Which Hair Straightening Technique Is Right For You?

Hair Straightening Techniques 101

When it comes to popular female hairstyles, silky straight hair often takes the cake. Women spend wads of cash and countless hours attempting to achieve a shiny and smooth mane. It looks so easy to manage, and it can make a simple head toss look absolutely gorgeous. However, not everyone is lucky enough to have been born with a smooth and frizz-less head of hair. For those that weren’t so lucky, you have to find alternative ways to get the look you desire.

With all the different types and ways of going straight, how do you know which one is the best for your hair type? If you have a stylist that you implicitly trust, you can let them experiment a little and find out what works well for you, or you can read on and learn about the basics about hair straightening techniques. Class is now in session.

Brazilian Blow-Out

A Brazilian Blowout is a process that originated in the South American country of Brazil. The treatment includes ingredients that are native to the country like acai berry, camu camu, and annatto seed. This liquid keratin treatment coats each individual strand of hair all the way to the cuticle. It forms a sort of armor over your hair strand sealing it from external damage.

This technique can be used to create hair with curl that is less frizzy or it can be used as a straightening method. After applying the liquid keratin treatment, the stylist will flat iron your hair to heat set it. If you want your hair straightened, the stylest will need to do additional passes with the flat iron, so it is important that you discuss the end result you are seeking. The entire process from beginning to end will take about an hour and a half, but it can be up to two hours if you have very long or thick hair.

The procedure will begin with three or four shampoos because the hair stylist will need to make sure that your hair is completely free of products. Working in sections, the liquid keratin will be applied from the scalp to the very tip. Your hair will be blown dry and then flat ironed at 450 degrees. Once everything is dry and smooth, the keratin treatment will be washed out, and your hair will be deep conditioned. Then the stylist will move on to drying and styling.

While the formula of the Brazilian Blowout liquid keratin does contain formaldehyde producing chemicals, which can scare some people off, it is a very similar level to what is in your nail polish. It is a minimal amount, and it isn’t generally thought of to be dangerous by stylists. The biggest risk associated with this straightening method is hair breakage from the flat ironing. If your hair doesn’t take well to heat styling, you need to let your hair professional know so he or she can avoid any damaging issues.

Your Brazilian Blowout isn’t a permanent fix, but it will last around three or four months. You will notice the curls starting to emerge at your hairline first. You won’t notice a sharp demarcation line on your head if you choose not to get another treatment which makes the Brazilian Blowout a good choice for those that just want to try out straight hair for a few months.

Another good thing about this treatment is that it gets great results on nearly any type of hair. In fact, it can even be done on someone with super fine hair or hair that has already been color treated. A lot of women choose to get a blowout in the summertime when the humidity levels are high and wreaking havoc causing their heads to become frizz-central.

After you get your Brazilian Blowout, you can resume all of your normal activities, including hot yoga, without worrying about ruining your perfect locks. Although, if you want to make it last as long as possible, switch to a sulfate-free shampoo that does not contain any chlorine.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Summer Hair Troubles

Keratin Treatments

While a Brazilian Blowout is technically a type of keratin treatment, it is different from a traditional keratin treatment. A keratin treatment is good for cutting down on frizz and managing unruly hair. It is not a good option for hair that is very fine or is straight already because it usually leaves hair with less volume. This will cause fine hair to look very flat.

A traditional keratin treatment will take roughly 3 hours to finish. It will begin with multiple washings to clear it of any products. The final wash will be with a clarifying shampoo. After towel drying, the stylist will blow dry the hair until it is completely dry before coating it with the keratin solution. Working in small sections, the product is evenly applied to the entire hair strands. A cap  will then be placed over your hair, and you will need to wait 20 minutes to a half an hour for the treatment to penetrate your strands.

The stylist will then blowdry your hair and flat iron it at 450 degrees. You cannot wash your hair for three days afterward. This is the biggest difference between the Brazilian Blowout and the Traditional Keratin Treatment. With the keratin treatment you can’t touch your hair for three days otherwise it will dent. That means no tucking it behind your ear, no ponytails, and no clips.

The traditional keratin treatment will also include chemicals that release formaldehyde when they are exposed to heat. Stylists suggest making sure your treatments take place in a well-ventilated salon, and to limit your treatments to three times per year.

The results can vary from super straight to slightly wavy. It really depends on your hair texture and the tightness of your curls. Also, some people find that the treatments themselves cause their hair to be less curly overall.

Rebonding

This chemical treatment, known as hair rebonding, relaxes and straightens the hair. The process basically breaks down the structure of your hair, and it rebonds it into a new structure.

It is a simple three-step process. First, the stylist will apply a relaxer to your hair. This relaxant solution will break down the protein bonds. Then the stylist will flat iron your hair until it is silky straight and smooth, and finally, a neutralizer will be applied to your hair.

