Kiss your frizz goodbye.
With the intense heat of summer looming upon us, our hair is getting frizzier and our willpower to fight it on a daily basis is dwindling. But before you go spend an arm and a leg on a snazzy new hairstyle, check out our hair straightening treatment rankings for the best investment possible for your luscious locks.
Contents
1. Flat Iron
Okay, so this isn’t really a straightening treatment, but for beginners, a flat iron is the easiest way to tame frizzy hair until your next shampoo. When straightening your hair, make sure it’s completely dry before using a flat iron to avoid further damage to your hair. As straightening hair can make it dry and brittle, be sure to always use a heat-protecting spray and try to go heat-free on days when you don’t need a straightener.
If you want to minimize hair damage, opt for ionic hair straighteners that use negative ions to break down water molecules on the hair’s surface – reducing frizz and leaving hair looking smoother and shinier. They work without extreme heat, which is less damaging to hair.
2. Hair Rebonding
Rebonding is a chemical hair treatment that makes hair straight, shiny, and sleek. Hair rebonding involves using a cream or relaxant softener to break the natural hair structure, followed by a neutralizer to rebond the structure again. Rebonding is ideal for those who have problems taming their wavy or thick hair; however, once the hair starts to grow, the treatment can be easily detected – leading to potential unevenness.
As popular as rebonding is, it can only be done every once in a while as it can make hair very fragile and weak. It does get your hair more straight than any other process, but it also comes with a higher risk of hair damage – so choose this one wisely!
The cost of the treatment depends on the salon, the length of your hair, how well-maintained it is, and whether you choose non-toxic ingredients, which are often more expensive. Also, if you have colored hair, be sure to avoid coloring treatments right after or before rebond to allow your hair to breathe between treatments to minimize the risk of damage.
3. Chemical Straightening (Hair Relaxing)
Chemical straightening, or hair relaxing, is the process of breaking protein bonds in the hair. When a certain number of bonds are broken in curly or wavy hair, it then becomes straight. However, as simple as that sounds, the execution of it by a professional is crucial for its success. For example, if too many bonds are broken, your hair will go limp, and if not enough are broken, then the hair doesn’t straighten out.
How is this treatment different from the previous one? Both hair rebonding and hair relaxing are chemical treatments (using different chemicals), but the key difference is that relaxed hair is less long-lasting than rebonded hair – relaxing treatment has to be done every 2-3 months, while hair rebonding usually lasts 6-7 months (with touch up needed after three months). Also, hair relaxing treatment usually does not straighten the hair completely; it’s often necessary to additionally strengthen your hair after the treatment if you want it to be completely straight.
If you choose a hair-relaxing treatment, remember never to skip conditioning after you wash your hair. Relaxers often strip hair of its natural oils, making it prone to dryness and damage. Conditioners help restore lost moisture in the hair, maintaining its overall health.
4. Japanese Straightening (Thermal Reconditioning)
Using both chemicals and heat, Japanese straightening is a smoothing and conditioning treatment that promotes a permanently altered structure of hair. During a Japanese straightening treatment, protein bonds in the hair are loosened and then reshaped by hair cells. For those of you who can’t sit still, be forewarned this is a lengthy process that involves numerous steps – six to eight hours to be exact. After a few days, you will also need to return to the salon for an hour or so for the final step. On the plus side, this treatment lasts about six to seven months. As amazing and long-lasting as this treatment sounds, it can be very damaging to hair in the long run, especially if your hair has been colored or received other chemical treatments.
Once you have your dream straight hair done, don’t forget about the post-treatment hair care. You should avoid washing your hair or pulling it into a ponytail for at least three days after the treatment while it sets. Moving forward, it’s important to use nourishing hair masks regularly, avoid products with alcohol and opt for sulfate-free shampoos.
5. Keratin Treatment (Brazilian Straightening)
Keratin treatments have become increasingly popular over the past few years, and with good reason. They are one of the safer hair straightening techniques out there. Keratin is a natural protein that is already found in our hair, however as protein content decreases with age and a poor diet, so do keratin levels. The keratin treatment adds a coating of keratin onto the hair shaft giving it nutrients that leave hair silky, smooth and straight.
After a salon professional applies keratin solution to hair, a 450 degree flat iron is used to seal in the formula to hair strands (protect your ears from the heat, ladies), creating a moisture barrier that reduces frizz and gives hair a shiny finish.
The best part about a keratin treatment is that hair grows back into its original structure gradually and the treatment can be done repeatedly without worrying about damaging hair. In fact, keratin treatments actually give better results on repeated usage. While it’s not the cheapest treatment, it will last about six months, especially if you follow the treatment with keratin-infused sulfate free shampoos and conditioners! Tempting, right?
We know that everyone’s hair is different, therefore while our rankings are based on how safe and effective the treatments will be, each person may have completely different results. For best results, be sure to talk to a hair care professional before embarking on a permanent straightening adventure!
I find the best way to straighten your hair is using natural methods.
Did you get straight hair?? Which did you use?
What are they?
I have just had the L’Oréal straightening treatment , overall I am pretty happy. The strongest wave/curl at the back of my head has slightly returned after three weeks but my hair is still incredibly easy to manage to what it was. I will have it again.
