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Hair-Straightening Treatments - What You Didn't and Should Know

Hair straightening treatments are a great option for those of you with frizzy hair or even curly hair, and you just want something different. Most, if not all, hair straightening treatments can effectively last months. But what are things that you should know that you don’t?

One of the major things that you should know is that there are many different types of hair straightening treatments out that and they all do different things. In fact, some of them can cause a lot of damage to your hair because it’s breaking bonds in your hair. Plus, so much more.

In this article, we’re going to go over some of the most important things that you need to know before you go and get a hair straightening treatment. Hopefully, this article will help you figure out what is best for you and what you should avoid doing!


Types of Hair Straightening Treatments:

  

Looking for something that lasts for a long time, at least until your hair grows out? If yes, then you should look into a thermal reconditioning treatment (or Japanese straightening treatment). This type of treatment is best for bulky hair that has loose to medium curls. In this treatment, your hair will be covered in a solution that contains a chemical to break the bonds that give your hair its curls.. Then, it is rinsed, dried, and meticulously straightened with a hair straightener iron such as the ones reviewed at DesignsAuthority.com

There is also a relaxer treatment that works for those of you with coarse, tight curls looking for a long-lasting straightening treatment. It uses a much stronger chemical to break the bonds that give your curls shape, then it is rinsed, dried, and meticulously straightened.

 

 


For something that wears off in two to four months, you should consider a Brazilian straightening treatment (AKA Brazilian Blowout) or a Keratin Complex Hair Therapy. Both of these smooth the surface of your hair without breaking the bonds in your hair, so your natural texture gradually returns.

 

 

For something that lasts until the next time you wash your hair, you can do a deep conditioner. Deep conditioners control frizz and add moisture to the hair. You’ll work the product into your hair, from the roots to the ends, and then let it sit for 10 minutes.

 

 


Some things that you should know about these hair straightening treatments:


1. Terminology Debunked

 

 

A lot of treatments that have keratin in their name claim to defrizz your hair, but that isn’t true. Keratin is a protein that your hair produces that helps keep it soft and moisturized.

 

 

However, there are ingredients that you can find in these treatments that will smooth your hair and help it stay that way. For instance, you can find ammonium thioglycolate and sodium hydroxide in a Japanese straightening treatment. These ingredients do actually make your hair smooth; this is because they break down the bonds that hold your curls shape. But these can be damaging!

 

 

Some keratin treatments, for example, a Brazilian Blowout, have a formaldehyde solution in them that does allow your hair to become smooth that lasts beyond the next time you wash your hair. But the natural texture will return gradually over the next couple of months.

 

 

 

 

 

2. "Formaldehyde-free” Doesn’t Always Mean That

 

 

Even if the bottle doesn’t say that it has formaldehyde, which makes sense because it’s a gas, it can contain formaldehyde releasing ingredients. Some of these that you should look out for are methylene glycol, formalin, methanol, and methanethiol. So even if a stylist, or product, claims to be formaldehyde free you should always double check for products that release formaldehyde.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Formaldehyde Alternative

 

 

There is an alternative to formaldehyde; it’s called glyoxylic acid. It helps to lock hair in a straight position just as well as formaldehyde, but it is so much less toxic than formaldehyde. They’re not quite as powerful, in fact, they tend to last only about two to three months, but they won’t dramatically ruin your curls the same way that formaldehyde can.

 

 

 

 

 

4. You Can Get a Short Haircut

 

 

The frizz and curls that are caused by wavy or curly hair are one of the major reasons that most hair stylists talk you out of short haircuts. But with a smoothing treatment, you can cut your hair short and have it look amazing! You can even find salons that do hair straightening treatments and haircuts as a package deal, so if this is something you’re interested in doing look for discounts with their smoothing treatments.

 

 

 

 

 

5. Switch Your Shampoo Afterwards

 

 

You’ll have to switch out your shampoo for one that is sulfate-free, but that doesn’t mean that you have to buy one that the salon is selling you. Most of the products that salons sell are said to be much better than anything you can buy in a store, and that might be correct, but it doesn’t mean that that’s your only option. If you really want to make your hair straightening treatment last, then all you need to do is purchase a sulfate-free shampoo.

 

 

 

 

 

6. You Can Do a Treatment at Home

 

 

While these treatments don’t last quite as long, they are much cheaper than getting it done at a salon. Most of these at home treatments just coat the hair shaft with a barrier that keeps humidity from getting to it – which means that no bonds are broken. So, while they don’t last as long, you’re preventing a lot of damage being done to your hair. Most results will only last about a week, but the treatments cost as little as $10 compared to over $200. It’s a great way to decide if you want a more permanent treatment or not!

 

 

 

 

 

7. Don’t Do a Treatment More Than 3 Times

 

 

You should avoid going to a salon for a hair straightening treatment more than three times a year. Every single time that you get a treatment done to your hair, the hair becomes more brittle, dry, and prone to breakage. So, you should really save the treatments for when you’ll need them the most which is usually in the summer. 

 

 




You can read more at: http://www.oprah.com/style/the-truth-about-hair-straightening-treatments