The hair styling industry is buzzing with various treatments and techniques to tame curls and frizzy hair, and give you straight hair. But is exposing your hair to harsh chemicals worth it? Here’s what you should know about these treatments.

Keratin treatment: The formaldehyde used in keratin treatments often leads to a runny nose, eye irritation, headache and itching, owing to the strong fumes released during the treatment. Wearing a mask can help avoid these side effects. Sensitive skin can have an adverse reaction to keratin. If you have experienced any allergic reactions to formaldehyde before, request your stylist to test the product on your skin first.

Chemical relaxers: While hair relaxers were introduced as an alternative to thermal reconditioning and provide the same results, these too have side effects on your hair and skin. Lye relaxers use sodium hydroxide with a strength between 10-14pH. This same chemical is used in drain cleaners too. Hair loss and dryness increase if you use chemical relaxers on already damaged scalp or unhealthy, chemically treated hair. Speak to your stylist in detail about the pros and cons of the treatment before opting for it. So, if you decide to relax your hair, make sure you tell your stylist to specifically use a very mild formula of ammonium thioglycolate. Once hair is treated with a relaxer, regular deep conditioning or hot oil treatment is a must.

Thermal reconditioning: As you already know, thermal reconditioning or rebonding, as it is usually called, is a heavy chemical process using sodium hydroxide, guanidine hydroxide and ammonium thioglycolate wherein chemicals are applied on hair to break the bonds and turn the curls to get poker straight hair.

Cysteine treatment: Cysteine is considered a better option than keratin since it has no formaldehyde (strong chemical) or any other harmful substitutes which otherwise under heat pressure release formaldehyde fumes. It contains the required amino acids and natural proteins, as well. However, the treatment lasts up to three months only.

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Use dry conditioner for silky smooth hair

You must have already used dry shampoo but have you tried using dry conditioner? It is a new product on the beauty shelves that is designed to moisturise your hair and add nutrients to the dry ends leaving your tresses to appear smoother and silkier. You can also extend the life of your blowouts by using a dry conditioner. Hold the spray three to four inches away from your scalp and apply the conditioner from the midsection of your hair to the ends. Then flip your hair over to eventually distribute the spray and gently brush the spray through your locks. You can either use it after using a dry shampoo or use it if you want to revive your hairdo.