We love kickstarter because you get a chance to get funding for some really awesome projects or ideas and you can even raise money for a great cause.
Well we found a kickstarter project that was pretty interesting and we can’t wait to hear your opinions on it. The project is the CWK Straightening plates and these bad boys are a genius way of getting your hair straight without a flat iron*.
Now on BHI we are always turning our wheels on inventions that might be helpful for your natural hair journey. Personally I would love if they had a portable hair dryer* that was battery operated, but I have no idea how that would even work, I just like the idea of walking around with my hair getting dry instead of sitting in one place for four hours with a huge buzzing thing on my head.
We are going to share the kickstarter video in a bit, but the tool is basically a flat clamp that stretches out your hair safely so that you can dry it under a dryer or air dry your hair flat. Afterwards, remove and voila, straight hair!
Check out the details from the website:
The CWK Straight Plates are a patent pending tool that straightens hair without the need for heat. This tool is designed for the curly, wavy and kinky* haired girls around the world. Many women have experienced damage to hair by constantly applying heat and harsh chemicals. This tool is what we all have been looking for! It is very user friendly, light weight and functional. This product should be an additional tool in every CWK girl toolbox.
With any invention you wonder what the shortcomings will be and we couldn’t think of anything immediately but we did wish that the video did show what a full head of hair looked like with the tools installed. We would also love to see the before and after on a full head of hair for all hair types. Check out the video below and let us know your thoughts, will you be supporting the project?
IMPORTANT UPDATE!
Note To Our Readers: The CWK Girls Straight Plates Will Be Issuing Refunds To Investors
Helga Walpole says
Hmmmhh sounds kinda interesting
Patricia Cotten Robinson says
I will stick with my natural hair!
BlackHairInformation.com says
it doesnt change your natural hair
Naturelle Forty-Four says
It has to be better than putting a bunch of bands in my hair and taking it out
Jasmine B. Washington says
It looks interesting but it looks like I long process. I will stick with silk wraps.
LaCretia Giddens says
of course 😉
Mimi NobodyJones Morgan says
Hmm, sounds like a good idea.
ShaRonda Mays says
hmmmmm
Akilah Smith says
Hmmm sounds interesting. How long does it last is my question?!
Randi Gary says
You know what would be better…if they were flexible (kinda like how you would lay tracks) I have super thick long long hair….this whole process would probably give me carpal tunnel
Chantial Pulliam says
Hmmmm looks interesting
Charnice Bradley says
Her curls are gorgeous !!!
DeAndria Jones says
Interesting yes…… roots are not straight and the process looks to be too long and tedious. At the end of the day it is still heat. Just be smart about flat ironing….
Rhianna says
This seems interesting although I wonder, do the plates get hot? if they do then it’s not really a no heat thing – if they don’t get hot and I missed something in the video then my bad. How long would it keep your hair straight? Also, this does seem like a long process, heat has yet to touch my hair since I’ve been natural (year and a half) but when I decide to try it out this wouldn’t appeal to me to be honest because of my previous and next points. A suggestion would be longer plates in addition to wider ones, it would shorten the process and make it more appealing. I’m thinking, imagine you only had a couple of inches out at the bottom of the plate, you’ll have to use a whole plate just for that, which results in more plates for a full head, more time consumed and more money spent. I actually work in PR and marketing so please don’t take offence to this, it’s literally my job to offer these kind of suggestions lol. I could go on so feel free to email me if you want more suggestions =] x
Eboni Hagood says
Nope flat iron.all day Jazmine Powell
Marquessa says
I love how nobody is addressing the fact that that is absolutely not type 4 hair. Did they think we wouldn’t notice? I can see the damn curls in there. Test it out on a REAL 4c head and then we can talk. Until then I call BS
Alma Ruddock says
I would say that is 4a hair actually….
Beatrix says
I too, was kind of dubious of the hair type choice she used for a demonstration. It sort of implies that it doesn’t work as well on kinkier hair. Otherwise, I think its pretty smart. Natural hair will dry the way you mold it to dry after all.
Morgan says
http://instagram.com/p/yDGXW-huWH/
Nicole Thompson says
Question……flat ironing or blow drying ur hair doesn’t mean u hair is natural?
Victoria Burnett says
You would still be considered natural as long as you don’t chemically alter your curl pattern (via relaxer or texturizer). The Natural Hair Nazis wont like it but who cares what they think.
A'Kiyia says
Thanks for Sharing!
This sounds Very Interesting.
But I don’t like how it is MisLeading and it Say:
No-Heat; You are using Heat it just isn’t a Flat Iron or Straighten Comb.
Alma Ruddock says
Actually it is no heat. The lady only used the hooded dryer to speed up the drying but she said that you can also air dry if you want to.
Omada 'Abahi' Okpe says
It would take me forever to go through all my hair.
