Choosing the most effective
permanent straightening hair treatments can take a lot of
research. When you're spending the kind of money that most of
the professional salon straightening techniques charge, you want
to make sure you're going to be thrilled with the results.
Below, I'm going to summarize my experiences with different
procedures and some pointers for getting the best results
possible for your hair type.
The first important fact I want to
stress is that there are not genuinely "permanent" hair
treatments that will last forever without upkeep. The reason for
this is simple. Our hair grows out and renews itself on a daily
basis, and once it grows, any chemical or dye treatments that
are on our existing "already grown" hair, are now nullified
because of the new growth.
Any permanent straightening
treatment is technically permanent, it's just permanent on the
hair that is currently on your head when you get the treatment
done. What some people don't realize is that any hair
straightening treatment will need to be re-administered as the
hair grows out, which for most people with moderate to fast hair
growth, can be anywhere from every 6 to every 8 months.
If you have hair that grows
exceptionally slow, this period can be lengthened of course, but
you should usually count on going back at least every 8 months
if you want to maintain the exact results of your initial
appointment or self-application if you are trying an at home
version (which by the way, I usually don't recommend unless you
are professionally trained).
Now, let's get down to the
options you have for permanent straightening. I'm going to go
over the three that I have had personal experiences with, since
I can give it to you from the horse's mouth, so to speak, and
give you an idea of my personal satisfaction with each type.
The first one I'm going to
discuss is generally the most expensive option, but of course
you usually get what you pay for, and this is certainly no
exception. The first one goes by two names, thermal
reconditioning, which is it's technical name, and Japanese
straightening, which is it's given name since the procedure has
it's origins in Japan where it became insanely popular with
Japanese women due to the naturally coarse nature of their hair.
Thermal reconditioning had been
around for years already in Japan before it hit big here in the
US, with women first hearing about it widely in the beginning of
the new millennium. The first big star to reportedly be rumored
to have had the straightening treatment done to her signature
long, straight locks, was Jennifer Aniston, and from there the
Japanese straightening craze began.
I had this treatment first back
in 2004, when I wrote about my experience. I have nothing but
great things to say about this procedure. It leaves the hair
exponentially shinier and healthier looking than when you go in,
and it lasts for as long as your hair takes to grow out.
Japanese straightening usually runs anywhere from $500 to $1,000
per treatment, depending on the texture and length of the
person's hair who is getting it done. If you have very long
hair, or very curly hair, these types will take longer to
process and you will be charged accordingly.
I ended up walking out of a
specializing salon in Columbus Ohio, spending around $550 with
the tip included, and that was with long hair. The reason I got
it so reasonable was because the particular salon, called City
Cuts, was so experienced they had it down to a science, and they
charged less than most other salons where the treatment was more
of a novelty than an almost every day occurrence.
I'd recommend them to anyone
since the staff is highly trained, and they are headed up by a
gentleman who was trained in Japan to do the procedure, so their
results are pretty much flawless. I have a coarser hair type,
and I was amazed at how this technique smoothed my hair and made
it look as if it were naturally straight and full of shine.
You do need to make sure you do
not get any moisture whatsoever on your hair for at least 2-3
full days before you wash it, and this is key to getting the
best and most long lasting results possible. I'd recommend this
treatment to anyone to straighten their hair, I just suggest you
do your homework on where to get it done and make sure you are
attending an experienced and reputable salon.
Another technique I have
personal experience with is one that is less known called cold
smoothing. Let me explain why I think this one may not have
caught on as much as thermal reconditioning did. It simply does
not leave your hair as healthy as the Japanese procedure does.
In fact, my hair felt a lot drier, although it was definitely
straighter after the cold smoothing.
Cold smoothing is a technique
that uses no heat in the actual chemical process, and unlike
Japanese straightening, it does not leave the hair completely
poker straight, and allows the client to still do curly and wavy
hairstyles, just with less frizz. I have to say, I did notice
less frizz, but I still felt as though cold smoothing pulled
some of the shine out of my hair.
If cold smoothing left the
shine in and the healthy feeling, I'd say it's a great process,
however, I was left a little "cold" feeling on this one, if I
may use such a bad pun! It's less expensive as well, but only by
about $200 usually. It is also less time consuming at the salon,
so those are definitely two plusses to this option.
Now, onto the final
straightening technique that I've had personal experience with.
It's home straightening. I went to a local beauty supply store
to try my hand at my own straightening to save a little money
and to experiment and see what kind of results I could get. I
would not recommend this method to anyone unless they get a
superior home system and know what they are doing.
Furthermore, I don't think
there are any home straightening kits out there that do an
exceptional job. If there are, I don't know about them and would
certainly like to, but my experience is a mediocre outcome and a
messy, smelly application that seems to suck the shine and
health right out of your hair.
The results with these home
hair straightening kits also are not long lasting, and they tend
to be more damaging than nurturing and moisturizing in most
cases. There may be a time when they come out with a better
option, but for right now, I'd say avoid them if you can and
instead opt for a professional treatment.
