Chemical Straightening?

I chemically straighten my fringe only (I have dreads in the rest of my hair), and although I can put up with it for my fringe, it is a complete faff.  There's about 4 steps to doing in, with blow-drying and straightening in between, so it takes a bit of messing about.  If I was doing a whole head, I probably wouldn't bother with it, because you'd definitely need someone to help with it.  The process itself is a chemical process, so it is damaging to your hair, and it will strip out semi permanent colour.  I haven't noticed any issues with the straightening preventing dye uptake when it's dyed after the straightening process, I usually time it so that I do the straightening about a week before I plan on re-dyeing anyway so that any colour stripping isn't too noticeable and is fixed with a fresh re-dye soon afterwards.  When you re-do the straightening (it says on the pack that it lasts up to 3 months), you really would need someone else to help you, as continually re-straightening over the same hair will seriously damage it.  The 3 month timescale is because of root re-growth, the manufacturers recommend re-straightening just the roots every 3 months or so.
However, if you do go with this option, it might be worth paying to have it done at a salon for a full head.  Like I said, I only do my fringe, so it's not too much hassle, but a whole head would be a major mission!  Also, be realistic about your expectations.  My hair is super thick and coarse, so I had to accept that even with chemical straightening, my hair is not going to go all smooth and sleek and swishy.  It will still be super thick and coarse, just a less curly version.  If your hair is super curly (mine is), it won't make your hair go stick straight, but it will make it more sort of wavy instead.
Hope this helps!

Thank you so much for that. My sis would help me, but it sounds like my hair would take a bit of a battering with the upkeep as its long. Ho hum, I guess lil me with not much time after working will have to go back to the drawing board!! I've cut it all off before now, but I don't much fancy that again! Thanks for your help again 🙂

Slightly off topic but have you tried the Curly Girl method? I thought my hair was a poofy/ fluffy/ frizzy neither-curly-nor-straight mightmare until I did. This thread gave me my lightbulb moment http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/general-discussion-about-curly-hair/47609-post-your-before-after-cg-pics.html

im not a curly girl(i triesd^that^) ut since swpping to co washing my frizz has reduced by 98% sometimes 100% even with blowdrying! i no longer look like a lampshade after blowdrying and leaving the house straight away =) is a really good thing to try, esp as you'd only be throwing £3 tops down the drain, rathe than chemically treating your hair =D

You have just made me think, Pippachainsaw, I don't think I have ever tried blow frying my hair straight since I stopped using sulphate shampoos!

Firefox7275 I looked at that link and my sister will very much appreciate it!! So what is this magic and where are the instructions!? CG = Curly Girl. Right??
🙂 Thanks!

So many info on that site i actually got lost!

Firefox7275 I looked at that link and my sister will very much appreciate it!! So what is this magic and where are the instructions!? CG = Curly Girl. Right??
🙂 Thanks!

'Curly Girl' (CG) is a book by Lorraine Massey, but few curlies have actually purchased it we just learn free from forums!!  😛 I spent a few months trying cheats of the CG method and TBH the magic is in the complete system.

1. Stop using any shampoo containing sulphate surfactants (eg. sodium lauryl sulphate, ammonium laureth sulphate) use it up as shower gel or give it away. My hair calmed down within a week IIRC and is now in massively better condition than it was a year ago. Full CG you wash your hair with a light conditioner, modified CG you wash with a gentle sulphate free shampoo. Bonus: you might get better skin too because sulphates damage the skin barrier.

2. Stop using any conditioner or styling product containing silicones (suffix -cone, -conol, -xane). Lists of CG friendly products on NC.com and on Britishcurlies forum. This is because silicones don't condition or moisturise hair they just coat and because you need sulphates to avoid build up. Instead use conditioners that contain natural oils: again my hair is in massively better condition despite continuing to box dye.

3. Style your hair from wet, like dripping wet. NO terry cloth towel turban ever, NO hairbrush ever, only comb whilst you are still in the shower. Just scrunch in a leave-in conditioner and an alcohol free hair gel for most caucasians or a curl cream if you have very tight curls or very dry hair. Then 'plop/ plunk' using a microfibre towel (pound shop) OR an old long sleeve t-shirt (free!) OR a special curl towel (£££), then air dry or diffuser dry.

Beginners links
http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/newbies-info-introductions/97388-start-here.html
Advanced techniques links
http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/general-discussion-about-curly-hair/112371-techniques-links-supersoaker-spritz-condish-plopping-frizz-clipping-icequeen-etc.html

You may get frustrated because you have to totally rethink how you handle your hair, you have to learn new techniques and find products that work for you trying a few turkeys along the way. If you have been heat styling straight it can take time for your curl pattern to re-emerge and your curls to bounce up, you will wake up some mornings looking like a bird nested on your head, hairdressers may think you are a bit strange because CG goes against everything they learn at college! But this is not just backed by anecdotal and photographic evidence it also makes sense scientifically: if you want to learn about that check out the Curl Chemist articles
http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/author/tonyamckay

I have stuck with the cheap products I started out with, which came recommended by other curlies: Inecto coconut conditioner to wash (the daily not the intensive), Fructis Repair & Shine conditioner as a leave in (actually a wash out product), Boots Essentials Extra Firm Hold styling gel (AKA Boots purple), supermarket coconut oil mixed with Inecto to deep condition. All that would costs about £6-7 so if you hate any of them you have not wasted much!  8)

I'd never even heard of it!!! I'm not a huge fan of my hair curly, but by the sounds of it, this might make it easier to control. I like the idea of not using any nasties too. Thank you!!!

I completely ruined my hair using the scott cornwall at home straightening stuff, my hair still feels a bit like a toilet brush =/

I completely ruined my hair using the scott cornwall at home straightening stuff, my hair still feels a bit like a toilet brush =/

It's certainly not good for your hair, but I console myself with the fact that I only straighten my fringe, and because I trim it regularly, most of the damage gets cut out relatively quickly!  I don't think I'd want to use it on a full head of long hair though!

Yeah, I'm still lucky in the sense that my hair grows so quickly and it's so short that I've had most of the damage removed.

It'd be a crime to do it to long hair after all the effort into growing it out!

I'm not sure if this has already been mentioned, but have you considered keratin straightening? I think it's often called a 'brazilian blow dry', but there are different ones using slightly different chemicals. You get it done every 12 weeks. It leaves your hair really conditioned because it's packing it with lovely protein and keratin. It's a little pricey, but in theory you'll never need styling products again. My hairdresser said it was fine to dye over. She's trying to research how expensive a new version of it is, it doesn't contain some of the nasty stuff that current ones do, and apparently it's really good. If I can afford it, I'll be getting it done. There are home kits available, but I don't trust them. :/

I've heard of the brazilian blow dry thing, but never tried it myself.  I couldn't afford it for my wedding (I think I was quoted about £300), so I went for the chemical straightening instead, which was on a full head of hair, but done at a salon.  My hair was in pretty good condition afterwards (but hadn't been bleached at all, only dyed darker, which obviously does include peroxide still), but then I ruined it by trying to do it with a home kit.  So I agree with Mouse, if you do go for a brazilian blow dry, let a professional do it!