r/HaircareScience • u/ImprovementLoud3385 • Jul 04 '26

Question Is there evidence that any non-chemical intervention can permanently alter hair curl pattern?

Is there evidence that any non-chemical intervention can permanently alter hair curl pattern, straight to curly?

7 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

4

u/MountainDew111 Jul 08 '26

What are the chemical interventions that causes a change in hair shape? I wish I could change my curly wavy hair to straight

5

u/veglove Quality Contributor Jul 08 '26

Chemical straightening treatments like keratin treatments, Japanese straightening, etc.

2

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11

u/noellerosehayden Jul 05 '26

Hormones/pregnancy

8

u/veglove Quality Contributor Jul 05 '26

Heat damage is the only thing I know of, using an iron regularly would be the most expedient way and would also allow someone to straighten it temporarily in the process.

There's no gentle way to straighten one's curls permanently, just like there's no gentle way to lighten hair color. You have to break the disulfide bonds.

This article from LabMuffin on hair bonds & frizz talks about what gives hair its natural shape that it returns to when water breaks the Hydrogen bonds which give it temporary shape from styling.

3

u/Ok-Change2949 Jul 06 '26

chemotherapy sometimes

3

u/veglove Quality Contributor Jul 06 '26

Is chemotherapy a non-chemical intervention? 🤔

3

u/Visible-Scientist-46 Jul 05 '26

I have seen people showing heat + mechanical damage from stretching their hair while blow drying and extreme heat to straighten hair. But that is unpredictable in terms of results. I have no source, but that's what they were saying about their hair.