Blowdrying straight vs. flat iron - which is less damaging?

CURLYCATHY

Now that the weather is cooler, I like to wear my hair straight, but I'm not sure which causes less damage. Any thoughts?

JuicyTube

i would guess a blowdryer since it's not direct contact. but i need a flat iron to straighten.

*Jane*

It's always safer to air dry and then flatiron.
blowdrying causes extreme stress from all that pulling.

JuicyTube

*Jane* wrote:

It's always safer to air dry and then flatiron.
blowdrying causes extreme stress from all that pulling.

When did pulling ever come in the process of blowdrying? :?

CURLYCATHY

Thanks for the help. What temperature do you set your flat iron on? I'd like to straighten my hair for the winter, doing the least amount of damage.

JuicyTube

CURLYCATHY wrote:

Thanks for the help. What temperature do you set your flat iron on? I'd like to straighten my hair for the winter, doing the least amount of damage.

It's best to use the lowest temperature possible. Depending on your own hair, you have to experiment to get the right heat setting. Start at the lowest setting, then gradually add more until it works.

ringletcurl

Even though I have very fine thin hair, I find that anything less than the high temps does not straighten my hair and because of that, I end up going over it more with the iron. So the higher temps actually isn't anymore harmful. Has anyone discovered that too?

Natakue

blush wrote:

*Jane* wrote:

It's always safer to air dry and then flatiron.
blowdrying causes extreme stress from all that pulling.

When did pulling ever come in the process of blowdrying? :?

blush, a lot of us with super curly hair have to use a brush or comb attachment when we blowdry our hair straight. the tension is key in getting it straight. that's why a lot of us try to stay away from both blowdrying and flatironing when straightening (too much heat, stress, manipulation). so we try to do one or the other.

JuicyTube

Natakue wrote:

blush wrote:

*Jane* wrote:

It's always safer to air dry and then flatiron.
blowdrying causes extreme stress from all that pulling.

When did pulling ever come in the process of blowdrying? :?

blush, a lot of us with super curly hair have to use a brush or comb attachment when we blowdry our hair straight. the tension is key in getting it straight. that's why a lot of us try to stay away from both blowdrying and flatironing when straightening (too much heat, stress, manipulation). so we try to do one or the other.

oh! :oops:

2happy

On Monday I had my hair cut by a 'curly specialist'. She talked to my daughter who straightens her hair everyday. She said it is better to blowdry your hair as straight as possible (because my daughter air dries) and then use the flat iron. Her reasoning was that it takes a hotter and longer flatiron process to straighten the curls/waves. Let the blowdryer do most of the work. A blowdryer is much less heat on your hair than a flatiron.

I have no idea if she's right or wrong, I'm just repeating what she said.

Natakue

no need to blush, blush!

also, have you guys tried blowdrying with cool air? maybe try blowdrying straight with cool air, then use a flat iron id you still need to.

CURLYCATHY

I think you're right about blowdrying then ironing for best results. Anyone recommend a good heat protection spray?

PreciousHoney

I like the V05 stuff but its pretty much silicone in a bottle but then I dont really know of a good heat protector without silicone.

one way street

I've always got better results with airdrying then ironing. You could try "wraping" your hair, and then ironing it. I dont plan on ironing it a lot in the winter, though. Maybe just once or twice.

CURLYCATHY

Thanks angicurls, but what exactly is wraping?

one way street

http://www.naturallycurly.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=78751

about halfway down the page someone posted directions for wrapping.

Meghuney

CURLYCATHY wrote:

Thanks angicurls, but what exactly is wraping?

It's what I do before sitting under the dryer. THEN I flat iron. It's like using your head as a big roller, lol. You take your hair in sections and WRAP it around your head.