Hair straightening

Hair straightening is a hair styling technique used since the 1890s involving the flattening and straightening of hair in order to give it a smooth, streamlined, and sleek appearance.[1] It became very popular during the 1950s among black males and females of all races. It is accomplished using a hair iron or hot comb, chemical relaxers, Japanese hair straightening,[2] Brazilian hair straightening, or roller set/blowdryer styling. In addition, some shampoos, conditioners, and hair gels can help to make hair temporarily straight.

"Blowout (hairstyle)" redirects here. For the haircut with short sides and a long top, see Blowout (haircut).
Large rollers can be used to straighten curly hair

The process is often called "rebonding" in some countries from Southeast Asia (e.g. Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines). If done often, flat irons and chemicals can be damaging to hair.[3] Excessive straightening often results in split ends.[3] However, heat protectant sprays can decrease the damage.[3]

Methods

Temporary (non-chemical treatment)
Hair being straightened with a hair iron.

Hair irons and hot combs are designed to temporarily modify the shape/texture of hair. The straightened effect will usually be reversed by environmental factors, mainly contact with water from washing, rain, humidity, etc. This includes water in styling products such as gels applied after straightening, although careful use of such treatments can still produce usable results not much different from if the user had naturally straight hair before applying the product.

Overuse of heat tools can permanently alter the hair's structure. This is known as "heat damage". Use of protective sprays or lotions before heat styling may help to prevent heat damage. Once the damage has occurred, it can be disguised using various styling techniques, but not reversed. The only way to repair heat-damaged hair is to cut off the damaged hair and regrow it.[4][5][6]

Five major tools can be used for hair straightening without any chemical treatment:

  1. Straightening comb (also known as a hot comb) with heat applied to the hair.[7]
  2. Hair irons (flat iron) applies heat directly to hair. For shorter hair, use flat iron with heating plates that are around 0.5 to 1 inch wide; for longer hair, try wider hair irons.
  3. Blow dryer with a comb attachment or round brush to straighten your hair. Use medium to low heating level to protect your scalp and hair texture. Too much heat can cause damage to the hair. Adding some rinse-free or leave-in hair conditioner could help moisturizing hair while using hair dryer to heat.
  4. Large hair rollers can be used on damp hair to stretch and straighten the hair as it dries. Often large rollers are used before blow drying to minimize heat damage
  5. Hair straightening brushes run on electricity. The bristles produce heat that is then absorbed by the hair by steadily brushing it with the brush. The hair is required to penetrate deep into the brush for maximum effect.

Permanent (chemical treatment)

Relaxers and the other methods permanently alter the structure of the hair, although new hair growth is not affected. The drug interferon alpha has been reported as being shown to modify hair follicles causing permanent change in a person's hair texture.[8] Chemical hair straightening uses chemical substances to break disulfide bonds, also called an S-S bond or disulfide bridge, in the hair shaft.[9][10]


There are several ways of permanently straightening hair. The main methods used today are:

  1. Keratin/Brazilian treatment - In this treatment a layer of keratin is added to the hair, followed by a hot flat iron. The keratin treatment is considered safe for hair since it uses the natural protein found in the hair shafts and is suitable for most hair conditions. The treatment straightens the hair, reduces frizz and adds a shine. The results last approximately 6 months and gradually returns to the original texture.
  2. Japanese/thermal reconditioning/yuko/rebonding - a non-coating treatment that makes the cysteine bonds in the hair loosened by application of a chemical for 15-20 minutes, and then a heat is applied to restructure the bonds into a straight type.
  3. Relaxers/chemical straightening - Chemical relaxers break hair’s disulfide bonds. Lye relaxers contain sodium hydroxide, while non-lye relaxers contain calcium hydroxide and can be used on more sensitive scalps.
Comparison of the permanent hair straightening treatments:
Keratin/Brazilian treatment Japanese/Thermal treatment Chemical straightening/ hair relaxing treatment
method keratin layer + flat ironing bond breaking chemical + heat +neutralising chemical

a follow up procedure is done 3 days after the treatment

 hydroxide substance to break the disulfide bonds,
texture & appearance soft, silky, shiny, easy to manage. lasts 2-6 months sticky straight hair. permanent
suitable for all hair types, damaged and previously treated hair that wasn't treated with chemicals before; bulky, loose to medium curls coarse, tight curls
safety concerns
  • emits gases, not recommended while pregnant
  • protection for skin and eyes is required
  • damage from long exposure to heat
  • might cause scalp irritation and hair loss
  • chemical burns
  • hair breakage
duration of treatment 2-4 hours 4-8 hours varies
recommended hair care
  • no washing for 3 days
  • using Sodium chloride free shampoo and conditioner
  • Keratin shampoo
  • no washing for 3 days
  • using moistruiser and sun protection
  • waiting 1-2 months until dying the hair
 deep conditioning

