My last post here was about Japanese hair straightening perms and I am very grateful for the advice many of you gave-- needless to say, I didn't try it.

I did recently try one of those straightening irons that has ceramic "tourmaline" plates in it, and it made my hair look beautiful.  But how damaging would it be in the long run?  To use it every day, to use it once or twice a week?  Would it be less damaging to use it on dry, damp, or wet hair?  Does anyone know whether the ceramic plates are better or which brands/types are least damaging?  

I'm trying to decide whether to incorporate this permanently into my hair styling regime because I'm looking for a more polished way to wear my hair in an office setting without having to put it up.

My hair is waist length and normal thickness, mostly straight with a slight wave and very slightly coarse texture.

Lucky you, with waist length hair!!

Heat damages hair.  I think everyone's hair responds differently, you may not see too much damage with your texture.

I think the ceramic plates glide more easily on the hair and because they get really hot you will not have to repeat the process like with a less hot iron.

If you want to do this regularly be sure to increase your deep treatments, probably to once a week.

I think you should only use it on dry hair.  They have sprays out there that you can use before the iron, I think they have silicone in them to help the iron glide and will make your hair shiney.

You could help your hair be strighter by combing it as it dries.  That's the only non heat application that I know of.

I don't know if any of this is helpful, you may need to go by trial and error.

Good Luck!!

I.have.used.them.and.there.is.no.such.thing.as.
less.damaging.straightening.irons.

They.are.all.the.same.


I.dont.use.them.because.they.have.wrecked.
my.hair.
you.will.notice.that.when.you.dry.and.wash.
your.hair.it.will.have.slightly.more.body.at.
first.then.after.a.month.you.will.notice.a.
little.wave.and.after.a.year.your.hair.
type.will.change.completly.mine.went.from.

1a/m/m

to

2a/c/i

It.was.awful.i.had.so.many.splits.and.frizz.the.
worst.thing.is.that.you.have.to.keep.using.them.
more.and.more.as.your.hair.gets.into.more.of.a
.worse.and.worse.condition.

Once.your.hair.starts.to.frizz.and.go.wavy.you.
will.always.have.to.use.them.till.your.hair.grows
.out.otherwize.its.just.straw.

I.used.mine.every.three.days.after.my.hair.wash
,and.it.went.like.rubbish.and.started.breaking.off.
i.also.used.a.heat.defence.spray.and.only.
straightened.when.dry.but.still.my.hair.was.a.
mess.of.straw.

My.advice.is.that.your.hair.will.be.the.straightest.
it.is.now.but.once.those.irons.touch.it.it.will.start.
to.gradually.never.be.like.it.is.now.


My.advice.dont.do.it.unless.you.want.your.waist.
length.to.become.bsl.or.shoulder.like.mine

I would be really careful and limit the use of these things.  They would to break my hair at the scalp giving me all funny flyaways around my face. :-/

As a general rule, I try to avoid heat at all possible cost. At least anything hotter than body temp. Which means that any and all curlers, irons, blowfryers, etc. etc. etc. are strictly out of the question. Heat & hair are not friends.

For an office setting, I really would recommend just wearing your hair up. Not so much out of formality, but convenience. You have to do a lot of things where hair could get in the way...especially waist-length hair, yikes! Best option is to wear it up. Have you checked out the hairstix available on this site?  ;)

I'd have to agree with everyone else who's stated that heat is bad for the hair.  However, since I am a user of heat (in moderation) and also flat iron from time to time, I can tell you that the best flat iron that I've used is a ceramic ion steam flat iron.  Used on dry hair, the steam softens the hair making it feel moist and conditioned as opposed to dry and fried.  I wouldn't use it every day though, if you decide to to use heat, less is always best.

Sakina wrote on Oct 4^th, 2006 at 2:59pm:

Lucky you, with waist length hair!!

Well, it's only waist length when I use the iron.  ;)  Otherwise, it doesn't quite reach.

Thanks everyone for the input.  I do comb my hair when it's damp with a wide-toothed smooth comb, but it still has that coarse texture that no hair products (at least, none without 'cones) have solved.  The reason I didn't want to wear my hair up anymore is because I have neck problems and the concentrated weight of the updo makes my neck ache when I read or tilt my head down for any reason repeatedly.  I know that I can still wear braids or half-up styles, but I just don't like them as much, especially because it makes more noticeable the short hairs on either side of my forehead that flip out like little wings (no amount of gel keeps 'em down; don't know why).

I think for now I will stay away from the irons after most of you said that they are bad news and the rest said that they are damaging no matter what; it's taken far too many years to get this length.

I.am.glad.you.have.made.the.right.decision.

Your.best.option.is.to.find.people.with.your.hair.
type.and.see.what.works.for.them.b/c.this.may.also.be
the.right.answer.for.you.to.

Love.your.hair.listen.to.its.needs.obey.it.dont.fight.it.
and.it.will.love.you.right.back

You might like the look you get from jumbo sized Caruso steam rollers.  They don't get hot at all, they're just barely warm.

The new Vidal Sassoon copy is a lot cheaper.  I haven't tried it, but it looks like the same type of design.