Straight hair is back in fashion! For many, it never went out of style! Straightforward sophistication is a style that never goes out of style. For those used to fighting their unruly hair in humid climates, having straight hair is hard work and often unrewarding.

If your hair is frizzy, curly, or wavy, you might be considering straightening treatments that hide behind exotic names like Brazilian, Japanese, or keratin treatment. You may have also heard of bounces, what is that? And how are all these treatments different from straightening?

Straightening involves the use of harsh chemicals and intense heat to change your natural hair. Of course, that means a certain amount of damage to the hair that has been treated. Straightening treatments work by breaking the bonds of your hair and then reattaching them in such a way as to create a sleek new pattern. If you’re looking for a straightened style, straightening is probably your best option! And it may be the only option if you have very curly hair.

Bounce is another word for permanent hair straightening. The term refers to the chemical changes made to the hair loops to break the natural curl. The results last until the hair grows.

Japanese straightening involves chemically relaxing the hair to change its natural structure and create a “blown look”. This is a permanent method that will leave your hair perfectly straight, but it can damage it.

Straightening will improve the texture and appearance of your hair, making it softer and more manageable. The effects of straightening are better when done on fine hair. If you have thick curls, you can expect to end up with, at best, soft waves in your hair, but no amount of straightening can make your hair straight.

Straightening treatments start with washing the hair with a deep cleansing shampoo and applying a straightening solution. The hair is then blow-dried and flat ironed at a high temperature to create a waterproof seal, ensuring the new shape is maintained for three to six months and reducing the length of subsequent blow-drying.

Brazilian straightening involves applying a straightening solution to the hair, which is then blow dried and flat ironed to activate the product’s proteins and cause them to adhere to the hair cuticles. Keratin treatment is different in that the gaps in the hair links are filled with keratin. Both treatments promise to leave you with frizz-free, naturally straight, soft, shiny and manageable hair.