If you are still getting perms to straighten your hair and make it more manageable, Please Stop! Not only can perms be damaging to your hair, over time they can be detrimental to your health as well. Perms are made with a variety of chemicals that creep into your bloodstream and with long-term use can cause some health problems. Also, perms are expensive. It may cost you anywhere from $50 to $100 every 6 weeks just to smooth out your new roots. If your hair is fine (like mine) or not particularly healthy, perms can cause further damage by causing hair breakage and thinning.

The good news is that you don't need to rely on a perm for soft, silky, bouncy, straight, or healthy hair. You might be thinking, my hair is so course there is no way I can get it under control with a flat iron, but that simply isn't true. I have seen the kinkiest and tightest African American or Black hair smooth the thickness away with a flat iron.

The trick to having beautiful hair using a flat iron is more about the products you use than the skills you have. I have been to numerous hair salons, some quite costly, over the years and I can honest tell you that only "two" of them did my hair any justice. Most often, within several days my hair had no traces that I'd just spend $75 on a flat iron job. My hair would quickly revert back to its curls and kinks with the slightly humidity, sweat, or a rough night sleeping. It was so discouraging spending all that money and not getting the results I wanted. But I knew it could be done because I had two great hair stylists who had flat ironed my hair silky smooth. Unfortunately, they were no longer available.

That's when I started experimenting with different flat irons. I used several types, some store bought and others shipped by hair product companies. Some I paid a mere $35 for, others over $100 dollars. Then finally I stumble upon the Baby Bliss Flat Iron. Over and over again it received great reviews. I ordered it and it has been one of the best purchases I have ever made. In just 30 minutes of use, I was able to get my hair just the way I remembered. Not only that, my hair didn't revert back but kept its smooth and straight look for weeks at a time. I can attest that the Baby Bliss Flat Iron is the best I have ever used and I'd dare to say the best flat iron for African American or Black hair.

Yes, it's a little pricey at $129.00 but in the past 3 years, I have saved thousands of dollars flat ironing my own hair and it has never looked better. I'd also like to say that both my daughter and I own a Baby Bliss Flat Iron and the quality is great. We have never had to replace it and it just keeps working as well as it did from day one.

Therefore, if you want great looking hair, the trick is finding the right products. One last thing I want to share what I use to shampoo and condition my hair. These are also two great products that you can buy at your local health food store. My hair feels so good after using them. I highly recommend them for all hair types. They are Alaffia's Shea and Honey Nourishing Shampoo and Nourishing Conditioner. I also really like Natural Instincts Conditioner for colored treated hair.