Shawnta Todd says
Can someone give me some advice on products to use on my hair i have kinky hair I don’t know what to put on it to lay it down flat other than flat ironing it my have is very thick & always puffy help thanks shawnta
Shantoine Antoine says
my hair is very thick and coily so i use shea moisture product to soften it especially the shea moisture smoothie and hair butters for styling example cantu coconut cream and i use eco styler for a sleek look-i use raw shea butter mixed with coconut oil for my scalp-hope this helps
Nae Sinqle'lifee Chatman says
i need this
Loren Thigpen says
Sounds interesting. . But it also sounds like a lot of work. I dunno about this
Beatrix says
Looks like the same amount of effort it will take to put rollers in your hair.
Sakina Pecchillo says
Nicole Thompson I feel that’s a matter of opinion. I consider my hair natural because I don’t relax it. I get my hair flat ironed here and there and for the most part use store bought products for natural hair. Others feel differently.
Cheryl Calhoun-Miller says
I consider my hair natural as it have no chemicals in my hair but I will blow dry and flat iron my hair to style for a straight look
Refinnej Dnartreb says
Coollllllllll
Koree Monroe says
It looks time consuming
Carline Mondesir says
too much work
Brittni Lee says
This is brilliant! Like a straightening roller. I’ll buy into it
Shawnta Todd says
Yes its a lot of hard work it is soft now but I can’t lay it down not even for a pony tail
Nicole Thompson says
That’s what I say. ….once there is no chemicals ur hair is natural.
Shawnta Todd says
Victoria Burnett so I should just put the product on my roots & not my hair ???
Beloved Joy says
i am wondering if the plates give the same result if i air dry?
Fathiya Abdulhamid says
I so love de idea,n I wish to get one to buy in Accra Ghana.
Abbie Pracket says
I want one!
Lisa says
Me too!
Nikki LovepeaceandHairgrease Blair says
thats too much with putting plates to stretch the hair out straight..better off blowing drying it out
Neah LaShawn says
sounds like a good idea, only they imply that you dont use heat then procceded to heat the hair during the process so yea also thats not 4c hair.. still looks like a better option than flat ironing tho
Lisa says
I’m very interested.
Shayla Y'israel says
Interesting
Ronnie Natasha Renee says
It seem as if it would pull your hair out… For me there is nothing better than a roller set/blown out stretch hair.
Marie Quidi says
What if u have long long hair
Tee Roberson says
Wow it is cute and my hair is just like yours .thank you so I can go on buy it.
Tannel G says
Does this work on course afro hair?
April Carter says
But she did use heat.
Kimberly Oglesby says
When you say no heat – that is not true. It appears that in this demo, she is sitting under the dryer.
Joanna Youngjanet says
Hmmmm…I don’t know :/
Charles Zeno says
Silly the critical is still wide open and it looks like it’s tearing cuticle layers off good luck with that
Abigail Wickham says
IMF you have to sit under the dryer there is still some level of heat
Michelle Nicole Charley says
You can air dry…. The heat was an option!
Michelle Nicole Charley says
It doesn’t get the ends well… Needs fine tuning but it could work… Could not imagine sleeping on them thou, lol
Huvie Joe says
Ooooh i would sooo try this!
Tashani says
UGGGhhh! Do you guys read? Like fully read the article and the website before displaying your opinion. The inventor CLEARLY stated that she only used the hair dryer to speed up the process, and that the hair can be straitened air dried. The video is only a short demo. On her website she fully show how your straiten the ends. And the plates come in Large, medium and small for all hair lengths.
*deep sigh* Criticism is alway good, but remember this is someones dream. Don’t crap on it before you know all the facts. Just saying.
Sarah says
This looks like a very good solution for straightening hair without a lot of heat or effort. For those here who are complaining about how much work it would take, you clearly have never set your hair on perm rods or in mini twists! Those take me hours to do, and this looks easier than that.
Additionally, I’m not sure why people are saying they prefer to set their hair with rollers/perm rods… 1) This is essentially a straight roller. (In the same way that getting a relaxer is the straight version of getting a dry jheri curl.) 2) You can’t have a preference if you haven’t tried these yet.
Finally, I’m not at all surprised, but still disappointed by the number of women here who automatically jumped on the “she’s not using a real Type-4 model” bandwagon. The model has hair that has been identified as Type 4, and her hair was clearly more coarse than the model that followed. Type 4 hair CAN have curls just like it can have zig-zags or no pattern at all. Based on charts I have all the textures on my head, including 4abcz, 3c at the nape, a weird patch of 2 near the crown. I still identify as a Type 4 because most of my hair is. Don’t damn this woman’s product because you have already decided it won’t work on your hair.
Anyway, I will support this project on Kickstarter, because it’s a good idea. Do I think this product might help me with versatility? Maybe, maybe not. Regardless, we as members of the natural hair community should be supporting black women who are trying to make being natural easier and more versatile.
