Taming the frizz

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree a steam straightener has left my hair with a super weird texture and more frizzy, but glad it works for the PP. For me personally I use the shark flexstyle , which makes it look like a blowout every time I use it.

PP here. I just did a little research on steam straighteners and it seems the theory is that because they get the hair wet (which is more malleable) they can straighten hair more quickly than a regular flat iron. That means potentially less damage and straighter hair. But it’s not that the steam “hydrates the hair” or whatever nonsense they say in ads. If the tool works properly it is because it quickly adds moisture, straightens, then evaporates the water. But if the tool isn’t working properly or is hard to use then yeah seems like it could leave you with frizz.

I'm the person who mentioned using the steam straightener originally. I have genuinely frizzy hair, and the biggest issue is that my hair "poofs" when air drying, no matter what products I put in it. I also have scalp issues so I have to be careful about how much product I put in because build up of any kind can cause major scalp problems.

One thing people might not get about the steam straightener is that you need to use it on completely dry hair. I was told to apply moisturizing product to wet hair, let it air dry, and then use the straightener. The steam helps activate the product so it works better -- I think that is how it "hydrates" the hair. Not because the steam is hydrating on its own, but because you are using it in combo with a leave in (I also usually spray on a heat protectant as well) and the steam helps the hair absorb and distribute the product along the shaft of the hair as the teeth on the tool straighten.

Anyway, I get the skepticism. I wouldn't expect it to work. All I know is that after years of using both the Revlong and the Shark stylers, which both often left my hair drier and harder to manage after a few weeks of use, I am really loving the steam straightener. Might be worth trying if anyone is having negative results with other options as I did.

Thanks for that explanation! That makes a lot of sense if the idea is to use it on dry hair - then the steam would be to straighten and would evaporate immediately. I’m still not sure about the products “hydrating” the hair - probably what they do is smooth the hair shaft, not hydrate it.

I think I have the same type of hair as you (poofs when dried!) but I typically wash it in the morning before work so I would not have time to air dry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree a steam straightener has left my hair with a super weird texture and more frizzy, but glad it works for the PP. For me personally I use the shark flexstyle , which makes it look like a blowout every time I use it.

PP here. I just did a little research on steam straighteners and it seems the theory is that because they get the hair wet (which is more malleable) they can straighten hair more quickly than a regular flat iron. That means potentially less damage and straighter hair. But it’s not that the steam “hydrates the hair” or whatever nonsense they say in ads. If the tool works properly it is because it quickly adds moisture, straightens, then evaporates the water. But if the tool isn’t working properly or is hard to use then yeah seems like it could leave you with frizz.

I'm the person who mentioned using the steam straightener originally. I have genuinely frizzy hair, and the biggest issue is that my hair "poofs" when air drying, no matter what products I put in it. I also have scalp issues so I have to be careful about how much product I put in because build up of any kind can cause major scalp problems.

One thing people might not get about the steam straightener is that you need to use it on completely dry hair. I was told to apply moisturizing product to wet hair, let it air dry, and then use the straightener. The steam helps activate the product so it works better -- I think that is how it "hydrates" the hair. Not because the steam is hydrating on its own, but because you are using it in combo with a leave in (I also usually spray on a heat protectant as well) and the steam helps the hair absorb and distribute the product along the shaft of the hair as the teeth on the tool straighten.

Anyway, I get the skepticism. I wouldn't expect it to work. All I know is that after years of using both the Revlong and the Shark stylers, which both often left my hair drier and harder to manage after a few weeks of use, I am really loving the steam straightener. Might be worth trying if anyone is having negative results with other options as I did.

Thanks for that explanation! That makes a lot of sense if the idea is to use it on dry hair - then the steam would be to straighten and would evaporate immediately. I’m still not sure about the products “hydrating” the hair - probably what they do is smooth the hair shaft, not hydrate it.

I think I have the same type of hair as you (poofs when dried!) but I typically wash it in the morning before work so I would not have time to air dry.

Mine also poofs when airdried. However, the next day, after being slept on, it is gloriously flat and smooth. I assume it is the oils working their way in overnight. I work at home and just air dry my hair most of the time. Is there a way to tone down the "poofiness" with product? Any secrets?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree a steam straightener has left my hair with a super weird texture and more frizzy, but glad it works for the PP. For me personally I use the shark flexstyle , which makes it look like a blowout every time I use it.

