It should come as no surprise when women having naturally curly, wavy, or very frizzy hair struggle to control the curls with regular commercial products. This is because the majority of products for hair care are made for ladies with straight hair. You need permanent hair straightening treatments if you have naturally curly and frizzy hair that is difficult to maintain. These methods include Brazilian and Japanese hair straightening as well as chemical relaxers.
Since the 1890s, hair straightening has been a popular hairstyling method that involves straightening and flattening the hair to give it a straight, streamlined, and sleek look. In the 1950s, it rose to great popularity among black people of all races, both men and women. It may be done with a hair iron or heated comb, chemical relaxers, Brazilian or Japanese hair straightening, roller sets, or blow dryer styling. Certain kind of shampoos, conditioners, or hair gels may also assist in temporarily straightening hair.
In several Southeast Asian nations, the procedure is often referred to as “rebonding” (e.g. Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines). Chemicals and flat irons may harm hair if used often. Split ends are often the consequence of excessive straightening. Sprays that reduce heat damage, however, might lessen the hair damage.
Temporary hair straightening using a hair iron (non-chemical treatment).
Hot combs and hair irons are used to temporarily change the texture or shape of hair. Usually, environmental conditions, such as water contact from cleaning, rain, humidity, etc., will reverse the effect of being straightened. This includes the water included in styling products like gels that are used after straightening, yet with proper application, such treatments may still yield results that are useable and not significantly different from those obtained with naturally straight hair.
Overusing heat tools may change the structure of hair permanently. “Heat damage” is the term for this. Before using a heat styling tool, using protective sprays or lotions may assist hair to minimize heat damage. Once the damage has been done, it cannot be undone but may be covered up using other styling methods. Cutting out the hair strands and growing new hair is the only solution to heal heat-damaged hair.
Without using any chemicals, you may straighten hair with these five main tools:
The comb is used to straighten hair that has had heat applied to it; sometimes called a hot comb.
Heat is applied to hair directly using hair irons (flat iron). A flat iron having a heating plate that is between 0.5 and 1 inch broad is used for shorter hair. For longer hair, wider irons are utilized.
To straighten hair, use a blow dryer with a comb adapter or a round brush. Low to moderate heat levels should be utilized to preserve the hair and the scalp since excessive heat might harm it. While using a hair dryer to heat your hair, try adding extra rinse-free or leave-in conditioner to keep your hair moisturized.
On wet hair, big hair rollers may be used to stretch or straighten the tresses as it dries. Before blow drying, huge rollers are often used to reduce heat damage.
Electricity is used by brushes for straightening hair. By continually stroking the hair with the brush, the bristles generate heat that is subsequently absorbed by the hair. For optimal impact, the hair must delve deeply into the brush.
The Dominican blowout, which has its roots in the Dominican Republic, is a well-liked temporary straightening technique. The Dominican stylists pioneered the method there before it moved to the United States. The Dominican blowout enables chemical-free straightening of tightly curled and highly textured hair types. It has gained popularity, especially amongst African Americans, as a temporary hair straightening option or as a way to straighten the hair in between relaxers.
Permanent Straightening of Hair using Chemical Treatments
To maintain your hair straight, a permanent straightening treatment is required. If you choose a temporary hairstyle, you’ll find yourself traveling with a handy hair straightener. On the other side, permanent straightening makes it possible to permanently get rid of curls.
Hair Composition
Keratin, which is made up of lengthy chains of amino acids, makes up your hair. In nature, keratin protein is incredibly strong. Without scissors, it is quite difficult to break a hair strand. Your hair’s structure has a kink and curls as a result of these bonds. The disulfide bonds in the keratin protein give hair its remarkable strength. Amino acids containing sulfur are abundant in keratin, and these amino acids create disulfide bonds with neighboring chains of keratin. Thus, it is inherently an excellent characteristic, particularly for long hair, since no one wants their hair to break or change the shape. However, disulfide bonds pose a significant issue for ladies who desire to get rid of their curls. Chemicals, however, make it simple to destroy these connections.
Chemical straightening, sometimes referred to as hair relaxing, involves the application of certain chemicals that will break the disulfide bonds in your hair, permanently resetting any kinks. These bonds can be broken with reducing agents, which are bases, but not by oxidizing agents, which are acids. Thus, disulfide bonds are broken using alkaline solutions. Acidic solutions are then used on the already straightened hair. Applying acid solutions is meant to neutralize the base and halt the process that leads to the cleavage of the disulfide bond. This also allows the disulfide bonds to reform in new positions as a result. While chemical hair-straightening methods utilize various chemicals, their fundamentals remain the same.
