Rebonding vs Smoothing
Women with unruly, frizzy hair often struggle to manage and style their hair, particularly in humid conditions. Rebonding and smoothing are two different methods to address this issue, and understanding the differences between them can help in choosing the best treatment for your hair.
Key Takeaways
- Rebonding is a hair straightening technique using chemicals to break and rearrange chemical bonds in the hair strand, making it straight and smooth.
- Smoothing is a procedure to make hair softer and more manageable by sealing it with a protein product called keratin and applying a preservative solution using a hot iron.
- Rebonding is designed for straightening hair, while smoothing aims to reduce frizz and unruliness. The effects of rebonding last longer than smoothing (6-7 months vs 3 months).
What is Rebonding?
Rebonding is a hair straightening technique that involves using chemicals to break the chemical bonds in the hair strand responsible for making it curly or wavy. The bonds are then rearranged to alter the hair structure, making it straight and smooth. This procedure should be done by trained hair stylists and takes about 5-6 hours to complete. The straightening effect of rebonding lasts for 6-7 months, which is considered a permanent effect. However, as new hair grows, the rebonded hair will eventually return to its natural curly or wavy state. Rebonding can be quite expensive, with treatments costing over $100.
What is Smoothing?
Smoothing involves sealing hair strands with a protein product called keratin and applying a preservative solution onto the hair using a hot iron. This changes the hair structure, giving it a smoother appearance. Some countries have banned this procedure due to the excessive use of keratin, which can cause side effects. It is important to note that smoothing is not the same as straightening; the goal of smoothing is to reduce unruliness and frizz in the hair, making it more manageable. However, smoothing can be potentially dangerous due to the use of chemicals like formaldehyde, which is suspected to be a carcinogen. Brazilian Blowout is a process similar to smoothing, and all smoothing procedures involve the use of keratin on hair.
What is the difference between Rebonding and Smoothing?
- Smoothing is designed to make hair softer and smoother, making it more silky and manageable.
- Rebonding is a technique that aims to straighten the hair for those who desire straight hair instead of wavy or curly hair.
- Smoothing uses different chemicals than those used in rebonding.
- Smoothing requires rebonding if the desired effect is straight hair.
- The results of smoothing last for around 3 months, while the effects of rebonding last longer, about 6-7 months.
