You’ve gotten the 411 on Professional Hair Straightening Treatments. For many women that’s the way to go. Hey – you’re a busy lady, you want what you want when it comes to your hair, and all that study and research on better hair care is best left to people who get paid for it.
But for many women, enslavement to expensive salon regimens is not something they want in their life. You are tired of always paying to have your hair look good, and you are ready to take back your hair. Perhaps you are one of the many women who have abused your hair with store-bought relaxer kits, and you know good and well that your hair is brittle and unhealthy as a result. Does your hair pass the strand test? Pull a strand and stretch it. If it quickly snaps, the answer is NO.
No matter what your hair type, there are three keys to healthy straight hair that is shiny and has body and movement. They are:
- Moisture, conditioning, and a smooth hair cuticle
- A skillful blowout with an ionic hair dryer
- Sealing the cuticle tightly
Many women could achieve the straight hair they want with a minimum of products but don’t know it, because they are neglecting to address one or more of these key elements. Many women layer one bad hair habit on top of another and ruin their hair because they don’t understand their hair (or their products) and are guessing instead of educating themselves on proper care. Lets try to break the cycle of bad DIY relaxers, frying with heat, and hair that may be straight, but – let’s be honest – doesn’t really look good AT ALL.
#1 – Moisture, Conditioning, and a Smooth Hair Cuticle
If you were running a race, would you run BEHIND the finish line and then try to catch up later? Many women’s approach to hair care is just that senseless. Somewhere we were taught that lather=clean. We scrub and scrub our hair until we get that lather! Well… now we can’t comb it so we need two or three applications of conditioner and a jar of hair grease. Lo and behold, the grease makes our hair greasy and limp. We are convinced that we need a touch-up on our relaxer. It never occurs to many of us that if a product leaves our hair tangled and breaking off, then it is NOT GOOD for our hair.
Break the shampoo habit. All that shampooing roughs up the hair cuticle and raises it, thus making it much harder to straighten. Occasional clarifying is fine to get rid of build up, but you can be gentle and your hair will be healthier. Look for a sulfate-free cleanser that will not strip your hair of the natural oils it needs.
#2 – A Skillful Blowout With an Ionic Hair Dryer
It’s been discussed at length and in detail on this blog, but in case you missed it…
The Great Straight – It’s All About the Blow Out
The Great Straight – It’s All About the Blow Out (Part 2)
#3 – Sealing the Cuticle Tightly
This is why keratin hair products are all the rage. Coarse and curly hair tends to be very porous, and that is THE major difference from straighter hair types. Keratin hair products really fill in those holes! Silicone based products are also a major help, even though many people don’t like the buildup that they can create – moderate use is key. Silicone based products provide a protective coating that repels humidity and keeps the cuticle from swelling. After all that work getting the cuticle smooth, the last thing you want is swelling!
This step is crucial to the longevity of your style. It keeps you from running back to your flat iron and abusing this wonderful tool. Ceramic flat irons actually help with this, because they are ionic and help to neutralize the hair.
FHI Heat Platform Series Flat Iron 1″ & FHI Heat Carbon Based Comb
There is no magic bullet product for effortless self-styled hair that looks like you just stepped out of the salon. If you slap some expensive product on dry, brittle hair that is not well conditioned, and follow this with faulty styling, don’t expect a miracle. However!
Some products will really help you achieve optimum style. Straightening balms can be a great help for hair that is less coarse. One product that’s gotten great reviews is Liquid Keratin. This breakthrough product is an answer to those expensive salon keratin treatments. They recently came out with Liquid Keratin Bold for Dark Hair, but many women with African American hair have used the original formula with great results.
Liquid Keratin 30 Day Straight and Smooth
Keratin Complex by Coppola Intense Rx is another great product. The Coppola salon treatment is a very popular version of the Brazilian Keratin Treatment, and this product is meant for at-home use to extend the life of that treatment. It is deep penetrating and infuses Keratin into the hair. It is 25% pure keratin and only contains a couple of very lightweight silicones. Many women use it as a DIY substitute for what you would get at the salon.
You can also try silicone-based serums. Two serums that work really well are Moroccanoil and Alterna Caviar Polishing Serum.
Moroccanoil
Alterna Caviar Polishing Serum
