Permanent hair straightening involves using chemicals and heat to restructure your hair's natural bonds, resulting in a straighter appearance.
Permanent hair straightening is a chemical process that changes the structure of your hair strands to make them straight. According to a reference from November 19, 2021, this process works by:
How Permanent Hair Straightening Works
The method for permanent hair straightening utilizes chemicals to manipulate the internal structure of the hair. Here's a breakdown of the steps based on the process:
- Breaking Natural Bonds: Various chemicals are applied to your hair. These chemicals work by breaking the natural bonds (like disulfide bonds) that determine your hair's original curl or wave pattern.
- Forming New Bonds: Once the old bonds are broken, the hair is physically straightened (usually by combing or pulling it straight). While in this new shape, chemicals help in forming new bonds within the hair structure.
- Sealing with Heat: Heat is applied, often using a specialized hair straightener different from temporary styling tools, to help seal these newly formed bonds in their straight configuration.
- Fixing the Bonds: Finally, more chemicals, often referred to as a neutralizer or fixative, are applied. These chemicals help to permanently lock the newly formed straight bonds into place, making the straightening effect last.
This multi-step chemical and thermal process is distinct from temporary straightening methods that use heat alone to briefly alter hydrogen bonds, which revert when the hair gets wet.
