Hair Straightening Disaster
When I rinsed out the second step of the treatment, my hair felt awful - sticky and unnatural - so I immediately washed it again with shampoo and conditioner. But the damage was already done. My hair was completely fried, and the texture was horrifying, like warm, gooey snot. I rushed to my stylist in a panic, and she had no choice but to cut off 9 inches. I was absolutely devastated and cried my eyes out.
What little hair I have left is unbelievably dry and damaged. Even now, when it’s wet, it still feels strangely gooey and warm to the touch. My biggest question is: Do you think there was something wrong with the straightening product itself? I’ve reread the instructions a hundred times, and I’m positive I followed them correctly. I even tried to look up the company’s website for more information, but I couldn’t find one.
I’ve been doing everything I can to repair my hair - using keratin packs and protein-rich conditioners - but nothing seems to make a difference. Do you have any other suggestions for what I can do?
1. Previous Chemical Treatments: Have you used any other relaxers, straighteners, or perms in the past? Even if it was months ago, residual chemicals from prior treatments could still be in your hair and might have reacted badly with this product.
2. Hair Color History: What kind of hair dye have you used? Certain types, especially those containing metallic salts (like some box dyes) or even some vegetable-based dyes, can cause severe chemical reactions when mixed with straightening treatments.
3. Water Quality: Do you have hard water at home? If your water supply comes from a well or has high mineral content (like calcium or iron), those deposits can build up in your hair over time and interact unpredictably with chemical treatments.
Even hair that seems healthy can have hidden vulnerabilities if it’s been previously lightened, colored, or chemically processed. These treatments often leave the hair more porous, meaning it absorbs chemicals faster and sometimes unevenly, which can lead to extreme damage like what you’ve experienced.
Given how severe your reaction was, it’s possible that one (or a combination) of these factors played a role. If you’re still dealing with lingering gooeyness and heat-like sensations, your hair’s protein structure may have been compromised beyond what standard deep conditioners can fix. In that case, a professional bond-rebuilding treatment (like Olaplex or K18) might be worth trying, but I’d strongly recommend consulting with a trusted stylist before applying anything else.
©Hairfinder.com
See also:
Hair straightening
What is metallic hair dye?
Metallic hair dyes and perming