There’s a buzz about permanent hair straightening in the beauty industry. This process permanently straightens your hair with chemicals and heat tools. If you want a keratin treatment by hair stylist, it’s a semi-permanent straightening treatment that also uses chemicals.

Hearing the word “chemicals”, you might wonder if this process is suitable for your thin hair or not?

Well, let’s plunge into the process and after-effects of a permanent hair straightening to find your answer.

Permanent Hair Straightening

This treatment usually lasts about 6 months to 1 year, depending upon how good it is done and the after-care process. It turns your frizzy and unmanageable tresses into smooth and pin-straight hair.

With that said, the whole process can take 3-7 hours to complete depending upon your hair length and texture. Many go for this treatment less for managing the frizz and more for the trend.

Well, the professionals use chemicals to break your hair bonds and then re-frame those bonds with heat straighteners. On the top, those newly formed bonds are locked-in using more chemicals. All in all, this is the easiest explanation of permanent hair straightening one could have.

What Are Possible Effects Of Permanent Hair Straightening?

It’s a very common thing that everybody knows that chemicals and heat are damaging for your hair. But how much damage can be done with a single process?

Basically, the bonds in your hair that defines your hair texture are very strong. And in chemical hair straightening, strong chemicals are used to break these bonds, which may leave your hair straight but damaged.

The chemicals that are usually used in the process include:

• Sodium Hydroxide
• Guanidine Hydroxide
• Lithium Hydroxide
• Potassium Hydroxide
• Sodium thioglycolate
• Ammonium thioglycolate

These chemicals damage your hair, breaking the protective layer (cuticle layer). This layer previously protected your hair against UV rays, heat, dust, dirt, and any other possible damage. And now your hair is susceptible to everything with a weak hair shaft.

Even in the worst situations, many have reported extreme hair loss, breakage, burning or itching on the scalp, and allergic reactions to some.

Should Anyone With Thin Hair Do Permanent Hair Straightening?

From a professional’s point of view, it’s a no. Your hair is already thin, which means it is already weak and more prone to damage. You cannot afford chemical damage. Many people with thin hair recall their horrible experience telling they had so much hair fall after the treatment that there was hair even on ceilings!

Can you believe that? It actually happened to them.

Moreover, according to Theertha Sasidharan, a beauty expert, permanent straightening to thin hair will make them lose volume, and they’ll look pin-straight and fake.

What Are The Alternatives?

Permanent hair straightening is a lucrative process, besides being damaging to your thin hair. And so, if you want to go easy on your pocket, go for hair smoothening instead of straightening.

The products used in smoothening treatments do contain chemicals, but they’re not that strong. It’s subtle and effective for frizzy and wavy hair.

But, if you have the curliest hair and have no option other than going for chemical hair straightening, it is better to work on your hair first. You surely can make them thicker. Eat proper food that contains:

• Almonds
• Papaya
• Amla
• Mango
• Walnuts
• Eggs

There are many more foods that can help your hair grow healthy. Or you can go for some natural hair straightening processes.

Natural Ways To Straighten Your Hair

Naturally straightened hair looks more natural and beautiful as compared to chemically straightened hair. Therefore, here are three natural ways highly recommended by us to straighten your hair.

Coconut Milk And Lemon Juice

• Add two tablespoons of lemon juice to a cup of coconut milk.
• Refrigerate the mixture for 30 minutes till it becomes a paste.
• Apply on your hair and cover it with a hot towel.
• Finally, wash the mask with a mild shampoo.

Bananas

• Mash two overripe bananas and add two tablespoons of yogurt, honey and olive oil in them.
• Apply the mixture evenly and wear a shower cap.
• Let the mask stay for half an hour, and then wash it off with a mild shampoo.

Aloe Vera Gel And Olive Oil

• Blend together a half cup of aloe vera gel and olive oil.
• For fragrance, add six drops of rosemary oil and sandalwood oil.
• Massage this in your hair and leave it for 1-2 hours. Then wash your hair.

These natural process may take more time and may not be permanent. Book your appointment with a keratin treatments salon for straight hair that last for months. Hypno