Ditching the flat iron

**2gaits** · November 23rd, 2019, 06:57 PM

I think I really need to ditch my flat iron but I am really struggling with how that is going to work out. I need my hair to look decently fixed for work. Any advice from those of you that used one daily and finally gave it up? Just at bsl and my grown out bangs are below chin length and I have layers. Ends of bangs are probably the most damaged and I tend to run the flat iron through them.

**milosmomma** · November 23rd, 2019, 08:28 PM

Hi there! I used to straighten my hair daily in the past and made the switch and ditched it as well. I think it will be great in the long run for the health or your hair. Do you know what you natural texture is? Are you going to be wearing your hair mostly down? Braid waves or bun waves are a way to give your hair a uniform texture while down. At bsl you can also probably manage some buns and braided styles while you're out and about as well, I think switching up styles might be a good idea for you just so you dont get bored whole transitioning away from the straightener.

**ExpectoPatronum** · November 23rd, 2019, 10:41 PM

I also used to flat iron my hair every day. I second milosmomma - what is your hair texture like? I think if you learn to work with your texture that it can be presentable for work. Half ups are nice on textured hair. I also agree that wearing buns and braids is a good option.

**0xalis** · November 24th, 2019, 12:12 AM

I can promise you have co-workers that don't use flat irons!
Seconding everything said above!

**lapushka** · November 24th, 2019, 03:37 AM

Originally Posted by 2gaits

I think I really need to ditch my flat iron but I am really struggling with how that is going to work out. I need my hair to look decently fixed for work. Any advice from those of you that used one daily and finally gave it up? Just at bsl and my grown out bangs are below chin length and I have layers. Ends of bangs are probably the most damaged and I tend to run the flat iron through them.

It really depends on what your natural texture is.

If it's straight, it's quite straightforward and you can probably smooth it out with just a blowdryer (that's fine, on warm, not hot).

If it's wavy or curly, do look into the curly girl method, in the sense that you need to learn to tackle your hair a little differently (like brushing when wet and never dry).

Let us know!

**Laurab** · November 24th, 2019, 06:50 AM

I've heard from a lot of former straightner users that the less they straightened their hair the less they needed to, since the damage makes it frizzy and dry. It's something that'll only get easier as time goes by.
Personally, I don't worry too much about how my hair look t work, as long as it's clean and detangled. There's always a lot of pressure to look perfect, especially when you're a woman, but as long as you're practicing hygiene you should be alright at work.
The only thing I do to my hair for work is I'll sometimes wear a headband to keep it out of my face.

**2gaits** · November 24th, 2019, 05:26 PM

Thanks all for the ideas. I think my natural texture is wavy. At least it has bends to it when air dried. If I use a diffuser it will stay wavy but I'm not in love with it. I guess I will need to learn to love it. Styling it with just a diffuser is better for it. I might try to do more half ups or braids in the front.

**AmaryllisRed** · November 24th, 2019, 06:55 PM

When I was in college, I washed, blow-dried, and ironed my hair every single day. And then I got a layered haircut, done by a person who knew what they were doing with my waves, and it looked awesome air-dried with a little bit of goop in it.
I think you just have to try some things and you'll find a way to wear it that you love without damaging it.

**Laurenhope29** · November 25th, 2019, 01:32 PM

Ditching heat-tools was the best thing i ever did for my hair! And you don't even have to ditch them completely, i still use them for special occasions. Braid waves are my go-to hairstyle now, and it saves so much time getting ready in the morning.

**Proverbs31** · November 25th, 2019, 03:33 PM

I used to use a flat iron 3 or so times a week because I hated my hair unless it was straight - then I decided to try and keep it in two braids at night, and I actually like the braidwave texture even more than it being pin-straight! I know that's really more a matter of preference from person to person, but I found that it kind of made my hair appear longer because it kept it all at one length, protected the ends, and let me keep an oil or leave-in conditioner in it overnight instead of sleeping on it flat =)