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as seen in FLIRT magazine |
GET IT STRAIGHT When it comes to hair straighteners, thers's more than one way to go. Depending on your budget ($800 treatments?), time (up to four hours in a salon chair!) and manual deterity (try blowdrying the hair on the back of your head yourself!), there's a bottle with your name on it. We ask Wendy Ng, assistant technical manager at Eve Asia Systems, a distributor of hair care products products, for pro pointers. FLAT IRON PERM Flat iron perm like LANSL Straight Works Hot Shape Iron Straightening System offer the ultimate in hair straightening where gel-based products containing keratin and special high-heat shaping irons are used. The results are well worth the four-hour (on average) treatment time on the salon chair and $350 price tag (treatment on long hair can cost up to $800!). Hair is Gwyneth-straight and conditioner soft - a definite plus point over conventional chemical treatments that can leave their hair drier than a haystack. The secret ingredient in premium brands like LANSL Straight Works from Japan is the advanced keratin-enriched formulas. This protein apparently resembles human hair keratin so much, it mends your broken hair cuticles, strengthening the hair fibre to boot. The treatment is so gentle, you can even work in a tone-on-tone colouring job the same day. But if your hair is more fried than keropok, then grow it out first before starting on any hair treatment. RELAXER A relaxing cream containing acid ammonium is combed through hair during the straightening process. These are chemically stronger than straightening creams (contact with scalp is definitely a stinging no-no), so leave this to the professionals. Relaxed hair usually lasts till regrowth, which means less touch-up trips to the salon. Relaxers are also great for limp or thin flyaway hair. The "heavier" look of dead-straight hair adds weight. But pass on the relaxer if you have bleached, sensitised, damages or permed hair, you'll risk breaking your hair. And at $120 onwards, be prepared to pay more than for a straightening cream treatment. STRAIGHTENING CREAM Straightening creams are usually used with straightening boards where hair is stretched and combed straight. If you're willing to pay extra, get it done with hot iron tongs. There's also D-I-Y types like Wella Straight, but turn to the professionals for best results. Priced between $60 to $120 (depending on hair length), this is a relatively cheaper alternative that also works on straightening out that impulse perm you had done. But be warned that if you have naturally curly hair, the curls will be back to haunt you after a fortnight or so when the straightening effect wears off. If your hair is coloured, the cream will also lighten it by two to three shades. TEMPORARY STRAIGHTENING GEL Ready for D-I-Y? Squeeze a temporary straightening gel like Indola's Straight Hair onto your palm, rub your palms together to spread the product in your hands, then massage it evenly through towel-dried hair. Divide your hair into sections (the smaller they are, the better the result). Using a large brush, blow-dry your hair straight, and keep the nozzle pointing downwards to keep frizziness to a minimum. For an even finish, keep a steady tension as you pull out and downward. Finish with the hairspray but not too much - you don't want drag queen wig hair. Even straight hair needs movement! Straightening gels let you get it straight only when you want to, since the effect only lasts until the next shampoo. And of course, they're the cheapest way to go and, naturally, don't look as sleek as a pro job. After a straightening session, avoid washing your hair for the next 48 hours to allow straight hair to settle. After that, use a rebalancing low PH shampoo, like Motions' Lavish Shampoo, after your hair has gone through a straightening process at the salon. It'll help to neutralise the higher pH levels caused by the chemicals invloved during treatment. |
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