Style March 26, 2020
Which should you choose? We can help.
If you’re anything like me, you have to comb your hair a lot. My hair is completely unmanageable most of the time. It requires constant attention and maintenance. I envy Cher’s hair from the 1970s — shiny and stick-straight. As a result, I’ve decided to take action and consider my options. I know there are some at-home options, but I want to take stronger action. I’ve heard of Japanese straightening and the traditional keratin treatment. But what are the differences between the two?
Japanese straightening is a permanent procedure. Until your hair begins to grow out, it will be sleek and pin-straight. The internal structure of your hair is altered. As a result, it will take a while for you to see the reemergence of your natural texture. This is very convenient for those who like to wear their hair the same every day. Once the chemicals are applied, that’s it — your hair is permanently straight, and even curling irons and the like won’t change that.
The issue with this permanence is that it can be very damaging. The hair becomes so sensitive that you can’t apply color — so don’t even think about dyeing it. And you can’t wear the hair in a ponytail for several days. In fact, anything that can cause a kink to settle in your hair must be avoided. This can be pretty counterproductive on your quest for convenience.
Keratin treatments don’t change your hair’s internal structure. Instead, they smooth the hair on the surface, meaning that their longevity is a bit less than that of a Japanese straightening procedure — about 3 to 5 months.
After getting a keratin treatment, your hair is going to dry much more quickly. In fact, as a result of the treatment, your hair is likely to dry 50% faster. Those with very busy schedules, people who straighten their hair every day, or those who struggle to comb through and blow-dry their hair may find this effect very helpful.
In contrast, some people who get Japanese straightening have remarked that they don’t use a hairdryer at all. However, your hair is always bone-straight, 100% of the time, after receiving this treatment. If you sometimes enjoy wearing your hair with waves, steer clear of this one.
Very curly hair will respond much more to Japanese hair straightening than keratin treatment. Why is this? Basically, the aggressiveness of the procedure helps.
Amber Maynard Bolt, a stylist at 901 Salon in Los Angeles, says, “The chemicals used in the process are extensive, but the active ingredient that produces change is ammonium thioglycolate, which breaks the protein bonds in the hair … Once those bonds break, the hair is in a limp state, allowing you to reshape it into its new form. Flat-ironing the hair creates the straight texture. Once the hair is completely flat-ironed, a neutralizer is applied in order to reattach the protein bonds in its new shape.”
Ammonium thioglycolate? Where have I heard that before?
So we see that the chemical isn’t just for perms. It’s multifaceted! It’s also extremely damaging to hair, as mentioned earlier. One writer says that the procedure was painful and that she has scars from scabbing on her scalp, and she has much less hair than before she made the jump.
Keratin treatment is less damaging, but it also isn’t as aggressive — so those with very curly hair will have to use a relaxer before going to the salon for the keratin treatment.
If you’re looking for straight, sleek hair, you have some options — but make sure you know exactly what you’re getting before you walk into the salon with your wallet open.
