It's human nature to want to change something (or many things) about your appearance. If we are tall, we want to be shorter; if we are short, we want to be taller. If we have straight hair, we want curly hair, and if we have curly hair, we want straight hair. Luckily, there are options for us to change our appearance when it comes to our hair, and a luxury hair salon is just the place to go when we are ready to make that much-desired hair change.
The most common reason people decide to have their hair straightened is to eliminate curls. Sometimes hair straightening will be sought to soften or eliminate wavy hair. Chemical hair straightening, also known as hair relaxing, involves a process where the basic structure of overly curly or wavy hair is changed into a straighter form.
Chemical hair straightening is not a difficult process, but it does require thorough knowledge of the relaxing process. It should always be performed by a hair care professional with a track record of success with hair straightening. A professional hair care specialist can perform a strand test to determine the recommended strength of the hair relaxer that should be used. The stylist will also need to evaluate the current hair texture, porosity, elasticity and the presence of any hair damage.
Different Hair Types and Straightening
Fine, chemically lightened, or colored hair generally requires a very mild relaxing formula. Normal, medium-textured hair that has never been chemically treated (called virgin hair) can tolerate regular strength relaxers. Coarse virgin hair may require a strong or super relaxing formula. Your hair stylist will be able to determine the best type of relaxing formula based on the results of a strand test and by looking at and touching the hair that is to be treated. Your stylist will keep detailed records of any chemical relaxing treatments that have been performed and will use those records to determine the best course of treatment for you.
A professional hair stylist with experience in hair straightening will always perform a strand test on any hair that is to be treated. This protects the client's hair but also helps the stylist determine the best type of formula to use. A strand test can done in the following ways:
· Pulling the hair to determine its elasticity
· Applying a small amount of relaxer to determine the hair's reaction to the chemicals
· A finger test
There is a variety of products used in the hair straightening process including:
· Chemical hair relaxer formula
· Neutralizer
· Petroleum cream
· Shampoos designed for relaxers
· Hair relaxing conditioners
The steps involved in the hair straightening process are:
· A petroleum cream may be applied as protection to the scalp & previously damaged hair. A chemical hair relaxing formula is applied to soften, loosen and relax your curls.
· After the hair has been process for the appropriate amount of time, the chemicals are rinsed from the hair with water. A neutralizing formula is then applied to the hair. The neutralization process oxidizes and restores the hair's pH because a high pH can cause hair to swell and break.
· A conditioner is applied to the hair. Depending on the condition of the hair, the conditioner may be applied before the relaxing formula or after. Sometimes it is applied both before and after.
Part of the popularity of chemical relaxing comes from the fact that the effects are longer lasting than other straightening methods. Typically, a good relaxing treatment will last up to six months depending on the hair's texture and growth rate. Most professionals agree that hair should be relaxed no more than every three months or so.
