mamas who deal with black (African) hair... NOT the color bl

I need your hair help! 

Soooo.... Here's my 7 year old, Nicaya.  

I straightened it this morning.....







This is from the last time I did it, and the only time it came out really, really straight! It was really shiny here too... This is what I want it to look like, but I don't remember what I did to get it that way.... 




Here is her hair when it's curly.....




I know I should already be informed on this because she's almost 8, lol.... 
But, I have only straightened it a couple of times because I don't want to damage it!
Anyway, her hair is super curly, fairly course, but not very thick.... I do not blow dry it, because the ONE time I did, it turned into a huge uncombable mess....I use a straight iron on it, and the one I have is the same one I use on my hair...(one that's obviously NOT designed for black hair...)
When I use mine, I will put some Frizz Ease serum on it and put it up wet, in a really tight twistso it dries overnight, as straight as it can on it's own.
Then in the morning, I will use the straightener... Anyway, last night, I borrowed my MIL's hair straightener, which is designed FOR black hair. (I think the brand is "Good Hair" or something, and it's ceramic...)
Well, it seemed like it took longer to straighten it because it didn't get as hot. (She says it has a "sensor" to tell what texture the hair is and the heat auto adjusts to the hair...) Anyways, it turned out different! And not a good different... 
I know it's not going to be "flowing" and move like "white" hair, but I also don't want it to be all stiff and stay the same shape the wind blows it after she is back inside, lol... You know what I'm talking about...(I hope..)
So...
What should I put in her hair BEFORE, or AFTER, that will make it movable and shiny, bot not greasy?
Is sheen outdated? (my MIL says I should use it.... But she's old, so IDK...)
What about grease or oil? I've tried Pink and it dries her hair out, and there is NO way hubby will let her get any type of perm/relaxer at all....
So, what do I use?
When do I use it?
I need step by step instructions!!
How long should I let her wear it like that? (I usually make her wash it after a week of being straight, cuz it starts to look tore up....)
Is there a way to preserve it so that it will last longer?
She will NOT sleep with a do' rag, lol....
Help, please, and thank you!!!!!


I'm going to pick her up from school right now, but I will BRB!!

I don't straigten my girls' hair, but I can tell you one thing: don't use anything with petroleum in it, like Pink Oil or most Sheens. That's whats weighing her hair down. Read the label on anything before you use it.

I don't use oil in my hair, at all.
This is my hair:

I love it curly, I think it looks so cute on her!

Teach her how to wrap her hair at night, youtube tutorials, it is easy and it will give her hair body and set for the next day. I use Matrix.Sleek look products in my hair, they have a creme for blow drying that gets my hair super straight and sometimes I don't need to flat iron it. I don't use a straightener for black hair, I use one I got from ULTA, it's a Chi and my friend let me use her old one until I get a new one, it works just fine. Sally has a good one, I can't remember the brand's name it might be FHI. Check that one out. For a heat protectant serum I use some crap I buy from Walmart made by a brand called Shine. I like it because my hair isn't too greasy after putting it in. Grease I use Mizani H2rose hairdress, it has a good texture and I just use a little bit. I would write more but I have to go to my OB appt. I'll check back when I get home  

I dont technically have "black" hair because im biracial BUT i use parnevu leave in conditioner for extra dry hair...this is my hair lol

I go to a hair stylist every two weeks. I wash my hair and apply a hot oil treatment in between those visits. After washing and letting the conditioner sit, I blow dry it. Letting it air dry makes it kinky, IMO. I start flat ironing in sections with a CHI flat iron and I wrap it up every night.

Quoting Suzie *Diosa Venezolana*:“ I need your hair help!  Soooo.... Here's my 7 year old, Nicaya.   I straightened it this morning..... ... [snip!] ... with a do' rag, lol.... Help, please, and thank you!!!!! I'm going to pick her up from school right now, but I will BRB!!”

My daughter bought something called "Mixed Chicks," and ended up not using it since she's only 1/4 black and doesn't really need it.... 
Anyway, I now use a detangler and the "Mixed Chicks" leave-in conditioner on my son's hair, and it seems to work pretty well!  

And that serum only put a DOT in your hand and smooth it throughout her hair. That shit makes your hair extra greasy if not.

Quoting all!son:“ I dont technically have "black" hair because im biracial BUT i use parnevu leave in conditioner for extra dry hair...”

My biracial mom uses their products and says she loves them.

My hair is really curly, thick (when curly, fairly thin when straight). I'd say use a leave in conditioner. It doesn't have to be for black hair, that's for sure... my hair is more black than white & that's about the only thing that keeps my hair tame. I can't use a blow dryer on it unless I comb/brush it while drying it & have the leave in conditioner on my hair.

Quoting Mimi*Panzer's Mutter*BGFM:“ My biracial mom uses their products and says she loves them.”

yeppp! i use it on my hair, SO's hair, and my oldests LO's hair. Kingztons hair is TOOO fine for it.

When I was her age my non-experienced white mom lol used a detangler spray that worked really well. I use a ceramic curling iron (revlon) to straighten my hair now b/c I noticed that the actual straighteners dry and kill my hair for some reason.