Which Straighteners are Best? . . . Here is what you need to know

Women and men are always looking for ways to update their appearance, their style and at times even their personalities; ergo the desire for straightening naturally curly hair. Some think their face shape might be better suited to straight hair or that straight hair is more manageable and simply more  modern.

To get streamlined, sleek, hair and to get rid of the frizz, you may temporarily straighten hair for a few days. Here are some methods of temporary hair straightening for a special occasion.

Hot Irons and Hot Combs

There are many hair styling tools on the market that promise a sleeker, smoother hair texture by heating the hair and styling it in the way that you want. There are ceramic flat irons, pressing combs, straightening combs, hair tongs and a plethora of other devices that use heat to relax the hair temporarily to get straight hair. Those of you with unruly or frizzy hair can benefit most.

Straightening Shampoos and Conditioners

Hair products such as straightening serums, gels, shampoos and conditioners can also temporarily relax and straighten hair. They can be specially formulated so that your straightening iron will give you the best and long-lasting results.

The above options will work to keep the hair straight and smooth only until your next shampoo or until the time that it rains or the weather gets very humid. For permanently altering the structure of the hair and making it poker straight, the following processes are used; these give permanent or slightly longer term results.

Keratin or Brazilian Hair Straightening

These treatments go by many names such as, Brazilian keratin treatment and Coppola keratin straightening. These straightening treatments basically uses keratin (the protein component of our nails and hair) to smooth the hair. This is a procedure that reconditions hair in a way that effectively permits it to be ironed straight and flat. This is not a permanent straightening method because it doesn’t chemically alter the structure of the hair but it does last  longer than the above temporary methods.  You could have straight hair for 2 to 4 months with these hair straightening treatments.  This is a long and time-consuming process which on average costs $300.00 and up. But these are effective methods and are even suitable for damaged hair.

Japanese Hair Straightening

This is a complex process that uses chemicals, flat irons and heat to alter the hair texture and make it straight. The hair is washed and rinsed, and then a solution is applied to the hair, and once again rinsed out. The hair is then flat ironed into perfect smoothness using a heated iron.

The Japanese hair straightening methods that use chemicals for permanent straightening, such as rebonding, tend to damage and dry out the hair, so that it needs special treatment and lots of tender loving care. Also the awkward stage of the hair growing out when the old hair will appear straight and the new growth will still be curly.

About the Author: Sarika Periwal represents cure-for.info, a site promoting natural home remedies for common hair problems. You can also find information about naturally coloring hair and hair removal techniques.

For further discussion on hair straightening you might want to check out these other articles:

• Hair Straightening with a Relaxer
• Hair Straighteners…Here is the Scoop
• A Safe Keratin Hair Treatment for You!
• How Hair Straightening Treatments Differ
• Keratin Hair Treatment vs. OSHA

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How to Speak Up at the Hair Salon

Ever received poor treatment from a hairdresser or a salon you chose to give your business to?  Here are the best ways to address the most common service snafu’s. The folks at Real Simple magazine, asked 14 seasoned pros, including aestheticians and etiquette experts, to weigh in on what to say when you’ve been wronged by your hairdresser or salon, and here’s what they had to offer;

How can I get the hairdresser to focus on me rather than gabbing with other clients or answering his cell phone?

CHRIS MCMILLAN: Ugh. Hairdressers really shouldn’t do that. You would be within your rights to say, “I wouldn’t interrupt your haircut—please don’t interrupt mine.” You’re paying a lot of money for a good cut, which requires undivided attention. You’re entitled to ask for it.

MICHELLE SLATALLA: Get your stylist’s attention gently and say, “Wow! It seems like you’re really busy today. Maybe I should have come on a different day.” That way, you’re sending a clear signal that you would like him to be more present.

What should I say if I’ve cheated on my hair stylist between visits and it’s very obvious?

SARAH POTEMPA: It’s nice to compliment your hair stylist when you go back. Mention that you got a hair cut when you were on vacation and that the hair stylist who did the job said your cut or hair color was great. If you give your hair stylist good feedback, you’ll bring the situation back to some­thing positive.

McMILLAN: Say it was convenient and act as if you did it spontaneously— not like you thought it out and researched it. Clients often try other people, but they’ll usually come back to their regular hair stylists. Hair stylists have to expect that and put their egos aside.

ANNA POST. Say, “I wanted to switch it up a bit” or “I was in the mood for a change,” then tell your hair stylist what you liked or didn’t like about it. Use it as a spring­board to talk about your visit that day. You don’t need to apologize—you didn’t cheat on your husband!

How do I get my hairdresser to be on time? She is forever running behind schedule.

McMILLAN: Try talking to the hairdresser salon man­ager. Say, “I love the way this person does my hair, but she’s always late.” That way, you don’t need to get involved. The man­ager can instruct the hairdresser to be on time.

POST: I would be direct with the hairdresser. Say, “Jen, I wouldn’t go to anyone else but you, but I need us to stick to our appointment times. This delay really messed up my day.”

POTEMPA: Try to schedule your appoint­ments for earlier in the day. Chances are your hairdresser won’t be running behind yet and you won’t be kept waiting.

What if I hate my hair cut?

McMILLAN: If you don’t have the stomach to let the stylist know when he’s done cutting, call him once you’re home. Don’t not say anything! The stylist will do anything to fix it, because at the end of the day he wants you to be happy and doesn’t want to lose clients. He should fix it for free within a week.