Unlike the Brazilian Blowout and the Traditional Keratin Treatment, a Rebonding Treatment is a permanent hair-straightening method. However, there are a few problems that can occur due to this process. Hair breakage is the most common issue with rebonding because the chemicals and heat used can do a lot of damage to the hair strands. Some people even experience hair loss because their hair is weakened by the process. If the stylist is not careful when using the flatiron, you can sustain burns on your scalp and your hair strands.

This is best for people with hair that is healthy and has not been treated too many times already. Due to the harsh chemicals, you don’t want to rebond overly treated hair. Also, if your hair is mostly straight already, this process may be too intense when so little straightening is needed.

Related: Here’s What to Do About Staticky Hair

Smoothing

Hair smoothing can be achieved with the Brazilian Blowout and the Traditional Keratin Treatment that we have already discussed. The process is exactly the same with one exception, the flat ironing portion of the process is greatly reduced.

This is a good choice for people that do not want to damage hair that has already been overtreated. While it won’t get your hair pin-straight, it will manage the frizz and gave it looking a lot silkier. Overall, there will be less damage done to your hair strands.

You will still want to veer away from the shampoos that contain chlorine and sulfates post smoothing.

Japanese Straightening

The Japanese Straightening technique was very popular in the early 2000s, but it often went by the name Thermal Reconditioning. While you may be able to find this style of treatment in your local salon, it is usually easier to find stylists that specialize in the Japanese method in the bigger cities.

The process uses a special solution that breaks down the bonds that give the hair strands their shape. It works in a very similar way as the rebonding method we described above. After allowing the solution to sit for the necessary length of time, the stylist will then wash, dry, and flatiron your hair before applying the neutralizer. The process can be a lengthy one, allow it depends entirely on the length and thickness of your hair. Be prepared to sit at the salon for several hours.

The Japanese Straightening technique generally lasts for six months which is almost twice as much as the Brazilian Blowout. While it is often called a permanent straightening, it only lasts until the hair grows out. The new growth will once again be curly. Like the Traditional Keratin Treatments, you have to be very careful with your hair for several days after the treatment. You can’t pull it up or wear a hat for at least three days.

The biggest danger with having this type of straightening method lays in the stylist. An inexperienced stylist can ruin your hair causing breakage and hair loss. This is more likely to happen if your hair has been heavily treated and can’t handle the additional heat and chemicals. The texture of your hair can play a big role in how effective the treatment is. Hair that is very curly or course may not get as straight as other textures of hair.

Related: How to Know if a Hair Stylist is Good or Not

Hair Relaxers

Hair relaxers are lotions or creams that use chemicals to straighten or “relax” naturally curly hair. The main ingredient is usually an alkali. For people that want hair that is easy to manage, especially in humid climates, a relaxer may be the best treatment.

This type of straightener is considered permanent because it cannot be reversed, and the hair must grow back out if you want to have curls again. The process takes several hours, and it starts with the application of the alkali formula. Strands of hair will receive several coats of the relaxer, and once it has set long enough, it will be rinsed out.

Once the cream relaxer has been rinsed from your strands, the stylist will wash your hair and then apply a deep-conditioning formula or a hair masque. Once that is complete, the hair will be blow dried straight.

The relaxer treatment can cause burning or tingling on the scalp, and it can leave hair strands drier. Regular conditioning treatments can help counteract the dryness. Relaxers tend to last anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks, depending on how fast your hair grows. You will start seeing the curls return at the scalp as the new growth sets in.

At Home Straightening

If you only want straight hair on occasion, then you will probably want to stick with an at home technique using a flat iron. While it may be a bit time consuming, it is the least permanent of the straightening techniques.

Start the process with a moisturizing shampoo that is specially formulated for frizz-free or sleek styles. Try to only pat it dry with the towel to minimize the amount of frizzing post-shower. Before blow-drying, use a heat protectant like a serum or oil. This will help keep your hair strands from drying out and breaking during the straightening process.

Blow dry your hair on the lowest heat setting. This will help keep your hair from getting frizzy. Try to get it as dry as possible because flat ironing wet hair can be damaging and cause breakage. If your hair is brittle or heavily-treated, use the lowest heat setting on your iron. If your hair is very thick or frizzy, use the highest heat setting. It is easiest to work in sections starting underneath and then working your way to the top. It may be necessary to go over each strand multiple times to get it super straight.

This technique will not work well on rainy or humid days. The moisture will just cause the hair to start to curl again, and all of your hard work will be for nothing.

Now that you know all the many methods of straightening your hair, you can decide which one is right for you! Remember, to consider the health of your hair before choosing to add chemical or heat treatments. Discuss your thoughts with your stylist, and they can usually recommend the best course of action.

More Great Hair Straightening Techniques Resources:

17 Useful Tricks For Anyone Who Uses A Hair Straightener

How To Straighten Hair: 11 Flat Iron Tips for Perfectly Straight Hair

Everything You Need to Know About Brazilian Blowouts