Marie’s bemused by Bio Ionic: I’m considering getting my hair permanently straightened using the Bio Ionic thermal straightening process. I did a bit of research but the information seems a bit too sciencey and kind of what you’d expect from infomercials. The website talks about “negative ionic, infrared and electromagnetic wave charges simultaneously” and shattering “water molecule clusters into micro-fine particles.” My alarm bells are ringing but I know The Beauty Brains will be able to confirm or deny!
This doesn’t come cheap either – I’m looking at $300 to $600 for something that may or may not leave my hair straight. Is this really the “biggest evolutionary leap in hairdressing ever” or the biggest load of bull?
The Right Brain’s recommendation:
The answer lies somewhere in between but probably closer to “bull.”
What is Bio Ionic?
Bio Ionic Inc., was founded by professional stylist Fernando Romero. According to his website, Fernando traveled to Japan where he discovered natural ion therapy. Today Bio Ionic has an entire line of products using this “powerful healing energy.”
What does Bio Ionic supposedly do?
The main claim of the line revolves around these natural ions that are “powerful enough to break water molecule clusters into micro-fine particles and penetrate the hair shaft. That means moisture balance is restored and the hair cuticle is sealed.” It’s a great sounding story, but it doesn’t really mean all that much in terms of real science. Water will penetrate into a hair shaft just fine without being converted into pseudo-scientific micro-fine particles, thank you very much. Of course, that doesn’t stop Bio Ionic from using this natural ion complex in their shampoos, conditioner, and styling products as well as their line of styling tools (blow dryers, flat irons, etc.).
Perhaps the most interesting product in their line is their so called Ion-Retexturizing System which is a “permanent straightening process designed for people with curly, frizzy or unruly hair who want to wear their hair permanently straight.”
Does Bio Ionic really work?
Their website contains a FAQ section that reveals Ion-retexturizing formula is based on Thioglycolate at pH 9.5 with a Neutralizer at pH 3.0. This chemistry will be very familiar to anyone who has had their hair permed. Thioglycolate is used to chemically break down the disulfide bonds in hair and the low pH neutralizer reforms the bonds to lock the hair into a new shape. This is old school technology used in a perms to to take straight hair and change its shape to curly. But there’s no reason that you can’t use the same chemistry to take curly hair and make it straight. So the answer is yes, Bio Ionic will straighten your hair.
But unlike a regular perm, Bio Ionics uses heat to boost the straightening power of the treatment. So, the answer is YES, this product will do what it says. It will permanently straighten your hair. But it has nothing to do with micro-fine natural ions.
Why is Bio Ionic so expensive?
You’re paying for the time and expertise of the stylist doing the procedure. Despite Bio Ionic’s claims to the contrary, if you’re not careful you can seriously damage your hair. (They are correct though, it is less damaging than other chemical straighteners like relaxers.)
The Beauty Brains bottom line
Bio Ionic’s Ion-Retexturizing System uses a combination of permanent wave chemistry and heat to effectively straighten your hair. But there is no special science or technology in their natural ion therapy that makes this product work.
What’s YOUR favorite hair straightening product? Do you use styling tools like Farouk’s Straightening Iron
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Faye Says:
I have done the JHS for five years in a row. I believe there are three types of JHS, but i can only remember two of the three - one is thermal reconditioning - that is not truly permanent on your hair, and the price can vary dramatically. the one i do is called Liscio - which is permanent on the hair it’s done on, but not the new growth. Liscio is much more expensive than Thermal reconditioning. I’ve done TH once and it was not worth the price. I would highly recommend doing the Liscio version but there are places that charge an exorbitant amount of money - one that i went to for two years in a row in NYC. I won’t name it, but i do know of a place that charges $500 which was 50% less than the first place i did it and they did such a wonderful job. not sure if you would allow me to post the name, so please feel free to edit my post if need be, but the place is located in NYC Manhattan and it’s called Hidy Hair.
I have very frizzy, kinky, curly Puerto Rican hair and all my life i have relaxed it - damaging it beyond belief. Discovering the JHS was the next best thing to sliced bread, but there are precautions - you can not have relaxed your hair within a year of doing the JHS or streaked your hair, otherwise the JHS will thoroughly damage your hair.
I can only tell you this from experience. I love doing this, but yes, it is very expensive and when the new growth comes in, you will be a true believer when you see the difference between the new growth and the hair that has been straightened.
Find a reputable place though - it’s your hair which for me, is very precious.
summer Says:
i use farouk’s straightening hair iron, which makes my hair really straight, though it’s temporary. my hair is straight with some waves.
Maria Says:
I am a salon owner in the Phila area and I finally found and I am a distributor of a CONSUMER SAFE hair straightener, Caribbean Dream Retexturizing Systems.I think that salon owners are so financially married to these harmful products, why would they expose themselves and their clients after all we have read about them. Caribbean Dream can straighten, frizz kill, hair tame (remove 50% of curl) or soft curl (change curl to soft wave), it can OVERLAP other relaxers, and can be used on color treated or highlighted hair, it leaves thehair shiny and manageable. No brainer, no fumes, no formaldehyde, no thio, no hepa filters, no masks. MScuz@aol.com
and myspace/cuzncompanysalonnspa
Maria Says:
Caribbean Dream is now GLOBAL! We have distributors all over the world! Being a safe hair retexturizer does make a difference. Visit http://www.caribbeandreamhair.com
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