Japanese, Brazilian, Keratin Straightening Do’s and Don’ts

This week, I’m going to get my hair Japanese straightened.

It’s kind of a big deal. It works phenomenally – I won’t have a single curly hair left!

But my hair will be more sensitive to a lot of factors, and that’s something I need to give serious consideration to.

Award-winning colorist, Mia, has done her research and she wants to share color tips for chemically straightened hair.

“I get clients coming in all the time asking if they can color their chemically straightened hair. There are so many new straightening techniques out there that it can sometimes get confusing. So I’ve done my own sleuthing and compiled a list of a variety of treatments and the do’s and don’ts regarding coloring.”

Thermal Reconditioning/Japanese Straightening
Thermal reconditioning (also known as TR, Magic Straight, Ionic Perm, Bioionic Straightening, Yuko System, Liscio, Japanese Straightening, Japanese Straight Perm, Straight Perm and Rebonding) is a Hair Straightening procedure uses heat to change the shape of the hair. After the cuticle is broken down with chemicals, locks are ironed straight with a hot iron. A neutralization process then closes the cuticle, causing hair to stay straight. For women who spend hours each week blow-drying their hair into submission and dodging raindrops like bullets, thermal reconditioning is worth the time and money.

This hair straightening technique will normally last from five months to a year. It all depends on the rate of growth of your hair. Since new hair will grow to its normal characteristics, you will need to only touch up the new hair.

Afterward, you will be able to use standard good quality shampoos and hair conditioners. The treatment is pretty much permanent, until the hair grows out. You will want to protect your hair from ultraviolet rays, (intense sunshine); so applying hair products with UV protection like the Maijan Pure Organic Argan Oil is recommended. Lastly, you will need to wait at least four to six weeks before coloring your hair.

Keratin Treatment
Whether it is called Brazilian keratin treatment, Coppola keratin straightening, Keratin Complex treatment, Liquid keratin, and Global keratin, etc., the primary product used in this conditioning treatment is keratin. Keratin is a tough protein found in skin, hair and, nails. The chemical aldehyde, a derivative of formaldehyde, assists the keratin infusion into the hair.

Unlike the thermal reconditioning system (Japanese straightening) which thermally and chemically restructures the hair bonds to create permanent stick straight hair, the keratin procedures recondition the hair preventing frizz while allowing it to wave, curl, or be flat ironed straight. Hair gradually returns to its original state without the awkward growing out stage inherent to the Brazilian hair straightening. This advantage becomes its disadvantage; the treatment is not permanent and lasts anywhere from eight weeks to four months.

You need to wait two-three weeks before and after you do any other chemical treatments including coloring. For best results always do the coloring before Keratin treatment. After treatment the Keratin coat your hair like a thin layer of film and colorants might not penetrate the hair they way it should.

Ionic Hair Retexturizing (IHR)
Ionic Hair Retexturizing is the latest Japanese hair straightening technique, which locks in moisture and nutrients during the ironing process, to improve the condition as well as straighten the hair. It works best on non-chemically treated hair. Treatment lasts up to 6 months depending on the growth rate of your hair.

Always remember the healthiest hair usually has the fewest chemicals applied. Having both straightening and coloring may not be the best option for everyone. Being able to work with healthy, shiny hair will allow Mia to give her clients the very best results.

By Aly Walansky

  11 comments for “Japanese, Brazilian, Keratin Straightening Do’s and Don’ts

  1. selena
    May 25, 2010 at 4:21 pm

    thats not all true.
    u can wait 4-6 weeks 2 get ur hair colored..but u dnt have 2 if u get it colored after u straighten it.,,
    i got it colored rite after at the same salon same hour but its fine

  2. Stel
    May 29, 2010 at 10:08 pm

    I have had my hair chemically straightened many times and I love it! It lasts till my hair grows out so it’s a really good investment for women on the go, it saves so much time I never have to use the hot iron and sometimes I don’t even use the hairdryer. I’ve had it colored right after and also colored about few weeks after the straightening, didn’t have any problems with it. Go ahead and try it you won’t regret it! :)

  3. lucy alvarez
    September 16, 2010 at 3:18 pm

    i did the keratin treatment about a month a ahlg ago at a salon my hair is cut in like a pixie spiky cut but the keratin is not lasting due to i cut my hair every 4 weeks before this i was using a relaxer can i do the keratin again or stick to the relaxers i would appreciate ur feedback on this thank u

  4. lucy alvarez
    September 16, 2010 at 3:19 pm

    can i relaxwr my hair or contnue to do the keratin treatments how often for short short hair

  5. Brittany
    October 13, 2010 at 11:45 am

    With my experience I would not recommend coloring hair before the keratin treatment the reason is the shampoo used before the treatment is applied will strip out the color and you will have to do your color again after the treatment.

  6. Kelley King
    June 11, 2011 at 9:56 am

    Brittany, thank you for the input about the color. I didn’t realize about the stripping. I do the Brazilian Blow Out and have had no problems with color staying on, AFTER the BBO, but I was thinking next time of doing it before, as others suggested.

    What you said makes perfect sense.

  7. August 6, 2011 at 1:22 am

    ihad my hair permanently straighten it was great then had keratin juvexin done not good i have blonde hair & it turned an orange colour . can you use any gobal keratin shampoo &conditioner with the Permanently straighten . i was told you can not use any protein products thank you

  8. Shirley Jackson
    October 12, 2011 at 6:36 pm

    How soon after the keratin treatment is done can one put a relaxer in the hair?

    • alyson
      October 14, 2011 at 2:33 pm

      When dealing with multiple chemical processes, we highly recommend consulting a professional to avoid unwanted complications!

  9. jessy
    October 31, 2011 at 1:25 pm

    When can i do the japanese hair straightening after the keratin? I had 6 keratin treatments in 3 years, the last one was 10 months ago……….any suggestions? Also if i do the japanese straightening, when should i color my hair, before or after it? thanks

  10. Ren
    May 23, 2012 at 3:49 am

    how soon after the treatment can we have a relaxer?

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