All About Hair Smoothening - Procedure, Duration, Side Effects, Cost

Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Hello Lovely Ladies...
I have been so lazy these days and resting my brain so much that I almost forgot I have a blog too..It was only today I remembered I have a blog too when I received a new comment on one of my reviews..(lol..is’nt this funny..Did you ever forget you had a blog)..Anyways, coming back to this post, You all must have already read about my blabbering and complaints about my dense, dry and unmanageable hair..So I had always wanted to get my hair straightened but reading about some posts that straightening makes dry hair even worse always stopped me from getting it..Just a few days back I read about Ankita’s comment on IMBB that she got her hair smoothened..I googled hair smoothening but hardly got any good information regarding the treatment. So I sent an email to Ankita (You can access Ankita's Blog here ) and  she wrote me a nice big email giving every possible information about the procedure, costs, the duration for which effect of treatment lasts, side effects..


So I thought of sharing the very same email she wrote to me..Here's the email:

“Smoothening is quite useful for unmanageable or frizzy hair. I had wavy and somewhat frizzy hair (you can see that in my older pic on my blog). Smoothening and Straightening are quite similar..straightening just has 1 extra step in the procedure. The basic difference in the end result is that straightening will give you poker straight hair..it is 100% straightening but smoothening is about 70-80% straightening and it gives a more natural look.

PROCEDURE:
The process they use for smoothening is-
1. Wash,condition and blow dry
2. Apply cream evenly on hair. leave on for 20-30 min. This cream is the one responsible for making the hair straight.
3. Wash off cream. Iron hair using ceramic hair straightener. I'm sure you would have seen a straightening iron. They'll straighten hair with this to sort of seal the effects of cream applied.
4. Apply another cream for 15-20 min to further seal effects of ironing.
5. Wash off , blow dry and you're done.
6. You're not supposed to tie/pin/tuck your hair in any way using clips/band anything at all for 3 days and not let them get wet because the chemicals are still acting on them for 3 days. After 3 days, the salon will give you the first hair wash after which you can wash your hair every 2-3 days by products specially meant for your hair type. They also advise not to use oil for at least the first 15 days.
In case of straightening, ironing using a ceramic straightening iron is also done between step 1 and 2 above to give absolutely straight hair. Rest everything is same in the procedure for the 2.

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST:
Straightened or smoothened hair retain their effect till they are cut off. So the new hair that'll grow out from your roots will have your natural hair wave/curl but the one once straightened will remain so. It takes 6-10 months for hair to grow out completely depending on person to person.

SIDE EFFECTS:
I used to be quite skeptical about chemical/heat treatments too but I figured it won't really harm my hair doing it once. I don't color my hair either so this is the first treatment for me. Repeated treatments over a long period of time does harm your hair but doing it once will not cause damage. The salon/stylist will recommend L'oreal or some other good salon range products which you should use while you have straightened hair. Its best to stick to that.

COST :
Depending on where you get it from and the length of your hair, it can cost you anything between 4000-8000. For my length of hair (3-4 inches below shoulder) I paid around 5000 (including taxes). Add to this Rs 1500-2500 for the products you will be required to purchase (shampoo + conditioner + cream + serum). Also straightening costs about Rs. 1000-1500 more than smoothening. Maintenance of hair is not difficult. You just need to wash every 3 days with shampoo, apply conditioner and cream and serum when they dry. I used to anyway use shampoo+conditioner+serum so the cream is just 1 more step in the routine which hardly takes any time.

Do choose a good reputed salon for yourself so that they don't mess up the procedure in any way or don't use any sub standard quality products.

I hope this helps. This is pretty much the extent of my knowledge on the subject. To know more abt how the chemicals actually work you can always google it up :) If I've missed out some point or you have more questions , just let me know. I think you should have it done at least once, the effect is really nice! "

Disclaimer:
The above information is first hand account of the smoothening treatment based on Ankita’s personal experience and is not a professional article.

