Is straightening your hair bad for it?

Question

I recently bought a straightener at Wal-Mart for $20. It seems to work fine, but sometimes I see smoke/steam coming from it while it's on my hair. Is it damaging my hair doing when doing this? Also, can you straighten your hair too much? If so, about how many times a week is safe without damaging it? Thanks to all the answerers!

Answer 1

You can definitely damage your hair. You have to be careful. Only straighten it when it's completely dry and don't stay too long on the same part. I'd say once or twice a week is the best, because if you do it more often, your hair is gonna be really dry and is gonna break. So, also use conditioner for dry hair!
The smoke is fine, it's normal.

Answer 2

Of course it does - it dries your hair terribly and gives you uncountable split-ends. If you don't want to damage your hair, don't use the straighteners. It's basically ironing your hair. The hotter the straighteners the worse the damage. Use a heat protection spray, this helps a lot but doesn't prevent damage. And don't use them too often. May be 1-2 times a week but natural is in anyway - so take a break every now and then.

Lorna

Answer 3

Yes straightening your hair can be very bad for it. Though the steam is not the cause. Too much heat will dry out your hair. You can straighten your hair every day, but always use a heat protectant. Also, check to see if your straightener has ceramic plates. Straighteners with ceramic plates are less damaging than other straighteners.

Hope I helped

Answer 4

IT'S BAD FOR YOUR HAIR!! Especially if you straighten your hair wet.

No seriously, it is. By straightening your hair and pulling the iron through your hair, you run a risk of getting split ends and damaging your ends.

You can straighten your hair too much. Give your hair 2-3 days to rest a week -- which means 2-3 days of no straightening your hair.

Also, should tell you - ceramic hair straighteners are better for your hair then metal straighteners. Use a leave-in conditioner for damaged hair in the meanwhile.

Hope it goes well!

-E

Answer 5

Strange seeing smoke i would worry abit about that. My daughter uses a hair straightener once a month and she has long hair. I wouldn't use it more than once every 3-4 weeks if in doubt go to your hair dresser she will know what is best.Remember all things such as this will damage your hair if over used

Answer 6

Ive owned a Chi for 2 yrs now, It cost $120, but has been well worth it...I even got my daughter one for christmas.
They are wonderful, we have thick hair, and it takes no time at all to straighten our hair..
Yes, its hard on it, but the better the straightner the best...
Wal-Mart brands are good and all, but not the best
Use a deep conditioner on your hair, for Heat styled hair..
I try to do mine every other day...gives it a break...
Hope this helps some

Answer 7

Yes, straightening it with heat or chemicals is bad for your hair. Non-black people usually straighten their hair more often, since they usually wash their hair daily. All that heat every day will take its toll. So, do it as irregularly as possible. Also, make sure youre using the flat iron on a lower setting, and on DRY hair only.

Buy a straightening cream or balm to protect your hair.

Answer 8

Hair needs to be dry and you should use a heat protection styling spray otherwise you will damage your hair
You could also try jumbo sized velcro rollers in almost dry hair as they will give almost the same results without causing heat damage to your hair.
You should try to straigthen your hair up to a maximum of 3 times a week

Answer 9

hi, straightening hair is not so good, heat is not good for the hair, when you straighten your hair, it turns out really straight and slick, but after a while you hair gets dry frosty n brittle, and it starts breaking, you start having split ends. though there are some straighteners that help prevent hair damage, but those ones cost about $150 to $300, so you should just straighten you hair when its necessary(occasions), and not always.

Answer 10

The smoke your seeing is normal your pretty much burning your hair, but not hot enough to the extent that it will burn. Even though it can, that's why there is a switch on how much heat you want the iron to have. Well, technically yes it is because your overheating your hair, and that's a lot of damage. But people still do it.