If you have a love/hate relationship with your hair, you’re not alone. We’ve screamed WHY WON’T YOU JUST COOPERATE!? to our strands more times than we can count. If you have curly or wavy hair, broken or unruly locks, cowlicks, or plain old frizz then you’re probably desperate for some help. Humidity is not your friend and you’re tired of wrestling with your blow dryer every damn day. It seems like straight hair is the answer. Sleek, calm, controlled, and frizz-free. Where do we sign up? But is hair straightening always better? And more importantly, is the road to straight hair really as easy and beautiful as it seems?
With so many different hair straightening products and smoothing treatments out there, it’s important to get educated so you find the solution that is right for you. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all scenario. The words keratin, relaxing, Brazilian blowout and flat iron get tossed around a lot when it comes to achieving straight hair. But what is the difference and what is the safest option? Turns out that, “Hair breakage has nothing to do with the treatments and everything to do with the flat irons that are used to dry and seal the hair afterward,” says New York dermatologist Neil Sadick, MD. So what’s a girl to do? Get smart about how you straighten, starting with these 10 must-know facts.
1. Not all treatments are created equal.
Just like finding the right bra, the right doctor and the right spouse, not all hair straightening treatments are created equal. They don’t all work the same, don’t achieve the same results and aren’t meant for every hair type. First assess your hair type and needs. Do you have wavy hair that needs to be relaxed? Unruly curls that need to be tamed? Overall frizz you want to smooth? Is your hair easily damaged or strong? How much money are you willing to spend? These are important questions to ask yourself before you decide which treatment is right for you.
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