Japanese hair straightening: what it is, benefits and tips

If curly perms were all the rage in the 90s, in recent decades straight perms like Japanese straightening have been gaining popularity.

After all, this type of treatment is one of the most practical options when it comes to having straight, well-groomed hair: you can let it air dry without frizz, and it requires very little regular maintenance.

If you're still not sure, in this post we'll tell you everything you should know about Japanese straightening: what it is, how long it lasts, benefits, and much more!

What is Japanese straightening?

Japanese straighteningis a permanent hair treatment that allows the person who receives it to maintain straight hair (regardless of the natural condition of their hair) for months without the need to use flat irons daily,or any other straightening products.

Yuko Yamashitais the Japanese stylist behind this famous permanent straightening treatment launched in 1996. Yuko constantly heard complaints from her clients at her salon, insisting that unruly hair was difficult to manage in the mornings and required a lot of maintenance. Furthermore, on hot or humid days, the results were unpredictable.

The technique consists ofapplying a product and ionic straighteningin several phases so that its properties adhere to the hair. The result is straight, silky, and smooth hair for several months, depending on the hair type of the person receiving the treatment.

Check out this post where we tell you the types of hairthat exist and the best treatments for each of them.

How much How long does Japanese straightening last? Tips for maintaining it

The average duration of Japanese straightening can range from 4 to 9 months.This wide range reflects the differences in hair type among women. Therefore, excessively curly hair will have more difficulty maintaining the effects of the treatment.

In addition to hair type, care and maintenance will also greatly influence how long the effects last.

• Avoid using a hairdryer. Try to towel dry it as much as possible and let it air dry.
• After the treatment, try not to wet your hair for at least three days.
• Use shampoo and conditioner specifically formulated for Japanese straightening.
• Do not use hair accessories for the first 72 hours after the straightening treatment: elastics, Hairpins, headbands… They could distort the shape of your hair.

Disadvantages

Like any professional hair treatment, Japanese straightening also has some disadvantages and contraindicationsthat you should take into account:

• It doesn't have an exact duration:although your trusted hairdresser can give you an approximate timeframe based on your hair type, they cannot guarantee its exact effectiveness.
• You will have to Reinforcement: As hair continues to grow, if you want to maintain the effects of the treatment, you will likely need to reinforce the roots (the part not previously treated) periodically.
• Limits styling options:Keep in mind that if you get Japanese straightening, it will be very difficult to curl your hair if you ever feel like changing your look occasionally.
• May have side effects:Although not very common, this type of treatment can cause atopic reactions on your scalp. Your stylist will do a small test to make sure that's not the case for you.
• Not recommended for damaged hair:In these cases, applying the treatment could further damage the hair. Remember that you can improve the health of your hair with these
hair oils or these vitamins that we recommend.

Difference between Japanese straightening and keratin straightening

The main difference between Japanese straightening and keratin straightening keratin straightening is the base product applied to the hair and the desired result. with the same.

While the main objective of Japanese straightening is to achieve permanently straight hair, keratin straightening is more focused on nourishing and hydrating the hair, although the hair will not be as extremely straight as in the first case.

Depending on your needs, we recommend that you consult with your trusted professional to see which type of treatment you prefer.

Steps to do a Japanese straightening treatment

These are the basic steps you should follow for a Effective Japanese straightening with great results:

• Hair analysis:We always recommend consulting a professional. They will tell you if your hair type is suitable for the treatment.
• Preliminary test:Before applying the product to your entire head of hair, you should check that it is not harmful to your hair. The best thing to do is a small test on a strand of hair and see what happens.
• Product Application:Once you have ensured that the product is not harmful to you, the next step is to apply it all over your hair and wait between 10 and 40 minutes (depending on the hair type and its damage) for it to be fully absorbed.
• Hair Rinsing:After the waiting time, it will be time to remove any remaining product and move on to the next step.
• Straightening:The price of professional Japanese straightening can range from 300 to 800 euros.If we buy the products and decide to do it ourselves at home, the cost can be around 100 euros.