We Indians are obsessed with straight, long locks and with our humid climate, we’d do anything for our hair to remain frizz-free all year round. If you’re tempted to chemically treat your hair for some heavy-duty taming so you never have to plug in your blow-dryer again, we give you the options to consider. We tell you all about rebonding, Keratin and Cysteine treatments to help pick the right method for you and your strands. Pick the right one for you to get rid of those frizzy kinks and curls!
Rebonding
Japanese rebonding uses strong chemicals to break the bonds (which give your hair it’s straight/wavy shape) of thick, frizzy hair. Then the hair is rinsed, blow-dried and straightened with a flat-iron before being saturated with a neutralizer, which locks in the new, straight shape.
Pros:
- It gives you sleeker, straighter hair that you won’t need to style.
- It gets rid of frizz.
- You will have wash-and-go hair.
Cons:
- It gives your hair a non-natural-looking poker straight effect.
- You have to keep touching up any new growth to cover up that unattractive demarcation between frizzy roots and smoother mid-lengths.
- Thanks to the strong chemicals used to break the bonds and create new ones, your hair is subjected to a lot of damage.
- The entire procedure would take anywhere between 4 to 8 hours, depending on the length and thickness of your hair.
- Your hair will be straight but without any volume or bounce.
Keratin Treatment
Also known as the Brazilian Blowout, it gained lots of popularity in the last couple years and involves smoothening the surface of the strands. Keratin is a protein that is artificially added to hair to make it smoother and shinier. Since it doesn’t permanently break the bonds, its effects last about 2 to 4 months.
Pros:
- It gets rid of frizz and leaves your strands smoother and much shinier.
- Your hair will be much more manageable and easier to style.
- Its effects aren’t as harsh as the effects of rebonding.
- It’s suitable for all hair types.
- It won’t give you a poker straight look, but more natural looking, smoother locks.
Cons:
- The chemical used can cause allergies, skin irritation or watery eyes, so make sure to do a patch test before the treatment.
- Pregnant woman should avoid it.
- This treatment has received loads of flack for containing formaldehyde, which poses serious health risks when inhaled.
- Special sulphate free and sodium chloride free shampoos and conditioners need to be used after the treatment, which are not quite cheap.
- The treatment is expensive.
Cysteine Hair Treatment
This is the latest smoothening method to hit the market and is most recommended by stylists today – thanks to the fact that it doesn’t use any harsh, artificial chemicals. Cysteine is an amino acid that exists in the hair, and by infusing it in the hair, the treatment basically strengthens hair bonds that lack sufficient amounts of it, which causes frizziness and unruliness. It also contains antioxidants and restores the hair to a soft and shiny state. Here are some pros and cons of cysteine hair treatment
Pros:
- It doesn’t contain formaldehyde or other harsh chemicals.
- It moisturizes hair, reverses damage, and improves its overall quality.
- Your mane becomes sleeker, smoother and much more manageable.
- It has similar effects to Keratin treatments minus the harmful chemicals and damage caused.
- It gradually fades out and won’t leave an obvious line of demarcation as new hair grows from the roots, like with rebonding.
Cons:
- It is expensive.
- Special sulphate free and sodium chloride free shampoos and conditioners need to be used after the treatment which cost some major bucks.
- This is especially recommended by Team POPxo!!
A Few Things To Keep In Mind
- Have a talk with your stylist to figure out the state of your strands, your styling needs, and what method is best suited for you.
- Be prepared to commit to post-treatment care.
- You cannot wash or tie up your hair for a few days after the treatment.
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