Tuesday, 30 December 2008

  • Hair Straighteners vs. Chemical Treatments

    Guest blog submitted by in0centbeauty23


    I have horribly ugly hair: it's wavy, frizzy and unmanageable. But I love it when it's straight, so I straighten it a lot (at least like twice or 3 times a week). I know that the heat isn't good for your hair and that it's really going to affect it in the long run. I use serums and a good shampoo (BioLage), but they can only do so much. My hair is pretty healthy still though, but it has lost a lot of it's thickness and isn't as shiny. 

    Would it be simpler just to get a chemical treatment done so that I don't damage it so much everyday? Is it better to get a relaxer or a fully straightened look? What's the best kind of treatment to get (cost and quality-wise)? I heard that sometimes people still have curly hair even after they get their treatment done, so I really don't want to spend a lot of money just to have my hair go back to normal. 

    I also wouldn't mind shelling out a couple hundred bucks for a really good straightener if it helps keep my hair shiny and damages it less. What brand of straighteners are the best to use and work the best?

    Which do you recommend? Have any of you had a treatment or opted out because you found a good straightener instead?

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Comments (51)

  • Helena1600@xanga

    As much as heated straighteners damage your hair, chemical ones do it to the tenth power! It makes your hair feel like hay. My hair was straight with a relaxer, but it was very stiff. Bad, Bad idea.
  • Ritzypuffles@xanga

    I'd go for chemical treatment myself. :) I'm a girl. My boyfriend and I exchanged profile photos. :)
  • oOBuBBLes711Oo@xanga

    I wouldnt know firsthand bc I have naturally super straight, super silky, manageable hair BUT! I think a couple hundred bucks on a straightener is a bit much. Wouldnt the Chi do the trick? I think its runs about 99 bucks.
    How about those Japanese Straigtening thing?

    Before and After I shower, I comb my hair and it takes no more than 15 seconds. Maybe that can help with frizziness? Oh yeah, I glunk on a handful of conditioner too...okay..maybe half a handful.
  • calex93@xanga

    I say keep using the straighener, just don't do it to much. Before starting my Freshman year in High School, my mom let me get a straightening hair perm, and I absolutely regret it! Though, my hair looked really cute and it lasted for about a year, it damaged my hair horrible! I had so many split ends I hated it! Im not a big fan of the straightener eigther because I have a lot of hair and it takes a while to finish, but I prefer it than all putting all those bad chemicals in my hair!
  • EaTxYoUxALivE@xanga

    i have a wet 2 straight straightener by Remington. it was only 20-30 bucks and it works really well. i never use it on wet hair, but i keep the setting all the way up regardless. i think it makes my hair shiner.

    i also use pantene pro v smooth and shine styling milk on my damp hair and it controls frizzles a lot and smells awesome.

    i also use got2b crazy sleek unstoppable hold shine lock after i straighten my hair and it increases the shine. plus smells nice.
  • KasumiCelesta@xanga

    I can understand the frustration! I'm half-Black and half-Asian with curly, frizzy hair. From middle school I've been using a flat iron to straighten my hair, but I do it weekly to bi-weekly after washing and drying (I don't use a blow dryer, just air dry). It's definitely a bad idea to use the iron everyday, of course.

    I've also used a relaxer to completely straighten my hair once. It was nice and I didn't have to flat iron for a long time, but I want to stay away from it now because I don't want to risk any irreversible hair damage.

    I think it comes down to time and money. If you'd rather save your money and don't mind taking the time to flat iron, then that's what you should do. But if you're a busy person and don't want to have to deal with keeping your hair nice and straight all the time, I'd go with a chemical treatment. I'm in Japan right now and I've been planning to get a consultation for that Japanese straightening system, because I am one of those busy girls that dreads that 3-hour flat ironing process.