PP here. I just did a little research on steam straighteners and it seems the theory is that because they get the hair wet (which is more malleable) they can straighten hair more quickly than a regular flat iron. That means potentially less damage and straighter hair. But it’s not that the steam “hydrates the hair” or whatever nonsense they say in ads. If the tool works properly it is because it quickly adds moisture, straightens, then evaporates the water. But if the tool isn’t working properly or is hard to use then yeah seems like it could leave you with frizz.

I'm the person who mentioned using the steam straightener originally. I have genuinely frizzy hair, and the biggest issue is that my hair "poofs" when air drying, no matter what products I put in it. I also have scalp issues so I have to be careful about how much product I put in because build up of any kind can cause major scalp problems.

One thing people might not get about the steam straightener is that you need to use it on completely dry hair. I was told to apply moisturizing product to wet hair, let it air dry, and then use the straightener. The steam helps activate the product so it works better -- I think that is how it "hydrates" the hair. Not because the steam is hydrating on its own, but because you are using it in combo with a leave in (I also usually spray on a heat protectant as well) and the steam helps the hair absorb and distribute the product along the shaft of the hair as the teeth on the tool straighten.

Anyway, I get the skepticism. I wouldn't expect it to work. All I know is that after years of using both the Revlong and the Shark stylers, which both often left my hair drier and harder to manage after a few weeks of use, I am really loving the steam straightener. Might be worth trying if anyone is having negative results with other options as I did.

Thanks for that explanation! That makes a lot of sense if the idea is to use it on dry hair - then the steam would be to straighten and would evaporate immediately. I’m still not sure about the products “hydrating” the hair - probably what they do is smooth the hair shaft, not hydrate it.

I think I have the same type of hair as you (poofs when dried!) but I typically wash it in the morning before work so I would not have time to air dry.

I don't understand the distinction you are making between a product smoothing the hair shaft and hydrating it. That's what that means. The moisture in the product is what smooths the shaft -- this is how hair masks, oils, leave ins, etc. work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree a steam straightener has left my hair with a super weird texture and more frizzy, but glad it works for the PP. For me personally I use the shark flexstyle , which makes it look like a blowout every time I use it.

PP here. I just did a little research on steam straighteners and it seems the theory is that because they get the hair wet (which is more malleable) they can straighten hair more quickly than a regular flat iron. That means potentially less damage and straighter hair. But it’s not that the steam “hydrates the hair” or whatever nonsense they say in ads. If the tool works properly it is because it quickly adds moisture, straightens, then evaporates the water. But if the tool isn’t working properly or is hard to use then yeah seems like it could leave you with frizz.

I'm the person who mentioned using the steam straightener originally. I have genuinely frizzy hair, and the biggest issue is that my hair "poofs" when air drying, no matter what products I put in it. I also have scalp issues so I have to be careful about how much product I put in because build up of any kind can cause major scalp problems.

One thing people might not get about the steam straightener is that you need to use it on completely dry hair. I was told to apply moisturizing product to wet hair, let it air dry, and then use the straightener. The steam helps activate the product so it works better -- I think that is how it "hydrates" the hair. Not because the steam is hydrating on its own, but because you are using it in combo with a leave in (I also usually spray on a heat protectant as well) and the steam helps the hair absorb and distribute the product along the shaft of the hair as the teeth on the tool straighten.

Anyway, I get the skepticism. I wouldn't expect it to work. All I know is that after years of using both the Revlong and the Shark stylers, which both often left my hair drier and harder to manage after a few weeks of use, I am really loving the steam straightener. Might be worth trying if anyone is having negative results with other options as I did.

Thanks for that explanation! That makes a lot of sense if the idea is to use it on dry hair - then the steam would be to straighten and would evaporate immediately. I’m still not sure about the products “hydrating” the hair - probably what they do is smooth the hair shaft, not hydrate it.

I think I have the same type of hair as you (poofs when dried!) but I typically wash it in the morning before work so I would not have time to air dry.

I don't understand the distinction you are making between a product smoothing the hair shaft and hydrating it. That's what that means. The moisture in the product is what smooths the shaft -- this is how hair masks, oils, leave ins, etc. work.

NP.

But wait, oils aren't moisture? Water is...

I have frizzy, wavy (2B-2C) hair, and I don't use oil because over time it keeps moisture out.