Just So Girly

Hair Straighteners

Is your hair curly and rebel? You must have thought about some solutions to change the situation at least temporarily. This is when hair straighteners come into play, getting your hair sleek and shiny in a couple of minutes. But how do hair straighteners actually work? They basically act at the level of the hair structure, where the curls are caused by the presence of special hydrogen bonds. Once you break those bonds, the hair cannot return to the normal curly form. There are several types of hair straighteners from chemical to mechanical and thermal ones.

The first invented hair straighteners were chemical, consisting of special lotions that were applied on the hair and the scalp in cosmetic salons. The problem was that the hair got deteriorated very quickly, and the chemicals also caused scalp damage too, sometimes. Therefore, efforts redoubled to come up with a solution that would bring hair straighteners free of side effects. Next came the hot combs, which were some kind of metal implements. A metal hot hair straightener would go through the hair without the causing dryness and damage like the chemical techniques.

In time this treatment evolved to hair straighteners that have the temperature adjusted at will: these are the ceramic and the electric models. By far the most advanced method, hair stylists have come up with is the Japanese hair straightening technique that is widely known as thermal reconditioning. This procedure is known not only to last longer but it is also more expensive than any other. The only problem comes from the fact that it has to be repeated on a regular basis as it is not long-lasting at all. Before you rush into the first salon, make some research to see what you can learn on the various hair straighteners.

Other special hair straighteners used for tightly curly hair are called relaxers as they relax the curls and make them easier to treat. It is usually used for African-Americans or other people who have very curly hair and need to make it more manageable. Such hair straighteners are usually found under the form of powder, cream or lotion, and they are applied to the hair and scalp and left for at least half an hour. Once you feel the scalp itching, it means it’s time to rinse it; the great part is that they have to be used only once every four or even eight weeks and they can be applied at home too.