Straight up

Caring for stressed-out rebonded hair

Rebonding is God’s gift to women who desire long, straight and shiny hair day in and day out. But do spend some time to give your rebonded locks the extra special care to maintain its lustre.

According to Karen Seow, a freelance hairdresser and hairstylist with over 30 years of experience, there are seven tips that will help rebonded hair stay straight longer, and sleek and shiny always.

Weekly treatment

Rebonded hair tend to be dryer and prone to breakage because chemicals have weakened the hair. What’s more, the scalp’s ability to naturally oil the hair and protect against moisture loss has been substantially reduced.

To counter this, Seow suggests a weekly deep-conditioning treatment using a good hot oil treatment or deep conditioner. Apply the conditioner or hot oil treatment to the hair and scalp, cover with a plastic cap and sit under a steamer for 15 to 20 minutes.

Alternatively, wrap your head in a towel. Wash the hair thoroughly, especially if you tend to have dry
brittle hair.

Special treatment for coarse hair

If you have coarse hair, a more intensive twice-monthly hair masque with ingredients to soften the hair is required.

Wash, wash, wash

Wash your hair often–at least two to three times a week–and use a good shampoo and conditioner that are available in salons.

They are expensive but they are gentler and more concentrated. This means they may save you money in the long run and you will be able to see a difference. Comb out your hair during conditioning to untangle it while it is still wet and relatively slick.

 Pamper

Massage your scalp after washing with a hair tonic on a regular basis to promote circulation and oil production.

Leave-in conditioner

Using a leave-in conditioner after washing will add shine and help provide the oil and moisture your hair has lost. If you are going to blow-dry your hair, use an additional protein spray. It has substances that coat and protect the hair from heat, dirt and sun, while nourishing the hair at the
same time.

Blow-drying tips

When blow-drying, set the dryer on a lower heat mode as heat, especially combined with perms, is damaging
to hair.

Trim frequently

Have your hair trimmed on a regular basis; every three months would be ideal. If your ends split, this split can travel along the hair shaft, causing damage further up. Do not hang on to damaged hair for the sake of its
length