Due to being extremely tired, I decided to blowdry all of my hair and then flat iron it the next day. I just wore the blowdried hair in a bun. Since I didn’t blow dry on high, leaving it for a day also allowed it to totally dry (some of my roots were still a little damp).
Here’s what I did:
- Shampoo’d since I was experiencing some buildup
- DC’d with Giovanni Smooth as Silk for one hour
- Rinsed, then applied Curls Lavish Moisturizer and Fantasia Heat Protectant to each section before blow drying
- Applied a bit of JC Nourish and Shine to my ends, put hair in a bun
- The next day, I flat ironed with Maxiglide (on 8, no teeth plates or steam) with a little coconut oil
I know I say this everytime I straighten, but this is probably the best job I’ve done.
Here are the blowdried pics (My son’s reaction: “Mama, Your Hair is BIG!”):
After flat ironing:
In a bun:
Length Shot
I think I’ve hit Bra Strap Length, but I have a short torso.
Further goals:
- I’d like to be full BSL and I’ll probably stop at that.
- I have a lot of layers, I may grow those out, I’m not sure.
- Try more styles: Cornrowing and rollersetting are big on my list
It’s been a good 2 years. I can’t believe it’s been that long since I cut my hair off and sat crying on my bathroom floor. Now my hair is probably the longest it’s been in my adult life.
I am pretty sure this will be the last time I straighten for awhile. With the pregnancy, I want to keep everything as simple as possible, so twists will be my most likely option.
Hello there! My name is Sherrye and I am interested in starting a blog or website in reference to natural hair as well. I wanted to know how did you get started? Also, I would like for my blog or site to be lucrative……how do I go about making money from the site? Just curious.
Thanks for the email Sherrye! I would type up a new response, but Afrobella did a wonderfully thorough post on this awhile back. Here’s the link. She’s been in the blogging game for a long time, so she knows far better than me. I hope that helps and good luck in your endeavors!
Hello. My name is April. I started growing my hair out and stopped getting perms about 3 years ago. I had a really short haircut that was shaved in the back(see pic). I figured this was the best way to go natural with out having the BC. Ever since Ive been growing out my hair I have been pressing it about every 2 to 3 weeks with the pressing comb and daily use of the flat iron. I am not wanting to wear my hair in the more natual and beautiful curly styles.
I have afew questions. Last week I tried the 2 strand twist out with IC fantasia aloe olive oil gel. It turned out ok but my hair looked extremely dry and the style only lasted 3 days. Also parts of my hair are very straight even after washing. Its the parts in the from of my hair. Today I am trying the twist out with Miss Jessie’s curly pudding. I am having a hard time getting my twists to stay so its more like a combination of twists and bantu knots. I need to know what styles and products I can use as I transition out of pressed hair. I would say I have a 3c-4A hair type. I have also enclosed a pic of my straight pressed hair. I havent taken any with of the twist out yet I will tomorrow when I take this down. I hope you can help me. Thank you in advance for your time.
April
April, thanks for the email!
I’m sorry for your heat damage, that does make wearing natural styles harder.
First, I would dump the gel…or at least use it with something. Most gels alone are drying to the hair and not nourishing. Try using a butter or a leave in conditioner to do your twists instead (or under your gel). Since your hair is also heat damaged, it needs some tender loving care.
Miss Jessie’s…ehh…if you find that you like, have at it! But I found it lacking, and probably wouldn’t use it for twists/twist outs. Also it’s not very cost efficient. You may also read this and this post for more ideas on moisture.
As for the straight ends, you will need to secure them with perm rods or another type of roller so that they will curl and also so your twists won’t unravel. In addition, a braid out (just braid the hair instead of twisting, still use the perm rods) might be better for getting definition than a twist out on hair that is straight.
For other styles, you can try cornrows, bantu knots/knot out, braids, kinky twists, etc…all the styles that transitioning ladies love. Good luck to you and let us know how it goes!
So I’m still doing the straight thing. Getting tired of it quick and will probably do a wash n go sometime this weekend. Today I’m rocking a big old messy bun made with two satin scrunchies. (TIP: Satin scrunchies can be found at a lot of BSS and are great for making pony tails and buns if you experience breakage from hair bands. They don’t get the hair as tight as the elastics, but are much more gentle).
I am going to try and do a bun tutorial. Ya’ll please be patient with me, I know I said I was going to do another puff tutorial, but it just hasn’t happened yet. But it will!
So here is my workout hair for this week. I’ve had some reversion near the nape and at the roots a bit, but it’s still ok considering I’ve been sweating like a pig. I did the high ponytail and then banded the rest of my hair.
I also have my trusty headband firmly in place to soak up the sweat.
If you’d like to try this but your hair is too short to get into one ponytail, do 4 or 5, however many you need. Make sure the roots are pulled taunt for when you start sweating.
I left the twists in for a week and then wore the twistout for a little less than another week. I know I wanted to straighten my hair one more time before it starts getting humid here. I don’t plan on fighting the humidity this summer. So I blow dried and flat ironed.
I don’t blow dry very often, so I’m a bit more nervous than usual. I also blew a breaker while blow drying,so that might have been you-know-who giving me a sign that I didn’t need to be doing that. I took this oppurtunity to trim about 1/2 inch. I had a few knots and splits, and I haven’t had a serious trim in awhile, so it was needed.
Ponytail
I did a big bantu knotout to give my hair a little body
After taking out giant bantu knots
After a few hours! My hair wants to be big no matter what LOL!
And just for fun, here are my flat ironing picture from 15 months ago
Here are three styles, one of my own included, from three different ladies. I just love the versatility of natural hair and this post is proof of it. First up, Solange:
Hey Ms Lady,
I just wanted to share my style success. I love seeing a new style online and trying to replicate it myself. Some times it works out, some times not so much! LOL But this time it did. Please tell the lovely Natural Diva from Bermuda to keep sending style pics. She has a fly TWA that is blooming pretty fast so I know I can keep getting style tips from her even though my hair is at a different length than hers. Thanks for all you do!! 2010 will bring great things!
Solange, I’m glad you were able to get some inspiration from Bermuda’s last TWA styling post. It turned out beautifully and I love the color on you!!Thanks for sharing!!
Now we have “Ami”, a coworker and friend of mine, who is a mostly straight natural who transitioned long term to get rid of her relaxed ends.
She just recently cut the last of them off and dabbles in both straight and curly styles. Check out her bantu knot out on blow dried hair! Bantu knot outs are a great way to add some bounce to a straight style without using added heat. Ami used coconut oil beforehand.
OK, so now there’s little ole me. I am still rocking my twists, but in (what else?) a bun.
Wow, how do we naturals ever get by without the versatility of relaxed hair?
Oh well, I guess we make do 
My recent flat ironing experience always makes me think about my mother’s hair and how she was natural most of her life. She only got relaxed in her 30s. Her younger years were spent as a pressed natural. She also told me that she wore the occasional afro, but I’ve never seen pictures of that. After she was relaxed, it never grew past her shoulders.
BTW that’s not me she’s holding, but a cousin. I wasn’t even thought of then
