Tried and tested: Ionic Hair Straightening Treatment at Errol Douglas London

Ionic is a chemical Japanese hair straightening treatment designed to straighten curly or frizzy hair, without using heat. We put it to the test.
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Kristy Gray3 March 2017

Poker-straight hair is making a comeback this season with designers from Victoria Beckham to Zac Posen sending models down the New York runways with sleek tresses.

But for some of us, London's unpredictable weather can have a completely transformative effect on perfectly straightened hair. And not in a good way.

Even a hint of moisture in the air can turn perfectly a blow-dried do into a wild and frizzy mane beyond rescue.

If you're after a long-lasting solution to fighting off the elements, a chemical straightening treatment will give you at least 12 weeks of frizz-free bliss.

The latest treatment being offered in the seriously chic Errol Douglas salon in Belgravia is Ionic straightening. We put it to the test.

WHAT IS IT?

Ionic is a chemical Japanese hair straightening treatment designed to straighten curly or frizzy hair, without using heat.

This treatment actually changes the bonds in the hair, so the results grow out and can last for three to six months, depending on your hair type.

the Ionic process doesn’t need heat to get results, so it is one of the less damaging chemical treatments for your hair, although as it’s stronger than a relaxer, it can’t be used on damaged or heavily bleached hair.

WHY GET IT?

Regular use of straightening irons or tongs can cause dehydration and damage to hair cuticles, creating more even more frizz.

This treatment seals down the hair's cuticles, so you can get away with just a rough blow dry in winter, and in the summer months - and this may sound inconceivable - let your hair dry naturally.

THE PROCESS

Leroy at Errol Douglas is a senior international stylist who has travelled the world tending the tresses of A-list celebrity clients.

His technical skills in cutting, styling, colouring and hair straightening have been honed for more than 22 years.

We meet for an initial salon consultation so he can assess the thickness and condition of my hair to make sure it is healthy enough to withstand this type of treatment. Happily, I'm back a few days later and ushered into an elegant private room in the bustling Motcombe Street hair salon.

Leroy cheerfully explains the three-hour frizz taming marathon that lays ahead and doesn't even seem the slightest bit daunted.

My hair is shampooed three times to open up the hair cuticles and to ensure the lather has reached every strand of hair.

After a rough dry, Ionic relaxer cream is applied to the hair, section by section, half a centimetre away from the scalp so the treatment doesn’t leave my hair completely flat. The cream is left on for half an hour, before being washed out and rough dried.

Hair straighteners are used to seal the cuticle completely, before neutralising cream is applied to seal them even more. It's the same method as perming.

The two lotions work together. The Ionic relaxer cream makes the hair 'powerless’ and then the neutraliser works with it to seal cuticles which will keep those curls at bay.

The entire process takes a few hours, depending on the length, thickness and the strength of the natural curl in your hair.

I’m given strict and precise instructions not to wet my hair (at all) or tie it up during next three days while the hair absorbs the treatment. Even tucking your hair behind your ears during this time could kink straightened hair.

While the treatment does lighten the hair’s natural colour, Leroy advises not to re-colour the hair for at least two weeks as this will open up the hair cuticle.

THE RESULT

It works! The treatment gave me straight hair, without being completely flat. I can wash my hair and dry it roughly, cutting my morning routine down by at least 10 precious minutes.

Eleven weeks on, my hair is still easy to manage and I’ve survived Storm Doris frizz-free. For once, I don't mind how slowly my hair grows, as the treatment will take me right through to spring.

DETAILS

Errol Douglas London, 18 Motcomb St, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 8LB. To book, visit www.erroldouglas.com.

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