Magic Straight

January 25, 2010 By Anastasia Nam

What To Expect With A Hair Straightening Treatment

The hair straightening procedure (sometimes called Japanese Hair Straightening) is a very popular styling alternative for women who have always admired straight, silky hair. When you see a woman who has had this type of treatment done, you would be amazed at how soft and manageable the hair has become. Even if you have natural curls, or you inherited your mother’s frizzy hair, the possibility of finally being able to enjoy straight hair for months is now just a few hours away.

: Image via Wikipedia

When you go in for this thermal reconditioning treatment, expect to spend at least a couple of hours, so be prepared to just sit back and enjoy the attention.

Let’s assume you have consulted with the stylist, and agreed on the specifics of the treatment [always, always make sure a consultation is part of the process – the stylist needs to determine the level of straightening for your unique hair condition], the first step is to have your hair shampooed, rinsed and dried. It is important that the shampoo used is sodium free. Next, your stylist will apply a relaxing cream solution to sections of your hair. At this point, what you should watch for is that the solution does not touch your scalp.

Then the solution is rinsed off, and your hair blow dried. The next step would be using the flat iron under high heat throughout for several times each section. This is when something wonderful starts to happen. You will magically see your hair become straight as a pin. However, it isn’t over yet because you might have to go through the whole process again if the stylist is not satisfied with the results. Women with curly or frizzy hair can expect several rounds of this treatment. Rest assured your hair will not burn or get damaged with this process. This is because no salt-based, calcium-based hydroxide, or lye-based solution is used on your hair.

Once the treatment is done, make sure not to treat or wash your hair for 3 days. This would mean that you should avoid exposing your hair to perspiration, sun, or chemicals from a pool – like chlorine. After 3 days, your hair will be gloriously straight, beautifully silky and soft to touch. You will marvel at the way it never seems to get messy at all, no matter how many times you turn your head right to left. In fact, you should try running a comb through your Japanese straightened hair, and see the comb just slip through the strands like water.

To avoid becoming a victim of bad hair straightening treatment, make sure that you get an experienced professional to do the job for you. It may cost a little more, but the rewards will be worth it – a hundred times over! Never attempt to use straightening products at home – the result could be disastrous for your hair. But in the hands of a competent professional, that straight as glass look is available.

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January 24, 2010 By Anastasia Nam

Going Straight? Get Beautiful Straight Hair With a Hair Straightening Treatment

If you have never heard of istraight, Magic Straight, or thermal reconditioning, then you might be familiar with the term rebonding. It’s become a popular hair treatment to acquiring amazingly soft, silky, straight hair. Yes, just like in the magazine ads! Yuko Yamashita is a well known hair expert from Japan, credited with creating this process in 1970. It was awarded a patent in 1995, after which Yuko began training select hair stylists on her method. Other similar methods have been introduced since like the Korean’s Magic Straight version, iStraight, Shisheido, Alracial, Paimore, and Liscio.

: Image by iirraa via Flickr

Hair straightening simply means undergoing a treatment for pin straight hair which will last as long as 12 months. Prior to Yuko, women who wanted to straighten their hair would have to do it as often as everyday using a hot iron.

With a hair straightening treatment, you will free your hair from too much damage since you will only have to go through this process once a year. In fact, since your hair is less stressed, the condition and health of your hair will improve. Not only will your hair look better, it will also be stronger and healthier.

The secret to rebonding is the water that is used to treat your hair which is called Phi-ten. This water was created to help hair absorb moisturizing ingredients and nutrients better through electrically stable gold molecules.

One of the advantages of going through this type of treatment for your hair is that you get to relax and enjoy anywhere from 2 to 8 hours of pampering and attention. This is like taking the day off and feeling beautiful and refreshed after.

Just make sure that you schedule a consultation with the stylist who will do your hair straightening treatment prior to going through with the procedure. Your hair will have to be studied and analyzed by a professionally trained stylist who should be able to recommend to you which Japanese hair straightening treatment to use. For instance, if you have ever bleached or colored your hair, then the some treatments and some levels of treatment will not be advisable to use. The consultation is absolutely necessary.

Thermal reconditioning is a great way to finally get straight hair. However, be sure that you get a professional to do it for you. If you see do-it-yourself home kits, don’t fall for the marketing slant, especially if you have never had a hair straightening treatment before. You’ll most likely damage your hair and need lots of repair before it even returns to normal. This is a process for a professional.

