new thread
I've always admired long and sleek hair on women and would like to make that my own personal goal in the coming years.
only one problem, my hair tends to be a bit curly and dried out.
what products and procedures have any of you who have tried this who don't have naturally straight hair in order to achieve this look and how successful were you in reaching your goal towards long and sleek hair?
do you recommend using a flat iron on a weekly basis? daily?
DON"T FLAT-IRON!!!!! The intense heat will suck the moisture out of the core, and seriously damage the scales. You will end up with brittle breaking hair. Forget the sleek look, learn to embrace your curls. If you want long hair that is vibrant and healthy, avoid ANY appliances that subject hair to intense heat. You are literally frying your hair.
Nothing against those who want curly or wavy hair, but I always preferred straight hair and my hair is already dried out anyway. I think it might be the hot humid tropical climate.
PLEASE LISTEN TO CAROL!!!!! DO NOT FLAT IRON!!!!!! I recently had to buzz off ALL of my mid-back length hair because I was stupid and didnt listen to everyone's advice and I used a hot flat iron almost everyday for a year. Sure, my wavy, curly hair became movie-star sleek and straight but it was only temporary and I did so much damage I had to buzz it all off. It was breaking off and falling out in huge clumps. You might be able to get away with using a flat iron a couple of times with little to no damage, but in the long term, you could destroy the hair and then it takes sooooooooooo long to grow back.
Listen very carefully to the advice given here by some members who have had some pretty drastic experiences. In general, the make up of womens hair is different from guys, and as such can have a different texture and look. Good conditioning and use of natural products like coconut oil can give our hair a healthy, shiny look. The important thing is keep away from chemicals and heat.
Good luck, Ian
I don't have any personal experience with heating products like straighteners but I've heard enough horror stories to recommend that you stay away from them. In fact I worry about it enough that I don't even wash my hair in hot water (cold to lukewarm at most). I understand the desire for that shiny sleek hair, really I do, but I think it's best to learn to love your natural hair the way it is. Even if you had straight hair it might not come out the way you want. For example my hair is naturally straight but it's extremely thick and coarse (thick is nice but it has disadvantages too, difficulty washing and controlling it being some I've encountered) and even with my straight hair I doubt if I could ever attain a sleek silky look without doing something drastic (and damaging) to it. I'm alright with that though. Everyone is different, just something to remember. Best wishes. :)
I'll play the devil's advocate and say you might want to try a flat iron. My hair is only about shoulder length but I use a flat iron to get a sleek look (it is naturally a bit wavy). But, if you try it you should do two things. First, get a good one with digital temperature setting and run it not too hot (~300-350). My stylist recommended the Croc one linked below, but Chi makes good ones, too. Don't get a cheap one at Wally World with simple 1-15 settings. Second, after your hair is partly dry put some kind of moisturizing product on it, like Chi Keraton Mist (you can get that at Amazon, too), before flat-ironing, to prevent damage.
I see little damage in a year and a half of use, but then my hair is not as long as you desire and so has replaced much of itself in that time.
I know my voice is contrary to the others here but if you do not have the look you like then why have long hair?
I am the same way. I have seen women's hair done that was unruly with a flat iron and it looked very sleek and silky afterwards.
thanks for all the info and btw, that looks like a Bob you have in the photo, not that there is anything wrong with a bob.
at least it's not a military cut! lol
You're welcome. Actually, it is a bob. I had waist-length hair for a long time, until about a year and a half ago. I got tired of it--although I liked the length it was getting ratty at the ends (I was not flat-ironing it, either), and it just did not look good. I always wore it back in a ponytail so it had become sort of boring, for me. So, I had my wife hack it off and then it needed professional repair! I like bobs, so I got the stylist to style it in an angled bob. It's really cool! I like the look and the movement, and I can tuck it back for more "formal" occasions, although I wear it down most of the time. But, you gotta have nerve to wear long, styled hair--society doesn't accept it as much as already maligned long, one-length hair on guys. Too bad--we are missing out on enjoying long hair different ways. Still, I have the nerve and am out on our long hair frontier!
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Hi there LongHairFan,
My hair is not "curly"; but it is definitely wavy. I've never used a flat iron -- and never plan to, either. I've heard it dries out the hair, so why even go there?
I've used beneficial oil on my hair ends for years. Whether you choose to apply Kukui nut oil, Jojoba oil, Almond oil, or just plain old-fashioned Olive oil, just a small amount (like approximately the size of a small coin) applied to the ends by finger-combing into the lower half of your mane will do wonders -- it will make it feel soft & silky, help prevent drying out and even help prevent split ends, add body & moisture, and just make it look and feel simply FABulous!!
I have found that so long as I use a beneficial oil that is 100% pure & natural (with olive oil, for example: if it's good enough to cook with, it's good enough to put in my hair -- it doesn't even need to be an expensive virgin olive oil), it's the purity of the oil that gives the best results...
I only need to apply this oil once or twice a week -- depending on whether I shampoo & condition my hair once or twice a week. It seems to go on the hair ends best when applied to hair that is still a little bit damp, as well as recently freshly cleaned.
Sometimes the simplest solutions end up being the best -- and honestly, I can't tell you how much more I enjoy the texture and look of my hair by just staying with this simple ritual of adding a small amount of olive oil into my hair ends, gently rubbing, twirling, and finger-combing it in -- usually while I'm air-drying my mane in front of an ordinary electric fan, with the setting on low....
It works like a charm, I swear by it!
- Ken in San Francisco
PS - Just don't sprinkle Oregano on your head -- or you'll smell like a pizza (LOL)!!
This reminds me of a funny story. Recently I've been using coconut oil on my hair in the same manner you recommended olive oil, and I find it works wonderful. Now, I love coconut in all forms, but most of all I love coconut ice cream. So the first day I put coconut oil in my hair, I of course smelled like coconut. That night, my girlfriend came home from work, came close to me and smelled the coconut. She said "Babe, I think you've been eating too much coconut ice cream, because now you smell like coconut 24/7!" I explained to her what I had done, and we both could not stop laughing.
To answer LongHairFan's question, never EVER use a flat iron, that will destroy your hair. Like others here, all I do is air dry, no blow dryer or no flat iron. I think I go to the extremes as the only product I put in my hair (besides shampoo and conditioner) is coconut oil.
I agree w/ you about the flat iron, Rich -- and yes, I have occasionally used a coconut oil-based hair cream, too....
Just think: if you sprinkle some pineapple in your hair after using the coconut oil, and I add oregano & garlic to my hair after applying my olive oil, maybe we could open our own longhaired restaurant together, offering various other hairy recipes -- both to make people's hair look & smell delicious, as well as some unusual lunch combos to munch on... no complaints allowed, though, if a long hair is found in the customer's soup!
I think we have the beginnings of a new trend here!
Not sure where you get the notion that using a flat iron has any purpose. Never is too often!
LOL, UK, you are far too subtle in your statements. You should try to be more direct and not beat around the bush.
Indeed I am Jason but one should never leave room for doubt!
D
I don't do subtle either!
I hear it's the end of the world today. Oh well enjoy it while you can!
Quite right too!
Agree though the doom sayers appear to have been speaking from their arses again. UK (it and me) appear to be still here!
The tip off should have been when there were no media reports from Christmas Island at precisely 6pm local!
Oh I hope not, I have bangers and mash for tea, be a shame to break off and spoil that.