Hi girls, this post is in response to
Prerna’s question on Wise She. I remember fretting about weeks when I was thinking about getting my hair straightened and did quite a bit of research as well. I can totally relate to Prerna here and thought of doing a post rather than type inches and inches of comments! Hope you find this info useful girl!
There are more than one methods of straightening. I am talking about rebonding here. There is a new technique called hair smoothening which is milder and is for hair that is slightly wavy or curly. The end result depends upon your existing texture.
Before
Don’t colour your hair if you are thinking about rebonding. The colour will be stripped off during the process. You cannot colour your hair for at least 2 weeks after the procedure. So, if you need heavy grey coverage, ask your salon to colour your hair during the rebonding only. I know this is doable because a middle aged lady got her rebonding done at the same salon while I was doing mine. Her hair was coloured.
Your hair will get weak because of this. So nourish your hair as much as you can in the days leading upto it. Oil them extensively and use nourishing masks. Do not use henna. You need to avoid using stuff that dries your hair out. They need to be well hydrated.
During
Hair rebonding is a long procedure. Mine took me a whole day including travel and waiting period. So stock up on your patience!! :)
The first thing they do is wash and condition your hair. Ensure that the conditioning step is not missed and that the conditioner is left for at least five minutes for best result. You can ask questions about the procedure, products etc. Your stylist should not mind.
They will then apply a cream to break the bonds of your hair and paste them on an acrylic board. You need to sit absolutely straight for the next half an hour or so. Mild hair colour will be stripped off your hair during this step. Carry a book or a magazine to read at this time – nothing too relaxing though, you cannot slouch. This girl moved and the chemical slipped to her shirt. Her shirt was stripped of the colour as well! Best wear a comfortable light coloured shirt :)
The stylist will test your hair by pulling on a strand. If they are springy and curl when released, the bonds are broken. Your hair is at the weakest now. So, make sure you do not brush them or do anything that breaks them. At this point, you can take a break. If they stylist offers it, do it. You will be sitting in a chair for a very long time from the next step.
Your hair will now be dried and ironed. This ironing is nothing like the ironing we do at home or the temporary one done at a salon. The iron is very heave and needs to be done from your very roots! Your hair will be pulled so that it is absolutely ramrod straight. Grin and bear the pain! Remember, this will save you a lot of effort later on. The straightening takes an hour or so depending upon the length and thickness of your hair. Mine is medium thick and falls to the middle of my back. So all you long haired beauties, do be patient!
Once the hair is straight, they will apply the cream to remake the bonds of your hair (Hence the term, hair rebonding!) This cream will stay on for another half hour and then washed again. This time, they will wash your hair with a special shampoo for rebounded hair. More about this shampoo later. Allow the hair to be air dried mostly. Once dry, they will need to be trimmed. Before you depart the salon, a smoothening serum will be applied for added protection.
After
You cannot tie, clip, clutch, pushback, tuck your hair in any way for the next three days. No hair bands, bobby pins, clips and absolutely no hair ties! If you wear specs, try to rely on contact lenses as much as you can. Any wave created in the hair can become permanent. These three days are painful, especially in the summer heat. Your hair will look very flat during these days. This is because of a liberal amount of serum applied to your hair will weigh it down. Also, if you had a bouncy hair style or wavy hair on your crown that had volume, they will suddenly look plastered to your scalp. Don’t be scared. Within the next ten days after your first wash, your hair will gain some bounce.
The first wash is critical and warrants yet another visit to the salon. No matter how careful you are, some of your hair will curl, fold, and tuck in the next three days. A lot of it will be resolved automatically when you wash. But, it could be severe and the stylist might need to tend to it. The first wash should be done with your head held upright. A lot of us put our head down and wash our hair upside down. That cannot be done for rebounded hair; particularly in the first wash.
Your severely pulled back straightened hair will regain their best length during the next three days giving you an uneven cut. This visit can be used to correct that. If you like bangs, time to get them now!
Get your shampoo and conditioner from the salon. They will give you the products from the same brand that was used for your rebonding. I am not sure what happens if you switch brands. But, you cannot use a regular shampoo for at least three months. And these ones are expensive!
You need to condition after every wash and hair spa treatment is recommended fortnightly. I was told to oil my hair but my friend was told not to. So, there is a bit of conflict here. Not sure what you should do, but keep your hair well hydrated. Dry hair will get brittle and break easily. Remember that your hair is still weak!
Why do it?
So, if you are wondering why go thru all the trouble? Is it worth it? IT IS!!! Your hair will feel like a curtain of silk and you want to touch it again and again. You’ll look ready to hit door the moment you wake up in the morning (ok, this is an exaggeration, you’ll still need to wash your face) because you will not have bed hair. Sleek straight hair suit almost every one and look extremely professional. And the best part is, bye bye frizz…! Your hair is always shining and manageable… :)
I think the effort and money spent is totally worth it once you look at the results… if you are looking for a makeover, rebonding is a sure shot way to get a whole new look…
