How to Get Permanently Straight Hair Without Creams
While women with pin-straight tresses wax wishful for just a little wave in their hair, those with unruly curls ponder ways to get permanently straight hair without copious use of creams, gels or other weighty hair products that only provide a temporary fix at best. Blow-drying and flat-ironing curly hair is a timely endeavor and often lasts only a day or two, or until the humidity in the air rises. The good news is that there is a way for women who do daily battle with frizz and curls to get permanently straight, silky smooth hair--however, it comes with a high price tag. Does this Spark an idea?
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How To Get Permamently Straight Hair Without Creams
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Look into Japanese hair straightening--also known as thermal reconditioning, a straight perm and a Japanese straight perm. This process involves applying a chemical treatment to the hair and then flat ironing it. Japanese hair straightening can leave hair permanently straight without the need for blow-drying or flat-ironing. But the hair that grows back grows back curly, necessitating the need for additional treatments. According to ABC New's 20/20, thermal reconditioning treatment comes with a risk: extremely damaged hair. Some women have noted obvious hair loss after the treatment, and experts do not recommend it for hair that's been bleached, already straightened or been through any other chemical process. African-American women are not great candidates for Japanese hair straightening, either, as their hair is too delicate to withstand the treatment. The Japanese straight perm comes with a high price tag: up to $800 without a tip for the stylist. However, some salons charge by the hour, typically around $100.
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Go Brazilian. No, not that kind--the latest trend in permanent hair straightening technology offered at salons. Unlike Japanese hair straightening, the Brazilian keratin treatment is appropriate for all types of hair, even that which has been previously dyed. A Brazilian keratin treatment is a time-consuming endeavor, taking anywhere from 1.5 to 4 hours and costing anywhere from $150 to $600. A protein called keratin is applied to the hair, after which it is flat-ironed straight. Depending on how often you wash your hair, this treatment can leave hair pin straight anywhere from six weeks to six months. In addition to the expense, another downside is that many Brazilian keratin treatments contain formaldehyde, a carcinogen that can irritate the eyes and lungs when inhaled.
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DIY at home. A hot product to hit the shelves is Liquid Keratin, which can be purchased at any Ulta store or online at Drugstore.com or the company's official website at LiquidKeratin.com. Liquid Keratin is essentially a dilute version of the Brazilian keratin treatment and works in the same way, by applying keratin solution to the hair and flat-ironing it straight. Your tresses remain straight for only about six weeks, after which another treatment must be applied. However, anecdotal evidence reveals that Liquid Keratin works for some but not all. Some women noted no difference after the treatment, and others reported damage or thinning hair. Yet others reported that the treatment faded their hair color or turned hair that was dyed blonde brassy. Many women, however, reported that Liquid Keratin worked just as well as expensive salon straightening treatments. The cost for one Liquid Keratin at-home treatment is around $70.
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Tips & Warnings
Curly, frizzy hair is better than hair that is obviously damaged or visibly thin. If you hair is easily damaged by straighteners, relaxers and color treatments, you may not be a good candidate for any type of permanent hair straightening that involves a chemical process. Consult an experienced hair stylist before embarking on the unknown.
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- Photo Credit James Carroll Beckwith, Artist (Wiki Commons, Public Domain)
