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The Straight Story
How a New Mom Found Low-maintenance Hair
By Carilyn Platt
Some would say I'm blessed, but I consider it a curse to have thick, coarse, wavy hair. I've spent the better part of my life seeking solutions, potions and treatments to tame it. Even though I am proud to say that I've mastered the blow-dryer and flatiron (so much so that most people assume that I have a straight head of hair), when a friend told me about the new Yuko hair straightening treatment I was anxious to get it done.
So I did – just five weeks after my baby was born! Because I wanted to make sure the job was done right, I found a professional Yuko-trained stylist. Liska Giles, the expert to whom I entrusted my postpartum locks, assured me that the Yuko treatment is completely safe for breastfeeding moms and even expecting moms, since there is no contact with the skin.
The straightening process is relatively simple, but it takes a long time. First, a special spray is put on your hair and then the hair is flat-ironed with a tool that reaches 355 degrees Fahrenheit. Immediately after, the hair is rinsed with a neutralizer and then blown out completely straight. The total process takes approximately three and a half hours, depending on the skill of the stylist.
If possible, Giles recommends having the process done in the spring or anytime when it's not humid, as this is when it will produce the most effective results. "The process presses protein and moisture into your hair, which actually conditions your hair and leaves it in better shape, because you don't have to use as much heat on it when styling," Giles says.
Giles prefers to perform the treatment on what she calls "virgin" hair that has not been chemically treated. The best hair type is that which has a blown-up cuticle and is not very curly, but instead is wavy and frizzy. Basically, healthy hair will respond best.