Straightening
Posted by question guy on April 27, 2001 at 01:13:08: Previous Next
I know a lot of you will say "keep it natural" but I want a (semi, at least) permanent fix for my hard-as-hell to control naturally puffy, wavy hair. Anyone know of any good over-the-counter products that you can use to chemically straighten your hair?
Re: Straightening
Posted by Bronislava on April 27, 2001 at 09:55:49: Previous Next
In Reply to: Straightening posted by question guy on April 27, 2001 at 01:13:08:
Hi,
call up Beauty supply stores if they carry Anticurl by Rusk. It is a permanent gentle (if you do not over process!) relaxer, that will leave your hair straight and shiny. But you will have to blowdry because it may lay down too flat. Have someone do it for you. With the virgin hair (never chemically processed or colored) you have to start 1 and 1/2 inch. away from the scalp and 2 inch. from the ends. The body heat would otherwise process root area sooner and your hairshaft would be overprocessed. Ends are most porus, so they would overprocess as fast as the root area. After about 10 min. of processing on the hair shaft you apply the relaxer to the root area a process for almost another 10 min. You have to work very fast. As the hair is processing, "slide" with your hands (wear gloves!) down your hair shaft gently pulling it and making it straighter. This is a must. Do it 2-3 times and move on another section (strand). Repeat as many times in those 10 min, as possible. If you see that hair got straight and is lost its wave, it's time to shampoo the hair. Sometimes these relaxers come with neutralizing shampoo or neutralizer. If you do not want your wave back in 2-3 weeks, you better use it. Any questions?
Note - the touch-up has different steps. You may never apply the relaxer to previously relaxed hair! Just roots.
Re: Straightening
Posted by question guy on April 27, 2001 at 21:06:27: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Straightening posted by Bronislava on April 27, 2001 at 09:55:49:
Thanks for the tips! I picked up a straightening system from a local pharmacy today and used it, folliwng your advice as well as the directons on the package. How long should I go without shampooing my hair now that I've given it the treatment to ensure that the wave doesn't come back?
Re: Straightening
Posted by Bronislava on April 27, 2001 at 22:12:31: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Straightening posted by question guy on April 27, 2001 at 21:06:27:
That's perfect. Do not shampoo hair for at least 48 hours. What happens is, that shampoo slightly opens a cuticle and "washes" out some of the chemicals that need to settle in. Again it would make hair spring back a little wave, but not entirely. You want to keep it straight. But remember, you still have to blow dry your hair, otherwise it won't look in best shape. However - you can rince your hair for 2 days with just a water and you can use conditioner. What product did you use and how did it turned out? Did you do it all by yourself?
Re: Straightening
Posted by question guy on April 28, 2001 at 14:43:24: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Straightening posted by Bronislava on April 27, 2001 at 22:12:31:
: What product did you use and how did it turned out? Did you do it all by yourself?
I used something called Soft Sheen. It worked really well except on one spot where I apparently didn't use enough and now I have a semi-permanent (unless I blowdry it down) cowlick on the back of my head on the right side. I used it all by myself. So far so good...I think it will actually look BETTER in a couple of days once I'm able to shampoo it and use some gel, frizz ease, and leave in conditioner on it. Thanks for all of the advice, I really appreciate it!
Re: Straightening
Posted by Bronislava on April 28, 2001 at 16:40:38: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Straightening posted by question guy on April 28, 2001 at 14:43:24:
Yes, I would wait at least one more day before you shampoo it. Then wear it for about 2 weeks and if the spot is a problematic one, you can go over it, but cut the time to no more then 10 min.
Remember again - if you want to do a "touch up" - do not relax already relaxed hair, just new growth. In that case you will have to brush the relaxer on with a brush and for "stretching" use a back of a comb, that you will slide from root area to the area where you started your previous relaxer.
Good luck. If you ever have any questions about hair, you can e-mail me. I go on the net and help people solve their problems.