58 comments:

Anonymous said...

Glad I could be of help :) Do let me know your experience when you get your hair smoothened.

Prachi said...

Yup Ankita..I had recently got my hair cut to shoulder length and will grow it a bit now and then go for smoothening.

PeachesandBlush said...

Very informative ya!
I want to go for smoothening..

lipstick and blush addict said...

wow..thanks for the info Prachi



visit me at http://oflipstickandblushes.blogspot.com

Prachi said...

You most welcome zeeba..Ankita..provided all the info.i just reproduced it..

Namrata said...

Is it necessary to use the shampoo and conditioners which the parlour suggests after smoothning has been done on the hair? I feel as if its their way of just selling of their products. Are there any other shampoo and conditioner available with lower price for straightened/smoothened hair?

Prachi said...

Hi Namrata,

I have'nt got straightening/smoothening done. Always fear that my dry hair might become worse after the procedure. But a lot of people who have got their hair rebonded/smoothened advice to use the products recommended.

P.s. - If you go for any such procedure, go in for reputed brand like loreal, schwarzkopf etc.

Priyam Das said...

Thanks a lot for this information....

abhi said...

thank u so much for the information girl.....but i hv a question??? my question is i hv done hair straightening done 5 times...should i go for smoothening again...??? i used to hv a very rough hair but aftr straightening my hairs became so soft and permanently straight but they r not shimy and silky...shud i go for hair smoothening..:))

Jaya said...

thanks dear fr sharing.i was looking fr this information..!!

nids2k2 said...

thnxxx ..grt info fr me as i was really cnfused regarding ths ..

lavs said...

Very informative. Thanks. I recently got my hair smoothened and am liking the texture of my hair.Earlier it used to be dry n brittle but now it is smooth. The only problem i see here is tat my friends say my hair looks as if its been oiled right from the day i have got it smoothened. I feel its coz of the serum that they used in the end. I have tried using serums before too and it gave the same oily effect. So am plannin to discontinue using the serum going forward . Is it ok not to include serum . I just got my hair smoothened yesterday n still have to go for my first hair wash at the salon. Will it become alright after the first hair wash or is it going to be this oily look even after that.

Thanks

lavs said...

Very informative. Thanks. I recently got my hair smoothened and am liking the texture of my hair.Earlier it used to be dry n brittle but now it is smooth. The only problem i see here is tat my friends say my hair looks as if its been oiled right from the day i have got it smoothened. I feel its coz of the serum that they used in the end. I have tried using serums before too and it gave the same oily effect. So am plannin to discontinue using the serum going forward . Is it ok not to include serum . I just got my hair smoothened yesterday n still have to go for my first hair wash at the salon. Will it become alright after the first hair wash or is it going to be this oily look even after that.

Thanks

1n said...

Just wanted to ask that my hair is quite thin and i have regular hair fall. I read over the net that rebonding will permanently damage my hair for it is not for thin hair. M getting married in august and at parlour they suggested me to get smootheing done for fine look. Do you think its worth it? M quite sceptical. Plz help. What can be the alternative procedures that i can go for? Although i read all the info which is quite complete in your blog and m tons thankful for that but still please suggest. Thanks.

Prachi said...

Hi Niharika, since you already have thin hair and hair fall, I would suggest you not to go for smoothening or straightening. Don't take any chances with your hair. You can apply hair packs, go for spas regularly to get healthy hair. if you are keen for straight hair, invest in a good quality ceramic coated hair straightener and heat protectant.

Unknown said...

hey prachi! wonderful blog! i loved it! but i have some doubts
is keratin smoothening and the one you said above the same? n if they r, is the keratin smoothening going to harm the hair? also, when i went through ankita's blog she mentioned mostly about hair sernity service n its advantage than smootheening...now this all r confusing me n i would really appreciate if you could tell me precisely which one is better? some many doubts but hope you can answer for me! thanks :) :)

life at glance said...

