Undo Hair Straightening
I usually wear it a la Japanese anime style (for visualization) and am proud of its thickness and mild wavy line following blow-drying process (which I have done myself - it is uncommon for heterosexual men to do so in Asia). The only setback it gives is perhaps the reverse direction at the neck area (lower part of the back of the head) which leads to this stylist's commercial offer to "relax or straighten" my hair.
After a few visits for regular cuts and blow-drying, I (two weeks ago) finally succumbed to her suggestion (which I at that time regarded as a high advice) with the thick-as-it-was, easier- to-blow dry, more orderly-looking hair image in overall in my mind.
I left my hair unwashed (with or without shampoo) for one week; following my first wash after the straightening service, and after the blow-drying and wax or gel application, I found out that my hair would just fall flat and light, each strand virtually dwelling on its own, unlike the wavy hair I once had which was so easier to blow-dry and set. The hair looks all right, if not fine, and it would perhaps be the kind for which some ladies may long. But it just goes completely on contrary to my initial purpose.
My hair length is about 4-6 inches or a bit longer depending on the specific location.
1) Could I have it undone (without perming it) for the same texture and such I once had? What should be the risk factors and preventive measures for them?
2) Or MUST I perm it to get the thickness and such that I want? Again, risk factors and preventive measures; any suggestion?
3) Or should I just leave it for say, two months so that the natural hair would grow, in hope that the natural portion - nearly one inch per month growing - will facilitate the blow drying process? Or is that just a false hope?
4) Or should I have it cut a la Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt (or in other words, short and manly as more common in the Occident)? Will that help? Or will it just end up accentuating the thin texture of the hair, now that it has all been straightened?
The concern in having something of this nature done would be the fact that chemical services do tend to leave the hair more porous and can result in hair that dries out more quickly and needs special attention to keep it moisturized and healthy looking.
The good news is that as your hair grows, the new growth will have your hair's natural texture. The average person's hair grows at approximately one-half inches per month, and even if your hair grows faster than the average, you could be looking at about six months to reclaim the look you previously had.
The best recommendation for getting the hair back to "normal" is to give the hair a couple of months to grow, and then perhaps get the hair cut shorter than you might normally have it cut, to remove more of the hair that was chemically altered.
As the amount of new growth begins to exceed the remaining amount of chemically treated hair, you will find the hair will begin to look more and more the way it used to.
©Hairfinder.com
See also:
Hair straightening
Do men still perm their hair?
Is it possible to buy some kind of product that will undo chemically straightened hair?