Lightning using Smartbond. Is it worth it?

Although lightening your hair can be an exciting transformation, damage concerns are frequently raised. Because bleaching hair can cause dryness, breakage, and general strand weakening, many people are hesitant to do so. This is the situation in which Smartbond products are useful.

Smartbond is formulated to fortify and shield hair while it is undergoing chemical treatments, such as lightening. Because it lessens the harsh effects that bleach can have, keeping hair healthier and more resilient, it’s a popular choice among stylists. Is it truly worth it, though?

This post will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of using Smartbond during the lightning process, as well as whether it’s a viable choice for achieving your desired hair color while preserving strong, healthy locks.

Hi all!

There has been a lot of talk lately about bonding and plexus of all kinds. From the most frugal to the most opulent, every self-respecting Prof. Mark obtained miracles and special agents.

I’ve heard a lot of things, both positive and negative, but I always want to test things out on myself to make sure they’re true.

Though, as they say, practice makes perfect! Most hair maniacs already know what makes hair what it is!

If you’re looking for a way to protect your hair while bleaching, lightning your hair with Smartbond can be a great option. As you achieve your ideal blonde shade, Smartbond keeps your hair healthy by strengthening and protecting it from harm. Depending on your hair type and how much you care about reducing breakage, you may decide if it’s worth the extra protection, but for many people, the cost is well worth it.

Hair structure

The cuticle, cortex, and medulla make up hair.

At the center of the hair is the medulla.

The cortex, or cortex layer, is the primary component of hair. 90% of it is keratin. The cortex also contains hair pigment.

The outer layer of hair, or cuticle, is made up of keratinized cells. These cells shield the hair from the elements by lying flat like tiles.

There are numerous parallel fibers in the cortex. The Protofibril, which consists of three elementary fibers, is the smallest of them. These simplest of fibers are joined by disulfide, hydrogen, and salt bridges. Since the first two are so delicate, even water can harm them. Disulfide bonds, on the other hand, are much stronger and, despite being less common, they aid in preserving the natural curly or straight shape of hair.

An alkaline environment is produced during lightening and permanent coloring to guarantee that pigment reaches the cortex and alters color. The cuticle scales suffer significant damage after this and are unable to reposition themselves. This explains why bleached hair turns dull, loses color quickly, and is challenging to comb. And the only way to salvage it is by using keratin, collagen, proteins, and liters of silicone leave-in products. If not, the hair is destroyed and the cortex is revealed.

Smoothed scales and healthy hair can be found at the roots. However, as hair grows longer, the cuticle becomes more brittle and the scale edges lift, giving the appearance of an open cone. Anything that involves washing, combing, dying, etc. can harm hair.

Bonding

The purpose of bondings and plexes is to preserve and repair hair while it is being dyed and bleached.

The three phases of Smartbond

The Loreal Smartbond system offers a means of safeguarding the internal hair bonds while coloring. An improved version of a system that fortifies the keratin bonds within hair to be added to dye and bleach mixtures.

The primary active ingredient in Smartbond, maleic acid, "smartly" acts throughout the entire chemical process, limiting sensitivity and safeguarding strong bonds, as well as removing ions and enabling the restoration of weak bonds inside the hair, ensuring hair safety during coloring.

FIRST STAGE CONCENTRATE

Maleic acid is present in both FiberPlex and the initial step of Smartbond. This acid envelops the cortex, protecting it, penetrating the hair structure more quickly than the dye. That is to say, maleic acid, not keratin, is destroyed during the coloring process. The coloring mixture is supplemented with this booster.

Application:

1. Mix the lightening powder or cream paint with the oxidizer, as usual.

2. For lightening products: add 4 ml. L"Oreal Smartbond Concentrate (Step 1) for every 15g. of lightening powder used in the final mixture. Mix the developer and lightening powder before adding L"Oreal Smartbond Concentrate (Step 1).

For color products: 4ml. of L"Oreal Smartbond Concentrate (Step 1) per 1 tube of dye. (Add the concentrate to the dye/developer mixture)

3. Apply the lightening product or dye as usual. Follow the recommended development time. Rinse hair thoroughly with water to remove the lightening product or dye.

4. Towel dry hair thoroughly.

5. Use L"Oreal Smartbond Pre-Shampoo (Step 2) before applying your regular shampoo.

STEP 2 PRE-SHAMPOO

Pre-shampoo, the second stage of Smartbond, is made up of ceramides, three silicones with distinct purposes, and two cationic complexes. The keratin bonds in the hair are strengthened by this mask, as the master mentioned.

1. Use water to rinse the color (or lightening/bleaching product) after using L’Oreal Smartbond Concentrate (Step 1). Blot your hair with a towel. 2. From roots to ends, use 4 to 8 pumps of L’Oreal Smartbond Pre-Shampoo (Step 2), depending on the length and thickness of your hair. 3. Using a wide comb, distribute the product throughout your hair. Ten minutes for development. without applying more heat. 4. After a thorough rinse, apply your go-to shampoo and conditioner.

Step 3: Rinse and discard

A conditioning treatment is applied as the last step to preserve the integrity of your hair, shield it from future harm, and extend the life of your color. This conditioner is applied at the conclusion of your coloring service and is meant for use at home.

