The desire to have straight and silky hair has been the utmost wish of all women for ages, however, not everyone has been naturally blessed with straight and manageable hair. Those with curly, frizzy, and unruly hair have started to get their hair straightened from hair straightening salons and fulfill their wish.

Before we proceed towards the types of straightening treatments, you should know what actually are the straightening treatments and how they work. Due to advancements in technology and new innovations, there are a plethora of straightening treatment options to choose from. They differ in products, treatment methodologies, time for the treatment, side effects, aftercare and maintenance, and how long the treatment lasts.

Keratin Treatment

This treatment is also known as Brazilian blowout and smoothening treatment. It is the safest of the straightening treatments. In this, the bonds of the hair are not chemically altered. It comprises the protein keratin which is infused into your hair. Your hair is made up of keratin and this treatment makes your hair healthier, shinier, reduces damage, and makes them smooth. It will not make your hair very straight but it will reduce hair frizz and curls and give a blow-dried look.

A keratin cream is applied to your hair and left for some time. Then your hair is straightened at extremely high heat and you will see the chemicals vaporizing. Then your hair is conditioned and again straightened and you are good to go.

This usually lasts 6 to 8 weeks and you can repeat this treatment because it is safer compared to other treatments. With repeated treatments, your hair will become straight and sleek.

Rebonding

The term rebonding means to alter the bonds of the hair and then seal them to become straight. In this chemical creams are used which break and change the curly bonds of the hair and make them straight after which they are straightened at high heat and then locked by a neutralizer. The result is dead straight hair. Chemicals such as formaldehyde and aldehyde are used.

Rebonded hair doesn’t look very natural and lasts for around 6 to 8 months till your roots begin to grow. When the curly roots regrow then the offset between bonded and natural hair does not look very nice, hence the need for frequent root touch-ups. Rebonding is very damaging to your hair.

Japanese Straightening

This Japanese straightening has many names and often different companies use different products but the process is the same. It is known as thermal straightening, Chi, relaxing, and Japanese straightening. It is similar to the process of rebonding but it is a little less damaging than rebonding and the result is naturally straight and sleek hair and not limp and dead straight hair.

In this method, all the bonds are not altered and broken but some of them are altered. This should be done by professionals because the proper alteration of the bonds is important. If fewer bonds are broken then the hair will not be straight and if more bonds are broken then it will result in limp straight hair.

Straightening creams are applied and the hair is combed and left for some time. It is washed with appropriate shampoo and then blow-dried and straightened to seal the bond alterations. Then neutralizer is applied to the hair to lock in the straightened bonds. This treatment lasts around 6 to 8 months depending on how you maintain and care for your hair post-treatment.

Conclusion

All the straightening treatments use the chemical compounds formaldehyde and aldehyde. Formaldehyde is known to be carcinogenic hence excessive exposure to this can be dangerous. When you get rebonding and Japanese straightening done, you have to leave your hair for 3 days afterward, which means you are constantly inhaling the chemicals for 3 days after which your hair is washed. Of all the treatments, keratin treatment or Brazilian blowout is the safest option and it will also improve the condition of your hair over time.

Even the keratin treatment by hairstylist Rockville is not completely chemical free but it has a very little amount of formaldehyde. If you do not want chemical exposure at all, then invest in a good quality hair straightener and flaunt your straight and sleek hair when you want. But it won’t be permanent. You will have to do it every day.