Want straight hair but minimal damage? It’s possible! All you need is the right products. There has been tons of research about which treatment is the best and which treatment’s results leave a lot left to be desired. I can assure you that some of the things that I am about to tell you will change the way you straighten your hair.

Let’s first talk about the most commonly used way. It’s absolutely crucial and I cannot stress how important it is for you to buy a flat iron that is right for your hair type. Most professional stylists use Ceramic, Tourmaline or Titanium straighteners – as these help retain your hair’s natural moisture. After buying the perfect flat iron, you need to apply lightweight sulfate-free shampoo, rich smoothing conditioner ((I highly recommend the label.m Organics range of shampoos and conditioners), straightening balm, wait until your hair is dry and then you can straighten it. The only downside to this method is that it is temporary and your hair will be back to its original form after the first wash.

The second method is Thermal Reconditioning. This is a procedure that was started by the Japanese for East Asian hair. So basically, the stylist will blow dry your hair straight, flat iron it and then apply the chemical. After this, they will wash it out and while the hair is still in fragile state with the disulfide bonds broken, they will blow dry and flat iron your hair while it is in that state. This treatment takes about 8-11 hours and is very expensive; although once it’s done, your hair will be super straight. One huge drawback is that you will have to wait until you can retouch your roots as the treated hair cannot be retouched because you may risk snipping your hair off.

Lastly is the Brazilian Blowout technique, which is very similar to the Keratin treatment. This treatment has two variations: Express and Regular. The Express treatment lasts from 4-6 weeks while the Regular one lasts 5-6 months. The advantage of this treatment is that blow drying your hair becomes easier, faster, and your hair isn’t frizzy anymore – but on the flip side, the excess use of formaldehyde in many cases can be toxic.

At the end of the day, every procedure has its own pros and cons. You should keep a few factors in mind before you decide which treatment you want to go for, e.g. the time it takes to get the treatment done and how long it lasts, how much money you are willing to spend, and more importantly, how much are you willing to make your hair go through.