In your opinion, how often do you think using heat on your hair (with protecting serums and that) is too often, and that it will hurt your hair? Just asking because I wanted to try straightening my hair tomorrow to see how it will look and how long it will be. (I have slightly curly hair). I havent done this since June, so I was wondering when you think too often would be. Thanks!

   -Jilayne :)

I give my hair a blow out every once in a while.. lately more than often. I can absolutely feel & see the damage after every time I straighten, esp. if I use a straightening-iron afterwards. This past month I straightened my hair a handfull of times & ended up having to get an unexpected trim  :-/ So just straighten with caution if you must & try a heat protection spray before you straighten.

As I see it, any at all is too much. Heated appliances damage hair every single time you use them, even if it's only a little bit.

Okay, I chickened out and didn't do it. I was researching how applying heat to the hair affects it, and then decided not to because when i have long hair, i want it to be as healthy as it can be. I dont think I'm going to be applying heat to it anytime soon.
    When I was researching it though, I was reading a little about using a blow dryer and a round brush to style it. What are your guys's thoughts on that? Do you think it is better or worse than using a curliing iron or flat iron? Just curious.

                 -Jilayne :)

Honestly?  Heat is heat whether it is from a curling iron, a flat iron, or a blow dryer.

My question is, what are you trying to acheive?  Is there a particular style/look you are working towards?  Maybe there are other, hair-friendly ways, to get that look.

Part of my journey towards long hair was finally accepting that my hair is the way it is, and I stopped fighting its' natural tendencies.  Except for all the "halo" hairs  ::) that I still try to get to lay flat ;)

Yeah I guess, Precious Locks. I should have known that, but I thought that maybe heat applied directly to the hair would be more damaging.  It was honestly just a question about the blowdrying thing, I wasn't going to try it.

  But anyways, about the "What am I trying to achieve" thing, I'm not really sure.  I'm 13 years old right now, and one of the only girls in my class that doesnt straighten or dye or do something damaging like that to their hair every single day. I personally think that its ridiculous to conform that way, to think that your natural hair type is ugly and that you have to change it to fit in, or to be pretty and I wish that girls like me would not think like that. I still have lots of friends and things like that, and people still like me for who I am, naturally not changed. Sometimes I get the " Ohh I bet your hair would look really nice if you straightened it" kind of thing. In fact, I was even told that today. Maybe I was just sinking into the peer pressure earlier with my first question, i dont know.
To me (most of the time), my hair is beautiful, and I love the slightly curly/wavy type thing it has going on.

      So thanks for the helpful advice!             -Jilayne :)

Jilayne75 wrote on Oct 14^th, 2008 at 9:53pm:

I personally think that its ridiculous to conform that way, to think that your natural hair type is ugly and that you have to change it to fit in, or to be pretty and I wish that girls like me would not think like that. I still have lots of friends and things like that, and people still like me for who I am, naturally not changed.

As someone slightly older and in the next stage of their life (the college grad years) I just wanted to say that I think you sound like an awesome teenager, and I hope (very sincerely) that you stay like this & always maintain this frame of mind!  :)

And as for the girls telling you to straighten your hair...well, misery loves company... their 'misery' being heat-damaged hair ;) LOL

As a teen-to-teen thing (I'm 15) I get it.  Personally I never do anything to my hair involving heat because I am lazy  ;D.  My aunt straightened my hair once and it took 2 hours.  I do NOT have that kind of time.

But what you really have to be able to do is too look the person in the eye and say "I'm fine as I am.  If you can't accept me, that's your problem."  but that's hard and takes a lot of confidence.  A good thing to do after someone says something like that is too think of all the cool things that curly hair can do and look like that straight can't.  If you're having a good hair day, just looking in a mirror could help (though not one of those school bathroom mirrors b/c they are either filthy or the lighting is really unflattering).

Oh thank you very much, Callisto and waiting4longlocks! (for the confidence booster, too) That was really very nice of you to say!  :-[ :) You give very good advice and sound like you both have wonderful personalities! :)

         Thanks again,
                                 Jilayne :)

I just felt as another teen(I'm 16 in a month)I shoudl put in there that Jilayne I was exactly in your frame of mind at your age.I didn't want to be like anyone else and now here three years later I'm not.It's good that you've set a goal up so young.I wish I had at 13 set up that I wanted long hair.To think it could be to my waist now if I had never cut it.But alas,It is falling only 4 inches past my shoulders.(grrr)


Never let anyone tell you that you are not beautiful because you Don't straighten your hair or wear the "in" clothes.12 inches of healthy hair is better than 8 inches of damaged gross hair.(that is look at a girl who has BSL that most of it is fried)

-Heat:
You may try getting a straightening shampoo and just use it once.I only use heat on my hair probably once every 2 months maybe more if I'm doing something special.

