No wonder every other girl just loves the idea of straight and silky hair. Why not? The smooth hairstyle is on every chic’s beauty list these days. But letting down that perfectly straight and luscious hair is not as easy as you think. No, we are not talking about the cost, maintenance, precautions or the after-effects. That comes quite later. Before that, comes the big question of which hair treatment to go for?
From straightening to smoothening and keratin therapy; there are a number of straightening methods in salons and it’s very difficult to know as to which one suits your hair the best. Unsolicited advice from friends and family and even beauty apps go for a toss when it comes to taking a decision. As per the hair experts, each of the hair straightening methods re-textures your unruly and frizzled hair and each has a different process, results and precautions. So, here acquaint you with each that would help you walk in the parlour with much more ease and knowledge.
Straightening is all the rage since years that offers a complete hair transformation that rectifies frizzy and almost-dead hair. It’s more of a fashion approach that gives you poker-straight locks and makes your hair more controllable. It’s a permanent hair solution which means that the hair will be straight till the hair grows out. Straightening or rebonding technique is prescribed to those who just don’t want any upkeep to deal with. This technique is also known as ‘Japanese straightening’.
The science is almost the same as any other hair treatment which targets the hair bonds. So, for that, they heat the iron rods and use chemicals that break down the hair shaft. Use of high temperature restructures each and every bond of hair; the reason you call it rebonding. It’s kind of permanent hair fixing.
Straightening helps you master the sleek hair trend in the best possible way. The long and silky tresses achieved can surely make heads turn. It looks trendy for sure but the pin straight hair might end up looking awkward at times. The stark straight look with pointed ends gives a fake look.
The best thing about straightening is that it can work its magic even on the curliest hair. It is a procedure that causes permanent changes where you don’t have to deal with any management until your hair grows very long. The procedure adds immense shine and life to your unruly hair. The results stay longer in this technique.
Straightening causes much harm than smoothening because the temperature used is high and it changes your personality completely. But at times the outcome might look awkward. Also, it asks for touch-ups as new untreated portions grow in and if not done right, hair may form kinks. It leads to terrible hair fall due to chemicals used.
Also Read: No Straightener Needed, These Home Remedies Give You Straight Hair Without The Damage
Smoothening is considered a milder and a natural version which doesn’t look fake. It is recommended for people who have wavy hair or straight hair which is frizzy or damaged. Smoothening is advised when you want a smooth and silky look but not artificially straightened. It’s a semi-permanent procedure which doesn’t alter your hair structure completely and gives you ample relief from your bad hair days.
It involves the use of chemicals to saturate the hair first. The chemical that the ingredients contain is formaldehyde solution, which actually breaks the natural bond of the hair to be re-shaped. Later the strands are dried out and maintained in a straight position using heating iron rods.
The smoothening treatment makes your hair look natural, bouncy and soft. The impact of the smoothening treatment lasts for around 3 to 6 months. The effects are better on thin hair than the dense hair.
The effect of smoothening is more on the positive side. First, the changes don’t look false. Second, the chemicals used are not as dangerous as compared to what they use in straightening. So, there are lesser chances of hair damage. Overall, it is a gentler and smarter way to deal with your locks.
Results don’t last too long as compared to straightening. Formaldehyde is a chemical, the use of which requires expert supervision. If done wrong, it may cause side effects such as irritation in the eyes, skin and upper respiratory tract.
Keratin therapy is a revolutionary procedure for your tresses that focuses on protein building. It works amazingly on unmanageable and weak hair strands to make it look bouncy. It also gives a waterfall effect. By far, the Keratin treatment has the largest fan following in the hair treatment department.
The treatment is about adding protein named Keratin to hair which naturally exists in your hair. So, when the hair lacks keratin, this method compensates for that. Moreover, it provides external protection to hair that is damaged by the sun, chemicals or pollution.
It is more of a temporary but most effective therapy that nourishes your hair in a natural way. The treatment makes hair easier to manage and style. Above all, the hair will not look extremely flattened and artificial and would still look dense and voluminous.
Keratin is a treatment in the true sense as it moisturises and conditions your hair completely. It adds nourishment which eventually fades out after a couple of months. The side effects of chemicals used are far less as compared to other straightening therapies. Keratin is the most suggestive because, unlike straightening, it restores natural protein in your hair which is safe and successful.
It doesn’t alter the structure of your hair completely as it is in case of smoothening and straightening. The keratin-based treatment is expensive and needs expert hands. The procedure involves post-therapy maintenance for regular-touch which means regular salon visits. Yes, it involves a lot of after-care to avoid exhibiting a totally different structure when the hair grows. Also, the transformation doesn’t last as long as straightening.
So, girls! It’s time you chose the best for your lovable bird’s nest. Besides, considering the end results of different types of straightening therapies, you also need to understand your style, taste, hair length and quality. However, do keep in mind that the results of the treatment also vary from one person to another. So, before you walk into the salon, you need to have a 360-degree approach towards different types of treatments.
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