Dreams of those lustrous, smooth and silky tresses make us women try so much on our locks. From home remedies to expert hair treatment like hair smoothening or hair straightening, the list of things to try for gleaming healthy hair is far too long. However, for every female, the effect of these hair care regimen depends on multiple factors. We all have different hair growth level; various hair quality, length, volume, and we also take care of our hair in our separate ways—all this impacts our hair growth and health.

Are you the one who has wavy, frizzy of rough curly hair? While there can never be enough talks about hair care, there are a limited number of ways to get straight hair. The most common ones are hair smoothening or hair straightening. In this article by Femina’s Beauty Expert, let’s shed some light on the hair smoothening treatment and how it is different from hair straightening.

Usually, hair smoothening treatment is done at salons, parlours or by beauty experts. Both hair straightening and hair smoothening are chemical-based treatments. Hence, expert supervision is strictly advised. There are a few home hacks that can be put to use to achieve salon-perfected smooth hair at home.

1. What Is Hair Smoothening?
2. Hair Smoothening at Home: What Is That All About?
3. How To Do Hair Smoothening At Home
4. Things To Remember When You Get Your Hair Smoothened
5. Natural Methods For Hair Smoothening At Home
6. Common Mistakes To Avoid While Smoothening Your Hair
7. Side Effects Of Hair Smoothening
8. Femina Recommendations For Hair Smoothening
9. FAQs: Hair Smoothening

What Is Hair Smoothening?

If you have frizzy, wavy or slightly curly hair, hair smoothening can be your thing. This treatment renders your curls soft, gives them a silky shine, and smoothens your locks, making them easy to manage for a couple of weeks. In this procedure, hair is saturated in formaldehyde solution (be advised, this solution is a suspect carcinogen chemical; carcinogen*: a substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue).

In smoothening, you get frizz-free, smooth hair that can last up to 6 months or more. However, it is not meant to give you poker-straight hair.

Best suitable for those with wavy or frizz-riddled hair. In most cases, the result of hair smoothening treatment stays for as long as six months. However, the quality of products used and your hair type also play a contributing role. If you have extremely curly hair, this chemical treatment may not be for you. You may be advised to try hair straightening instead of hair smoothening. Several experts recommend smoothening treatment for hair with less volume.

How To Do Hair Smoothening At Home

• Wash your hair using a mild shampoo. Do not condition your hair afterwards.
• Blow-dry your hair to remove all traces of moisture from your hair.
• Using pins, part your hair in four sections.
• Take a portion of Keratin solution and apply generously on each section of parted hair.
• Use a thick-teeth comb to spread out the solution evenly on your hair. Let it stay for 25-30 minutes.
• After application of Keratin solution, comb out hair every 7-10 minutes.
• Rinse off your hair and blow-dry again.
• Apply a hair mask on your head and let it stay for 20 minutes. You can also use a shower cap to cover your head.
• Rinse your hair using lukewarm water.
• Blow-dry and flat-iron your hair 8-10 times to seal the effect of the solution.

Things To Remember When You Get Your Hair Smoothened

• Do not tie/pin/tuck your hair in any way at all for at least three days.
• Do not shampoo your hair for three days after getting the treatment done.
• Get your first hair wash at the salon.
• Use products specified for chemically-treated products. Often, beauty experts or salon recommends products to use.
• Do not oil your hair for at least 15 days.
• Use mild shampoos to limit the adverse effect of harsh chemicals on your hair.
• Never skip conditioning your hair as it helps in nourishing your locks after the chemical treatment.
• You can occasionally use hair masks to boost your hair growth and nourish them.

Natural Methods For Hair Smoothening At Home

1. Coconut Milk And Lemon Juice For Hair

How to: Mix one tablespoon fresh lemon juice with half cup coconut milk. Make a smooth paste and refrigerate it overnight. Next day, apply the mixture on your hair from scalp to tips. Wear a shower cap to avoid the dripping solution from your head. Let it stay for 30-45 minutes, Wash off with lukewarm water. Use mild shampoo afterwards. You can try this once a week to get better results.

Femina Beauty Expert’s Advice: Rich with the goodness of vitamin E and essential fats, this mixture fights hair damage while nourishing your hair.

