizz all the time, but I've discovered a few things that make a big difference.

Use a powerful hair dryer with a narrow nozzle attachment (the opening should be as slim as possible).

Flip your head upside down and dry hair without a brush (just fingers) until it's about 80% dry - ie no longer dripping down your back or face and starting to get a lovely shine. Then grab a section of your hair in the brush and keeping as much tension in the hair as possible, drag the brush through with the nozzle of the dryer following closely behind.

If it is really hot in the room, blow drying your hair will be even more difficult and almost impossible. I like to run the aircon while blow drying my hair.

Always finish of the blow dry with a blast of cooler air from your hair dryer. It brings the hair back down to "normal" temp and helps reduces frizziness.

Use a flat iron just of the top layers (esp at the back) and ends of your hair. This gives you the polished straight look without losing all the lovely fullness from the dryer.

Practice, practice and practice. Next time you go to the hairdresser, watch how they do it ... and don't be afraid to ask questions about their technique!

Oh, and running your fingers through your silky hair is totally normal behaviour... own that shampoo commercial of yours!!

12 years ago

Anonymous

Tarzy, I thonk whT Mo describe should work on your hair because your roots are rather straight. Right? I tried flat iron only as a last resort on a longer
trip with limited sucess because my roots are frizzy and I cannot get close to my scalf with a flar iron for obvious reasons.

12 years ago

Jjsloane

Veteran

My hair is longer than yours and although it's really fine texture I have a ton of it. I am a product junkie so always start with something. My favorite ever was Pureology straightening shampoo and conditioner (I had to make a lot less effort in blow drying) but they have discontinued it. I like Bumble and Bumble products (Prep spray and straight blow dry balm) but not their straight shampoo. I use a large vented round brush and dry in 3 sections (bottom, middle and top) after it's 75% air dry. I had more luck with a flat iron when my hair was shorter and used a spray to protect from the damage and add a little shine. The key is if there is any moisture left in your hair after drying it will frizz and/or curl and all that work is for naught. I had mine chemically straightened once and loved it, but now there is a lot of controversy over the chemicals used so I'm not going back to that.

12 years ago

Category