Hair Rebonding at Home: Understanding the Risks & Alternatives

These days people love everything sleek straight! From cell phones to cars, the sleek look is in! Maybe it has something to do with the future but sleek and straight is the reason I have my teeth in braces right now trying to sip my dinner through a straw!

This isn’t about my teeth though, this is about hair. Another victim in our search for straightness. Some of us try heat, others chemicals to try and get the curl out of our tresses. Hair Rebonding is a method by which we can do that chemically. I’m sure you’ve heard of it, asked about it to your hairdresser and then slinked away dejected when you heard the price.

Some of us adventurously have thought about buying the rebonding creams and trying it at home! Now, if you have this crazy idea, I urge you to read this article carefully and then make your move!

What is Re-bonding? 

• Rebonding is a process in which the hair’s keratin bonds are broken and “readjusted.”

• Hair is washed with a mild shampoo.

• First a rebonding cream/ lotion is applied to the hair, which by the way has the same chemicals as your hair removal creams. It breaks the bonds in your hair. The hair is kept as straight as possible during this step. 

• The cream is kept for around half an hour. Then hair is steamed and rinsed.

• The hair is blow dried and a special keration lotion is applied.

• The hair is then sectioned and straightened using a ceramic hair straightener.

• A neutralizer that “resets” the hair’s bonds is applied for 30 minutes and rinsed off.

• Hair is blow dried again and a hair serum is applied.

• Washing the hair is not permitted for 3 days at least. 

So, after reading that process, I’m sure you realize the stress your hair will go through during the hair rebonding process. Not just during but afterwards too your hair will be at the most fragile state. So, rebonding should be best left to the able hands and controlled environment of a salon.

Of course, if you have a hair dresser friend or someone you know has tried it before and know how it works, by all means give it a go at your own risk! Here are some tips to remember when caring for rebounded hair. 

• Rebounded hair tends to fall so be gentle with it. Don’t use heat on it and use a shampoo for straight hair.

• Do oil your hair so that it gets some nourishment.

• Be careful of burns from the straightener or chemical burns during the process.

• Do not tie your hair or tuck it behind your ears. That can cause a huge amount of damage!

Overall, when you want something to look beautiful, no pain no gain. But when re bonding, think about whether the straight hair you gain will justify the pain the hair goes through. Of course, many people get re bonding done everyday so why shouldn’t you? Just remember to be careful and be safe during and after the process.­­