Do you have frizzy hair and are looking for a way to straighten it without damaging it? Japanese smoothing on frizzy hair may be the solution for you! This hair treatment can help keep your hair looking smooth and shiny. To learn more about Japanese straightening, including what it is, how it works, and its benefits, keep reading this article.
What is Japanese smoothing?
If you have frizzy hair and like it straight, you probably spend a lot of time blow-drying. Or maybe you've thought about having your hair straightened at some point. The smoothing, chemical or thermal treatments that are frequently carried out permanently damage the hair. To avoid this, you can consider Japanese straightening.
Japanese straightening, also known as heat reconditioning, is a process that permanently alters the structure of your hair. Using chemicals and heat, your hairstylist will break the bonds in your hair that are making it curly or wavy. The result is straighter, shinier and more manageable hair. But before you take the plunge, there are a few things you need to know about this popular hair treatment.
How does Japanese straightening work on frizzy hair?
Type 4a to 4C frizzy hair with very tight curls is particularly difficult to straighten. Japanese straightening is a process that permanently changes the structure of your hair to make it smooth and silky. The results are amazing and long lasting, but they represent a certain budget. If you plan to use Japanese straightening, remember that your hair will not regain its curls. They will be irremediably smoothed, and you will have curly regrowth after a few months, which should be smoothed in turn.
The effects therefore last for at least 4 to 6 months, unlike Brazilian smoothing which is a keratin treatment and does not prevent frizz from returning.
How do you achieve this smoothing?
- The first step in the Japanese straightening process is to shampoo your hair and apply a pre-treatment product. This opens up your hair cuticle so that the smoothing solution can penetrate more easily.
- Next, the hair professional applies the smoothing solution to your hair, then uses a flat iron to set it. How long the solution should stay in your hair depends on how curly or frizzy your hair is.
- Once the smoothing solution has been on your hair long enough, the stylist rinses it out and applies a neutralizing solution. This closes the cuticle of your hair and sets the new straight shape.
Finally, you will be blow-dried and styled and will get smooth, straight hair.
In which cases to avoid Japanese straightening on frizzy hair?
Japanese straightening may not be the best option for everyone. While it can give you smooth, frizz-free hair, it also has some downsides. First of all, it is quite expensive. The average cost of a Japanese smoothing is between 350 and 600 euros. It is also a lengthy process, usually taking three to five hours. And because it uses chemicals to break down your hair's natural structure, it can damage it. Even if, being based on silk protein, Japanese straightening is less aggressive, the risk of damage to the hair is not zero. This is a risk although some claim that any type of chemical and heat treatment damages your hair to some extent.
So if you're considering Japanese hair straightening, be sure to do your research and weigh the pros and cons carefully before making a decision.
How to maintain a Japanese straightening?
If you decide to go for Japanese hair straightening, there are a few things you need to know to get the most out of it for several months:
- First of all, you cannot get your hair wet for 48 hours after the treatment. This means you don't have to wash, sweat too much or get caught in the rain.
- You should also be careful not to use heat on your hair. So you should not use hair dryers, flat irons or curlers for at least two weeks. After that, you can use heat sparingly.
- It's also important to use a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, as well as other products made specifically for chemically-treated hair.
- Finally, don't forget to visit your hairdresser regularly and continue to nourish your hair well.
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