Ever since Victoria’s Secret model Barbara Fialho, revealed the secret Brazilian solution for split ends, velaterapia – otherwise known as hair burning, has been a seriously hot topic in the beauty industry.
Taking fire to our tresses sounds a little terrifying, right? Expert Ricky Gomes, has performed tons of velaterapia treatments since Fialho’s big reveal.
Is candle cutting right for you? According to Gomes, it’s the perfect solution for girls who want to keep their hair long but have split ends that prevent it from growing. The service entails getting rid of the split ends without taking any of the length off, he says.
Assuming your hair and bank account fit the bill, you’ll need to set aside about two hours, depending on hair length and texture, to get the job done. That’s par for the course when it comes to salon treatments, but it’s still a time commitment – so bring along a book or two.
Once you sign on, it’s a pretty simple process. “First, I divide the hair in sections, twisting small sections until you can see flyaways. With a candle, I burn out the flyaways that are sticking out. Then, we do the deep conditioning masque. The masque has 20 different ingredients that seal and cauterize the cuticles. We finalize the candle cutting by blow-drying the hair and voila! – the result is silky, smooth and gorgeous hair.” It’ll last about three months.
What makes candle cutting so much better than going under the scissors? The benefit is that all the length is preserved and only split ends are removed. You can’t really see how much is burned off since only what sticks out from the hair has been sectioned and twisted.
And whatever you do, do not take matters into your own hands, for obvious reasons. Let’s leave the singeing to the pros, shall we? So, are you sold? Will you try velaterapia?