To straighten your hair at home, you can use a keratin mask, use a straightener or brush, or even use chemical products specifically designed for straightening.
However, care must be taken when using chemical products to straighten your hair at home, such as using a thermal protector for your hair, which protects against the intense heat of the straightener, or hydrating your hair to keep it looking good. healthy and glowing
The ideal is to straighten your hair in a beauty salon with a qualified professional, as formaldehyde or ammonia-based products can be used, but cosmetics can also be made to seal the hair and give it a smoother appearance.
How to straighten your hair at home
To make your hair look smoother, there are some techniques that can be performed at home, such as:
1. Natural straightening
Natural straightening can be done with creams, such as keratin masks, as they are capable of giving the hair a smoother appearance. However, they do not contain formaldehyde in their composition, and, therefore, their results are not long-lasting.
The keratin mask promotes shine, reduces frizz and hair volume, as well as deeply hydrating the strands, making it a great way to make your hair smoother in situations where you don’t want or can’t use any chemical products. See great hydration options for hair.
How to use: apply the keratin mask all over your hair and leave it on for 20 minutes. Then wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner, letting your hair dry naturally.
2. With a straightener or brush
Straightening with a straightener or brush is a temporary straightening technique that uses heat to straighten the hair and leave it with less volume and frizz.
The effect caused by high temperature tends to only last until the next wash and can be altered when it comes into contact with humidity in the air, rain or perspiration, reverting to its initial state.
To straighten your hair with a straightener or brush, you need to be careful because, due to the high temperature, it can damage the hair strands.
How to use: separate your hair into small strands and apply a thermal protector to each strand before using the straightener, as it will protect the strand and neutralize the effect of heat. Then, pass the straightener or brush a maximum of 5 times over the hair, so as not to burn the strands and damage their structure. Another important precaution is to ensure that your hair is dry before using a straightener.
The straightener should only be used twice a week and, after use, it is recommended to apply a hair straightener to the length and ends of the hair, to help close the hair cuticle.
3. With chemicals
The most efficient way to straighten your hair is to use chemical products, like those used in hairdressing salons.
A good option is to amino acid progressive brush, which does not contain formaldehyde, but helps to restructure the strand and, therefore, helps to keep the hair with less volume for longer. See how the progressive amino acid brush is done.
Another option is to moroccan brushwhich contains in its composition clay, cocoa oil, keratin, collagen and only 0.2% formaldehyde, which in addition to leaving the hair more hydrated and with a silkier and softer appearance, promotes hair straightening that can last up to 6 months, depending the number of washes.
How to use: The application of chemical products to straighten your hair can be done at home, but it is a more complex procedure that can take up to 2 hours, and you must follow a step-by-step procedure, as described below, to use the chemical product at home.
Step by step to use chemicals
The step-by-step guide for applying the chemical product to your hair is:
- Use a towel over your shoulders, a silicone ear protector, for example, and avoid applying the product directly to the scalp, to avoid undesirable effects during the procedure, such as burning and redness;
- Apply the product to clean, dry or damp hair, using a fine comb;
- Leave the product to act for a maximum of 20 minutes;
- Apply a hairdryer or straightener to seal the hair;
- Wash your hair well to remove all the product;
- Apply the neutralizer to balance the hair’s pH and finish the process.
Ideally, straightening with chemical products should be done in a salon with a qualified and experienced professional in this type of treatment, in order to guarantee better results.
Therefore, this type of straightening is normally recommended to be carried out by an experienced professional.
When to use formaldehyde?
Formaldehyde is a chemical substance present in several hair straightening protocols that promotes longer-lasting straightening of the hair.
However, this substance was banned in concentrations greater than 0.2%, as it poses health risks, such as allergies, intoxication and irritation, when applied to the scalp or inhaled. Find out more about the health risks of formaldehyde.
Therefore, whenever possible, it is recommended to use formaldehyde-free products or use them in the salon at concentrations approved by Anvisa and a qualified professional.
Care before and after straightening
There are some precautions that are essential to strengthen the hair and maintain the integrity of the strand, before and after any type of straightening, especially when using chemical products. These precautions include:
- Perform a chemical test with a swab and wait for 15 minutes. If the hair does not present any changes in its structure, the procedure is approved for use;
- Respect an interval of at least 6 months before carrying out a new chemical procedure;
- Carry out the procedure in a safe and ventilated place, as inhaling formaldehyde causes severe irritation to the eyes, nose, mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract and can cause harm to both those who apply the product and those who are straightening them.
When using a straightener or brush, it is important to protect your hair against intense heat, which is why it is recommended to use a thermal protection serum or oil.
Furthermore, after any technique used to straighten your hair, it is recommended not to do other treatments or procedures on your hair for the next 3 months, such as dyeing, for example, so that your hair can regain its structure and hydration.
When to go to the doctor
It is important to consult a dermatologist if you are allergic to the product used, such as redness, irritation, peeling, burning sensation or blisters on the scalp or skin.
Make an appointment with a dermatologist in the region closest to you:
Furthermore, if more serious allergic reactions occur, such as a feeling of a closed throat, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, you should go to the emergency room immediately. Know how to identify the symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.
