W

henever you compare your wild wavy locks with someone else's glossy straight hair, your stomach feels a slight twinge.

But you never know, out there, a bunch of chopstick-haired girls probably swoon for that sexy curly hair of yours.

Well, life is too short to argue which hairstyle is prettier. If you feel that a new touch to your hair could express your joy of life - no matter how others think about it - then just go ahead. Today, technology can do almost everything for you.

Born curly but dream to have that straight hair of Gong Li? Why not? Straightening techniques like hair re-bonding, smoothing or smooning can give life to that desire. The same can be said for those wishing for some sexy wavy hair. It can be done using the latest techniques, which include digital waving and the Wave Spa. Also on the menu is the ever popular hair extension.

Going for any of them? Let's start with the straightening techniques. If you wonder why they are popular, it has a lot to do with the fact that they give the look of sleek-haired supermodels see in fashion magazines.

"Rebonding and smoothing still lead the hair trends for now because the straight hairstyle itself is considered timeless beauty," Osmond Kitrana, brand manager of Johnny Andrean's salon division, says. "Straight hair is also the most-loved hairstyle among Indonesian women because it's easier to manage and treat."

In the local market, straightening techniques come in the variations of rebonding, smoothing and smooning. To choose which one that fits you the best, first you have to be sure of what result you want, because these three offer different final looks.

Rebonding gives you super-straight look, but is also stiff and unnatural. Smoothing, on the other hand, is an improved technology from rebonding. It smoothens and relaxes the hair, but still gives shape. The result is a shiny, natural look.

Now, what about smooning? Smooning is a combination of smoothing and hair toning (a gentler coloring process). The result of this technique is colored, natural-looking straight hair, with a glossy effect, especially when your hair is exposed to the light.

If you still can't make up your mind, consider these details. Rebonding is a process where the keratin bonds in your hair are broken, rearranged and bonded back again permanently using special chemicals.

During rebonding, straightening lotion is applied to relax the hair and break down its bonds. After this process, your hair is washed and then placed between two metal plates of an electric styling device - known as a hair iron - which uses heat to pull the hair rod-straight. A neutralizer is then applied to reset the bonds and stabilize the hair.

Smoothing is much the same process, only it uses gentler straightening products.

"Both rebonding and smoothing are quite the same, only the later uses gentler products that can reduce hair damage caused by the chemical process," Osmond says. In Johnny Andrean Salon chains, he adds, L'Oreal X-Tenso is used for smoothing.

The X-Tenso smoothing, Osmond says, "results in a more natural look and healthier hair *compared to rebonding*."

Despite the more natural look, there are still some people who prefer rebonding because it lasts longer than smoothing. Most rebonding system last six to 12 months, while smoothing lasts three to four months - all depending on the condition of the hair. However, on rebonded hair, when the curly natural hair grows back, it looks more obvious.

Smooning is largely the same, only it has an extra toning process after the application of straightening products.

Siska from Haircode salon in Ambassador Mall, South Jakarta, says toning is a gentler and less permanent option.

"It has an extra gleaming shine formula, so the hair looks more lustrous," she says. She says Haircode uses Wella Wellastrate for the straightening, and Wella Colour Touch Plus for the toning.

The popularity of smooning? "It's the most-picked straightening technique here *in Haircode Salons*," Siska reveals. "Our customers find smooning very practical because they can get both smoothing and toning at the same time."

Smooning, she says, takes around three hours, compared with smoothing which takes two and rebonding which takes four. After having any of these techniques, you are not allowed to wash your hair for three days to ensure your hair texture is truly "locked".

So, what about the prices? The price of smooning in Haircode chains starts from Rp 506,000 (US$50) including hair blow and vitamins. Meanwhile, in Johnny Andrean chains, rebonding starts from Rp 240,000, while smoothing starts at Rp 315,000.

So, the "straightening business" is done. Let's move on to perming. Digital perm - or digital wave - is the latest curling technique on the market. It uses hot rods with the temperature regulated by a machine which has a digital display.

The digital wave technique became popular after the Japanese "attack" on the local fashion world. Local magazines featured Japanese women with cute, wavy and curly hair and Indonesian women followed suit.

You have to spend some five hours minimum to get this digital wave style. The digital wave can last up to six months. Prices vary depending on salons, but usually start from Rp 1 million. In Chandra Gupta salon chains for example, prices range from Rp 1 million to Rp 1.5 million.

In Johnny Andrean chains, according to Osmond, the digital wave fever has passed and been replaced with a technique called the wave spa.

"The wave spa is the latest trend available only in Johnny Andrean salons," he says.

The technique creates big, wavy hair, instead of small curls. So, the final result is a natural, hot and sexy look. But more than that, the wave spa includes a series of hair treatments during the perming process that offer healthier hair. "That's why we use the word *spa'," Osmond says. The technique lasts for around two to three months.

The price? "It starts from Rp 220,000," he says.

So, now you have an idea of how to get your hair straightened or curled. But in case you're looking for a different option - like instantly transforming your short hair into long - then maybe hair extensions are something you want to try.

With hair extensions, you can make short hair longer, add fullness, and create wild styles that require extra volume. Hair extensions come in natural and synthetic varieties. Natural hair is real human hair and is the more expensive option. Natural hair extensions are categorized in "grades" related to the quality of the hair. "Virgin" hair, which means hair that has never been chemically processed in any way, is the most expensive hair extension of all.

Synthetic hair extensions, on the other hand, are made from a variety of fibers.

While in the past hair extensions were only available in beauty salons because they needed to be glued on to the head or hair, today more practical varieties that use hair clips are available. This means you can do your own hair extensions at home.

Prices for these kinds of hair pieces depend on the length and brands, but the common price of a set of seven layers (for the whole head) starts from Rp 350,000 for 45 to 50 centimeter long hair.

Most hair pieces now are made adaptable to styling tools like curling irons, hot rollers, blow dryers and straightening irons.