Good luck on your hair journey.
~ace

Is it too much to expect people with normal empatic abilities to understand that you wear your hair the way you like to and you're sure they wear their hair the way they like to?!  

I don't care if others like their hair styled and tortured.  I don't tell them not to.  It's not my hair and it's not on my head.  Likewise, your hair, is on your head and you should wear it as natural and as long as you please!

One exception is if someone wants to grow long and healthy hair and it just appears as if they're misinformed.  Then I ASK if they want to know what I've learnt about hair and maintenance and if they want some links to hair care sites.  

It always bothers others if you have the guts to go outside of the generally accepted norm if they're too self conscious and actually care what others do or feel too inhibited to do what really feels right for them.

Thanks for your input, Drear and Foreverfay. :) I'm glad that I have people my age here who i can relate to, also.
                                        -Jilayne :D

Hey Drear,
I do actually have a question for you since you said something.Can you give me some of those links you were talking about?I obviosuly know about this one which I think has been super helpful. :)
My hair is starting to change colors again.(weird....)On my profile I have a picture of it  but it actually is a bit longer than that because some of it was on the other side of my shoulders.And you'll see it's this readdish color.Well normally it's chocolate brown.so...my ahir is like leaves.haha.


Anyway off topic for a minute there.
You all have a wonderful weekend and awesome hair journyes.
~ace

Jilayne, Glad you have thought through a little more what you are hoping to acheive...

It has been a long time since I was a teenager.  I remember one girl had beautiful shiny hair and all of us were awed by her hair.  Someone asked her what she used to get such beautiful hair.  Her answer was "I don't blow dry it or use any heat!"  That was many years ago and I still remember her answer.  It obviously had an impact on me.

Well-cared-for long hair is always admired, but many people don't understand what is required to have that kind of hair.  

It is also true that teenagers all want to test their wings and try new things.  Hence changing hairstyles and modes of dress. Nothing wrong with that...just make sure it is what you want and not what someone else says you want.  (hehe, that is still true at my age ::) ).

Before never understood women who were addicted to blowdrying their hair nor did I feel a need to own a hairdryer.  However, I accidentally bought Gliss for colored hair conditioner which is too greasy even for my hair.  I like their products otherwise though.  It washes out completely so it's not a long term problem but it's as if a greasy film is sitting on top of my hair when I've used it.  So I thought that a bit of blow drying would solve the greasy problem and it did.  

I don't see how may hair looks much better than when towel and air dried, the process just went faster.  Maybe I'd see a remarked difference if I'd had a different hair texture.  This doesn't look bad unlike when my hairdresser sprays all sorts of stuff and and blow dries but I can't see myself becoming addicted to it.  
I can still feel that coating if I touch my hair but at least it isn't visible.

If I had a different texture, I'd just want to unlock the secret for keeping it looking and feeling its natural best.  I don't think anything could make me a hairdryer addict.

i only  condi and air dry i brush with a cheap plastic brush then a boar brisle i bealeave any heat kills i dont even use hot water when washing hair although i heard of a hairdryer that can use room temp air i may need to look into that

ForeverFay wrote on Oct 19^th, 2008 at 10:47am:

Hey Drear, I do actually have a question for you since you said something.Can you give me some of those links you were talking about?I obviosuly know about this one which I think has been super helpful. :) My hair is starting to change colors again.(weird....)On my profile I have a picture of it  but it actually is a bit longer than that because some of it was on the other side of my shoulders.And you'll see it's this readdish color.Well normally it's chocolate brown.so...my ahir is like leaves.haha. Anyway off topic for a minute there. You all have a wonderful weekend and awesome hair journyes. ~ace

I'm sorry!  I don't know why I haven't been able to see this post.  I mean, it's obviously been here for a few weeks now?! :-[  My mind just wasn't tuned it or whatever....Hmmm...I'm suddenly in doubt as to whether they were maily longlocks articles or links to articles/other related sites from here?  

Most of the time these days, I just tell people to google longlocks :)  It's easier than engaging in a long discussion with people who have stubborn and pre-conceived ideas. ::)

http://www.skinbiology.com/hairbiology,care&loss.html

http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~longhair/Englishver.html

I vaguley remember a link... www.whylonghair.com I think...but don't shoot me if no such site exists. :-/

Jilayne75, I personally straighten my hair once a week. I always use something to coat my hair along with my normal hair routine. I know that heat does cause damage, however, I have also noticed that my hair is completely healthy. If I were to say how often is too often I would tell you that it is up to you and your hair. Only you can decide what is best for your hair and how much it can endure. Like everything in life, too much is always bad, but just a little wont hurt you forever. Just listen to yourself and go with your instincts.

Thanks for the advice, Brunette85. I've decided that I'm going to try to never apply heat to my hair again, because since I first posted that question I have learned to love my waves. They make me who I am, and I love them and want them to be as healthy as they can!  ;D

Jilayne...you go, girl! ;)

haha...thanks Angel!  ;D ;)