Hair straightening

Large rollers can be used to straighten curly hair

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. 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,[1] Brazilian hair straightening, or roller set/blowdryer styling.[2] In addition, some shampoos, conditioners, and hair gels can help to make hair temporarily straight.

The process is often called "rebonding" in some countries from Southeast Asia (e.g. Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines). The term "rebonding" was first used by REDS Hairdressing from Singapore in the late 1980s, which slowly spread to the rest of the region. If done often, flat irons and chemicals can be damaging to hair. Excessive straightening often results in split ends. However, heat protectant sprays can decrease the damage.

Methods

Temporary (non-chemical treatment)

A woman's hair before and after using a hair iron
Hair being straightened with a hair iron.

Hair irons and hot combs can only temporarily modify the shape/texture of hair. The straightened effect will 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.

Four 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.
  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 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

They can only temporarily modify the shape/texture of hair. The straightened effect will 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.

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.[3]

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 in the early 1900s.[4] 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.[5][6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Japanese Hair Straightening Facts
  2. ↑ "Why Roller Sets Are Great For Straightening Your Hair". Dominican Hair Alliance. March 17, 2014.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ bell hooks, "Straightening Our Hair", Z Magazine, September 1988
  6. ↑ 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.

External links

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