Q: A couple of days ago I bought a "do-it-yourself" permanent straightening kit, and I tried it out hoping
for at least some improvement. But when it was all done and my hair had dried, it went back to normal. My hair is naturally curly with
a frizzy layer on the outside. But the kit said it works on all hair types and I did all the steps correctly. I don't know if this has
anything to do with it, but I live in a very humid environment. But that shouldn't affect it, right? And because I live in a humid
place, I can't straighten my hair with my iron because it will immediately go curly again. I really need help! I also can't go to a
hairdresser and get it done professionally because they aren't experienced with that, (I live on a small island in the Pacific,
previously Australia). I don't know if you can help me or not, but it would be greatly appreciated if you can give some pointers.
A: It is entirely possible that you performed all of the steps correctly, but didn’t get the desired results because your hair is
resistant. These at-home straightening kits use the same chemical formulas as home perms, but instead of wrapping the hair on rods to
create curl, the hair is combed straight to remove existing curl. Just as some women find that their hair doesn’t perm as easily as
other women’s hair, some women need more processing time to straighten the hair.
If the hair is longer than shoulder length, you may also need to enlist the assistance of a friend
to help you keep the hair combed straight while the hair processes. Because of the fact that some hair types will require adjusted
processing times, I usually encourage women to seek professional assistance for straightening services, but I understand your
situation and that this is not an option for you.
If you decide to try to straighten your hair again with an at-home kit, consider enlisting a
friend’s help, and extend the processing time in five minute increments, keeping a careful watch on the hair to make sure you avoid any damage.
As for tips on straightening your hair in general, I can offer the following advice: In order to
combat the humidity of your environment, you need to use styling products that will seal the cuticle layer of the hair and prevent the
humidity from having as big an effect. Silicone-based products, such as anti-frizz serums, are excellent for this purpose as they naturally repel moisture.
