Japanese hair straightening is one of the most popular methods of straightening your unruly locks. But, does it really damage your hair? Is it worth it visiting a Japanese hair straightening salon? Well, all of these questions are answered below, so keep on reading.
Japanese Hair Straightening
Japanese hair straightening is a chemical hair straightening technique. Japanese women have been rocking extremely silky and straight hair for years and this treatment is what makes it possible.
The Procedure Of Japanese hair Straightening
There are a couple of steps to a Japanese hair straightening treatment and they are as follows:
Cysteine Solution
A cysteine solution is the main component in a Japanese hair straightening treatment. It is a chemical-based treatment that breaks down the bonds and protein in your hair, leaving behind smooth and straight hair with zero frizz.
Of course, this treatment is potent and it has a lot of hardcore ingredients in it, with formaldehyde being one of them. Because of this reason, this treatment is not popular in salons anymore and there are other alternatives to straightening treatments, like keratin treatment and Brazilian blowout.
Anyways, the cysteine treatment is the first step of the Japanese hair treatment and it is applied to freshly washed and dried hair and is left for about 20 to 30 minutes, max.
Conditioning Treatment
After the cysteine treatment is washed off the hair, the next step is the conditioning treatment. It is meant to seal moisture in the hair and deeply condition the hair after the harsh cysteine treatment. It is applied for a little bit on your hair.
You don’t want to leave the treatment on for too long, because it can lead to more damage than anything. You want to leave the treatment on for about 5 to 10 minutes after which the next process will begin.
Flat Ironing
Next comes the fusing part of the Japanese hair straightening treatment. In this step, a ceramic flat iron is used, and while the conditioning treatment is still in the hair, the hair straightener is run through individual strands of the hair. It’s better if you make thin sections of the hair and then fuse the treatment in, with heat.
The main purpose of straightening the hair is not only to keep it straight, obviously, but it will also set the treatments in place and your hairstyle will be permanent. It also makes hair look sleek and frizz-free and it also makes the hair in place for longer periods.
Neutralizing Treatment
The last step in the process of Japanese hair straightening is using a neutralizing treatment. A neutralizer is basically a treatment that is going to retain the life of your hair and maintain the pH of the follicles, which can get deranged after using a harsh cysteine treatment. The neutralizer only needs 10 to 15 minutes to sit on your hair and you’re done.
The most time-consuming process of Japanese hair straightening is probably the straightening of the hair because that’s what the hair will look like in the end, so there are a lot of final touches that are added to give the hair a beautiful, flowy, and sleek look.
Ups And Downs Of Japanese Hair Straightening
Some things are important to know about a Japanese hair straightening treatment, that will determine, whether it’s even worth it or not. Of course, a chemical hair straightening technique, like this one, is going to damage the hair, because the breaking of protein bonds makes the hair dry, brittle, and very weak, so you need to heavily rely on conditioning treatments, damage repair products, and try to keep your hair away from other chemicals as much as possible.
Here are some key things that everyone considering getting a Japanese hair straightening treatment should know:
It’s Somewhat Permanent
One of the biggest advantages of Japanese hair treatment and a big reason why people tend to go for this method of straightening is that it’s permanent. You can damage your hair by regularly putting it through the use of harsh chemicals and treatments, but once a Japanese hair straightening treatment is done, it’s going to be permanent and it lasts for a long time.
Even though your hair might get damaged, there is no indication that you need to go through the process all over again. It’s mainly a one-time thing and it usually gives great results on different hair textures and types.
However, if your hair is too curly, you should get another treatment from top rated hair salons Rockville like keratin treatment instead of Japanese hair straightening.
It Reduces Frizz
Another big advantage of going for a Japanese hair straightening treatment is that it eliminates frizz almost instantly. There is not a single trace of it in the hair.
Frizz is also a sign of damage and dryness in your hair, and the cysteine treatment used in Japanese hair straightening is responsible for breaking down the frizz and making it non-existent. Your hair, after this treatment, will look sleek, smooth, and very healthy and that’s all because of the disappearance of frizz.
Let’s face it, even if you have thick and healthy hair, there’s still frizz; the locks will not look as healthy and beautiful, so sometimes, you need a bit of a push with a straightening treatment.
It Damages The Hair
This is no hidden fact. Japanese hair straightening is damaging to the hair and that’s an understatement. Your hair can become very thin, and sensitive to dyes and other chemicals and you might never be able to reverse your hair health back.
The cysteine treatment messes with the structure of the hair and ruins the pH balance of the hair, making it look lifeless and dull, even though, from the outside, the hair is sleek and straight. It’s best to do a strand test first before committing to a full Japanese hair straightening treatment.
It Is An Expensive Treatment
Even though Japanese hair straightening is permanent and you don’t need to do anything else afterward, it’s still an expensive procedure. Every salon will vary in price, but generally, it will cost you anywhere between $400 to $1000, depending on where you get it from and if you’re including a tip in the service.
This price point can be very hefty, at first glance, for a lot of people, but if you think about it, it’s just one treatment and your hair will be permanently straightened for months and months, given that you maintain it and take care of it properly.
You Don’t Need Any Hair Tools
You don’t need to maintain your straight hair, once you’ve gotten a Japanese hair straightening treatment done. Your hair won’t need any touch-ups and you won’t need to use hair tools for a long time.
This is great because you don’t want to put your hair through more damage than it has already endured, and your hair can take a well-deserved break from the heating and styling tools. You can wear your hair in different styles and it will look gorgeous every single time.
Conclusion
Japanese hair straightening is a serious hair strengthening treatment. Any hair straightening method, either chemical or physical, will impart some degree of damage to your hair and it’s up to you, how you deal with, and rectify it. You can take help from the hairstylists of the permanent hair straightening salon Rockville that you choose for the treatment.
