The first time I remember being insecure about my curly hair was in the sixth grade. My middle school crush texted me that "straight hair makes you look a lot more organized," and that I was "much prettier" with my hair straightened. My confidence was crushed since I couldn’t help that my hair texture was curly. So I did what almost every insecure middle schooler does; I changed myself. I held this insecurity throughout 6th and 7th grade. I tried almost every product in the book, with very little results.
Whether it was frizzes, fly aways, or tight knots, I could never catch a break. No matter what I did, I was the girl with the curly hair. One of my friends suggested that I try the Keratin Treatment, which I eventually did. This treatment involves infusing a liquid keratin solution and sealing the amino acids into the hair with a flat iron. This is a lengthy process lengthy that expose users to chemicals like formaldehyde, methanol, and acetic acid. There have even been many restrictions on this treatment, due to its possible carcinogenic effects.
Despite all of these warnings, I followed through with this potentially risky treatment, but with nothing to show for it. I can still remember the feeling of hot tears running down my cheeks after my first shower following the treatment. When I realized that it did not give me the results I wanted, I was devastated, furious, and even more insecure.
I was still looking for a miracle, something that could fix my mop of curls and frizz. As the school year ended, my mother discovered a hair treatment that could possibly work. I wanted was that perfect straight/sometimes wavy hair that all of my friends had. And I wanted something low
Picture this, a summer wedding on the island of Anguilla, beautiful, right? Except for the fact that most everyone’s hair was frizzy, except for one of my cousin’s. Her hair was pin straight, without a fly away or frizzy in sight. So my mom ended up asking her how she did it and my temporary miracle was found.
The Japanese Straightening Treatment is the strongest form of hair relaxer on the market. The hair trend started in Japan in the 1990's, and it promised to turn curly, frizzy hair into hair that is pin straight. The treatment arrived in the United States in the 2000's, and has been popular ever since. It permanently straightens hair from the root, but as your hair grows out, touch ups are needed. The process includes using a special solution that relaxes the hair, as well as a special type of flat iron that helps seal this product into the hair. Depending on your hair, the treatment could take up to 8 hours, or as little as three. This was the perfect treatment for me, and I decided to follow through with it, despite the obvious consequences of this product.
The first time I received the Japanese Straightening Treatment, I was only fourteen years old. In my uneducated mind, the treatment would make my hair less damaged because I would not be straightening it every day. When I first received the treatment, bottles full of product used on my hair were labeled with 'all organic' or 'healthy for hair', and boy, was I completely deceived. To a certain extent, this was true. My hair was physically in better shape after my first few treatments. I was feeling more confident with myself every day, just because of my hair.
However, as time progressed, my perfect hair was transforming into the texture of hay. My hair had received this treatment for three long years, until I went in for my first hair cut. In February, my stylist chopped off around four inches worth of dead ends. It was so painfully obvious that my hair was not doing well, and I had to revive it. No more Japanese Straightening Treatment, which meant I had to embrace my natural curls. Unfortunately, the treatment does not just 'wash out' and go away. I had to let my curly roots grow out and start over.
It has been six months since my reality check and thankfully, my hair has begun to grow out. It is frustrating that literally half of my hair is curly and the other half is straight, but I am learning to deal with it. As I have matured, I have accepted that I made a huge mistake, but I have literally grown from it. I guess the lesson you can learn from this article is that you should embrace the hair you have been given. Whether it is crazy curls, wonderful waves, or sleek straight tresses, all hair textures are beautiful.
Stay tuned for an article on my favorite products for curly hair!
