In this article, we look at the thermal reconditioning technique from Japan, and how it can make your wavy, curly or frizzy hair straight for up to 6 months.

Thermal reconditioning is a revolutionary hair straightening treatment invented by Yuko Systems of Japan. It uses heat to restructure the bonds in your hair so that it lies straight. This techniques is also known as ionic retexturizing, thermal restructuring, thermal reconstruction, and rebonding.

Thermal reconditioning is immensely popular among those with wavy, curly or frizzy hair, owing to the fact that hair that has been processed this way hardly requires any blow-drying. However, this technique is unsuitable for African hair, as it is too fragile.

Steps:

1) The hair is washed and treated to protect it against damage from the straightening chemicals.
2) Straightening chemicals are applied and left on for a certain amount of time for it to do its work.
3) The hair is rinsed off the chemicals and treated with conditioning treatments and protein treatments to nourish and protect the hair.
4) Small sections of hair is passed throught thermal irons at very high temperatures.
5) Fixative chemicals are applied to 'lock in' the straightness of the hair
6) The fixative chemicals are rinsed out and hair is moisturized again.
7) The hair is blow-dried, and protective treatment is applied prior to blow-drying.
8) Hair is treated to a protective treatment and is passed through the heating irons for the final time.

This treatment requires the expertise of a trained stylist. If the stylist does not know what they are doing, your hair could experience breakage. This is especially so if your hair has undergone previous chemical processing like hair coloring or bleaching.

Treatment costs from $300 to $1000, depending on hair length, thickness, extent of prior chemical processing, the stylist's experience and the location or reputation of the salon. The whole treatment takes approximately 3 to 6 hours. Your hair will remain straight for up to 6 months. In between that, you can get your stylist to retourch the new hair growth.