Thermal Reconditioning After Care – Tips on Maintaining Your Straight Hair
If you’ve just had a thermal reconditioning treatment, I’m sure that your hair is not only straight, but also silky, soft and healthy-looking! In order to maintain its health and beauty, there are some basic rules you have to follow.
I’m sure you already know that you can’t wet your hair during the first 48 hours after the procedure. This does not mean only avoiding the shower – you should also stay clear of rain and fog, try not to sweat, avoid hair clips, ponytails or wearing your sunglasses on your head. No matter what you do, just make sure that your hair keeps its straight form. Yes, it is not so easy to follow this rule, but it is well worth it! You have to remember that during these first couple of days after thermal reconditioning, your hair is extremely vulnerable – not only to developing a curl, but also to breakage. This is happening because the action of the neutralizer is not over yet – it is still restructuring your hair and ‘memorizing’ its new straight shape.
Then, for at least a week, don’t try any new hairstyles, especially updos – just wear your hair straight! When you wash your hair for the first time, blow dry it or allow it to air-dry – just make sure that you don’t go to bed with a wet hair.
The first week after thermal reconditioning is the decisive one: your hair is still malleable and soft, and it can easily acquire a line or a bend where you place a hair clip or where you tuck a strand behind the ear. In case a curl, a bend or a line appears during the first 2 weeks after the straightening treatment, you have to get rid of it by using the flat iron or the blow dryer.
When this complicated period is over, you’ll have to worry only about maintaining the health and softness of your hair by using special products. Most stylists will recommend you purchasing a shampoo, a conditioner and a treatment (you’ll have to use it once a week) designed for chemically straightened hair.
You’ll also need a professional heat protector – you’ll have to apply it each time you want to use the hair dryer or the hot iron. A good thermal protection product has to have a protein formula that will deeply condition the hair when you apply the heat. You might also want to use an oil mask from time to time – it will make your hair shinier.
Many people are asking themselves how long does thermal reconditioning last. Thermal reconditioning is a permanent hair straightening treatment. It means that the treated hair will be always straight! Then, depending on the individual growing speed of your hair, you’ll have to recondition only the new growth once in every 4-8 months. This period also depends on the structure of your hair: if your hair is very curly, you’ll feel the need to do it sooner in order to avoid the strange feeling of having curls at the roots and straight strands on the rest of the hair. If your hair is wavy, on the other hand, with the first kinks appearing only at 3 or 4 inches from the scalp, you can wait more time before doing a re-touch.
If you want to color your hair, you have to do it 2 weeks before or 2 weeks after thermal reconditioning. If the straightening chemicals are combined with hair color, the ‘mixture’ can be extremely damaging for your hair. Allow your hair to ‘breathe’ between treatments – it is the only way of maintaining its healthy, gorgeous sleek look.