The third stage of Smartbond home care, which is a conditioner that rinses off and leaves hair smoother, shinier, and stronger, is enhanced with ceramides instead of silicone.

Use your shampoo on damp hair after using it. Take a one to three minute break. Wash again.

It is important to remember that not all brands have the third phase.

Bleaching procedure using SmartBond

I’ll begin by stating that my hair is not even slightly damaged. The lightening mixture was applied four times, at least 20 cm from the ends, and the final coloring attempt was a complete failure. I tried my best to restore my hair after the last coloring before this procedure, and as a result, it went from being fluff to a fairly smooth canvas.

I knew going into this procedure that I would have to pay for OlaPlex. However, the hairstylist in the salon suggested a more affordable SmartBond, which adds +1000 to an already pricey, intricate coloring.

First, the hairdresser made two lightening concoctions. For the ends, one has a high percentage and the other a low one. She then included a concentrate.

Powder and developer Blond Studio from L’Oreal were used in an open technique for lighting. Not including the time I spent applying the composition to my hair, I spent about an hour sitting with this composition. The hairdresser noticed that I had an undercoat from a marathon, which made applying the lightening mixture a little challenging.

The hairdresser then used pre-shampoo after washing off the bleaching mixture. My hair felt really tangled after I rinsed it, and it was hard to comb through. However, after using pre-shampoo, everything worked out much better.

Permanent dye was used for the toning, which is definitely not recommended, but I decided to "come what may" at that point and gave myself over to the hairdresser. The paint also had a concentrate added to it.

The canvas was lightened, the roots were first darkened, the transition zone was "blended" after ten minutes, and finally paint was applied. I spent forty minutes sitting with the dye in total.

My hair received a ton of attention after I rinsed. This is the third step of maintenance, which includes an Alerana leave-in product and an L’Oreal hair mask.

Result

I neglected to trim the ends before going to the salon, so the hairstylist was extremely exact and removed just 1 centimeter! This, in my opinion, was insufficient because, following the previous lightning attempt that went wrong, it was safe to cut off all 5 cm. However, the outcome astonished and delighted me, as the ends blended in with the overall canvas.

I therefore brought this to the salon. The day before the visit, I had my hair washed and combed straight with a brush, but while I slept, they became something else. I can now, as an informed individual, attribute everything to the disulfide bond’s breakdown.

After the hairdresser worked for four hours, I received this outcome. My hair was straightened with a brush and dried with a hairdryer by the stylist.

Not too bad, huh? The shade was somewhat colder in real life, but it should be noted that the color faded fast.

To the touch, the hair felt fairly dense and soft; however, following frequent toning, this was not the case as it was following SmartBond. However, there wasn’t really a strong shine. Even though shine was compromised, I continued to lean toward the conclusion that Loreale’s care was inappropriate for me. Once I started using Hask care at home, everything came back into my circles.

Not only has the hair quality not changed after a week or a month, but I did not purchase the third stage! Though I doubt it would have been worthwhile, to be completely honest, I didn’t even cut the ends. To. Windy weather can be a little confusing for hair.

My hair looked as it had been dyed a month ago. Finally, toning has washed out. Could the hair that is receiving heat treatment and has transferred roughly three to five lightenings look like this?

Smartbond is unquestionably a standing procedure and a true lifesaver for blondes. The condition of my hair is like heaven and earth compared to my first lightening last year. I recall being happy after the first lightning strike, but when I washed my hair the following day and removed all of the miracle care, I sobbed because my hair had turned straw and the comb had become stuck in it during my attempt to style it with a hairdryer.

Here’s an example: a collage of pictures showing my hair one month after the initial lightening (2016) and one month after using SmartBond (2017).

Of course, there are drawbacks to both bonding and plexes.

• It is necessary to use a high % of oxide and increase the holding time of the lightening composition on the hair, since all these special agents, due to the acid content, reduce the % of oxide.
• Some special agents do not allow you to achieve the purest blond, and lighten the canvas to a maximum of bright yellow.
• In addition, some compositions can affect the background of lightening and as a result, you can get an unpredictable result.

Benefit	Description
Hair Protection	Smartbond helps protect hair from damage during lightning, keeping it stronger and healthier.
Softer Feel	After using Smartbond, hair feels smoother and less dry compared to traditional bleaching methods.
Longer Lasting Color	The color from lightning lasts longer and remains vibrant with Smartbond treatment.
Reduced Breakage	Smartbond minimizes hair breakage, making it a safer option for lightning treatments.

If you want to achieve a lighter look without sacrificing the strength and shine of your hair, using Smartbond to lighten your hair can be a game-changer. This treatment aids in shielding the hair from the harm that bleaching frequently causes.

Smartbond is a popular option for people who are worried about breakage or dullness because of its added benefit of keeping hair healthier during the lightning process, which is appreciated by many. You can go lighter without having to make the customary sacrifices.

Ultimately, the value of it will depend on your individual hair needs and goals. It’s definitely worth considering Smartbond as a safer alternative to get brighter hair. To find out if it’s the right fit for you, always get advice from your stylist.

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