http://www.pressing-hair.info/index.htmlHot News!ennwscents@fastmail.fmCopyright 2012 Ololade Franklin2010-10-12T18:48:45-07:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:23:56 -0800nwscents@fastmail.fmPressing2010-10-12T18:48:45-07:00http://www.pressing-hair.info/pressing-hair-questions-and-answers_files/hair-will-not-hold-a-press-how-can-i-avoid-chemicals.html#unique-entry-id-6http://www.pressing-hair.info/pressing-hair-questions-and-answers_files/hair-will-not-hold-a-press-how-can-i-avoid-chemicals.html#unique-entry-id-6Question: My hair will not take a press. What product can I use so I don't have to use chemicals?

Answer: I'm going to answer your question in two parts. Part A is for if you are still interested in pressing your hair. Part B is for if
you are tired of pressing, and are looking for alternatives.

PART A:

Pressing is basically affected by two things. These are...
1. What you do to prepare your hair for straightening.
2. The type of tools you use to straighten your hair.
If you are still interested in pressing your hair here are some tips tohelp you out.

To prepare your hair for straightening:

1. Be sure to use a shampoo and conditioner (some people skip using conditioner) and use gentle, natural products. Look for a shampoo that is sulfate free (contains no "sodium lauryl sulfate" or "sodium laureth sulfate") because these can be very drying to the hair and scalp. Use a conditioner that is made with natural vegetable oils, not mineral oil, silicones, or petrolatum, because these can also have a drying effect on the hair.
2. After you condition your hair, but before you rinse out the conditioner, detangle your hair with a wide tooth comb. This will make pressing easier later.
3. After shampooing and conditioning your hair, be sure to rinse the product from your hair completely.
4. After washing, let your hair air dry somewhat, and then gently use a blow-dryer at the lowest setting with a wide tooth comb attachment to complete the drying process. This will help to smooth out your hair and prepare it for pressing.

When you press:

1. Use a natural hair oil as a thermal protectant. Apply it to your hair before pressing to protect your hair from the heat.
2. Use a heated straightening appliance with a temperature gauge. You may have to try some different ones out to see what works for you.Some people who have a hard time maintaining a press have found success with the maxi-glide. Start at a low temperature (I use 370 degrees). If your hair has been prepared properly, you shouldn't have to turn it up to the max to get good results.

PART B:

If you are tired of pressing, but want alternatives, consider "wet styling." This is where you use conditioners and moisturizers to bring out the curl pattern in your natural hair. You can straighten your hair somewhat. It won't be like relaxed hair or pressed hair, but the results can be very pretty if you take the time to work with it. For more tips on this alternative technique, visit http://natural-black-hair-care.info/information-about-wet-styling-natural-black-hair.html]]>nwscents@fastmail.fmDamaged Hair2010-02-20T18:40:00-08:00http://www.pressing-hair.info/pressing-hair-questions-and-answers_files/can-i-pressed-permed-hair.html#unique-entry-id-5http://www.pressing-hair.info/pressing-hair-questions-and-answers_files/can-i-pressed-permed-hair.html#unique-entry-id-5Question: I permed my hair almost 6 weeks ago and I do not want to perm it again. I want to press it. Can I do that without damaging my hair? Will it cause breakage? And can I get braids after it has been pressed?

Answer: I would recommend that you let the perm grow out before pressing your hair. Some people use the pressing comb to press the new growth as their perm grows out. It will be a lot healthier for your hair if you wait. Perms by their nature already weaken the hair, and if you apply heat to the weakened hair you will most likely experience some breakage. You may want to read the article "Three Ways To Transition From Relaxed Hair to Natural Hair"

You also asked "And can I get braids after it has been pressed?" I know that some people braid pressed hair, but to me that seems unnecessary. Braids hold much better in natural hair than in pressed hair because the natural texture of afro hair helps the braids to stay together longer. I personally would choose either pressing or braiding, but not both at the same time.
]]>nwscents@fastmail.fmPressing2009-10-24T18:33:24-07:00http://www.pressing-hair.info/pressing-hair-questions-and-answers_files/which-type-of-pressing-comb-is-less-damaging.html#unique-entry-id-4http://www.pressing-hair.info/pressing-hair-questions-and-answers_files/which-type-of-pressing-comb-is-less-damaging.html#unique-entry-id-4Question: Which thermal pressing comb is less damaging to the hair, a "smooth back" or double press with "teeth" long its back? If both are used simultaneouly during the pressing process cause thinning of the hair? I have noticed when my hair is wet, some parts look stringy. I use hydrating and moisturizing, and reconstructive hair care products two per month when my hair is washed, conditioned, blew dryed, press/curled.