Thanks gals... I was really confused between smoothing and re bonding... n I have one question that after How long we have results once smoothing is done ... Loreal or Wella's...

My hair dresser said it may last long approx 10 to 12 months but still I have doubt.... so please help me..

Unknown said...

Thts a good piece of information i too had this doubt for a very long time thax for the info
cheers,
Ani

Anonymous said...

hey plz help mee out...i am vry much confusd shld i go 4 smoothing or not..xctually my hairs r thick n the upper portion of my hair iz straight but the lower portion is lil bit curl..so wat shld i do?shld i go 4 diz???

Poornima Kumar said...

Hey Prachi,

i gt smoothing 15 days back as i ve dense, dry and curly cum wavy hair ,some tresses have already strtd becoming wavy. Also my hair at the back are straight at tips pointing little towards outside and not soft. I am a bit tensed. Though I am using L'oreal professionl range of x tenso and wil go parlour again to sort this out. anything that you would like to suggest.

Thnx,
Poornima

SHRUTHI K MOHAN said...

am thinking of goin for smoothening but wont the curl grow back once u cut it? then again u have to go thru all the procedures? i dont want to get that uneven look

Unknown said...

Hi
Can I go for smoothening on my coloured hair?

ekta said...

hi ..i havn't used any chemicals as yet on my hair but still have hair fall dont know whether its this weather but if anybody could suggest whether i should go in for smoothning or not ..i dnt want to increase my hair fall.

thanks

dhiya.v said...

i had very dense curly hair ..n had regular hairfal l too .........i m very much confusd shuld i go for smoothening or not .....:Plzzzz do suggest me an o:Ptn for my hair to luk much betr ........

Unknown said...

Hi
I got smoothing today but my hairs looks very bad. It looks like bushy. Can Anybody help me?
Can i change my hairstyle?

Unknown said...

This is really helpful information! BTW, do you accept for guest posting?
If so, Check out my page: Natural hair regrowth supplement

Lakshmi said...

the hair on my crown area is healthy and straight..but the one behind and on the sides is dry,frizzy and thin. i am thinking of getting smoothening done to just this part of my hair..will it look good? or wil i have hairs of diff textures ?

also, my hair gets oily jus on the second day of washing it...and the oil makes my face also oily..can u suggest anything that might help me get rid of this?

Unknown said...

Straightened or smoothened hair retain their effect till they are cut off. So the new hair that'll grow out from your roots will have your natural hair wave/curl ....
hair transplant doctors

Unknown said...

hi... i have very thick & frrizzy curly hair ..my hair break off a few inches from the ends & not from the roots...such that they become shorter i length... should i go 4 smootheningg..?? is there any other safe alternative?

Unknown said...

hi... my hair are thick short frizzyy dry .. it regularly breaks from the ends.. should i go 4 smoothning..anh altwrnative??

Unknown said...

hi... i have very thick & frrizzy curly hair ..my hair break off a few inches from the ends & not from the roots...such that they become shorter i length... should i go 4 smootheningg..?? is there any other safe alternative?

Vish said...

Hi I did my hair smoothening twice...for the first time there was some hair loss initially then it went well... when i did it for the second time now i have lost almost 40 % of my hair... they have become so dry and brittle.. i am using the shampoo and conditioner recommended by the hairstylist... please recommend something.

Vish said...

Hi I did my hair smoothening twice...for the first time there was some hair loss initially then it went well... when i did it for the second time now i have lost almost 40 % of my hair... they have become so dry and brittle.. i am using the shampoo and conditioner recommended by the hairstylist... please recommend something.

Tapati said...

Hey!
That was very helpful. I,however,have wavy shoulder length hair and a round face. I badly want to have my hair smoothed. I am getting married early March. What pokes me is that, i don't want my hair to be too chipkoo-straight (which doesn't suits my round face anyways). So, how do you say on the hair smoothening thing would help? And,tell me, how much beforehand do I need to get the thing done, so that I does NOT look odd. HELP!

