Cellophane Hair Treatment: Everything You Need to Know
You’ve surely heard about it, but what is cellophane hair treatment really all about? More importantly, is it good for your hair?
At some point during one of your salon visits, you may have heard about cellophane hair treatment. It’s one of the most common hair coloring treatments being offered across many salons. And it still stands to be just as popular despite recent upgrades to other hair color treatments.
What sets it apart from other treatments, though, is how it adds color, shine, and thickness to your hair. Compared to your usual dyes, cellophane hair treatment works to lock in moisture so your hair doesn’t dry out after coloring.
Wanna know more about cellophane hair treatment? Read on.
Cellophane is a semi-permanent hair coloring treatment that adds luster and shine to your hair. It doesn’t make use of harsh chemicals, so it doesn’t damage your hair, unlike other hair color treatments.
Cellophane was a thing of the ’90s— even before hair dyes were in fashion. It was a chance for those with virgin hair to experiment with subtle hues or just add shine and volume to make hair look silky and lively.
A cellophane hair treatment is perfect for those who want to give life to their dry, coarse, or dull tresses. Even those who have frizzy hair can benefit from a cellophane treatment because it makes your hair smoother and more manageable.
But that’s not all. Even those who have just gotten their hair permed, relaxed, or rebonded can enjoy the treatment. Treated hair is usually more brittle after being subjected to chemicals, so a cellophane treatment can help hydrate hair. Plus, it can even prolong the life of color-treated hair!
And although Cellophane is encouraged for treated hair, that doesn’t mean that you can have multiple treatments in one go. Depending on the overall health and condition of your hair, your stylist may suggest letting your hair rest first before undergoing another treatment.
Unlike the usual hair dyes that use pigments, cellophane hair treatment relies on silicon-based polymers to coat your hair. These hydrolyzed proteins coat the hair shaft, forming a protective layer on your hair. It also locks moisture in, preventing the onset of dryness and damage.
The only downside to a cellophane hair treatment is that it doesn’t last very long.
That’s because the color is just deposited on your hair cuticle. It can’t lighten your hair, so in order to get a tinted result, you need to apply a darker shade or one that’s similar to your natural hair color. Clear cellophane, on the other hand, coats each strand in protein to make it look lustrous.
Cellophane hair treatments usually last for 8 to 12 weeks. If you color your hair, however, the color disappears faster the more often you wash.
You can wash your hair a day after getting a cellophane treatment. However, remember that cellophane treatment is a semi-permanent treatment. The more often you wash, the quicker the color and shine disappear. It is recommended that you use a mild, color-safe shampoo and conditioner after getting the treatment to help maintain the effects of the treatment on your hair.
- Cellophane hair treatment makes your hair shiny.
- It takes less time to finish compared with other hair treatments.
- Your scalp and hair shafts are left unharmed.
- It’s great for testing out a new hair color.
- It can help cover roots and gray hair.
Cellophane hair treatment is a great and safe way to color your hair without damaging it because of the absence of the use of pigments. It is the cellophane’s color itself that adds color to your hair. This, however, is also the reason why the color doesn’t last very long.
Cellophane treatments are also known to be a gentler alternative to hair coloring. However, it also contains parabens. When you check the ingredients of a cellophane hair treatment, you’ll see parabens as propylparaben, methylparaben, and butylparaben. Parabens are a type of preservative that is used to prolong the shelf life of many beauty products by preventing bacteria from growing. But parabens are also believed to be linked to cancer. With this in mind, you might want to exercise extra caution when getting cellophane hair treatments, or at least put a few months interval in-between treatments so you limit your exposure to these ingredients.
What is Cellophane Hair Treatment
Cellophane is a semi-permanent hair coloring treatment that adds luster and shine to your hair. It doesn’t make use of harsh chemicals, so it doesn’t damage your hair, unlike other hair color treatments.
Cellophane was a thing of the ’90s— even before hair dyes were in fashion. It was a chance for those with virgin hair to experiment with subtle hues or just add shine and volume to make hair look silky and full of life.
What hair types is cellophane hair treatment best suited for?
A cellophane hair treatment is perfect for those who want to give life to their dry, coarse, or dull tresses. Even those who have frizzy hair can benefit from a cellophane treatment because it makes your hair smoother and more manageable.
But that’s not all. Even those who have just gotten their hair permed, relaxed, or rebonded can enjoy the treatment. Treated hair is usually more brittle after being subjected to chemicals, so a cellophane treatment can help hydrate hair. Plus, it can even prolong the life of color-treated hair!
And although Cellophane is encouraged for treated hair, that doesn’t mean that you can have multiple treatments in one go. Depending on the overall health and condition of your hair, your stylist may suggest letting your hair rest first before undergoing another treatment.
How does cellophane treatment work?
Unlike the usual hair dyes that use pigments, cellophane hair treatment relies on silicon-based polymers to coat your hair. These hydrolyzed proteins coat the hair shaft, forming a protective layer on your hair. It also locks moisture in, preventing the onset of dryness and damage.
After your hair is shampooed (no conditioner allowed!), your hair is partly dried, and the product is applied evenly on each strand. Heat is required for the cellophane treatment to work, so your head needs to be covered in a plastic wrap and blow-dried for about 20 to 30 minutes. This stimulates the absorption of the proteins in your hair.
