Good hair days ahead

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By Jenny Morrison

OK, so you weren't born with the hair of your dreams. But that doesn't mean you have to spend each morning wrestling with an army of sprays, mousses, gels, round brushes, blow dryers, flat irons and heated rollers. New salon treatments can straighten the kinkiest strands, curl the most lifeless locks, erase disastrous color mistakes, and give dull hair gloss. Best of all, the rewards last for months.

You want: Smooth, straight hair
Ask for: A chemical relaxer like Rusk Radical Anticurl or Matrix Vavoom Straight Talk.
You need to know: New formulas are much gentler (they're free of lye, which can cause hair to break off). Still, the premise is the same: Relaxers break down chemical bonds that create curl, permanently altering texture. Wendy Bond, master colorist/president of New York City's Oscar Bond Salon and Spa, says a relaxer can effectively smooth slightly wavy to medium-curly hair. For very curly hair, a straightening treatment loosens the curl pattern and cuts down on frizz, making blowouts less laborious. But beware: If you highlight or bleach your hair, proceed with caution. A relaxer treatment can cause chemical overload.
Cost: $35-$100
It lasts: Permanent until the hair grows out.

You want: Easy-to-maintain curls
Ask for: A soft perm like Aveda So Mild Conditioning Acid Wave or Wella Perform Hairscan Texturizing Wave.
You need to know: Perms are still trying to live down a bad '80s corkscrew moment, but today's chemical curlers (often called texturizers or wavers) produce more-natural-looking results. Stylists recommend them to clients who want low-maintenance waves. "You won't have to spend hours coaxing your hair into shape," says Ralph Scibelli, senior colorist at Miano Viel Salon & Spa in New York City. But skip this process if your hair is heavily highlighted or bleached, since too many chemical processes can turn strands to straw.
Cost: $35-$100
It lasts: Three to eight months (depending on how fast your hair grows).

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