Hair Straightening Treatments – All About Top 4
Well-defined curls and messy wavy hair look beautiful and are very popular. But what about women whose curls and waves are not nicely defined and those who want to change their hairstyle? These women undergo various hair straightening treatments. Nowadays, there are several treatments that differ in whether they are permanent or temporary, or they include heat and chemicals, etc.
In the following text, we will present to you all the hair straightening techniques and treatments and their pros and cons so that you can choose the one that suits you best.
Temporary or Permanent Straightening
Temporary Hair Straightening
Temporary hair straightening (non-permanent) is a straightening that lasts until you wash your hair. It is most often done with a flat iron or hairdryer. You can let your hairdresser straighten your hair this way in a salon, but the main benefit of this straightening treatment is that you can style your hair at home by yourself.
If you do it right, on dry hair that you protected before the treatment with some heat protection spray, and if you don’t do it often, the hair can keep its quality. If you intend to keep your hair straight using a flat iron, then this is not the best solution, and it is better to undergo one of the more long-term treatments.
Permanent Hair Straightening
Permanent hair straightening treatment lasts for several months and most often completely passes with the growth of new hair that replaces the treated one.
This method usually involves the usage of certain chemicals (chemical treatment) that change the natural hair texture, remove curls or waves and make the hair straight, smooth and soft.
Depending on the chemicals contained in the straightener and the methods used, we distinguish several hair straightening treatments:
- Hair Relaxation;
- Hair Rebonding;
- Japanese Hair Straightening;
- Keratin Treatment (Brazilian Straightening);
Hair Relaxation Treatment
What is hair relaxing?
Chemical straightening or hair relaxing is a straightening method in which we use chemical relaxants to break the natural hair structure by breaking the protein bonds in the hair. When this happens the hair becomes straight, frizz free. This belongs to salon treatments work.
The negative side of this hair treatment is that these relaxers contain formaldehyde, which is a harmful compound that dries out the hair and makes it weak with ragged ends.
You can find certain relaxers in drugstores and pharmacies if you want to do this by yourself. However, considering that this method can harm your hair, we always recommend to be careful and let a professional with experience do this for you in the hair salon.
The risk of hair damage and drying out can be significantly reduced if it is done by someone who knows how to do it right. Also, it is important to know how many protein bonds should be broken. If a few of them break, the treatment will not be 100% successful, which means the hair will not be perfectly straight. However, if it is overdone, significant damage can occur. That’s another reason why a professional should do this.
Expiration Time
Straightened hair with this method generally lasts until the new hair grows out. However, as the new hair grows, it will be naturally structured. Therefore, to keep your hair straight, you will have to maintain and repeat the process over and over again.
Considering all of the above, we always advise you to think carefully and do your research and be sure about this before making an appointment.
The cost
Depending on the hair salon, and who is doing your hair relaxing, prices range from $70 and up.
Hair Rebonding Treatment
What is hair rebonding?
Hair rebonding is also a chemical straightening treatment that uses relaxants that break down the hair’s natural structure, and then a neutralizer that binds it again. After this process, you will have soft and straight hair. The treatment in the hair salon lasts about 3 hours – depending on your hair. It depends on the length and thickness of the hair and its natural structure. More curly hair will require more time and stronger relaxants.
Expiration Time
Hair treated this way remains straight until it grows out. However, like in the case of hair relaxing, the hair that grows will have its own natural structure, so some may not like that difference in the shape of the hair. That is the moment when you need to decide whether you are going to repeat the treatment or let grow your hair.
The cost
The price of hair rebonding treatment ranges from $250 to $1000.
Japanese Hair Straightening Treatment (Thermal Reconditioning)
What is Japanese Hair Straightening?
Japanese hair straightening, also known as Thermal Reconditioning is an extremely effective straightening treatment that straight strong curly hair and waves. It is an excellent choice for hair that is difficult to straighten because it is an aggressive treatment that uses both, strong chemicals (including formaldehyde) and high heat.
On the other hand, due to its aggressiveness, if it is not done properly by a professional, it can cause serious damage to your hair. That’s why it is very important to be well informed about this treatment and to do serious research on where and who does it well.
The disadvantage of this treatment is that it takes a lot of time, 6-8 hours (depending on your hair), and requires another visit to the salon after a few days to perform the final steps. This process will not suit everyone.
Hair treated this way requires serious, high-quality, and regular hair care with high-quality products so that the hair, besides its flat shape, retains its shine and strength.
At Yuki Natori, a Japanese Hair Salon in New York City, we have been doing Japanese straightening for many years and this treatment is performed by true professionals with a lot of experience. We have many satisfied clients who return again and again.
Expiration Time
Of all hair treatments, the Japanese straightening treatment has the longest lifetime. It can hold from six months to eight months.
The Cost
Japanese straightening price range from $450 to $800 depending on your hair type, length, and natural structure.
Keratin Treatment (Brazilian Straightening)
One of the most popular hair treatments nowadays is the keratin treatment also known as Brazilian Blowout. The reason for its popularity lies in the fact that keratin treatments are the safest hair straightening treatments. In addition, many people use it for hair recovery and to make their hair look more beautiful. Why?
Keratin is a protein that your hair contains anyway. However, with a bad lifestyle and aging, the hair has less keratin, giving the impression of dead and damaged hair.
This treatment is performed in a hairdressing salon by professionals who, after applying the keratin solution to the hair, treat it with 450 degrees of heat, straightening it and making it soft and smooth.
The process lasts 3-5 hours, which depends on the hair type and length.
Expiration Time
Keratin treatment is ideal for those who do not care that their hair is 100% straight. It is a semi-permanent treatment. But the hair stays soft, smooth, and shiny for months. What is important to note is that the hair is even straighter and more beautiful after repeated treatments. Just don’t overdo it because it still contains formaldehyde which is bad for your overall health. Besides, you must take very good care with sulfate-free shampoos and other hair care products after this treatment.
The Cost
The price of keratin treatment goes from 400 dollars and up, which again depends on the length, density, and structure of the hair.
What is the best hair straightening treatment for you?
Factors that have an impact on this decision are:
Hair type. Depends on your hair type, length, and density, but first of all – hairs natural structure. If you have very curly hair, you need a slightly stronger treatment with chemicals and heat, but be careful and choose the right place and person who will do this treatment.
Price. All these treatments have different prices, but after the treatments, it is necessary to condition your hair with proper and quality hair care products in order to keep the hair beautiful and healthy. Take that when considering your budget.
Available time. How much free time do you have? These treatments take a lot of time – hours. So you have to have that time available. As mentioned above, Japanese straightening even requires another visit to the salon in order to complete the treatment. And finally, maintenance and how often you will repeat the treatment.
Think about these things and read this article once again to inform yourself about the straightening treatments and you will make the best decision.
If you are from NYC, thinking about this hair straightening treatment, and want long-term straight hair, schedule a treatment with our team.