The next step is to wash it off with shampoo and follow it up with conditioner. After the cellophane treatment, your hair will feel strong and thick.
How long does it last?
The only downside to a cellophane hair treatment is that it doesn’t last very long.
That’s because the color is just deposited on your hair cuticle. It can’t lighten your hair, so in order to get a tinted result, you need to apply a darker shade or one that’s similar to your natural hair color. Clear cellophane, on the other hand, coats each strand in protein to make it look lustrous.
Cellophane hair treatments usually last for 8 to 12 weeks. If you color your hair, however, the color disappears faster the more often you wash.
Can I wash my hair after a cellophane treatment?
You can wash your hair a day after getting a cellophane treatment. However, remember that cellophane treatment is a semi-permanent treatment. The more often you wash, the quicker the color and shine disappear. It is recommended that you use a mild, color-safe shampoo and conditioner after getting the treatment to help maintain the effects of the treatment on your hair.
Editor’s tip: Maintain your color-treated hair by switching to TRESemmé Pro-Color Series Color Radiance Shampoo and TRESemmé Pro-Color Series Radiance Conditioner. This duo has anti-fade technology so you can enjoy your hair color for longer.
Benefits of Getting Cellophane Hair Treatment
1. Cellophane hair treatment makes your hair shiny
More than just a hair coloring process, a cellophane hair treatment also adds a whole lot of shine and brilliance to your hair. This is perfect if you feel as though your hair is getting dryer by the minute. With cellophane hair treatment, you’ll leave the salon with silky, lustrous hair along with the color of your choice.
Editor’s tip: Keep your hair shiny long after the effects of cellophane hair treatment have gone by using Cream Silk Triple Keratin Rescue Ultimate Straight Ultra Conditioner. It gives your hair the benefits of three keratin products in one! This conditioner has keratin relaxers that tame frizz, keratin serum that revives hair from intense damage, and keratin essence that restores shine to extremely dull hair.
2. It takes less time to finish compared with other treatments
On top of it being more cost-effective than other more complex treatments, having cellophane hair also requires less time as well. You don’t need to sit for half a day (or even the whole day) at the salon for this treatment. Apart from the process of applying cellophane on your tresses, you’ll only need about 30 minutes of leaving the cellophane on before taking it out and rinsing it all out. All in all, this process will take an hour and a half at most, depending on the length and thickness of your hair.
Editor’s tip: Even if you’ve had cellophane treatment, it won’t hurt to make sure that your hair stays nourished, shiny, and frizz-free. Do this easily by pampering your hair with Cream Silk Triple Keratin Rescue Ultimate Straight Ultra Treatment Wrap. The wrap utilizes your head’s natural warmth to deliver maximum benefits to your hair. It tames frizz and polishes your hair strands from roots to tips, leaving your hair ultimately smooth and straight.
3. Your scalp and hair roots are left unharmed
The best part about going for a cellophane hair treatment is how it doesn’t damage your scalp and roots like usual dye treatments do. The process is confined to just the hair cuticles. It leaves your scalp untouched by the treatment itself. It also doesn’t contain peroxide or ammonia, so your hair remains as silky smooth and healthy as it was before you got the treatment.
Editor’s Tip: Consistency is key in getting that shiny and lustrous hair you’ve always wanted. A serum conditioner like TRESemmé Keratin Smooth KERA10 Serum Conditioner can help you achieve your hair goals. It has KERA10 Protein Complex that can penetrate your hair up to 10 layers deep. It also gives your hair 10 salon benefits in one wash, and these include making your hair smooth, soft, and shiny, detangling your hair, and providing heat protection. Aside from these benefits, this conditioner also has oleo serum for added moisture and nourishment.
4. It’s great for testing out a new hair color
If you simply want to dip your toes in the world of hair color, a cellophane treatment lets you do just that. It gives you a new hue without the long-term commitment. This lets you get accustomed to having brown or red hair before you decide to color your hair for good. And if you happen to dislike the new color you got from cellophane treatment, you wouldn’t have to worry about dealing with it for a long time.
5. It can help cover roots and gray hair
Got those gray or white strands that seem to pop out of nowhere? If you’re merely covering these, a cellophane treatment is a more practical and less costly solution compared with having your hair dyed.
What Are the Downsides of Getting Cellophane Treatment?
Cellophane hair treatment is a great and safe way to color your hair without damaging it because of the absence of the use of pigments. It is the cellophane’s color itself that adds color to your hair. This, however, is also the reason why the color doesn’t last very long.
Cellophane treatments are also known to be a gentler alternative to hair coloring. However, it also contains parabens. When you check the ingredients of a cellophane hair treatment, you’ll see parabens as propylparaben, methylparaben, and butylparaben. Parabens are a type of preservative that is used to prolong the shelf life of many beauty products by preventing bacteria from growing. But parabens are also believed to be linked to cancer. With this in mind, you might want to exercise extra caution when getting cellophane hair treatments, or at least put a few months interval in-between treatments so you limit your exposure to these ingredients.
With all these in mind, you can make an informed decision before you get a cellophane hair treatment. Just like other hair treatments, there are pros and cons. At the end of the day, you know best what works for you and your hair.
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