Japanese Hair Straightening Treatment
Japanese hair straightening is becoming a popular hair treatment in the United States. Unlike straightening irons, which only last until you wash your hair, and relaxers, which last a few days, Japanese hair straightening permanently straightens your hair through a chemical process. The chemicals applied to your hair break your hair's chemical bonds, allowing it to straighten.
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Process
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Expect to spend between two to eight hours in the salon, where the hair professional will start by washing your hair with a pre-treatment shampoo. After the hair is rinsed, a chemical solution which alters the hair's natural state is applied. The hair is rinsed once again and blow-dried. The hair is then flat-ironed with a thermal straight iron, section by section. After the application of another chemical solution, the hair is blow-dried once more.
Types
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There are two main systems of Japanese hair straightening, Yuko and Liscio. Yuko is the original Japanese hair straightening method and works best on previously untreated hair. It is not suitable for African American hair or hair that's been treated with a thio- or lye-based solution.
Liscio is a more recently developed treatment. Unlike Yuko, which uses a single solution for all hair, Liscio has multiple solution strengths that are suitable for different hair types as well as multiple temperature flat irons. Liscio can be used on both untreated and chemically treated hair.
Benefits
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Thermal reconditioning is one of the only ways to achieve permanently straight hair. As your hair grows back, only new growth will have to be treated. If done properly, the end result will be shiny, sleek, iron-straight hair. However, Japanese hair straightening is a complicated, multi-step process, and if you go to someone who is inexperience, you might have uneven results. It's always a good idea to go to a salon that specializes in Japanese hair straightening.
Disadvantages
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Japanese hair straightening is an expensive treatment, costing anywhere from $100 to $1,000, depending on where you go and the length and curliness of your hair. If your hair is curly, it is unlikely to become completely straight.
Though many women undergo the treatment without any issues, a bad chemical hair straightening treatment can result in total or spot hair loss, bald spots scalp rashes, air breakage and potential scarring of the scalp.
Tips
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Go for a pre-treatment consultation. Ask the hair professional a lot of questions, and make sure you're comfortable with the hair professional. Request a list of former clients you can contact. If the hair professional advises you that you're not a good candidate, take her advice.
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