Unknown said...

hey i i have a lot hairfall but i want to smootgened my hair.. so does it incresr me hairfall..??

Unknown said...

hi .. my name is richa,, 3 years back i did straigtening,after that my hairs become so rough and dry,, nw i am thinking of doing smootening bt i have curly hair. plz suggest me what to do.. is it cause hairfall, becoz chemical doesnt suit me as earlier i gonne through hairfall when i did straigtening, and that hair specialist when i did straigtening put chemical 6 times after every 3 days when i came for hair wash treatment bt still my hairs doesnt get perfectly straight. so plz help out..

Unknown said...

Superb info indeed !

Unknown said...

Superb info indeed !

Unknown said...

Superb info indeed !

miss neha said...

hello..
I have curly hair..and after using so much of flat iron . now my hair become so dull and brittle all are telling to do hair smoothing.. pls suggest what should i do

miss neha

tina111 said...

i wanted soft curls on the tip of my 2 layer hair.. but the stylist made it fully straight after smoothening ... its been 8-9hrs since my treatment ..can i just curl d tips of jus 2 layers ???? i cud jus give it a hair cut if it seems ugly or damaged?? plzzzz help

tina111 said...

n my hair length is arnd 8-9 inches from shoulder in 3 layers hair cut !!


Unknown said...

thank u for d info.... bt cn u suggest d best hair product for smoothin.. like shampoo,conditioner,smoothin cream..
it vl b really greatful to u...plz

Amy said...

this was really helpful. i got my hair smoothened yesterday by loreal products in a salon. They are pin straight now,which i dont like, and its looking bit weird frankly speaking. Will they stay like this,or will have a little bit natural look within few days?

Unknown said...

Can I oil my hair with olive or parachute coconut oil often, two months after getting it smoothened?

Unknown said...

Can I oil my hair with olive or parachute coconut oil often, two months after getting it smoothened?

Kenia Eye Hospital said...

HAIR SMOOTHING IS BETTER OR HAIR STRAIGHTING IS BETTER

Unknown said...

i have got my hair smoothened yesterday..but today the front strands are getting frizzy/wavy look..what do i do?

Unknown said...

pls do suggest me some gud parlours in chennai for hair smoothening ???

Unknown said...

pls do suggest me some gud parlour for hair smoothening in chennai ???

Unknown said...

Thanx for the info I really needed that I wud be really obliged if u wud suggest me any of the good parlour

Unknown said...

could you pleas suggest some saloons?

Unknown said...

Great piece of information!
It covered everything!
Just one more thing, i wanna do this but not in d local salons as i don't trust them wit dis. Could u plz suggest some good salons, not too expensive but some decent ones?

Durva said...

Hey, I've redone my hair with smoothning for the second time and I noticed that my hair line receded, which means my forehead area is bigger now.. I've been thinking of doing smoothing again but I'm scared my forehead will get even bigger! Can you suggest what should I do?
BTW, I've been thinking of getting bangs so I can cover the whole forehead and expect my hair to eventually grow out!

Unknown said...

hey i have not so frizzy hair bt still they are unmanageable....as the r short length .. so wts ur views...should i go for smoothing..??

Unknown said...

Hey prachi why don't you answer the rest of the questions asked....

Shirin said...

Thank you this useful information Prachi.
Please answer my question too.

I have my friends marriage in next 15 days and I am planing for smoothening my hair, but like you said if the smoothening is going to last forever and new hair will grow natural then this might look very bad after 3-4 months because half of my hair will be straight and half wavy??

I would be happy if the smoothening fades off after time so that it wouldn't look odd after few months or if I wouldn't want to continue smoothening any more.

Pooja said...

Thanx alot for ur blog, Becoz even my hairs are unmanageble & wavy. i will try out smoothning for sure thanx :)

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