If you want straight as glass hair, treat yourself to a few hours of undivided attention and service from a professional stylist. You’ll definitely love the results!

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December 30, 2009 By Anastasia Nam

Japanese Hair Straightening with IStraight

: Image via Wikipedia

ISTRAIGHT SYSTEM FOR A HEALTHY HAIR STRAIGHTENING PROCESS

Born with natural curls and waves, your hair probably has been envied by many. But are you wondering how you could get the typical celebrity look with straight shiny and more importantly, manageable hair? Technology has hosted a variety of solutions for people with frizzy hair, who’ve always found it quite a task, unknotting the curls that have a natural tendency to become so when they are either wet or dry.

Some of the anti frizz creams could give you a temporary solution but cause great damage to your hair in the long run. Straightening unmanageable hair permanently is not just a solution for people who’ve had trying times with their kinky entanglements but if done the right way could be an incomparable healthy rejuvenator for your hair. Amongst the many hair straightening systems, the istraight system, broached by the Japanese has been effective with different textures of hair. The procedure and chemicals involved in the istraight system is far better than any other, owing to a number of reasons.

Straight but nourished hair is the goal of the istraight system, when compared to just straightened hair that tends to become brittle and damaged eventually.

The disulphide bonds, that every person is born with determines whether they have curly, wavy or straight hair. This Japanese system is extremely gentle and works on numbing these natural bonds with natural hair nourishing chemicals and the flat iron that changes the very shape of the hair cuticle by pressing it down.

A silicon based straightening system along with a sodium hydroxide relaxing agent could be a dangerous combination for any type of hair. Watch out for this because most salons that promise to straighten hair at a cheap price adopt this process. In contrast, the istraight system uses ceramide as a major straightening ingredient which ensures the right moisture level in each hair strand. This is what ultimately keeps straightened hair from getting damaged.

With professionals who are trained at the istraight system, you could look forward to an entirely new and brilliant personality in just 3 to 4 hours. The shine and gloss on your hair, whether it is short or long is sure to make heads turn as you yourself bask in the smooth and silky hair feel you’ve always yearned for.

Anastasia is a salon hair stylist in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Out of town appointments welcome.
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September 7, 2009 By Anastasia Nam

Brazilian Keratin Summary

: Image by lanuiop via Flickr

Back Story: The Brazilian Keratin Treatment has been offered in salons for $300 – $600, sometimes as high as $800. The treatment was said to have originated in rural Brazil 10 years ago where it is said that someone discovered a preservative that can bind keratin to hair to remove frizziness, and keep hair straight for months. The mythology (who knows if it’s true) goes that stylists in the city heard of the discovery and experimented and formulated their own treatment.

Process: The treatment, known as BKT for short, is a chemical treatment aimed to smooth curly frizzy hair. It includes the application of a liquid solution in the hair, allowing it to be absorbed, and then heating the hair up to 450 degrees to bond the keratin to hair. The process takes as little as 90 minutes while others take up to two hours depending on the length and condition of the hair. This hair treatment is geared toward damaged, frizzy, permed, colored hair. Unlike Japanese Hair Treatments, it is practically semi-permanent and may fade through repeated use of chloride-containing shampoos (so avoid those).

Carcinogenic Concerns: The solution uses formalin as a keratin binder for the hair. As the hair and mixture is heated, the chemical reaction produces formaldehyde – a documented carcinogenic. It is recommended for professionals and their customers to wear masks while going through this procedure, and also to make sure they operate in a well ventilated area to reduce the risks of inhalation of high doses of the harmful fumes. It is important to note that despite the keratin, it is the formalin that makes the solution work. Inform yourself about everything that is involved in the procedure before undergoing it, and remember, safety first! Make sure that the salon has proper ventilation, that they have a qualified staff, as well as a material safety data sheet on their product available for scrutiny. If you finally decide to get the treatment, try to relax and have fun.

Keep in mind, other straightening treatments exist.

Japanese straightening or Korean magic straight (Asian straightening) can be effective for months with proper care. Just ask your stylist for a consultation to determine what works best for you.

Anastasia is a salon hair stylist in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Out of town appointments welcome.