MANILA, Philippines - As most shampoo commercials in this country doth proclaim, having long, straight hair will help you win the guy and make you the envy of many. And how! An unassuming hair flip from that chick with flowing tresses where every strand stays in place somehow turns heads and catches the attention of men and women alike. With the rise and fall of curls, waves, and pixie cuts, the sleek look stays in vogue and its allure persists.
Thanks to rebonding (and all other hairstyling technologies dedicated to smoothening unruly hair), those who weren’t born with radiant locks can now vie for the same attention and keep a fuss-free ’do. Hair science has evolved so rapidly that the rebond-gone-wrong look (read: coarse hair reminiscent of walis tingting) is confined among the peso-pinchers who choose to go to substandard salons. The ones who know better are rewarded with natural-looking soft, silky and shiny hair. But it doesn’t end there…
Having hair rebonded every six months or so can wreak havoc on its health. The chemicals used to treat your crowning glory damage it and destroy it in the long run. What’s a girl to do? Why, thank the high heavens for the Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy by Coppola. This treatment guarantees the same results as the usual rebond, and makes up for where it falls short: long-term haircare.
The genius behind this haircare breakthrough is Florida-based hairstylist Peter Coppola, whose career in New York took off after his Madison Avenue salon became a favorite hangout for his A-list celebrity clients. But, more than anything, it is his unique aesthetic that secured him his place in the business. Through Coppola’s research, he discovered the market’s desire for a safe hair treatment that does not use harmful chemicals, eliminates frizz and curl, and can be used on natural and chemically-treated hair. His response: Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy.
“I was on a training trip in Vidal Sassoon LA when I met a salon owner who had just gotten the product in her salon in Chicago. I read about it, flew to Chicago, and was immediately intrigued by the product and the process,” says Andrea Zulueta, marketing manager for Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy by Coppola in the Philippines. “After using it for about seven months at Piandré, I decided to bring it into the country. The product is revolutionary, and the response to it has been overwhelming.” Through Zulueta’s efforts, the Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy is now available locally, so Pinays can finally have the straight, shiny, healthy hair they dream of.
The difference between Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy and the usual rebonding done in salons lies in its key ingredient: keratin. Rebonding breaks the bonds in natural hair, thereby altering their natural form. With this treatment, on the other hand, the gaps in the bonds are filled with keratin, a type of protein present in hair, skin and nails. An infusion of natural keratin into the hair cuticle results in the reduction of frizz and curl by up to 95 percent.
“Keratin is the protein that makes your hair shiny and smooth. By adding natural keratin to your hair, you coat the cuticles and also fill in the damaged areas,” adds Zulueta. “The keratin makes your hair heavier, too, so it gets pulled down making your hair appear straighter.”
Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy is the healthier, safer alternative to rebonding — and one will be able to tell early on. Fans of rebonding know that the chemicals used for the process smells a lot like what’s used for a perm, while the keratin treatment solution will have you thinking of summer at the beach with the scent of coconuts wafting through the air as your hair is coated in it.
“It really is very different from rebonding, because rebonding goes to a much deeper level by breaking the bonds in the hair. This causes the hair to sometimes be weak and lifeless. If not done properly, the hair also loses its elasticity. Once you get a rebond, you can’t color your hair in a lighter shade or do highlights either. It can limit your options,” explains Zulueta. “With keratin you can color dark hair in even the lightest blonde, and still get good, shiny results because the keratin stays on the outermost cuticle level.”
Even more amazing, with the Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy, hair becomes healthier every time it gets treated. It heals damaged hair, blocks the effects of humidity, and protects your hair from toxins in the air. The Keratin treatment is gentle enough for all hair types, so color-treated, chemically-processed, bleached or highlighted hair now has a chance of being rejuvenated and regaining its luster.
The build-up of keratin also adds gloss in addition to straightening hair, making it practically maintenance-free. Imagine how many extra hours of sleep women everywhere can get when they don’t have to wake up early just to blow-dry their hair. Like a regular rebond, effects last anywhere from three to five months depending on hair type — which translates into a lot of styling time saved. The treatment washes off, so the ugly re-growth line where curls end and rebonded hair begins doesn’t show. Those who’ve tried it believe it to be life changing, and it’s hard to disagree with that.
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Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy is available in Straight and Smooth, Piandre, Philippe’s, Louis Philip Kee Salon, Toni and Guy Essensuals, Regine’s, Henri Calayag Salon, Emphasis, Indigo, Profiles, some branches of David’s and other salons nationwide.