Thinking about straightening your long curly hair? Before you do anything, read this. It could save a lot of trouble.
Bear in mind that no hair straightening method is safe nor will any of them give satisfactory results. Pomades or resinous fixatives are the easiest to apply and produce no chemical changes in the hair.
However, their effects are short lived and many people can't tolerate their greasiness. What's more, you could get dermatitis if you are allergic to the product's ingredients.
Hot pressing or combing, which entails passing a hot metal comb through the hair, can cause first to third degree burns if your beautifician isn't careful. Hair also reverts to its original curly form on exposure to water, high humidity or even scalp perspiration.
Ironing the hair, a common practice among teenagers, is not advised for it can damage the hair, making it fragile and dry. You can also suffer from burns.
The chemical means of straightening hair include alkali (sodium hydroxide) creams that can be too strong for you. These products shouldn't be left on the hair for more than five to 10 minutes, otherwise serious damage may result. Cases of contact dermatitis and swelling of the face have also been reported with this method.
Thioglycolate straighteners, though mild, are not as effective as desired and can irritate the scalp. The safest chemical hair straightener appears to be bisulfite or curl relaxers. But this shouldn't be used if the hair is dry and brittle or tends to break off easily. One should also think twice before using a curl relaxer if hair has been previously color-treated or straightened by other means.
As you see, all types of hair straighteners have their advantages and disadvantages. So the best thing to do is to consult a dermatologist regarding this matter. Or better still, use a little amount of your desired hair straightener to observe whether or not you are allergic to the product.
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