Hair Straightening

[Steam Giant]

No jokes about going straight, please ^^

I have wavy hair, and I'd like to get it straightened out, but I don't know the first thing about hair care. Is it hard to have done? Should I go to the hair salon in my local mall, or somplace more specialized? About how much upkeep does it require, and is that upkeep difficult?

FYI, my hair is pretty short. If it were straight, it would just about come down to my shoulders. Don't know if that helps ^^

Any assistance you guys can give would be greatly appreciated! I'm at a total loss here, and nobody I know knows ; ;

[TeeBe]

Have you tried usind a hair straightener? It is cost-effective, and you can go wavy whenever you would like. (Ceramix is a good straightner). Takes a little bit of maintenence, but it isn't permanent.

Or you could get it chemically straightened. It's like a perm, but straight instead. Low maintence...NO maintenence...but it lasts a couple of years.

[charlie12]

You could probably go to a hair salon and have them put a relaxer in your hair. It's just like getting a perm, but it's the opposite.

[Qu_]

I use a straightener everyday! :) For a good deal on a straightener go to your local beauty shop (like a sally's or something) and get one, because they are better for your money. I have a no-name brand one that works just as well as a chi straightener for only $30 and it's 3/8" wide for my short hair.

Also, your nearest salon could relax your hair (haven't done it before myself though...). That can run you about $50-100 per, and lasts for around 4-6 weeks, but results are variant depending on quality and your hair in general.

[charlie12]

I heard a relaxer can last for a couple of months at least when you get it done by a professional hairdresser at a salon.

[Midnight Angel]

I used to use a straightener every day but i have nasty frizzy hair so it poofed it up so i stopped using it. BTW i have wavy hair too Steam Giant so you arent alone ^^

[Steam Giant]

Thanks so much for the info, guys! I think I have a pretty good idea of my options now. I hate wavy hair ; ; it's just impossible to upkeep! A few years ago, I used to get it cut really short, becase that was my only real option, heh. Thanks again!

[Micah]

Getting it straightened at a salon can sometimes get expensive (especially if you want to continue straightening it).

I would try buying a hair straightener first ($30ish) and trying that out.

Also, when straightening your hair, use a "non-build up" shampoo. That is - use a shampoo that doesn't leave a protective layer on your hair (brands like pantene DO leave a layer on your hair). This layer can sometimes stop the straightener from working :)

[Kimi]

My younger brother uses a hair straightener...It definitely works.
And going to salon is a good idea too but like others already said I heard it'll cost alot.

Seeing my brother doing it...I glad that I have straight hair...:eusa_sile

[Qu_]

Also, with a straightener, if your hair starts to frizz after a bit, use a heat protector and make sure it's bone dry before you do it. Sometimes the extreme heat applied day after day can make your hair dry out.

[Midnight Angel]

Also, with a straightener, if your hair starts to frizz after a bit, use a heat protector and make sure it's bone dry before you do it. Sometimes the extreme heat applied day after day can make your hair dry out.

Well i used to use various heat protectors and they did work, but i have a little bit of frizz to my hair anyway so it didnt make too much of a difference

[Steam Giant]

Heh, I can deal with frizz as long as my hair falls straight ^^ thanks for the advise, though. Definately something to keep in mind. I'm thinking that maybe this weekend, or else sometime soon I'll have it done at a salon to start off with, then upkeep it with a straightener. Does that sound like a good idea to you people?

[Midnight Angel]

I dont see why not ^^

[jayden]

my hair is blonde and very straight and keep it cut short. my dad has blonde hair, and my 10yo brother does but my 13yo brother has red hair. mum has red hair so that where it comes from. i dont mind wavy hair but dont like curly hair.

[charlie12]

If you would rather save all the work of straightening your hair yourself all the time, then you should just go to a salon and have them put a relaxer in your hair. Even though it might be expensive, I bet it would be worth it. You would probably have to go to a salon every couple of months for a relaxer.

[ok455]

u could always post a pic!

[Kimi]

Heh, I can deal with frizz as long as my hair falls straight ^^ thanks for the advise, though. Definately something to keep in mind. I'm thinking that maybe this weekend, or else sometime soon I'll have it done at a salon to start off with, then upkeep it with a straightener. Does that sound like a good idea to you people?

Yeah, that's sound lke something I would do. Though you might go back to a salon more often than you thought at first place...I mean it's kinda lots of work...and it's not looks good as a salon does.

[tired_of_lying411]

I straightened my hair for a year and just recently started letting it stay curly. If I use a pro-curl shampoo/conditioner/leave-in cream it looks pretty good, if not, it is a huge frizz ball. The longest my hair has ever been is 4.5 inches, and that was taking me 2 hours to straighten :eek:

I made the mistake of using that Walmart stuff (formulated for little black girls :lol:)
It's an in-home treatment (about $15) and it was HORRIBLE!!!!!! It hurt like a motherf*cker and made my hair smell like eggs every time I got it wet. And I still had to straighten it a little after it dried. It really damaged my hair, too. NEVER DO THIS.