2. Egg, Honey And Olive Oil

How to: Whisk one egg white in a bowl. Add one tablespoon of olive oil and honey, and whisk the egg mixture until the paste becomes consistent and smooth. Apply evenly on your hair from roots to tips. Let it stay for 30-40 minutes and wash off with a mild shampoo. Do it once a week for better results.

Femina Beauty Expert’s Advice: If you want shiny, bouncy and voluminous without much fuss, try this easy-to-do hair mask at home. It strengthens hair, adds volume, encourages faster hair growth and keeps dandruff and scalp dryness at bay. These ingredients are rich in protein, zinc, sulphur, and pantothenic acid and vitamin A, E, Bs and D. This mask is perfect for normal to oily hair texture.

3. Use Bananas To Do Hair Smoothening at Home

How To: Make a thick and smooth paste of one banana and two-three tablespoons of olive oil. Apply the mask evenly on your hair from scalp to tips and let it stay for an hour. Rinse off with mild shampoo and do it twice a week.

Femina Beauty Expert’s Advice: If you suffer from dry and damaged hair, it’s time to go bananas. Bananas are known for their moisturising properties and can provide ample hydration to the hair. Apart from that, bananas are rich in potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, magnesium and protein, which can nourish the hair restoring it to health. This mask is excellent for adding moisture to dry hair and also improves elasticity.

Want To Know More Hair Smoothening Techniques? Click On This Link

Common Mistakes To Avoid While Smoothening Your Hair

• Never flat iron wet hair.
• Do not skip the blow dryer.
• Never use the wrong heat setting.
• Don’t flat iron your hair too often.
• Make sure to keep your hair moisturised.
• Make sure your hair is perfectly detangled before application of Keratin solution.
• Don’t forget to shield your hair from excess heat by using a heat protectant.
• Choose the right combination of shampoo and moisturiser for after-use.

Side Effects Of Hair Smoothening

• Some keratin products contain formaldehyde that may cause health issues like headache, skin rashes and teary eyes.
• Make sure that salon, where you get your hair treated, is well-ventilated.
• You can also try other products that swap out formaldehyde for mild ingredients.
• In some cases, post hair smoothening process, some people experienced excess dryness in their hair.
• Split ends are also one of the most-complained side-effects of hair smoothening.
• Grey hair is also a grave issue that you might not notice immediately.

Some keratin products contain formaldehyde which can cause problems like a headache, skin rashes and teary eyes in one is continuously exposed and work with it regularly. Ensure you use a salon that is well ventilated. You can also try other products that swap out formaldehyde for mild ingredients. Search for the exact name of the product used in the salon and look for material safety information.

Femina Recommendations For Hair Smoothening

Invest in research before you sit down in a salon chair and ask for a smoothening treatment or a hair straightening treatment. Ask around of people who have got the treatment done and get their feedback. Read up on the treatments and see what you might want for yourself. Leave the final decision till after you’ve had a chat with the salon technician. Don’t be in a hurry or feel obliged to agree for either of the treatments after the consultation. You can say you would like some time to make up your mind. The wrong treatment could result in your hair getting burnt, or leave your hair dry and with split ends after a treatment.

FAQs: Hair Smoothening

Q. Does smoothening cause grey hair?

A. Since hair smoothening is a chemical treatment, which may affect the health of your hair, it may also cause your hair to turn grey. If you frequently get hair smoothening done, make sure to use heat protectants on your hair and keep good care of your diet as well.

Q. Why can’t I tie my hair after smoothening?

A. Avoid tieing your hair using hair bands or headbands for at least three days as it may affect the hair structure post hair smoothening treatment.

Q. Can regular shampoo be used after smoothening?

A. Since your hair health and texture is affected by the chemical treatment, it is best to stick to a mild shampoo. Be gentle with your hair and avoid excessive heat treatment for some days after getting the hair smoothening done.

Q. Can I oil my hair after smoothening?

A. If you want the Keratin formula to stay seeped in your tresses, make sure you do not oil your hair for at least 15 days. However, once the hair is set and smoothened, do oil your hair and also use hair masks. This will help you in restoring your hair health after the chemical treatment.

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