{"id":398,"date":"2017-08-16T20:26:58","date_gmt":"2017-08-16T20:26:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.haircareclub.co.uk\/?p=398"},"modified":"2020-04-17T14:02:12","modified_gmt":"2020-04-17T14:02:12","slug":"hair-straightening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.haircareclub.co.uk\/hair-straightening\/","title":{"rendered":"Hair Straightening Methods And Techniques"},"content":{"rendered":"
It\u2019s a war women have been fighting for centuries using all sorts of tools and methods. In ancient cultures in places like Egypt, pieces of metal heated over a fire were used. Others used heated combs. Today we have much safer flat irons, straightening brushes and chemical relaxers.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m talking about the war against unwanted hair curls and frizz. In their quest for neat and easy-to-manage straight hair people have tried all kinds of methods and technology which we discuss in this article.<\/p>\n
Most hair straightening methods used today fall into two major categories: physical (temporary) methods and chemical (permanent) methods.<\/p>\n
In the physical group we have tools like flat irons, rollers and straightening brushes<\/a>. These are methods that straighten hair only temporarily. Most (not all) of them rely on heat to force the hair to stay straight.<\/p>\n In the chemical category we have products like relaxers, oils and keratin that change the chemical makeup of hair, forcing it to remain straight until the product is washed off.<\/p>\n Below we look at the various techniques from each category, explaining how each method works as well as its pros and cons.<\/p>\n As mentioned above, most physical hair straightening techniques rely on heat application to style hair. The heat changes the shape and structure of hair cuticles, removing curls and keeping the hair in a straight form.<\/p>\n The main advantage of physical techniques is that they are less damaging to hair than chemical treatments. When done with care, heat treatment produces minimal damage.<\/p>\n On the downside their straightening effect doesn\u2019t last long. With flat irons you have to repeat the process 2 to 3 times a week. With a straightening brush you have to do it every day. The flat iron is the most popular heat-based hair straightening product. As with ancient heated metal pieces, a flat iron uses heat to change the shape and form of hair. The main difference with ancient methods is that the heat is electrically generated and better controlled.<\/p>\n The heated parts of a flat iron are called the plates. They are often made from ceramic which provides effective heat distribution and allows temperature to rise quickly when the straightener is switched on. Other, usually more expensive, models use titanium or tourmaline plates.<\/p>\n Because they can rise to a higher temperature than straightening brushes, flat irons are ideal for thick and extra curly hair. But for those with thinner and delicate hair, a flat iron hair straightener<\/a> can cause more damage.<\/p>\n Straightening brushes are an alternative to flat irons<\/a>. They are preferable if the risk of hair damage from a flat iron is too high.<\/p>\n A straightening brush also uses heat to style hair, though it has lower heat settings. This makes it ideal for those with thinner and more delicate hair. On the downside it does not straighten hair as effectively as a flat iron and has to be used on a daily basis.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t want to use a straightening brush or flat iron, a blow dryer can also be used to straighten hair.<\/p>\n The heat from a blow dryer helps remove excess moisture while also keeping the hair straight. The heat applied is less compared to that of a flat iron hence this method will not work well on hair with lots of curls and frizz.<\/p>\n But the biggest disadvantage is that it requires a lot of time and skill and even then it is still difficult to get your hair well done. It works best if you let a professional stylist do it. But that means frequent trips to the salon and more money spent every time you go for a styling session.<\/p>\n On the upside a blow dryer is relatively safer for your hair compared to both the flat iron and straightening brush.<\/p>\n The main disadvantage with physical methods is that they don\u2019t keep your hair straight for long. You have to style your hair every day or every couple of days. For longer lasting results, chemical hair straightening methods are ideal.<\/p>\n These methods rely on various ingredients to change the chemical structure of hair, preventing it from forming into curls. Different chemical styling techniques use different ingredients.<\/p>\n While chemical styling is often described as permanent, it does not last forever. As new hair grows, the straightening effect gradually fades away. You have to retouch your hair or go back to your original look. Some methods last as long as 6 months while others last 2-4 months.<\/p>\n The biggest downside of chemical hair straightening is the damage it causes to hair. Many people tend to over-process hair, leaving it weak, dry and vulnerable to breakage. So make sure you don\u2019t overdo it and only opt for techniques that cause minimal hair damage.<\/p>\n Here are some of the most common hair straightening methods that involve chemical products.<\/p>\n Japanese hair straightening uses a combination of chemical ingredients and heat to change the chemical makeup of hair. Specifically, it breaks protein bonds that lead to curly or frizzy hair, which allows hair to become less rigid and take on a straight form.<\/p>\n The method originated in Japan in the 90s but has since widely spread to other countries. It works best on bulky wavy and medium-curly hair. It is not recommended for those with kinky hair.<\/p>\n Japanese hair straightening has to be done at a salon. The hair dresser begins by applying a chemical solution to your hair, which breaks down the protein bonds in each strand. Later a flat iron is used to lock the hair into a permanent straight shape.<\/p>\n This method is extremely effective at hair straightening. For around 6 months after the straightening process, your hair will never curl no matter what. Even rollers and flat irons don\u2019t have any effect on the hair.<\/p>\n So if you choose this method get ready to stick with a single hair style for months. Also note that this technique is quite expensive. In fact it is the most costly among all others we have mentioned in this guide. A single session costs between \u00a3500 and \u00a31,000 and can take over 5 hours to complete.<\/p>\n This is a popular alternative to the Japanese method. You\u2019ll hear it called several different names including Brazilian Keratin Treatment<\/a> and Brazilian blowout.<\/p>\n Unlike the Japanese technique, a Brazilian blowout does not permanently alter your hair\u2019s chemical makeup. While this means less damage it also means your hair will not stay straight for as long and the styling will not be as pin straight as with the Japanese method.<\/p>\n The first step before getting a Brazilian blowout is to check whether your hair is a good candidate. If you have weak or too-thin hair, your hair professional may advice you against the treatment.<\/p>\n The Brazilian hair straightening process is roughly similar to the Japanese one only that it takes a much short time; around 2 hours. A keratin-based compound will be applied on your hair to make it lose its curly shape. A flat iron is then used to lock the new form into place.<\/p>\n A common concern with Brazilian treatments is the presence of formaldehyde in the conditioning products used. Although the levels are quite low, there is widespread concern that the carcinogenic fumes could cause long term health problems.<\/p>\n In terms of cost, the Brazilian technique is much cheaper, costing between $150 and $600 depending on the salon and your hair length and volume.<\/p>\n If the above two methods sound too expensive or time consuming, try hair relaxers. You don\u2019t even have to go to a salon. Most hair relaxers can be used at home as long as you carefully follow application instructions.<\/p>\n1. Physical techniques<\/h3>\n
\nHere are the main physical techniques in use today.<\/p>\nFlat irons<\/h4>\n
Straightening brushes<\/h4>\n
Blow dryer<\/h4>\n
2. Chemical techniques<\/h3>\n
Japanese straightening (thermal reconditioning)<\/h4>\n
Brazilian hair straightening<\/h4>\n
Hair relaxers<\/h4>\n