And always ensure that your hair is BONE DRY before you straighten. And you get what you pay for with straighteners, no matter WHAT anyone tells you. The hotter, the better.

I will now direct you to the youtube vids of William Sledd for further straightening tips. (Carson-his stylist explains why hotter is better)

Good luck :icon_bigg

[GuitarGirl1350]

If you're getting it permanently straightened, it's best to go to a salon with workers who know what they're doing. It lasts about a year, but screw ups would be tragic.
If you're just going to buy a straightener, I have a Conair cermaic and it works wonders =]

[Midnight Angel]

I actually used to get the best results when i straightened my hair from wet to dry. But since I dont do it anymore it doesn't matter anyway hehe

[Steam Giant]

Thanks for the great ideas, everybody! I'll be going to the salon this weekend, hopefully on Saturday. I'll post a picture or two of the result ^^

You've all been very helpful! Thank you very much!

[Jerr]

I know this is an old thread but I saw it and had to post on it because I mean hell... I know about the whole straightening of the hair... I even have a picture of my straightener...


I use a CHI... yes it is expensive... it also comes with a pretty decent warranty... I take a shower everyday... wash/condition... usually with something that will help with the massive amounts of head I'm about to put on my hair.... (Thermasilk... or something) then I blowdry when I get out of the shower then I put some CHI Silk Infusion stuff in my hair to help it straighten (I bought a pretty big bottle for like 25-30 dollars and it will last me easily a year and a half and that is if I let my friends use it as well) I straighten like normal... then I use a little bit more of the Silk Infusion... it helps a bit with frizz seeing how I live in Arkansas and we INSIST on importing humidity..... I recently cut my hair shorter... it helps with the frizz... the top is still long but It stays down. For guys I mean... invest in a beanie! Wear it for like 20 mins max after you straighten your hair and there you go... helps reduce the volume by a lot.


Chemically straightening should only be done by a professional... one that would promise the work. If you are a guy with short-ish hair... don't bother... As soon as your hair starts to grow out you have to get it redone...




I recomend for straighteners... the CHI... it is expensive though... $125... BUT... it is the best for a reason... lol Sadly it is the only one that works for me and I did try others... I tried about every kind I could find... returned them all to because I mean hell I didn't want to spend that much on a straightener (even if I knew it worked like a dream) eventually I broke down... got one... <3'd it. lol


There is a CHI Turbo for those who want to put more of a curl in their hair... It isn't the best for guys though because it is harder to get close to the scalp with it. (I've used both) But for girls who want to straighten but put like a big wave or curl in their hair... it is wonderful. Plus you can adjust the temperature... putting it on the lowest setting will save your hair from a lot of damage BUT it will also take a lot longer...


Hope this helped anyone who bothered to read it.

[Steam Giant]

Oh wow, thanks so much Jerr! That was very informative ^^

[SadConfusedBandGeek]

First, i'd like to say jerr basically said everything u need to know,
But also if you were worried about your hair being to short, its not lol
Cause i can straighten mine, and mines shorter than yours.
So you will be fine.

[Jerr]

I forgot to mention a warning....


The hair straighteners... well specifically the CHI can be used as a weapon. If you are letting another person straighten your hair there are somethings you need to make sure are so...


1. you two are alone... boy crazy girls get distracted and clamp ears....

2. you don't piss them off... pissed off girls clamp ears...

3. if any music is playing it must be soft relaxing music with no big parts that your straighting person of choice might want to belt out and forget about the lava like weapon in her hand.


If you do either of these you may loose a chunk of skin... I have... many... many a time. *feels ear* You will regrow what is lost but it is still a traumatizing experience.

[Steam Giant]

Heh wow, who knew! Geez! Thanks for the warning! ^^``

[K0msomolets]

I have typically negroid hair i.e. very curly/wooly texture and I went through a phase in my late teens of wanting to straighten it. Only a powerful relaxer would work on me and even then it had a slight waviness and after a few weeks of growing I'd have to get it done again because the curly bit would be growing at the bottom whilst the top is straight.

Once I let this go on for a long time and ended up looking like Don King the boxing promoter!!!:lol: So eventually I realised that this was all just a bit ridiculous and cut the whole lot off - and I felt free!!!!!!!!!!!!! :icon_bigg

[Vampyrecat]

Ahhh I wish I had wavy Hair.
I have Insanely Curly hair. I swear, Its like, mostly ringlets and it sticks out all over the place.
But straightners + Heat Protector are the bomb!

[Gera-Kun]

Idk...I have wavy hair and i like it that way, i guess...