Answer: I've never used a double press comb with teeth along its back, but as long as the second row of teeth are not pulling or snagging on the hair, I would assume that the double press wouldn't be more damaging than the smooth backed comb. From my experience with pressing, and from my observations, when hair is damaged from pressing it is from the following reasons:
-the hair was not detangled before pressing.
-the comb was used at too high of a temperature.
-the hair was pressed too frequently.
The stringy hairs that you see are most likely a result of using your comb at too high of a temperature. When heat is applied at too high of a temperature to hair, the protein bonds in the hair realign themselves permanently, instead of temporarily. However, the nice thing about hair is that it grows back. To prevent any more stringy hairs consider having the pressing comb turned down.

]]>nwscents@fastmail.fmPressing2009-08-10T18:27:01-07:00http://www.pressing-hair.info/pressing-hair-questions-and-answers_files/how-often-should-hair-be-pressed.html#unique-entry-id-3http://www.pressing-hair.info/pressing-hair-questions-and-answers_files/how-often-should-hair-be-pressed.html#unique-entry-id-3Question: How often do you recommend that someone can safely press their hair? Weekly? Every 2 weeks? or How often?

Answer: I recommend that you only press your hair after washing it. If you wash your hair weekly, then I would press weekly after washing. If you wash twice a month, then I would press bimonthly, after doing your hair. Pressing in moderation is fine, but when it is done too frequently, or at too high of a temperature, it will take a toll on the hair.]]>nwscents@fastmail.fmNatural Hair2009-05-28T17:59:18-07:00http://www.pressing-hair.info/pressing-hair-questions-and-answers_files/natural-hair-will-not-hold-a-press.html#unique-entry-id-2http://www.pressing-hair.info/pressing-hair-questions-and-answers_files/natural-hair-will-not-hold-a-press.html#unique-entry-id-2Question: My hair is natural and I want to press it. I have used everything to press it and nothing holds the press. What should I use?

Answer: There are a few things that might affect how well your hair holds a press. These are:

1. The quality and type of tool that you are using. I recommend using an electric pressing comb or a true-ceramic flat iron with a temperature regulator. These allow you to control the temperature while you are pressing.

2. The products you use on your hair before you press your hair. Believe it or not, the shampoo and conditioner you use on your hair before you press your hair will affect the ability of your hair to hold a press. If you are using a shampoo that is drying to the hair, and either not using conditioner, or using one that doesn't properly moisturize and condition your hair, it is much harder to get a decent press, and your hair will revert.

3. The products that you use on your hair while you are pressing your hair. I recommend using a natural hair oil as a heat protectant when you press your hair. I would avoid alcohol-based sprays (heat protectants which contain SD alcohol or grain alcohol). These are drying to the hair.
]]>nwscents@fastmail.fmPressing2009-02-26T17:49:17-08:00http://www.pressing-hair.info/pressing-hair-questions-and-answers_files/how-to-press-using-the-back-of-a-hot-comb.html#unique-entry-id-0http://www.pressing-hair.info/pressing-hair-questions-and-answers_files/how-to-press-using-the-back-of-a-hot-comb.html#unique-entry-id-0Question: How do you press your hair using the back of a hot comb. I have this product from luster silk that says you spray on , let dry , and press using the back of a comb. I have an idea,of how to do it but my hair is thick dense and coarse and I have a feeling that this might not leave me happy.

Answer: What they mean when they say "press using the back of the hot comb" is that you take a small section of hair, put the comb in the hair, and twist once, so that when you are pulling the comb through your hair, you are applying pressure using the back of the comb which is hotter than the teeth. You don't pull the comb through your hair like a regular plastic comb, you pull it so that you are running the metal bar (the rod part) through your hair.

If you go to our page on how to press a section of hair and look at the photo next to step 3, you can see how I have the comb twisted so that as I pull it through my hair, the back of the comb is applying pressure to my hair.

Sincerely,

O. Franklin
http://www.pressing-hair.info
]]>nwscents@fastmail.fmDamaged Hair2009-02-05T17:52:37-08:00http://www.pressing-hair.info/pressing-hair-questions-and-answers_files/heat-damaged-ends-will-not-revert.html#unique-entry-id-1http://www.pressing-hair.info/pressing-hair-questions-and-answers_files/heat-damaged-ends-will-not-revert.html#unique-entry-id-1Question: I've got heat damaged ends that won't revert. Do I just keep on pressing (lighter application of heat and heat protectants) or lay off the heat. I haven't pressed in about 6 months and the new growth is killing me! Thx.

Answer: I would suggest that you trim the heat damaged ends off, if it is isn't too much. If your main goal with pressing is to control your new growth, I suggest that you try moisturizing and detangling the new growth with a gentle shampoo and rich conditioner like the ones we offer at http://www.nwscents.com. If you want to try pressing again, use a much lower heat setting and be sure to use a heat protectant that doesn't contain any kind of grain alcohol (which will be listed as SD-alcohol or grain alcohol on the label) or other drying ingredients. I use hair oil, but you may prefer something different. Be sure to follow the tips that we have for pressing hair. Don't make the objective of pressing your hair to have "pin-straight" hair. That is where many people end up damaging their hair. Use pressing as a way to gain more control over your hair. You can also control your hair in it's naturally textured state with the right products. If you have any more questions, let me know.

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