    If you want to stick with flat ironing though, I highly recommend the CHI. My friend used one on my hair and I couldn't believe how smooth my hair was afterwards. I tried to replicate it with my normal flat iron and serum and it just didn't come out the same. It's definitely a good investment, I think I'm gonna buy one after I go back to the States :)
  • miss_prettyinpink@xanga

    Japanese hair straightening works wonders. Make sure they use the Liscio brand, and be sure to go to a good salon. It will leave your hair shiny and healthy. What is your hair like normally? Message me if you have any questions, I've been getting it done for years. 
  • vittoriana@xanga

    i work at a hair salon so i might be able to help you out. don't get it treated chemically....that sounds like it would just damage your hair even more....i say buy a good flat iron...like paul mitchell's ion smooth straightner...it's pricey...$225, but it has a life warranty and it doesn't damage your hair..it's bionionic....then get a thermal protector like..paul mitchell's seal and shine..it's only $7.50!! it protects ur hair from the heat....using a serum is good and use a professional shampoo and conditioner....and i'd say every once in a while do a conditioning treatment on ur hair to keep it nice and healthy...hope i was helpful...and if you may have noticed...i work in a pual mitchell salon :) 
  • awokenfatality@xanga

    I would keep using the straightener. The Chi I find out is the best, makes my hair look naturally straight and for a while too. It's a little over $100. It leaves your hair soft and shiny. Use heat protectors too.


    I have used chemicals to keep my hair straight, looking at my profile picture, its not all that permanent. You have to keep doing your roots and your hair isn't perfectly straight, it still waves. And sometimes, its still curly. It damaged the front of my hair too and dried out the rest. As someone who has tried it, I wouldn't recommend it.
  • fat_Hayley803@xanga

    Hey girl, I am a cosmetologist. I know firsthand that chemical straighteners will give you exactly what you want.  It is not as bad for the hair as a relaxer. It breaks down the disulfide bonds in the hair and then builds them back up using heat activated keratin protein. :) A relaxer  Breaks down the bonds and does not rebuild them. It strips of important layers of the cuticle that your hair needs. Definately if you ALWAYS wear your hair straight, you will be a lot happier with a chemical straightener. A relaxer is WORSE and does not even come close to being as straight as the less damaging japanese chemical straightener!



       -Hayley.
  • itz_smartnikki@xanga

    I chemically straightened my hair a year ago and it's still soft, shiny, and straight. After doing it, my hair was lighter and it was easier to maintain since I could just wake up and have nice hair. Even when it rains I don't have to worry.
    It just depends on what salon you go to. I go to one that straightens hair amazingly without killing my wallet.
  • le_chat_n0ir@xanga

    heat protectant?
  • suuperstar@xanga

    the chemical straighteners now are fine, i had it permanently straightened once, and it actually made my hair much nicer than before. under my stylist's advice, i chose the one that was also a hair-oil treatment, so that probably lessened the damage. i think its pretty worth it, but make sure you go to a reputable salon. =)
  • szafar7981@xanga

    I just got a CHI flat iron with their thermal spray and silk fusion, and it works amazingly in my hair.  I have very thick wavy frizzy hair, and I love how silky and shiny my hair feels after I style it.  
  • lil_squirrel4ever@xanga

    I got sick of the daily straightening (which killed my hair) and got the Japanese Ion Straightening done which cost around $200--totally worth the money and then some.  The stylist told me it does damage the hair somewhat, but it is better than daily ironing, and it LOOKS healthy and shiny.  I got so many compliments.
  • sk1nnyxx@xanga
    Chemical straighteners damage your hair a lot too. And many times, you still have to straighten your hair on a daily basis with a flat iron to keep the kinks out. I straighten my hair every day, but I use shampoo, conditioner, and straightening serums made especially to protect my hair from the heat. Try to use products from the same company/product line because these products have been created and tested to work in cooperation with the other products.

    I use a Remmington Wet to Straight Flat Iron (although I air dry or blow dry first) and I love it. It does not damage my hair at all and it was only 25 dollars.

