a woman with straight her is combing her hair

Hair Rebonding

Hair rebonding is a chemical procedure that alters the natural texture of your thick hair and gives it a smooth, straight appearance. Chemical straightening is another name for it. A licenced cosmetologist at your local hair salon will usually do hair rebonding. The multistep procedure first breaks the natural links in your hair follicle and then rebuilds them in a new shape. This alters the appearance of your thick hair.

Rebonding hair might cost anything from $250 to $1,000. The cost of the treatment will vary depending on which salon you visit if you choose non-toxic materials (which are frequently more expensive), and how long and well-kept your hair is.

How does it work?

Hair rebonding is a process that uses strong chemicals to straighten your hair. The procedure takes several hours to complete. The hydrogen connections between the keratin molecules in your hair are broken by water. The new design of your hair structure is then crosslinked in a pin-straight alignment with a chemical, usually formaldehyde. As a result, the hair appears much straighter than it is really.

The procedure

This starts with hair washing and air-drying the hair to the natural texture. This not only removes dirt and oils but also informs your hairdresser about your natural hair texture.
The stylist then separates the hair and then a "relaxant" cream is applied to every strand of your hair.
The relaxant is left on your hair for at least 30 minutes. The relaxant process should be watched carefully as the relaxant can damage hair and scalp through the breakdown of one’s hair cuticle.
Your hairdresser then uses a specific hair steaming instrument to steam your hair. This technique will leave your hair absolutely straight, but you're not finished yet.
Your stylist next rinses your hair again and blow-dries it to prepare it for the next step.
Hair is treated with keratin lotion. This keratin lotion aids in the formation of new hair connections. Leave the hair for approximately 30 minutes and neutralize your hair.
To remove the keratin and neutralizer, your hair is rinsed one last time. Your stylist will next blow-dry your hair straight to complete the look.
Hair rebonding is a long-term procedure. Once it’s done and if you like the way it looks, one doesn’t have to do this second time until there is enough hair growth or at least one or two inches of hair growth is there at the roots.

Chemicals used

To break up your hair's attachments, hair rebonding commonly uses formaldehyde or aldehyde. There are certain relaxant formulae which are free of formaldehyde, but almost all of them release very strong gases that are almost the same as formaldehyde. Chemicals like methylene glycol and methanal behave in this way.

How it will appear?

After this treatment of rebonding, your hair will be straight, shiny, and silky. If one’s hair is frizzy, then after using this product, you will find that it is pretty less frizzy. Remember that these outcomes aren't guaranteed. Some people who choose hair rebonding find that their hair retains some of its natural texture, making them doubt the treatment's effectiveness.

Hair rebonding may cause damage to your hair if it is thin, dry, colour-treated, bleached, or heat-damaged. Before scheduling an appointment, talk to your stylist about whether the procedure will work for you. A responsible hairdresser will most likely test a few strands of your hair to see if it can withstand rebonding.

Possible negative consequences

Using these strong chemicals on your hair can have negative consequences. Hair rebonding is associated with hair breakage, damage, and dryness. For this purpose to prevent hair breakage and hair fall, one can take minoxidil which helps in hair regrowth and prevents hair fall and baldness.

According to a study, those who get their hair chemically straightened every 5 to 8 weeks are more likely to acquire breast cancer. This could be due to the chemicals being utilised having been linked to hormone disruption. If you have a family history of reproductive cancer, you should think twice about including hair rebonding in your beauty routine.

Which is better rebonding or straightening (Smoothing vs. rebonding)?

Other hair smoothing procedures, such as keratin treatments and Brazilian hair straightening, are similar to rebonding, but they are not the same. Hair smoothing treatments seek to smooth the cuticle of your hair, making it less frizzy and adding softness.

Hair rebonding, on the other hand, tears apart your hair's hydrogen connections before fusing them back together. Hair rebonding straightens your hair more than any other method, but it also poses a significant danger of hair damage.

Other possibilities

Hair rebonding isn't the only option to make your hair straighter. Without using chemicals, you can achieve sleeker, straighter hair by:

hair wrapping
professional salon blowouts
hair rollers
deep conditioning
hot oil treatments
at home straightening irons

Take Away

Hair rebonding is a procedure that alters your hair's texture. When it works, you'll have permanently smooth black hair that's even straighter than naturally straight long hair. However, hair rebonding uses strong chemicals, and there is a risk of exposure if you do it frequently.