Vegan straightening: what it is and how it works –

For those who want to straighten the wires in a semi-permanent way, the straightening done from the progressive brush was until then, the first and only option. This type of straightening can contain chemical substances that are harmful to health and can severely damage the hair. However, with the advancement of beauty treatments, new options have emerged, such as vegan straighteninga less aggressive alternative and without the dreaded prohibited chemical substances.

VEGAN = NATURAL?

“The difference between the vegan straightening and conventional straightening, is that the former does not have ingredients of animal origin and is not tested on animals, but that does not necessarily mean that it is 100% natural. Everything depends on the composition of the product, so a vegan straightening can be 100% chemical, but these agents do not contain anything of animal origin”, explains the cosmetologist Chris Dios.

STRAIGHTENING GRADE 1 X GRADE 2

Smoothing is labeled by Anvisa as a grade 2 product and, for that, it needs to prove some issues required by the regulatory agency, such as safety tests to show that the product does not cause irritability, does not contain formal and other prohibited substances. Temporary straighteners (which come off after a few washes) are labeled as grade 1 and do not require efficacy tests, which means that the raw materials are probably more natural and not tested on animals. In Brazil, the use of formaldehyde as a hair straightener is prohibited by Anvisa. A health legislation allows hair cosmetics to contain only a small concentration of 0.2% of the substance, which must act as a preservative during the manufacturing process.

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WHO IS IT FOR?

Vegan or conventional, straightening is indicated for all hair types and even for pregnant women, as long as it is allowed by the professionals accompanying the pregnancy. To carry out any type of straightening, the hair needs to be healthy and resistant for the process, since the process affects the internal structures of the hair, causing the hair to deteriorate. “When we talk about straightening, you create a transformation in the hair fiber, a very intense internal transformation. If the hair does not have physical resistance, a problem with breakage and intense damage to the strands can occur. It is essential that the professional assess beforehand whether the hair will withstand the process”, says Cris.

DURATION

The cosmetologist states that there are vegan straightening which can be more natural and last an average of 2 to 3 months on the hair. This type of straightening guarantees a less aggressive process and is ideal for keeping the hair fibers aligned, in addition to combating frizz and volume. “It’s always good to reinforce: it all depends on the composition of the product, but yes, some vegan straightening can nourish and treat the wires. For this, the product must contain ingredients that neutralize the damage caused by the straightening process, such as proteins, vitamins, amino acids and vegetable waxes. These ingredients minimize damage, but they are not responsible for straightening, ok?”, he concludes.

HOW IS DONE

The vegan straightening process must be done exclusively in the salon, by a qualified professional. On clean, dry hair, the hairdresser will apply the product with a fine-toothed comb, moving it from the root to the ends. To penetrate the hair, the product must remain on the hair for the time indicated on the package label (about 30 minutes). After that, the hair is cooled and washed, then brushed and smoothed with a straightening iron.