Hi this is an interesting article.. It has some valuable information. I have been straightening hair for over 15 years … I do the Japanese Hair Straightening. I believe that it is the same thing as re bonding… I also don’t think it needs to be super complicated but it is time consuming! I do not require my clients to return to the salon unless they wish to.. There is also a Japzillian hybrid that gives the best of both worlds!
Thank you for making my choice easier. Keratin it is. For those of us who don’t want their hair Damaged, it seems the obvious Choice.
I’ve been doing permanent straightening/Rebonding for my customers over 17 years, actually it is safe to do on a Un-bleached hair.
it is a permanent result and you can always just straight the regrown hair without touching the straitened part.
make sure you are with a hairdresser who Specialist on this thing, control the relaxing level of protein bond is the key
Have been doing Japanese for about 5yrs now. Great results about 4hrs 350″$. However now want to go back to curly so guess I have to cut my hair really short to get back my curls..bummer..haven’t decided yet but sick of the expense!!
Rebounding is actually the same as Japanese Straightening. With Japanese Straightening you do not have to return to the salon several days later. Also, I’ve performed straightenings in as little as 3 hours ( rare) and as much as 7 hours ( also rare). I’ve been performing Japanese Straightenings ( Thermal Reconditioning) since 2005. Not trying to be argumentative but there are some erroneous facts here. Other than that, good article.
Blair is % correct. I have also done hundreds of these Japanese TR treatments since being trained in 2005 & qualified to open an account to purchase fresh product directly from New York supplier.
I have found several untrue statements in this article, particularly the one about returning a few days later for another procedure to be done. Some brands of Keratin Smoothing that are to be left in hair for 72 hours, some hairdressers require this of you and in my opinion that’s just an opportunity to charge client more money, when you can simply wash the product out yourself at home.
If you have an allergy in hair dye? Do can you go in hair rebonding?
I’ve been doing keratin for over ten years. It’s amazing. Your hair doesn’t frizz in humid weather, and over time the product has gotten cheaper, faster, and safer. I will probably keep doing it every six months for the rest of my life.
Hi, Celia; which brand Keratin treatment do you use?
In Japan you don’t have to return to the salon. It only took me around 3 hours for med/long ish thick hair, and results lasted almost a year before needing retouching. No noticeable damage for me either!
I have been wanting to get keratin but I have been scared, I heard people lost hair is it true?
We always recommend going to a good hairdresser to discuss these options :)
Yes is true
Japanese straightening every year for five years. Never had any damage issues. Overall the best at managing thick coarse hair
I did rebounding 3 times excellent result straight and shiny hairs but my hairfall alot !!!!! In last I did keratin…. waste of my money time …. no change at all !!! I would never recommend keratin
Hi Farah, we’re sorry to hear that you haven’t had any satisfactory results with the keratin treatment, but thank you for your feedback :)
i got keratin for the first time in USA and it had no change at all in my hair, however when i used to get it done in Pakistan, my hair used to stay straight for a year and they looked healthy and great
Hello! Thank you for your comment! Stay tuned for more articles coming your way soon!
Hi this is an awesome article.. It has some valuable information. I have been straightening hair for over 10 years … I do the Japanese Hair Straightening Shampoo. I believe that it is the same thing as re bonding… I also don’t think it needs to be super complicated but it is time consuming!
Hi Alen! Thank you, we’re glad you enjoyed it! :)
I have been getting japanese thermal reconditioning for many years and it is the only way i have smooth hair but the problem is finding the right person to do it. Many will rush through the process and the results will not be good. You have to find someone with experience and patience.
Patience is a virtue Kara and it seems to have paid off for you. Thank you for the tip :)
I have been getting my hair Japanese straightened for over 13 years now. My hair is now waist length..i have it touched up about every 18 months. I don’t have curly hair, but it’s thick and bushy. Took her 5 hours today. It never in all the years I have been doing it has damaged my hair. The flat iron used to damage it. Now my hair can air dry which means less heat. Never had to go back the next day..
Thank you for sharing your experience Jill :)
What is the date of your article entitled “Frizz-Free Living: The Top Hair Straightening Methods Ranked?”
Thank you.
Hi Kay, This articled was published in June 18th 2018. I hope this helps
My grandaughter is 1/2 black and 1/2 white and wants her straight . It takes hours just to dry it and straighten it. And only last a couple days . Her hair is very thick with tight curls. Would the keratin treatment work on mix hair
Hi Tammy thank you for your post! As your granddaughter is mixed race we would recommend a hairstylist who specialises in afro hair and they can recommend the best treatment or relaxant to help achieve the results that she wants. I hope this helps :)
The correct term is ethnic hair, not Afro hair and finding the correct stylist is key.
I got my keratin 3 days back . Today i washed my hair and noticed my hair was back to normal as it was . I spent around rs. 8000. And I got same hair back . Every person around me is laughing for that.
Hi Sakshi! Sorry to hear about this and I would recommend that you go back to the salon and ask for an explanation. Good luck!
Love the keratin treatment and it really doesn’t damage the hair. Just tried it and can’t wait to do it next time for better results. Thanks for the info
Thank you for your post and you are most welcome :)
I have no problem with my hair after I rebonded it was ok and I gained confidence the only thing I don’t like is the roots but oh well hair grows
Thank you for your post and you are most welcome :)