How often to you straighten your hair & what condition is it in?

[LaLaLaLayla]

Hello, I am in full Layla Makeover mode at the moment, on account of starting a new job and generally feeling that I need to make more effort.

I only straighten my hair (using GHDs) once in a blue moon and it's still in shit condition. But it looks so much nicer when I straighten it. So I was wondering whether I could get away with straightening it twice a week if I keep conditioning it and stuff.

So, I am interested in what everybody else does. Thanks.

[Beesok]

Hi, I straight my hair quite rarely too but recently after a new haircut it just looks better a little straighter and also I discovered that after straightening it with an iron I don't need to wash it as often as keeps the style for more than one day....but I was worried because I tend to suffer from split ends and this was def. going to make them worse so I shopped around for a heat protecting product and found the one from Kiehls fantastic! It's called heat protective silk straightening cream BUT be careful to only use a small amount and as it is protein based can build up in the hair so don't use more than 2-3 a week, also get a good sls, paraben, silicones and alcohol free shampoo & conditioner - green people, aveda, a'kin and lots of other brands do them and a good miosturising mask once a week.

Be careful of the ingredients - don't overload hair with proteins as they can cause it to become brittle if used too often/too much - in small quanitities very good!

[bigfatgypsy]

Every time I wash it (which is pretty much every day give or take)

I don't do a full all-over straighten though, just all round the outside to make it lie flat and smoothe it out. I use a heat protective spray.

[silver28]

I straighten my hair about 5 times a week and it's in really good condition (better than it used to be). I use Moroccan oil which has improved it further. Don't use any heat protection spray (did try the ghd one but it was dreadful). I know it shouldn't be the case, but I've found that ghd's have had no detrimental impact on my hair, and I've been using them about 8 years now.

[Lizzylou]

Every day, I use a heat protection spray and serum on the ends (VO5 at the moment, have used Moroccan oil in past). I have very fine, frizzy curly hair.

[PrimaBallerina]

Pretty much every day for 8 years or so. It hasn't fallen out yet.

[LaLaLaLayla]

Wow, these replies are really encouraging! Actually, I was in Kiehl's about 30 mins ago (typical) but I'll def go back and get the straightening cream, thanks Beesok.

Those of you that use spray, which do you use?

Thanks for the replies

[PrimaBallerina]

It's really worth giving it a go. If your hair starts to feel damaged simply have a trim and stop. Your GHDs will sell on eBay.

This won't happen though - you'll become an addict like the rest of us .

[bigfatgypsy]

I actually think my hair seems LESS dry when I've straightened it than if I leave it. My hair is naturally very wavy and pretty frizzy if I don't do anything with it. I also use a Tigi Bed Head smoothing cream and then straighten with ghds most days and it's fine. I also have highlights and it's really not a problem.

[LaLaLaLayla]

Tigi Bed Head smoothing cream

Thanks. I'll try that

[prolificwillybreeder]

I've been using Toni and Guy gloss serum stick thing. I will find out the right name when home.
I think it's like frizz ease in a stick I just almost brush it on my hair after drying it. I only straighten to de frizz really and curl my ends under.

[stripeybump]

Every day and I have a full head of highlights too.

This may be the reason my hair will not grow beyond my shoulders though! I plan to wean myself off the GhDs when on mat leave.

[mousymouse]

never
I just don't get straighteners.

[stripeybump]

Oh and I don't use any product usually because serum builds up on my hair and makes it dull. Use it every couple of weeks as a treat.

[redglow]

I am going to try a brazilian blow dry next week , so hopefully can stop using the GHDS so much. Have no idea if it will work.

[gigglepin]

I straightne every day.

my hair is a short choppy bob and so in very good condition. i wash & use Ausy conditioner on it every day too.

takes all of 10 minutes as i dont/cant faff with that kind of stuff.

[voscar]

I used them every day - I have a half fear of high lights too. It's really damaged my hair and I've just had lots chopped off in an attempt to fix the damage. I've stopped using them every day and down to a couple of times a week.

My hair is pretty fine. I should imagine if you've thick hair you can stand the damage a bit better

[MissBeehiving]

I have shoulder length highlighted hair and straighten mine pretty much every day. I use a leave in conditioner and argan oil and it's pretty good.

[kmarie2011]

If you use an anti-frizz serum in your hair (like you would after blow drying it) do not use it before you use a straightener on it as this will fry your hair and damage it lots. Sort of like frying a fish. Oil + heat = fried. Best to save the anti-frizz serum (which makes hair soft and shiny) until after using the straightener.

I have very thick hair that is stiff like horse hair and I use my straightener to get it all going in the right direction instead of waving in one direction only which it would do if I didn't straighten it. I also use the straightener to curl my hair, you can find tutorials of how to do this on youtube. I don't use the thing every day, as I wash my hair about every other to every third day (something my hairdresser told me to do) and I find that if I straighten or curl it on the first day, it will last almost all the way through the next two days until I wash it again and start over. I've been looking for straightening spray but haven't found any (obviously I'm not that determined to find it) but I don't really think it's necessary on my kind of hair. I'm not really sure what it is or what it's for, to be honest, but I'm content with what I've got going on.

[GreyTS]

Daily, and have highlighted hair and my hair is in great condition, thick and glossy even when wavy, no split ends. But I do take care if my hair, trims every 6 weeks, conditioning treatments after colouring. I use redken products induing heat protector and am currently using frizz ease three day straight before drying and straightening with ghd's

[AgathaCrusty]

I straighten mine daily, no problems with it. I use 'aussie leave in conditioner' - tis great stuff