People are burning their hair to cure split ends because Internet
Nobody likes those frizzy split ends that tend to ruin every hairstyle. So how about we burn them off as punishment?
No.
Velaterapia is a Brazilian hair treatment that consists of twisting small sections of hair and burning off the frazzled ends with a candle, allegedly to retain moisture.
The marginally dangerous trend has been popularized by none other than beauty icons Victoria’s Secret models Alessandra Ambrosia and Barbara Fialho — both of whom posted the treatment on Instagram. What started as a mostly Brazilian treatment in the 1960s is becoming more mainstream, especially as (gorgeous) celebs sign on.
The idea behind velaterapia is that the open flame “cauterizes” the hair strand, according to Laces and Hair Salon’s website in Sao Paolo, which is frequented by Fialho. After snipping off the burnt ends, the hair undergoes a deep conditioning treatment, according to Elle.
A Latin Times writer who tried hair burning reported her hair looking like ashy dreadlocks during the process.
The $150 to $200 treatment takes about two hours, and doesn’t affect the hair’s length. This salon recommends it every three months to bring back the hair’s impermeability, which may have been lost from heat styling or chemicals like hair dye.
But certified trichologist Penny James of Penny James Salon in New York recommends otherwise, due to the treatment’s high risk factor. “A minute section closer to the hair shaft, your hair is going to go off in flames,” she tells Mashable. There’s no barrier between the split end and the rest of the hair, she warns.
The Brazilian hair product market grew by 350% in the last decade, according to a 2014 Household and Personal Product Industry report.
Hair burning is another trend in achieving the Brazilian beauty standard, but isn’t practical for everyone. Instead, James recommends regularly getting your hair trimmed or using a leave-in conditioning treatment and then wrapping your hair up or braiding it to let it soak. Dying and heat styling your hair less works wonders, too.
But if you must try the candle-to-hair treatment, James insists on finding a reputable and experienced Brazilian salon in your area — aka, do not try this at home.
Hear that, lip plumpers?
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