Dominican blowout

This is a temporary straightening method that originated in the Dominican Republic. The technique spread to the United States where it was popularized by Dominican stylists. The Dominican Blowout allows highly-textured and tightly-curled hair types to be straightened without the use of chemicals, and creates more movement and sleekness on tightly-curled hair types than conventional temporary straightening methods. It has become popular, particularly among African Americans as an alternative to permanent hair straightening or as a method of straightening the hair between relaxers.[11]

The Dominican Blowout includes several steps to achieve the final look of straight hair with high levels of shine, volume and movement. Typically, the first step involves shampooing the hair with a clarifying shampoo to remove all buildup. Then, hair is deep-conditioned to confer the smoothness, combability and flexibility necessary for the next steps. Stylists usually use conditioning treatments from the Dominican Republic for this process, as many Dominican manufacturers produce more concentrated formulations than conventional, Western conditioners. More concentrated formulas are necessary to protect against the intense styling used in the process and enhance the end results.

After the deep conditioner is fully rinsed out, a leave in conditioner is applied and hair is set on large magnetic rollers and placed under a hood dryer for up to 2 hours, depending on the length and density of the hair. Rollers are used to begin the straightening process and also create body and movement in the straightened style. Once the rollers are removed, concentrated silicone-based serums are applied to the hair. Oil-based products are typically avoided at this stage as they add weight and greasiness and can burn on the hair. Next, hair is blow dried straight in small sections at high heat, using a round brush to create tension and volume. A concentrator nozzle is attached to the end of the blow dryer to allow heat to be directed on the section being straightened. After blow drying, a small amount of serum is applied and hair is wrapped in a dubi or doobie, a method which wraps and pins the hair around the head, using it as a giant roller, to create additional straightening and movement. Finally, hair is taken down from the dubi and styled as desired.

The straightened Dominican Blowout look usually lasts a week, or until the next time the hair is washed. Straightness is maintained by recreating the dubi at night and covering hair with a satin scarf. Hair must not become wet or it will revert to its naturally curly state. Serum can be reapplied as needed to protect against reversion.

Afro-textured hair
Madam C. J. Walker (1867–1919), popularizer of the straightening comb
Main article: Afro-textured hair

Hair straightening using a hot comb or relaxer has a long history among women and men of African American descent, reflected in the huge commercial success of the straightening comb popularized by Madam C. J. Walker and other hairdressers in the early 1900s.[12] The Madam Walker System of Beauty Culture focused more on hygiene and healthy scalps and hair than hair straightening. Her vegetable shampoo and Madam Walker's Wonderful Hair Grower (an ointment that contained sulfur) were designed to heal dandruff and severe scalp infections that were very common during a time when most Americans lacked indoor plumbing, electricity and central heating. Walker did not invent the hot comb, which was commercially available in Europe and America as early as the 1870s. While the practice has at times been a controversial issue in discussions of racial identity, visits to the hair salon have become embedded in black culture, fulfilling an important social role especially for women.[13][14]

See also

References
  1. Draelos, Zoe Diana (2011-08-31). Cosmetic Dermatology: Products and Procedures. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781444359510.
  2. "Japanese Hair Straightening: Should You Try It?". About.com Style. Retrieved 2017-02-23.
  3. "This Is What Your Flat Iron Is Actually Doing To Your Hair". HuffPost. 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  4. "Real Talk About Heat Damage". Essence. September 29, 2015.
  5. "3 Reasons Heat Damage to Natural Hair CANNOT Be Reversed". Black Girl Long Hair. January 23, 2015.
  6. "4 Signs You're in Heat Damage Denial". Naturally Curly. February 12, 2015.
  7. Willett, Julie A. (2010). The American Beauty Industry Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 145. ISBN 978-0313359491.
  8. Roger Highfield (2005-11-17). "Scientists hold out prospect of a pill to make your hair curl". www.telegraph.co.uk The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  9. Cosmetics in Dermatology by Zoe Kececioglu Draelos
  10. Draelos, Zoe Kececioglu. (1990). Cosmetics in dermatology. New York: Churchill Livingstone. ISBN 0443086443. OCLC 20318781.
  11. Dade, Corey (2010-05-12). "Much Ado About Straightening: Old Black Salons Face New Rivals". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
  12. Noliwe M. Rooks (July 1996). Hair raising: beauty, culture, and African American women. Rutgers University Press. pp. 51ff. ISBN 978-0-8135-2312-5. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  13. bell hooks, "Straightening Our Hair", Z Magazine, September 1988
  14. Noliwe M. Rooks (July 1996). Hair raising: beauty, culture, and African American women. Rutgers University Press. pp. 8–10. ISBN 978-0-8135-2312-5. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
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