A nutritious way to straighten your hair

Hairstyle junkies of the city have a new therapy to look forward to. Ity Agarwal of Psalm 23 has developed a milk straightening process so that your newly straightened hair doesn’t look like a bundle of grass.

Hairstyle junkies of the city have a new therapy to look forward to. Ity Agarwal of Psalm 23 has developed a milk straightening process so that your newly straightened hair doesn’t look like a bundle of grass.

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According to Agarwal, the natural protein content of milk helps strengthen the bonds that are broken during the straightening process. Applied over a chemical base, milk’s deep conditioning properties nourish the hair and lock in the natural shine. This maintains the natural body of your hair, so that it doesn’t go limp, post the straightening process.

“I put in plenty of research into new treatments, and I was just thinking about the straightening process. I know which chemicals we’re using and which bonds we’re breaking so milk seemed like a good choice. I wouldn’t use any other juices because they’d react with the chemicals.” Agarwal explains. She tried her new brainwave on a staff member’s hair and was happy with the results— shiny hair that looked naturally straight.

The treatment is rather expensive and is available at Rs 8,000 a pop. The effects can last upto a year depending on hair type, but frequent touch-ups are required to tame new growth in the case of very curly hair.

Agarwal advises against trying milk therapies at home, saying, “When I’m working on hair, the cuticles are open so the milk can penetrate to the core. If you try it at home, you won’t be able to achieve any results because the milk will not be able to enter the hair follicle.” She also warns against using natural products in their raw form on hair or skin, insisting, “Any product, whether natural or chemical, is harsh in its raw form and can react badly. Even fresh aloe vera can burn the skin if not diluted and treated before application”. She recommends a salon visit once a month for pampering the hair with a deep conditioning treatment. “Nobody has time to sit for hours with beauty products, that’s why a treatment once a month is all you need to take care of your hair.”