My mom says straitening your hair is bad for it. Is that true?

Question

I have wavy/curly hair that looks like I didn't even brush it sometimes. I really, really want it permanently straitened, but my mom says it will ruin my hair. Yeah, my friends say they want my hair (they have straight hair of course) and they say that you can't really do anything with staight hair except put it in a pony tail or braid it. I would rather not be able to do nothing with it except pony tails and braids, then have it look like crud all the time. What should I do?

For a while now, my hair has been settling down a bit. I'm letting my bangs grow out and I have to straighten them everyday with a curler (don't ask) I think after a while the bangs will get heavier and straighten themselves. I'm a pre-teen and I'm hoping that my hair will get heavier too, but I'm not so sure that will happen.... =(

Well, the day after I take a shower, my hair is all frizzy, and wavy. First, I used Sunsilk's anti-frizz shamppo and conditioner. When that didn't work, I used their straightening shampoo and conditioner. Nothing seems to work on my hair. Somedays it looks awsome and sexy, but others it looks....well........cruddy.

I'm mostly looking for shampoos, conditioners, gels, etc. Stuff like that. Anybody got any suggestions?

Answer 1

Permanant straightening, when done well and effectively, can be very expensive and time consuming. It shouldn't damage your hair any more than some types of dye, but it can completely ruin the hair if done incorrectly. I am assuming you have caucasian hair (this is the only type which I have experience with), if you have ethnic hair the chemicals and procedures are different.

I would actually more recommend buying a very good, very hot flat iron (Chi makes a great one). Use it on a higher heat, that will straighten in one pass, and you will do less damage. Also, when you flat iron your hair, it distributes oils, so you need to wash it less. Once you learn how to use a good flat iron, you will have the option to wear your hair curly if you would like, or to straighten it for something different. Permanantly straightened hair does not take to curl very well, so you can sometimes be stuck with one style.

edit:
If you are a pre-teen, your hair will change a LOT! as your body grows and your hormones change, your hair texture can change a lot. Also, many chemical treatments won't take to very young hair, so you may not even be a candidate for permanant hair straightening.

Answer 2

Actually I've heard good things about the Japanese straightening system so that could work for you. But anything that alters the natural state of your hair can't be great for you remember that. Work with what you've got. Wavy/curly hair can be so sexy if it looks healthy and well taken care of. When you wash it you should use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Use a leave in conditioner like infusium 23 also. Then work a curl enhancing gel or cream through your hair and blow dry with a diffuser. Finally when your hair is dry to finish it off you should run a shine serum like Biosilk through your hair to make your hair super shiny and soft. Believe me you'll look better and more unique than all your friends.

Answer 3

a permanent straitening system deff isn't good for your hair - it uses so many toxic chemicals - BUT your hair isn't just going to fall out or anything unless you have really weak hair in the first place (even then it won't really fall out). i've gotten it done once and it looks great, straight, and shiny, but in a year or maybe even 6 months, get it done again if you want it to look perfect. I'm guessing since your friends all "want" your hair, it probably only seems like "crud" to you. besides the perms are usually pretty expensive - i don't know about your salon but i got mine done for around $150 - if you don't have that type of money, i suggest you get a decent hair straightener to use when you want to. that way you have a choice to have straight hair or cute wavy hair. I bet your natural hair would look even better if you used some spray products from Frizzease (i think that's how it's spelled). hope this helped. have fun! =)

Answer 4

Save up your money and buy a good staightening iron - one with adjustable heat settings and ceramic plates - this will be about $70+ for a good one. Make sure you use a heat protection spray when you use it too. Straightening your hair chemically will dry it out over time - it is like getting a perm. At least with the straitening iron you can choose between curly or straight from day to day.

Answer 5

your hair is wavy/curly so yes it is 7 out of 10 it might damage ur hair. seek professional advise before u do anything to ur hair and find the type of relaxer that is right for ur hair. I also agree with ur friends wavy/curly is really cool and a beautiful gift to have, i advise u keep ur natural hair but if thats what u choose seek advise from a professional dont just go into the salon and say i want my hair straighten cause some hairdresser will just do ur hair and not mention what u want done to ur hair could damage it, good luck

Answer 6

the japanese hair straightening doesn't damage your hair too badly because of the process they use, but it's expensive and you have to get it re-done every 2-6 months. straightening every day is also damaging, but if you use a conditioner every time you wash your hair and a deep conditioner every week or so, then your hair should be fine. tell her this is coming from a girl who used to dye her hair once a month, but it never dried out because i conditioned my hair with the propper conditioners. if you need any more hair tips, email me.

Answer 7

It dries it out.

Don't straighten it every day, always wash it after straightening, or it will get dry and break.

If your hair is curly, then your problem might be how you take care of it.

If you have curly hair, you can't do ANYTHING to it when it's dry.

You have to comb it when it's wet, and then the curls stay in, and it's not frizzy...and if you use curl-defining gel, it will keep it from poofing out.

Answer 8

It is really bad for your hair but if you absolutely hate your hair you should do it anyways. I have really curly hair and I just straighten it everyday--not permanently. Curly hair can be sexy though too but all my friends have straight hair and I like it so much better!

Answer 9

your mom is kind of right. relaxing your hair does make your hair weaker, but many people find their hair is more easily managed and looks better. if u do decide to do it though make sure u get it professionally done and get a relaxer and not a japanese straightener. ive heard bad stories about those.

Answer 10

if you get it permantly straightened it grows back at the roots, at the top of your head. it looks really bad becasue its like startight and then at the top its wavy. if you do get it permantly staightened (which does help a lot ) you have to go for touch ups every like 2 months becasue your ahir grows every month. so as long as you have the money to keep getting it touched up it will be fine.