You’re considering Japanese hair straightening treatment, but wondering if your hair is eligible for it. If that’s the case, then this guide is for you. We will discuss which hair types are best suited for Japanese hair straightening, which require caution, and which aren’t suited for the treatment. However, the best way to determine whether your hair is suitable for the treatment is to consult a professional at a permanent hair straightening salon.

Quick Answer

People with thick, coarse, curly, wavy, healthy, virgin hair, slightly processed hair, and high-density hair are the best candidates for Japanese hair straightening. Processed and treated hair requires caution. Whereas people with hair damage, breakage, thinning, scalp issues, and certain health problems, or those with really short hair, should avoid it. It’s also not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Now, let’s get into the details! Just remember that Japanese hair straightening is often also called hair rebonding and thermal reconditioning. We will explain who can get the treatment and who can’t by “types of hair types”. You pick what matches your hair from each hair type category and then see the result you get.

Why Does Hair Type And Health Matter?

The hair type and condition matter because Japanese hair straightening is a permanent procedure that uses chemicals and heat, so the hair should be healthy and strong enough to withstand this.

Having said that, regardless of the hair type, condition, hair health, and your health, you will still need to condition and moisturize hair pre and post treatment to reduce damage, restore hair health, and extend the treatment’s results.

Hair Curl Pattern

You may think that the eligibility for Japanese hair straightening depends entirely on the hair curl pattern, but it doesn’t. You can get this permanent hair straightening treatment whether you have straight, wavy, curly, or coily hair. However, people with straight hair usually don’t need it. So, they pick other treatments for combating frizz, such as keratin treatment or Brazilian blowout.

• Straight hair: Doesn’t need it
• Wavy hair: Ideal (if not damaged or overly processed)
• Curly hair: Ideal (if not damaged or overly processed)
• Coily hair: Caution needed because coily hair can get dry quickly, and dryness can lead to breakage and other issues. So, moisturization and using the right hair care products will be important post-treatment.

Hair Thickness

• Thin or fine hair: Not suitable
• Medium hair: Suitable
• Thick hair: Suitable

Fine hair is not usually suitable because the risk of damage is higher. If you have thin hair and you want to get the treatment, ask the stylist if it’s possible with the use of a smaller portion of the treatment.

Hair Condition

Here, the hair condition means whether the hair is processed or not.

Virgin Hair

Virgin hair or slightly processed hair is considered perfect for Japanese hair straightening as it can get to the other end of the straightening process without sustaining much damage, given that there are no other issues like hair thinning, breakage, or others.

This is to do with the health of the hair that hasn’t been or rarely been treated. There are no chemicals on the hair already to hinder or change the results of the treatment. And there won’t be uneven results.

Previously Dyed Hair

If your hair is previously dyed, there might still be its effects, such as weakening of the hair bonds. Another chemical treatment could damage the hair slightly more than virgin hair. To avoid damage, clearly communicate that your hair has been processed before so the stylist adjusts the treatment.

Dyed Hair (You Still Have The Dyed Hair Color)

If you have dyed hair, you can still get Japanese hair straightening with caution. The cause is the same. The dye (which is a chemical) has already weakened the hair, so another chemical treatment might not yield perfect results and the least amount of damage, unless you have a good hairstylist on your side.

Moreover, remember that if you recently dyed your hair, then you can’t get hair rebonding straight away. Experts recommend waiting for at least 2 weeks after hair dyeing to get a hair straightening treatment to avoid unfavorable hair damage.

Highlighted Or Bleached Hair

Highlighted hair is also dyed, but not completely. However, there is mostly the use of bleach, which puts the hair through the wringer. So, the advice for highlighted or bleached hair is to focus on damage restoration first before getting Japanese hair straightening. And be sure to communicate your hair health with the hairstylist and wait for 2 weeks before getting Japanese hair straightening.

Keratin Treated Hair

If you have already done keratin treatment and you want to try thermal reconditioning (Japanese hair straightening), it’s usually not recommended. However, if you insist and your hair is healthy, you should still wait 4-6 weeks before getting Japanese hair straightening. But if you don’t want a higher risk of damage, it’s better to wait it out till the keratin treatment fades completely, which can take about 3-4 months.

Remember that keratin treatment is a hair-smoothing, semi-permanent hair straightening treatment, while thermal reconditioning is a permanent hair straightening treatment.

Relaxed Hair

If you got hair relaxing, which is another permanent straightening treatment, getting another one on top of it can cause severe hair damage. Hair relaxers and Japanese hair straightening don’t go well together, and both offer similar results, so getting both at the same time is overkill, anyway.

Even when you want to switch from one treatment to the other, you will need to let the treatment fade completely before trying the other one.

Hair Health

Hair health is one of the defining factors that can make you eligible or ineligible for thermal rebonding.

Healthy Hair

It’s difficult to define healthy hair, but it’s shiny enough and elastic enough with a regular amount of breakage and moisture. Of course, it’s perfect for Japanese hair straightening.

Dry Hair

Dry hair means frizzy, brittle, and dull hair. It lacks moisture and can get damaged if you apply a chemical treatment like Japanese hair straightening because the treatment removes moisture from hair. And if the hair is already dry, it will only sustain damage.

However, you can get the treatment if you prepare well. It translates to weeks of deep conditioning and moisturizing.

Oily Hair

The exact opposite of dry hair is oily hair. It’s greasy and attracts dust. You can get Japanese hair straightening by being careful about the scalp because, commonly, the scalp can get irritated due to excess oil. This is why prepare for the treatment weeks before by using clarifying products.

Damaged Hair

Hair can be damaged due to reasons like excessive dyeing, bleaching, chemical hair straightening, or any other reason. This type of hair breaks easily and is not suitable for a potent treatment that is Japanese hair straightening. If done, the hair will sustain even more damage, which can lead to hair fall.

Hair Thinning

Thinning hair or those experiencing hair loss should also avoid Japanese hair straightening and opt for more nourishing treatments that stop hair thinning and help grow hair.

Overall Health Condition

Scalp Problems

There are many kinds of scalp problems caused by various reasons that can lead to itching, redness, hair thinning, hair fall, and other issues. So, getting Japanese hair straightening is a no-no for sensitive scalps.

Allergies

Dermatitis is a common type of allergy that can cause redness, swelling, and other problems on any part of the skin where the allergic reaction is triggered. There are chemicals in thermal reconditioning that could trigger an allergic reaction, so it’s not suitable. In fact, people with allergies should never get any treatment before consulting their dermatologist.

Pregnant And Nursing Women

The chemicals released during the application of the Japanese hair straightening process can affect the health of the woman and the fetus, so it’s not suitable for anyone who’s pregnant or nursing.

Conclusion

Japanese hair straightening is suitable for healthy, virgin or slightly processed, and thick or medium hair. People with dyed, bleached, thin, coily, dry, and oily hair should practice caution. On the other hand, damaged, thinning, and chemically treated hair are not suitable. Visit a Japanese hair straightening salon Rockville for consultation and a strand test to know if you should get the treatment or not.