Chemically Straightened Healthy Hair. Is it even possible?

While at The Make Up Show this weekend, I got a chance to view and sample some of the most amazing makeup brands around, but all of it paled in comparison to the random encounter I had with a young lady and her exceptionally fabulous head of hair.   My eye caught a glimpse of her tresses as I moved in and out of the crowd.  As I was speaking with a friend I literally stopped mid-sentence when my eyes laid on the back of her head.  Even before she turned around I knew that I wasn't a looking at a weave (although it looked flawless) and I knew that she was someone who had naturally textured hair.

Feeling a bit awkward for taking shots of this random stranger's hair, I decided it would be rude of me if I didn't pay her a glowing compliment (while taking the opportunity to snap some additional pics).    We chatted for a minute and during that time I learned that she has naturally curly hair which she has chemically straightened using a Japanese Straightening system called Liscio.

I asked this beautifully haired stranger if she'd ever experienced a relaxer so I could get her point of view on what she felt were the differences.  She kindly told me that she relaxed when she was much younger but preferred this method because it better preserved the integrity of her hair.  Just like a relaxer, she needs to touch up her roots every few months with this Liscio system.

These pictures of the back of her head do her no justice.  I took them impromptu as she was walking away so you aren't seeing the full beauty and health of her strands as I saw them.  The first picture is a more accurate representation of what her hair looks like with the naked eye.    Before she turned away to enjoy the rest of the makeup show, she shared that she just removed 3-4 inches during a recent trim.

As she disappeared into the crowd, I told my friend that I would live happily ever after if my hair were as healthy as hers.

Then I got to thinking about modern day relaxers and how slow they have been to evolve into something that could provide great straightening while keeping the hair in a desired healthy state.

 I became really curious about this straightening system and from my preliminary research I learned that the Liscio system was created by the same company (Inphenom) that I featured in my Currently Craving post. The hair products were developed to work in conjunction with the chemical straightening process.  What attracted me about the brand is that they offer a wide variety of products catered towards bringing health to the strand.  They've got products like "Cuticle Coat," "Cortex CMC (for internal repair),"  and a sealing product meant to lock the yummy ingredients inside the strand.  "Sigh", I wish our relaxer systems came with products that worked as much to rebuild the hair as they do to destroy it.   Two weeks ago, I write a post claiming my desire to try these products and then suddenly, I come face to face with this amazing head of hair linked to the brand.  I wonder if meeting this stranger was some sort of coincidence or a sign brought down from the heavens meant to help me expand my horizons.

To be continued.....

(p.s.) I'm pinning her on my Pinterest boards...