    Chi straighteners are good too, although I've never used one.
  • heylook_itz_marl@xanga

    i would definitely recommend japanese straightening. I got my hair straightened at Philippines for $70. The process took about five hours, but it was definitely worth the wait. Now may hair is straight and silky smooth. This service is popular in asian countries, but more and more salons are offering it in the states. I'm not sure how much American service is (probably double?), but i'd say the money is worth every penny. I hardly ever worry about my hair: just pop out of the shower, let my hair air dry, and i'm good to go. Plus, the perm lasts for a good month. I know how frustrating it is to have unmanageable hair. Do yourself a favor, and pamper your hair with japanese straightening. good luck!
  • abcxunt@xanga

    mine's straight.
  • somethingbluee@xanga

    i did the japanese straightening like some other people and i highly recommend it. i have lots of hair, and they used to be tangled all the time and get frizzy when it's too humid - in other words, it was real hard to manage. i tried the straightener before but it took too long. it's a bit pricey to get it done, but it saves me at lease 30 minutes in the morning for almost a whole year. i still think it's totally worth it.

  • IAmNotCrying@xanga

    I think the Japanese treatment will last even when you get your hair wet...not a lot of knowledge on how long it lasts and what not since I have never had it done but have heard of it.  I have very strong curly hair and have found only ONE hair straightener that works for me...The Maxi Glide; can't remeber who might make it but it goes for roughly $180 on the market but you can find it for so much cheaper on Ebay or if you check out a place like Ulta sometimes they have them on clearance or good sales.  Sounds like your best bet if going to have to be a combo of a treatment with a straightener for touch ups and up keep if you would like to have straight hair consistanly.
  • psshion@xanga

    as long as you get a good straightener (as in not 20 dolla conair, something with solid ceramic plates) and use heat protectant your hair should be fine
    that Japanese stuff sounds like its worth it though, i'd look into that too :)
  • potatoe_91@xanga

    When i go to school, i straighten it everyday of the week. On the weekends i rarely straighten it, unless i KNOW im going out. I take two showers a day, if thats a problem dont do it, and i wash my hair at night and let it dry, no hair drier, i hate those things. Then in the morning i straighten, the way I like it, and its straight and pretty and smooth. Because i use Smooth 'N Shine Polishing its a hair polisher, if you havent heard of it. and it supposedly has "instant repair." dont know how that works, but it keeps my hair smeeling good, and feeling soft. I get compliments alot. "Oh, your hair is so soft" or, "Your hair smells good" and the ocasional "is your hair naturally straight?" I wish, but no. it used to be, dont know what happned exactly. But, i've never dyed or permed my hair, so thats probably another reason why its like this. And, if you want to go to darker hair, my friend was telling me of this thing she does. She showers with this thing and in a while her hair when from brown (dark) to completely black. I was jealous.
  • papertowns@xanga

    Get the Chi, it's amazing. I live in Canada and it was about $170 at Trade Secrets. To increase the shine of my hair I use Chi Silk Infusion, it's awesome :) However, I have two friends who did the chemical straightening. After a few months they had to redo it because their hair went back to normal. It looked great though. If you think straightening your hair is too much of a hassle everyday, then definitely go for the chemical straightening. :D
  • iamelin@xanga

    well a chemical relaxer will only relax about 80-90% of your natural curls. Your hair won't be pin straight, you'd still need to use a flat iron if that's the look you want to achieve. 
  • smileyfayce@xanga

    I used to have this problem too, and I've had my hair straightened twice so far using Japanese chemical straightening. And I have to say I love it, it makes my hair smooth and sleek, I never have to worry about it, as soon as I roll out of bed, my hair is good to go (I used to worry about my hair before I go to bed because when I wake up, I get creases in my hair).

    I find that using a straightening iron was much more tedious and damaged my hair more. And I wouldn't always be able to find time to do it before classes and such.

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