SMOOTH,
HEALTHY HAIR
In this age of so many mane-altering practices,
even the healthiest hair eventually looks a bit
beaten up. Not only do we subject it to the
endless heat and stretching from constant
blow-drying and going over with straightencrs,
there’s also the rise in Japanese and a
confusing array of so-called Brazilian
straightening treatments for our poor manes
to contend with. “The Japanese systems have
been around since the 1970s and work a bit
like a perm by breaking the bonds in the hair,
whereas the Brazilian systems, which have
existed for around 30 years, impart keratin
(the protein hair is made of) onto the hair,
making it appear shinier and straighten But
some use formaldehyde, which can be drying
in the long term. The fact is, any chemical
process isn’t without its consequences on the
hair,” explains technical whizz Zoltan. For very fine, coarse or damaged
hair, he favours a version of such keratin
treatments, which he employs more as a
healing aid than a straightener. “We comb
the keratin through the hair to form a
conditioning coating which is then sealed
with an iron heated to 190 degrees, compared
with over 400 degrees in some similar
treatments in Brazil. There is no formaldehyde
involved, and also, because we don’t put it
near the root, the hair isn’t poker straight – it
keeps some of its volume. Clients like it
because it takes away frizz, so their hair
looks smooth and shiny.