|
Hello,
I have been wearing my hair natural for several years now, no chemicals except hair dye, and my usual style is microbraids.
I'm really tried of coloring at this point as my hair seems REALLY coarse and probably damaged from over processing with color. I'm very grey at the roots (about 41 weave color) and it was suggested to me to try a Dominican Blowout.
After research I came across this article, but still unsure of a SP or DB Style as to what is best for my crunchy hair.
PLEASE HELP
Hi RobinL
If your hair feels really crunchy, it sounds like it needs moisture.
Microbraids can be very drying since the added hair absorbs a lot of moisture from your own hair.
If you use heat while your hair is still dry and feeling the effects of overprocessing, you run a high risk of breakage.
So the first thing you need to do is moisture train your hair: start a program of intense hydration to reduce your hair's moisture debt and get your hydration levels up to normal, healthy levels.
[see how in this article: https://www.dominicanhairalliance.com/hair-blog/moisture-training-what-it-is-how-it-helps-your-hair ]
Once it's moisture trained, your hair will be softer, stronger and easier to straighten well.
For your hair, the advantages of a Dominican Blowout = less direct heat and damage.
Advantages of a Silk Press are longer lasting straightness, especially if your hair is more resistant... but more direct heat so more damage.
So if your hair isn't usually resistant to straightening, then the traditional Dominican Blowout (no flat iron) would be best.
For resistant hair, get the Dominican Blowout + a flat iron at the end to 'seal in' the straightness; or the original Silk Press, which closely mirrors the Dominican Blowout.
Definitely avoid versions of the Silk Press which start blowdrying on wet hair and use the flat iron to do most of the straightening.
Since stylists often vary the process, check that they're using the following steps, whether it's a DB or SP, before you get in the chair:
Clarifying shampoo
Moisturising deep treatment (with steam or under dryer)
Rollerset + hood dryer
Blowdry on DRY hair
optional: Flat iron (if hair still curly)
Wrap (aka Doobie)
Your conditioning treatment is crucial to this: for the smoothest results double up and use atrActiva Multivitamin Treatment under Silicon Mix Treatment (original formula).
All that should give you maximum straightness, because the conditioning and tension work together with the heat, while minimising heat damage.
The best stylist to do either your Silk Press or Dominican Blowout will be someone who's more concerned with haircare than hairstyling: as well as following the above steps they'll also watch heat levels closely, and check your hair is ready for heat first.
Hope this helps!
DHA's DIY Team
I’ve read this with great interest. My daughter has a very flaky and sensitive scalp even braids are a problem with the constant flaking. This seems like the best option for styling and caring for her hair but her hair reverts so quickly, even within the day when professionally done. It sounds like the DB maybe the answer but difficult at home. I have also seen a method of using a pressing comb first before straightening irons (more heat). I think like you said the key is in the products but we’re in the UK so have different availability. I don’t know what to do.
Hi Cheryl Bacchus,
Not to worry, we are in the UK, too. In London to be precise. So as long as they are in stock; all of the products on our site are available in the UK.
It sounds like your main issue is the flaky scalp. Reducing this would open up all your styling possibilities. Finding the root cause of this with a GP or registered trichologist is the first step. Sometimes it is only incompatible product build-up that causes excessive flaking, but it's best to make sure.
And I think you are right, instead of applying more heat, concentrate on clarifying her hair thoroughly, and using more effective conditioners and sealants.
Also, pre-stretching on rollers really makes a difference with reversion.
Wishing you a Happy & Healthy New Year,
DHA's DIY Team
Leave a Reply.
DHA's DIY
INFO, NEWS, REVIEWS & HOW-TOs ON HAIRCARE
Author
DHA Hair Care Experts
Archives
January 2021
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
May 2018
August 2016
March 2016
September 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
July 2014
May 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
Categories
All
Afro Hair Show 2012
Autumn
Bacchanalia Carnival
Braidouts
Conditioning
Dominican Blowout
Dominican Hair Alliance
Dominican Hair Republic
Ends Care
Heat
Ingredients
Long Hair
Low Porosity
Moisture
Natural Hair
Pollution
Product Reviews
Protein Sensitivity
Relaxed Hair
Roller Setting
Scalp Massage
Shrinkage
Straight Hair
Summer
Tangles
Transitioning
Valentine's Day
Winter