TED GIBSON: You should call the stylist and tell him what it is you don’t like (for example, the top is too puffy) and ask for styling suggestions. There’s almost always something you can do to make a bad hair cut look better. He can also assess whether you need to come in for a retrim, which should be free.

What should I say when my hair stylist tries to talk me into a look that I’m not comfortable with?

POTEMPA: Use your lifestyle as an excuse. Say, “I’m too busy to handle a big hair change right now.” Hair stylists know you on the surface, but they don’t know what your daily schedule is like.

GIBSON: First of all, realize that many women actually break up with their hair stylists because they never encourage them to try anything new. Still, all you need to do is hear your hair stylist out— you are never under any obligation to change your look.

For further discussion on hairdresser salon etiquette you might want to check out these other articles:

• Hair Salon Etiquette
• Get the Most from a Hair Salon Appointment
• You & Your Hairdresser
• Getting the Best From a Hair Stylist
• How to get the most from a hair stylist appointment

Products for Taming Frizzy Hair

Every woman knows that big hairy problem, untamed, frizzy hair. No matter what you do, or try, it won’t stay the way you want it . . . sleek, tamed and shiny.

If you are walking through a drugstore or supermarket there are dozens of frizzy hair products that promise you shiny, tamed hair. So you probably already know there’s a big BUT at the end of this sentence. Many of those products are cheap, that’s true, and the ingredients very bad for your hair.

Many of the hair care product companies use chemicals and silicones so the products to control their costs, and thereby appearing less expensive by the consumer. Silicones in particular are bad for your hair. Silicones close up the outer layers of the hair, which means it is not possible after prolonged use of the product to color your hair or turn it into a permanent wave.

You can easily picture this process like a pine cone that you continually layered with glue. The pine cone would be unable to absorb the nutrients it needed for good health. The same type of effect occurs on the cuticle of your hair.

So now to the topic of taming frizzy hair. Mostly frizzy, untamed hair is due to a very dry hair texture. It’s common characteristic among all the hair types. This means your hair needs moisturizing. In the hairdressing universe there are many products specialized for every hair type. You can find many wonderful products for frizzy hair.

As a professional hair stylist my particular favorites are Kérastase products. To give your hair more moisture I use the Kérastase Nutritive Series. Every product in this series is manufactured for your specific hair type, starting from light care for normal to slightly dry hair to strong care for very dry and sensitive or rebellious hair.

As I want you to know which hair type you are and which product to use if you do decide to I will give you a quick overview of the products.

THE SATIN SERIES

It moisturizes your hair, gives it a touch of lightness and body at the same time. Your hair feels softer and produces a wonderful shine.

Do you have normal or slightly dry hair? Use the BAIN SATIN 1 to shampoo your hair, afterwards treat it with LAIT VITAL conditioner. Do you plan to go out or just style your hair for the day; texturize it with NECTAR THERMIQUE. It is a thermo-care treatment so your hair is protected from the heat of your blow-drier. To use it, just give a bit of it into your hair, comb it and then dry it the way you want.

If your hair is dry and sensitive, use BAIN SATIN 2 to shampoo your hair and afterwards use the NUTRIDEFENSE TREATMENT for your hair. It will flatten the layers of each hair, moisturize it and give it a nice shine. Do that about twice or three times a month.

If your hair is very dry and sensitive, shampoo it with BAIN SATIN 3 and treat it with MASQUEINTENSE TREATMENT. This, too will moisturize your hair, give it a touchable lightness and healthy shine.

OLEO RELAX SERIES

To tame dry and rebellious hair, I often tell our customers to use the Relax Series. It has a special oil formula to smooth and discipline frizzy and unmanageable hair. To wash it use BAIN OLEO RELAX, this shampoo gives your hair intense nourishment and protects it from being rebellious again. To care for your hair treat it with MASQUE OLEO RELAX. With this treatment you will be able to easily detangle your hair after rinsing it out. After you’ve dried it and maybe even flattened your hair use the SERUM OLEO-RELAX. It will give your hair long-lasting smoothness, shine and manageability.

And a special tip of mine . . . although this treatment is called OLEO RELAX NUIT meaning it is a care product you put in your hair and leave it in during the night to help it regenerate, I love to use it after I flattened my customer’s hair. I just put a bit of it on my palm, then rub my hands together and lightly brush my hands over and through the hair. This gives the hair a touchable smoothness and lightness, protects the hair from getting frizzy due to humid weather. It also gives the hair a beautiful shine.

ADDITIONAL FRIZZY HAIR TIPS

First and foremost don’t roughly rub your hair with a towel, this will open the hair cuticle and make it feel rough against your palm skin, causing it to be frizzy without your intention. Just take your towel and press your hair dry with it.

Second, if you blow dry your hair always use a big round brush or a pillow brush (especially for long hair) to dry it and naturally straighten the hair cuticle. Also start brushing and drying your hair from the root to the tips of your hair. This will smooth the cuticle and give it a natural shine.

Use a brush with natural bristles or a wide-toothed comb to brush out your hair, this will not destroy the hair’s structure and give it a nice natural shine.

If you want more information on the frizzy hair products mentioned in this article please visit the Kerastase website.

Guest contributor Bianca Pogorzelski is a professional hair colorist and hair stylist in Bayren   Germany specializing in frizzy hair issues plus modern, personalized and balanced hair cuts. You can follow Bianca on Twitter at: @KittyxCat

For further discussion on  frizzy hair remedies you might want to check out these other articles: