You might have heard of cellophane hair treatment during one of your visits to the salon. In many salons, it is one of the most often provided hair colouring options.

The cellophane hair treatment helps seal in moisture, making it less likely that your hair will get dry after being dyed. Just what is this treatment process anyway? Cellophane is a semi-permanent dye that gives your hair a glossy, metallic sheen. In contrast to conventional hair dyes, it does not employ damaging chemicals.

Even before hair colours became popular, cellophane was a fad of the '90s. Those with virgin hair might try out different colours, or just add gloss and volume to make their hair seem smooth and full of life.

In what cases is cellophane hair treatment the best option?

If your hair is dry, coarse, or lifeless, a cellophane hair treatment may be just what you need to revive it. If you have frizzy hair, a cellophane treatment might still help you since it will make your hair smoother and easier to handle.

That's not all. Hair that has recently been permed, relaxed, or rebonded might benefit from the procedure as well. Hair that has been treated with chemicals becomes more brittle and dry, but a cellophane treatment can help restore its suppleness. And it helps the hair colour last longer, too!

Cellophane is recommended for treated hair, although numerous treatments cannot be performed at once. Your hairdresser could recommend waiting to treat your hair again until it has had a chance to recover from the last one.

What is the procedure for cellophane hair treatment?

Cellophane hair treatment uses silicon-based polymers to cover your hair, as opposed to the pigments used in conventional hair colouring. These hydrolyzed proteins form a shield around the hair follicle. It has the added benefit of retaining moisture, so dryness and damage are delayed.

The product is used on wet or somewhat dry hair after shampooing (no conditioner permitted!) and before styling. The cellophane treatment calls for heat, so after wrapping your head in plastic, you'll need to blow-dry it for 20 to 30 minutes. The proteins in your hair will absorb more effectively as a result.

The next step is to shampoo and condition your hair to remove the product.

How long does it last?

The short duration of a cellophane hair treatment is its only drawback. That's because the dye just sits above the cuticle of your hair. Given that it cannot lighten hair, a deeper shade or one that is close to your actual hair colour will need to be applied for a tinted effect. In contrast, the protein coating of clear cellophane makes each strand seem shiny.

An average of 8-12 weeks is the typical duration of cellophane hair treatments. However, the more frequently you wash your hair after colouring it, the quicker the colour will fade.