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Straightening Your Hair Doesn't Have to Singe Your Budget

by Mary Fischer on February 3, 2012 at 4:42 PM

Do you remember when straight hair wasn't cool and perms were actually the "in" thing? (Gasp!) Sometimes it's hard to believe that women used to pay big bucks to have chemicals poured over those tight little rollers.

Times have definitely changed, and now super-straight hair is all the rage. When did it become totally lame to have any sort of volume going on hair-wise? Gah!

As the popularity of sleek styles has spiked, so has the market for products and treatments that make the process easier. C'mon -- admit it. You went out and bought a flat iron the minute they started selling them like the rest of us.

But flat ironing can be kind of a pain, especially when you're a mom who has very limited time in the bathroom. With pricier, more permanent straightening options like the Brazilian Blowout being deemed dangerous, not to mention expensive, here are a few effective do-it-yourself-at-home straightening treatments that won't break the bank.

For a quick fix that's super cheap, the John Frieda 3-Day Straight Semi-Permanent Styling Spray is a nice option. It's only $10 and keeps hair straight in between shampoos.

Garnier Fructis makes a Sleek and Shine Smoothing Kit that tames frizz for up to seven shampoos. It costs less than $12 and takes about half an hour to do the treatment in the comfort of your own bathroom. Plus, it makes you smell like a big piece of fruit. Who doesn't love that?

If there is a little more breathing room in your budget, Sephora carries the KeratinPerfect smoothing treatment, which lasts about a month. It costs $65 but includes two full treatments, so you get two months of that straight style you love without having to book an appointment at the salon -- or a babysitter.

Is straight hair just a fad, or is this trend here to stay?

 

Image via Hair By MissTresses/Flickr

Filed Under: diy beauty, hair

Comments

11
  • phant...
    --

    phantomphan

    February 3, 2012 at 4:53 PM
    The John freida spray is a waste of money.
  • Amelia
    -- Nonmember comment from

    Amelia

    February 3, 2012 at 5:12 PM
    So anyone who is lucky enough to read this before following her advice on the Garnier Fructis straightener: DO NOT PUT THIS ON YOUR HAIR!!!!!! First off, it doesn't smell like fruit at all (did you even try it?), it smells like a combination of harsh chemicals and your hair burning and melting off. That's basically because the extremely harsh (and dangerous!) chemicals in this product do just that- burn the effing shit out of your hair. If you need more than just my testimony, take a gander at their amazon reviews: http://www.amazon.com/Garnier-Fructis-Style-Sleek-Perfector/dp/B003QUHWT8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1328306126&sr=8-3
  • Beths...
    --

    Bethsunshine

    February 3, 2012 at 5:30 PM

    I recommend "One n Only Curl Remover" from Sally Beauty Supply. I got an absolutely HORRID perm about a month ago. It was a body wave, and it looked awful!! It was stringy, frizzy, dry and looked like I hadn't brushed my hair in 2 days. I cried because I hated it so much. For about 2 weeks, I conditioned the daylights out of it, and treated it with coconut oil, and after reading tons of good reviews, I bit the bullet and got the "ONO Curl Remover" It is less than $10 and if you follow the directions, it works GREAT!! It smells like a perm, but if you open a window or two, you should be fine. Make sure you condition your hair really well before and after so that it doesn't dry out.


  • Stacey.
    --

    Stacey.

    February 3, 2012 at 5:44 PM

    Nothing is going to get your hair sleek and straight without the use of heat tools. If these things really worked, no one would be damagin their hair with heat or formeldahyde.


  • Samal...
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    Samallama

    February 3, 2012 at 6:51 PM

    I actually prefer curly hair (a la Kate from Lost) to straight hair (a la mine). 

    But then again the grass is always greener on the other side. 


  • Misty...
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    Misty.Dawn

    February 3, 2012 at 7:17 PM

    my hair is long, frizzy, thick, frizzy, wavy & did i say FRIZZY!!! wavy enough to not be straight but not curly enough to be curly :(  i permed it when i was younger but been straightening it for years. nothing ive tried has been able to tame the frizzies & keep it straight. except a curling iron or flat iron! my bff works at a beauty supply store & ive tried about everything they make there. aside from going to a salon & paying some god awful amount to get it to do what i want it to, im stuck with it being frizzy & somewhat wavy.


  • Dawn0610
    --

    Dawn0610

    February 3, 2012 at 10:10 PM

    Wow!  People really do need to read the reviews of the Garnier Fructis straightener, both on Amazon and the Garnier website itself!! To recommend this product is downright dangerous. Luckily I have never used any of these products and after reading the horror stories I never will!


  • BPayne09
    --

    BPayne09

    February 3, 2012 at 11:12 PM
    Serious chemicals should only be done by a professional. You could do major damage by doing it yourself.
  • brook
    -- Nonmember comment from

    brook

    February 4, 2012 at 6:24 AM
    Have your hair stylist do a bio ionic anti frizz treatment. Last six mos. Smoothes out ends (less trims because less time with hot iron), keeps hair shiny and sleek no matter how thick. Safe too!
  • zoenl...
    --

    zoenlandonsmom

    February 5, 2012 at 12:13 AM

    I use some joico stuff my salon recommended its is awesome and like 20 dollars but lasts awhile


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