Many people, especially women, desire poker-straight hair. They are unhappy with their hair because it is wavy, curly or frizzy and perceived as unattractive. They are enamoured by images in the media of beautiful women with luxurious straight hair. They are unaware that images may be computer-generated or the person may be wearing a wig.

The market is flooded with hair straightening processes. You can have it done professionally at a salon, or you can do it at home, following the instructions on the packet. In either case, the process takes several hours. Permanent hair straightening treatments involve processing the keratin in the hair shaft so that its texture changes. Various methods can be used but they all involve strong chemicals. Naturally curly hair then lays flat and straight.

These treatments work for several months, usually lasting until new hair grows and replaces the treated hair. For this reason, they are called permanent hair straightening. As the new hair grows from the root, it remains curly and resembles your original hair. Touch-up treatment and regular maintenance are essential. Otherwise, your hair will wind up looking worse than before.

Salons offer a variety of treatments, like plain heat, Japanese hair straightening or Brazilian blowout treatment. In all these, chemicals are applied to the hair and left on for a few hours. Then they may be neutralised with other chemicals and washed out.

Many of these treatments use dangerous chemicals like formaldehyde. These chemicals may not be listed on the product brochure, and you may not realise that they are being applied to your hair. Sometimes, the precursor of the dangerous product is present in the chemical straightener, and it changes into formaldehyde or some other dangerous product once applied.

The scalp may feel on fire with the intense reaction of these chemicals. There may be itching, redness and allergic reactions, but if you can tolerate all this, you will get a beautiful head of straight hair.

The chemicals are absorbed through the skin and can also be inhaled through the nose. Bystanders also inhale these products and can suffer from their side effects.

It has been found that hair straightening products can disrupt the endocrine system. When they are used in children, premature menarche can set in. The natural menstrual cycle may get disrupted. Users can develop polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD), fibroids, breast, uterine or ovarian cancer, or even become infertile.

So, what do you do if you want straight hair without the dangerous side effects?

Purchase electrical appliances to straighten hair — hair straighteners with two flat wings or a hair straightening brush. Buy one of good quality. Check that the cord can move 360° so that your hair does not get tangled in it, and make sure the bristles are ceramic coated so that they do not pull out your hair. Heat treatment can damage the hair, so do not set the heat too high and use a conditioner. Do not use these products on wet hair.

It is possible to have beautiful hair that is not necessarily poker-straight. Look after the hair you are born with by adjusting your hairstyle, keeping it clean, trimming split ends and not using chemicals.

To have good hair:

n Check for and treat diabetes or hypothyroidism

n Ensure your diet has enough micronutrients like iron, zinc, vitamin B complex, biotin and calcium

n Do not use harsh chemicals on your hair

n Use paraben and sulphate-free shampoos. Use only a mild shampoo like baby shampoo. Take a rupee coin-sized amount of shampoo, dilute it and apply it to your wet hair

n Do not rub the shampoo on your scalp

n Do not tie your hair up very tight

n Do not comb or brush hair vigor- ously

n Do not comb hair when it is wet.

The writer has a family practice at Vellore and is the author of Staying Healthy in Modern India. If you have any questions on health issues please write to yourhealthgm@yahoo.co.in