Is this a horribly damaging routine for straighter hair?

If you can find a way to dry without any heat at all you will see an improvement. I would avoid the straighteners totally, but it is your choice. I prefer wavy long hair to straight shorter hair. I just twist my hair as it dries and this smooths it into waves with no frizz at the top. I don't like curls near my face, and this keeps my root area relatively straight. (I have quite curly hair naturally) I saw a lot more growth once i gave up heat styling.

Then I add extra protectant and iron briefly on lower heat...

You do make sure your hair is bone-dry before touching it with an iron, don't you... I'm sure you do!

Do you trim the ends at all?  It may give your hair a different overall look and help the way it falls/flows if you spare a small centimetre if you haven't trimmed lately.

I know you want straight hair, but I'm sure others will say to stay away from heat completely.

What would happen if you apply your conditioners, leave-ins, etc., then tie it back to dry?  And as it's drying, gently move the scrunchie-thingy down the hair bit by bit to create weight, so it really does air-dry.

Or braids?  Instead of trying to get it so straight and fighting against it, add a bit of texture and go with it!  Braids should help tame it a bit.  Or twists.

If you can find a way to dry without any heat at all you will see an improvement. I would avoid the straighteners totally, but it is your choice. I prefer wavy long hair to straight shorter hair. I just twist my hair as it dries and this smooths it into waves with no frizz at the top. I don't like curls near my face, and this keeps my root area relatively straight. (I have quite curly hair naturally) I saw a lot more growth once i gave up heat styling.

I quit for a few weks and was air drying. No improvement and it just looks so flipping ugly unless I grease it in coconut oil which makes it a lot straighter and flatter. I think I might add some lowlights and slowly go back to highlighting. I know I can't undo damage but the new hair will be healthier and nicer looking.

Then I add extra protectant and iron briefly on lower heat...

You do make sure your hair is bone-dry before touching it with an iron, don't you... I'm sure you do!

Do you trim the ends at all?  It may give your hair a different overall look and help the way it falls/flows if you spare a small centimetre if you haven't trimmed lately.

I know you want straight hair, but I'm sure others will say to stay away from heat completely.

What would happen if you apply your conditioners, leave-ins, etc., then tie it back to dry?  And as it's drying, gently move the scrunchie-thingy down the hair bit by bit to create weight, so it really does air-dry.

Or braids?  Instead of trying to get it so straight and fighting against it, add a bit of texture and go with it!  Braids should help tame it a bit.  Or twists.

I tried so many things. And I just cut my hair, the ends aren't too bad now but they are fragile. My hair just looks so ugly. I'm seriously contemplating not being a full out blonde, but I always change my mind so I am waiting a few months before making a change.

Moderator combined posts.

I wouldn't think you'd have to reconsider being blonde - you're already blonde, so as we mentioned in an earlier thread, just keep bleach off the lengths and on new growth only, and you can continue to be blonde.

:-*

I suppose I'm thinking that changing the colour of your hair to something darker won't help the condition.  Although for some reason, I always found that my hair looked healthier if it was darker... don't know if it's because it reflected less light or what!

I wouldn't think you'd have to reconsider being blonde - you're already blonde, so as we mentioned in an earlier thread, just keep bleach off the lengths and on new growth only, and you can continue to be blonde.

:-*

I suppose I'm thinking that changing the colour of your hair to something darker won't help the condition.  Although for some reason, I always found that my hair looked healthier if it was darker... don't know if it's because it reflected less light or what!

Well I am considering letting the bottom layer grow and adding a few lowlights, and going back to my highlighted blonde look. Sometimes I love being blonde but at other times I feel tacky especially because I am in a very professional field of study. And I know my condition won't improve but if I leave the bottom layer alone completely it may be healthier. Ah I don't know. I am stubborn, two hair dressers told me switching from highlights to all blonde is a nightmare but I had to try it because I wanted to see what it's like. I'm giving it a few months more time before making any change beyond a touch up.

I can only hope that in a few months time, you will have taken the best care of it possible, trying to reduce heat styling (as Wicked Pixie says above, you'll see more hair growth), and at the end of the few months, I hope you're pleasantly surprised with hair that's grown out and that you're happier with.