Asia Moné Blakes says
She is still using heat and you would still need heat on roots .. She’s almost there
Jessica Banks says
Hmmm… this product has caught my attention! I would like to know how to order this product. Seeing as how my hair is a very nice grade of hair, I think these would work well in my curly head of hair 🙂 … How can I order this product to test it?
Tina Ela Ndong says
This is really amazing. Once you start selling the product. Please inform me!!! Thanks!!!!
Giftylove Ankrah says
Wow!
Lolo Petit-Frere says
That still defeats the whole purpose of being natural but to each his own.
Tiffany Green says
Tina Ela Ndong you can visit the site below to pledge and get your product with the first bunch shipped out.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1855194586/cwk-straight-plates-straighten-hair-without-heat
Tiffany Green says
Tina Ela Ndong ^^
Honey Yams says
Very interested
Chantel Monique says
Nope! I like my hair curly and fluffy… So why straighten it?
Crystal Lee says
I don’t get it!
Crystal Clark-Mills says
I like it but the ends … What about the health of the ends…?
VERO says
I am a natural mom with a daughter with natural hair. I am so happy that my daughter has learned to appreciate her hair in it’s natural texture, and feels that her soft, lacy ,seafoam-like 4a hair is an enhancement to her signature beauty (I try to set an example in this). That being said, I know the day will come when she will like to enjoy a change of pace in hairstyle.(She loves her hair and WILL NOT, at this point, let anyone flat iron it).
I think this is a great idea for those times when one would like a different hairstyle for fun/a change. Also the young lady in the video is a testament to how natural hair, in its natural state, is so pretty and flattering to our features.
What a super clever product,, genius !! I do have a couple of questions though: 1) Since this is being advertised as heatless straightening,,,why is the demo only of an expedited dryer (heated) set? If heatless straightening is the thrust of this product perhaps a demo of how it works without heat would have been more helpful, perhaps with a link or brief explanation that the process can be expedited by using a hooded dryer. I would love to see a demo video showing how the product works under truly heat free conditions. 2) It seems if one has hair over a certain length, additional plates are added to the bottom part of the strands. Can this cause denting or a change in hair texture in the hair between the plates? There is probably a technique to make sure that doesn’t happen. What would that technique be?
Thank You!
Commonsense says
I say, kudos to you for bringing your invention to fruition!!! Go girl! if I saw them at Target or somewhere, I would give them a try! They look like a nice way to stretch the hair, but you could do this with huge rollers, the really big ones. But you are still using heat.
Leslie Kugelman says
Let me check this when I get home.
kiluua says
Obviously still need heat! 🙁
Ruth Dyson says
When I first read about this I made a post that I would purchase these for my daughter who has two little girls. After giving it some thought, I have changed my mind. This came after realizing that I was going to buy them for the one granddaughter who does not like anyone touching her let alone her hair and the other one, according to her mom, has just enough hair to put into a ponytail. If I was natural like them, I would get them for me, seeing that I’m not I don’t know if I am willing to try them on my hair. For now, extremely interesting and I’ll wait to see what the mainstream thinks of them.
Michelle F. says
It does look interesting but I think flat ironing is still a better bet.
Kelechi Bradley says
I would like to start off by saying THANK YOU, THANK YOU and THANK YOU for your questions, comments, suggestions and concerns about my project. My name is Kelechi Bradley and I am the developer of the CWK Straight Plates. I have spent countless hours working on this project and I am so excited with the progress of the CWK Plates and I am so eager to get them into your hands. After a 30 day campaign, I am excited that as of today, we have raised enough money for the tooling, production and inventory. It has been my mission to come up with a product for all of us CWK girls out there. Please note….I LOVE my curls, but I am an advocate for options. I am in no way saying STRAIGHT hair is better, I just believe that we all would love to have a variety of tools to help us get the look that we are going for each day. I personally rock my curls 90% of the time 🙂 I am just so honored by the
support of my CWK sisters out there and I cannot wait to read your reviews on the plates.
I am sending a loud SHOUT-OUT to the writer of this article and I want to express my sincere appreciation for your time with making this post. I would like to send you a set of straight plates (your choice) for you (or a friend) for you to do a review. Please send me an email at: [email protected]. Take care!
Kelechi Bradley
CEO – CWK Girls
mimi says
Seems like no more extra work than rollers or banding. Personally i 2 strand twist my hair..it dries stretching out closer to my lenth and i love the crinkle. No heat in my hair in 5yrs. I would pass on this item
CWK Girls says
Hello, we are happy to announce that we have started the production for this tool. The SSS Plates are even more versatile that the CWK Plates. Please check out our website or find us on Instagram http://www.cwkgirls.com or @cwk_girls
Morgan says
Finally found it on 4c hair, not bad… Ordered it see we’ll see
http://instagram.com/p/yDGXW-huWH/
CWK Girls says
You rock ! We have updated the design and added connecting tools! If you loved this u are going to love what we have cooking!