While fresh hair growth is unaffected, relaxers and other treatments permanently change the structure of the hair. To conclude, to straighten hair chemically, disulfide bonds—also known as an S-S bond and disulfide bridge—in the hair shaft must be broken.
Hair may be permanently straightened by several methods. Today’s most popular techniques are:
Japanese/thermal reconditioning/yuko/rebonding is a non-coating procedure that involves using a chemical for 15 to 20 minutes to loosen the cysteine bonds in the hair, followed by the use of heat to reconstruct the bonds into a straight type.
Chemical relaxers and hair straightening disrupt the disulfide bonds in the hair. While non-lye relaxers include calcium hydroxide and may be used on scalps with more sensitivity, lye softeners contain sodium hydroxide.
A coating of keratin is applied to the hair in the Brazilian or keratin treatment, which is then finished with a hot flat iron. Since the keratin treatment employs the natural protein present in hair shafts and is appropriate for the majority of hair issues. The procedure enhances gloss, smoothes out frizz, and straightens hair. The effects eventually revert to the natural texture after around six months.
Procedures for hair straightening
Using high heat and various chemical treatments are included in permanent hair straightening techniques. Nevertheless, it is always wise to adhere to a step of specific steps. The first step you must do is shampoo. Chemicals may then be administered in small sections after that. Although this process might take some time, it is worthwhile since your hair will be permanently straight thereafter.
Various Ways for Permanently Straightening Hair
Three main methods may be used to permanently straighten hair:
- Hair Rebonding
By relaxing, reforming and breaking the bonds, this kind of permanent hair straightening is restructuring the shape of the hair. Depending on how long your hair is, the procedure might take anywhere from 3 to 8 hours.
Procedure:
Your hair will be shampooed and divided into sections by the stylist.
They will cover the hair with a thick coating of a relaxant and secure it using a thin plastic sheet. For 30 to 45 minutes, the relaxation is left on the hair.
Depending on their structure & curly hair type, your hair is steamed for anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes.
After rinsing the relaxant out, the hairdresser gives your hair a thorough conditioning treatment to provide moisture.
The keratin lotion is applied on the hair with extra attention paid to keeping them well saturated.
After 30 minutes, the hairdresser will wash your hair with cold water.
Your hair will then be permanently straightened using flat iron after being blow-dried.
- Japan Thermal Reconditioning
The Japanese technique of straightening hair alters the curl pattern of the hair using heat and chemical mixture solution.
Procedure:
Your hairdresser will clean your hair and then separate your hair into sections.
Each section will get a chemical solution application, which they will leave on the hair for 30-45 minutes. This solution will be breaking the keratin protein bonds and restructuring the natural texture of your hair.
The hairdresser will wash your hair after rinsing the solution out with cold water.
Until your hair is straightened, it will be exposed to heat for a while.
Your hair will get a second chemical treatment to maintain its new form.
To permanently lock the bonds, you must repeat the procedure after three days.
- Keratin or Brazilian treatments
One of the safest procedures for permanently straightening hair is the keratin/Brazilian treatment. It has the extra advantage of shielding your head from the sun.
Procedure
Your hairdresser will wash your hair first and divide into sections
Each section will get a keratin solution application, which they will keep on for 2 to 5 minutes.
Your hair will be smoothed over by the hairdresser with a flat iron, sealing in its straight structure.
It takes time to permanently straighten your hair. Although visiting a hairdresser is always a better choice, you may do it easily at home as well. Here’s how to approach it properly.
Questions and Answers
After permanent hair straightening, may we use oil?
After receiving a permanent hair straightening treatment, do not oil your hair for the first week since the chemicals need time to take full action. However, you may continue to frequently oil your scalp to keep it nourished after that.
Does rice water make hair straighter?
Hair becomes more elastic and has lower surface tension when treated with rice water. While it could make your hair straight and manageable, it will not permanently straighten your hair.
Does coconut milk make hair straighter?
Coconut milk might help you get naturally straight hair. However, it wouldn’t provide you with a permanent straightening.
When your hair is straight, how do you sleep?
Silk and satin reduce friction and prevent the straight mane from reverting. Therefore, as you sleep, cover your hair with a satin or satin head scarf.
Main Takeaways
Using a chemical solution that will relax and cause breakage to the keratin protein bonds, and restructures your hair, your hair can permanently straighten.
You may also straighten your hair using Brazilian or Japanese thermal reconditioning treatments.
Besides, you may straighten hair at home without breaking the bank by using petroleum jelly, a relaxant, and a comb.
To keep your hair moisturized and nourished, use a neutralizing shampoo and condition it after each wash.
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