All about Japanese straightening or Rebonding
Hair Rebonding, or Japanese hair straightening is an effective and popular method to straighten curly, wavy, unruly or frizzy hairs.
At Niche Salon Bangkok, we practice this method regularly using Shiseido brand products. Thanks to the Crystallizing straight treatment, we can achieve the perfect straight, shiny and sleek style you are looking for. And so for more than 6 months.
So what is exactly a Rebonding or Japanese straightening?
The treatment can be compared in the technique to a flat perm. It implies the application first of a solution to help straighten the hairs.
This formula have the effect to break the hair bond giving the shape, curly or wavy.
After this operation, the hair will be ready to be ironed at 180 degrees Celsius. This thermal reconditioning operation will modify the shape into straight form, and then giving the sleek appearance you are dreaming of.
Finally, in order to seal the locks in this shape, a neutralizer will be applied at the end of the treatment.
Niche Salon Bangkok will process as follow :
- shampoo + hair drying
- application of the Shiseido Crystallizing straightener, evenly on the hairs except the roots to avoid any irritation and problems with scalp.
- hairs are rinsed and dried
- the stylist will then iron the hairs at 180’C, with a ceramic iron to straighten the hairs
- application of the Shiseido Crystallizing neutralizer to seal the result
- washed and rinsed
Those two steps requires a lot of work. Note that with other brands, the 2 steps process is roughly the same. (Milbon or Wella are 2 other good alternative brands to follow this method in our opinion).
It also demands a real know-how from the stylists, as the process is really precise. For example, to avoid any damages, the ironing should not be set more than 2 seconds per location. This is why we advise you to make sure your stylist has the necessary experience to do so.
As a result, the process has a cost, and is a time killer. Count an average between 4 to 6 hours depending on your length and thickness. And between 3000 to 5500 Thb at Niche Salon. However, all things considered, 6 hours sitting on a chair, will save you much more hours of ironing in the morning. And so during more than 6 months. The choice is easy to make.
Why do we call it Japanese straightening?
A bit of history. As the name calls for it, the method appeared first in Japan in the 90’s. The brands Milbon and Shiseido developed some innovative solutions in-salon to transform the frizzy, unruly, wavy hairs into completely straight hairs, without any damages.
The trends of straight hairs was so huge in Japan back then, that the method became extremely popular.
By the beginning of the 2000’s, the method made his apparition in some salons in New York and Los Angeles. They started to offer the solution to clients struggling with unruly and frizzy hairs. The treatment was immediately a hit largely acclaimed. And it is still very popular nowadays.
Brazilian blowout VS Japanese straightening / Rebonding
In the early 2000’s, an other treatment including some keratin extracts made his apparition also. It became super trendy, and as a consequence made the Japanese straightening relegated in 2nd league.
The so called “brazilian blowout”, “brazilian keratin treatment” or “brazilian straightening” is indeed quite efficient to straighten the hairs. And the process is much faster to apply. Hence its immediate popularity in the United states, and then across the globe.
The so called “brazilian blowout”, “brazilian keratin treatment” or “brazilian straightening” is indeed quite efficient to straighten the hairs. And the process is much faster to apply. Hence its immediate popularity in the United states, and then across the globe.
However, after 2 years, many studies reported high concentrations of Formaldehyde emanations during the treatment. Suspicions of carcinogenic risks have ruined its reputation. https://www.allure.com/story/could-brazilian-blowouts-be-banned-altogether
Many users, caring about those issues and looking for more healthy products, stopped asking for it. They were back to the Japanese straightening method or opted for other treatments, such as Natural smoothing Keratin treatment, formaldehyde free. https://nichesalonbangkok.com/keratin-bangkok/
(Note on this point that the formaldehyde is a gas, which emanate during the heating process. It may not be written explicitly on the bottle that the products contains it, as it appears only during the heating process).
Therefore the Japanese straightening was definitely back in the trend for the straightening lovers.
Main benefits of Japanese straightening treatment
Here is a short list of the main benefits you can get from this Rebonding method.
- Stunning straight hairs results, lasting longer than 6 months in regular conditions.
- Hyper manageability. Your hairs will be so silky and shiny, so easy to take care for.
- No matter what you do, no need to worry anymore about frizz.
- A real time saver, forget about those waste hours of ironing every morning.
Is the treatment suitable for every type of hairs?
- If your have colored hairs, the treatment is not recommended in the 3 months following your coloration minimum.
The thermal reconditioning process could damage your hairs. The strain exercised during the treatment on your hairs implies that they must be strong enough. And the chemical process during the coloration may have altered their composition, especially their concentration in proteins. Thus, they will be more sensitive to the treatment and to the ironing process.
- The logic is the same if you had any chemical treatments in the previous month.
- All hairs are different. And we don’t take care of them the same way. On the top of it, some hair colors are less harmful than others. So for all those reasons, the best is to check with your trusted stylist, who will give a check on your hairs before any treatment. A quick diagnosis from a professional can tell if they can resist to the treatment without damages.
- If you have colored hairs, or fragile hairs due to previous treatments, we recommend to opt for the solution of natural smoothing with keratin. https://nichesalonbangkok.com/keratin-bangkok/
What about the aftercare ?
Now the process is done. You just spent several hours sitting in the salon chair, and your hairs are looking gorgeous straight, shiny, sleek and silky. So what should you do and not do to keep this ravishing look for a long time ?
- Stay away from any kind of moisture during at least 72 hours after the treatment. Therefore avoid hair wash of course, the swimming pool, the sauna, and avoid sweating too much also. This way the neutralizer will have enough oxygen to complete its duty and then seal the shape straight for the later months.
- Avoid any hair styling accessories during the next 72 hours. Clips, rubber bands, holders.. You should even avoid to tuck your hairs behind your ears during a while.
- Avoid blow dry for a week.
- We also recommend to wait at least 2 months after the treatment to make any new hair color or treatment.
- Avoid the pool with chlorinated water during 2 weeks.
- Apply once a week a treatment to nourish your hairs, such as masks with proteins (example Creme Revitalizing Chronologist Kerastase).
- Use some conditioner, to keep your hairs silky and strong, such as any Fondant Kerastase.
- Apply whenever you want some oil treatment to keep them shiny, for example Moroccan oil or Organic argan oil.
