Salvaging a Bad Flat Ironing Session

This week I decided to try a new flat ironing cream from L’oreals new smooth intense line. I was left with VERY unexpected result : greasy ends and puffy roots. It looked as if I haven’t washed my hair in ages, even though I had just washed my hair! This is really upsetting, given the fact I had spent so much time trying to straighten my hair in the first place! I was ready to re wash my hair and just deal with my crazy transitioning hair! Instead, I decided to work with what I had and revive this HOT MESS of a straightening result.

One thing I did was to add some texture to my hair. My thought process was: “If I add texture, I add more surface area for light to bounce off. This in turn makes my hair look less greasy and oily”. When the hair is oily on the ends yet I have puffy roots, I find that bantu knots work the best. They help to smooth the roots with tension and add bodifying curls to the stick straight ends.

I add a little bit of moisturizer (not oil based) or plain water to work with the existing oils in my hair and to give the results a little more hold. I tend to like my waves to be on the looser side so they do not give me much tangles, so I only use 4 large sections.

For a little extra style I also like to flat twist the front. I feel it gives me a “boho chic” kind of flair.

Once that is exhausted or I just don’t feel like dealing with the maintenance I will stick it into the trusty bun. Because straightened hair is very flat, I don’t like the way it looks on me when pulled back. I find it looks a whole lot better once I have gotten some texture to my hair.

Once my flat ironing has gotten on its last legs, I will sweep it in a high bun. It extends the life of the straightening *just* enough until I can reach wash day. To make this style suit me a little more I like to wear a cute headband and some large hoop earrings!

FYI: I tend to wear the buns on more “relaxed and casual” days and do the wavy looks on those “grown and sexy” kind of days.lol

Now these may not be the most stylish or interesting options, but they are life and time savers! When I have craptastic straightening results its really great to have some simple styles to fall back on! I really do try to avoid outcomes like this but this is just one of those things that happens when you try something new. You live and you learn!

When you get a crappy flat ironing result do you try to salvage it or do you throw in the towel and rewash?!

Thanks for reading! <3