Flat Ironing - what am I doing wrong?
Printed From: HairBoutique.com
Category: African American Hair
Forum Name: African American Hair
Forum Description: Devoted to the special needs of African Americans.
URL: https://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=42847
Printed Date: August 04 2025 at 7:52am
Topic: Flat Ironing - what am I doing wrong?
Posted By: R2D2inoz
Subject: Flat Ironing - what am I doing wrong?
Date Posted: April 29 2006 at 7:10pm
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Hi all, Can I pick your brains? I have a good quality ceramic flat iron, a European brand called GHD that most of you probably haven't heard of but it is well regarded in Australia and is expensive! The temperature is fixed at 350 degrees fahrenheit. When I tried it for the first time yesterday (I have never flat ironed before) I was surprised that my hair didn't seem to change much. It smoothed it down but didn't get it straight. Is that normal for natural hair? I only did one pass as I was afraid of damaging my hair. How many passes do you normally do? My hair was also slightly damp, more so than I realised because I heard it sizzle as I moved it down my hair and that turned me off! I had washed the day before and airdried in braids. I think I would have to blow dry to make it work but I don't want all that heat on my hair. I did put some heat protectant on too. Also how do you get the patience to flat iron? My hair is so thick that even with sectioning it will take me at least an hour to do as I have to make lots of sections within the sections and if I have to do more than one pass it will make it even longer to do. I got wide plate flat irons too. I'm wondering if I should sell it on ebay as I'm not sure I'm patient enough to do it. Any thoughts? ------------- Natural 10 years 3b/4a armpit length hair |
Replies:
Posted By: Renee
Date Posted: April 29 2006 at 11:16pm
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i want to tell you to pass the iron more than once but you dont want to risk getting heat damage. it seems like the iron doesnt work for your hair so you might want to try something else ------------- |
Posted By: R2D2inoz
Date Posted: April 30 2006 at 2:46am
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So do most of you pass the iron more than once? Is passing only once before getting the desired result considered to be lucky? ------------- Natural 10 years 3b/4a armpit length hair |
Posted By: Renee
Date Posted: April 30 2006 at 11:16am
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no most people dont. i pass mine only once but since you said it didnt work that way i suggested that you do it more than once. it depends on how high the heat is. 350 degrees is very hot so there is a possibility that your hair will get heat damaged if you continue using the iron and passing it over your hair more than once ------------- |
Posted By: Phoenix1017
Date Posted: April 30 2006 at 7:37pm
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I use a very low heat setting so I pass it more than once, always. The most I ever do is 3 passes of the iron. ------------- http://fire.prohosting.com/p1017 - My Hair Site Copy site: http://phoenix1017.sitesled.com 
Current Length:32" |
Posted By: sweetalmond2
Date Posted: April 30 2006 at 10:59pm
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Since I only relax my hair every six months, I pass the flat iron through my hair once maybe twice and this usually does the trick. On the second run through, I kinda quickly press it along in short spurts as I work from root to end. You are on the right track by using a heat protectant (Fantasia is a good product) I would also suggest that you make sure your hair is completely dry before flat ironing. If you are airdrying your hair, maybe you should take the braids out an hour or two to speed up the drying process before you apply heat. Since your new to flat ironing it might take you a little while to get use to it and I'm sure you will find in time the process will become less time consuming. I have shoulder length hair and it now takes me approx. 15 -20mins and I only flat iron about 3 times a month. Last but not least, I would bring the temp down a bit on your flat iron, eventhough you have thick hair you might wanna reduce the heat a bit. (even 300dg is better that max) Hope this was helpful. ------------- To all my international sistas, thanks I appreciate your help. |
Posted By: R2D2inoz
Date Posted: May 01 2006 at 12:17am
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Thanks - it sounds like it is normal to pass it throught at least twice particularly if I have natural hair. I would feel happier about passing it twice if I could reduce the temperature so I might have to think about getting a temperature variable flat iron or not having one at all. Will give it another go and see how I go before making a final decision! ------------- Natural 10 years 3b/4a armpit length hair |
Posted By: TwinkletOes23
Date Posted: May 01 2006 at 12:27pm
| woah woah i have to passthe flat iron through my hair three times if its in a place where its time to relax...twice if its been freshly relaxed (like 2 weeks after the relaxer) |
Posted By: princess8907
Date Posted: May 02 2006 at 4:29pm
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Twinkletoes23, how is yur hair coming along? ------------- 4b-natural,shoulder blade length,hair goal of to my bra strap 
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Posted By: TwinkletOes23
Date Posted: May 02 2006 at 10:12pm
its comming along great it down to bottom of my neck im hoping by the end of the summer for it to alomost be shoulder lenghth
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Posted By: Vanity3
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 6:21pm
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I hate those set temperature irons...trade them in for one with variable setting and use low to medium heat. ------------- Natural since March 2006 No "heat" challenge for Winter 08-09 public.fotki.com/Vanity3 keepitsimplesista.ning.com/profile/Vanity1920 |
Posted By: PickledGeuse
Date Posted: May 11 2006 at 8:36am
| Low Medium Heat never gets my hair straightened or smooth. And I do pass the iron about 3 times! Now that I laid off the texlaxes. My trick to get the new growth to lie flat as possible is to put a lot of thick creme protectant(KeraCare Creme Press) on the one air(not on the scalp), and then rub one plate along the new growth a couple times. |