Anyone who has long hair knows that it's not exactly easy to keep it in perfect condition. Regular tip cutting at the hairdresser is essential to prevent split ends. But did you know that there is an alternative anti-split ends method that can save damaged hair without having to cut it off? However, it involves fire, meaning it is only intended for brave women. Don't panic, we'll explain what it's about and how the so-called Velaterapia works.
Was ist “Candle Cutting”?
The so-called “candle cutting” is a hair treatment that is intended to revitalize damaged hair and free it from split ends. The hair is twisted into twisted strands and the protruding split ends are then burned with the flame of a burning candle. Incidentally, burning the ends of the hair is also known as “Brazilian Velaterapia”.
Velaterapia has been widespread in South America and various countries around the world for decades. It is said to have its origins in ancient times and was practiced by beauty pioneers such as Cleopatra. However, we can only guess whether the Egyptian queen actually burned off the ends of her hair with a candle flame. There is no real evidence of this.
How does Velaterapia work?
Contemporary stylists take this ancient method and modernize it a little without changing its concept. The process of Velotherapy is laborious and takes at least two or even more than three hours. The price of the treatment varies between 100 and 300 euros and depends primarily on the length of the hair. The procedure can be repeated every 3 months.
First, the hair is divided into sections and fixed. Each strand of hair is twisted tightly. The stylist lights a candle and moves the candle flame along each strand so that the protruding split ends briefly come into contact with the fire.
Yes, at first glance it sounds shocking and can actually become a nightmare if you do not rely on the hands of a professional with some experience in the field. In short, do not try to do Velaterapia at home. It doesn't matter if you've watched twenty or so video tutorials!
Ricardo Gomes, stylist at the renowned New York salon “Maria Bonita”, is one of the professionals who offer their clients this exceptional anti-split ends treatment. He admits that his Brazilian friends first talked about the technique a few years ago and swore by its good results. That was enough to pique his curiosity and he decided to embark on a new adventure.
Five years ago, Ricardo returned to his homeland, Brazil, where he spent a day observing the work of an experienced local stylist. “It took me a while to understand the concept of candle cutting,” he says. “Then I tried it out with a few friends and gradually learned the most important tricks.”
“The advantage of this method is that you don't lose any of your hair length because only the split ends are removed,” said Ricky Gomes. “You can’t really see how much burned. Just the crackling of the hair and the smell can be a little frightening.”
His clients include famous models such as Alessandra Ambrosio and Barbara Fialho. Because of the dynamic nature of their profession, their hair is often damaged by many styling products or sometimes aggressive heat treatments. As you can imagine, blow-drying, straightening, brushing and coloring are part of the models' everyday lives. As a result, the hair loses its natural shine and becomes quite dry and brittle like straw. However, Brazilian beauties don't want to lose valuable centimeters of their hair length and a good hair treatment takes time and patience to take effect. For this reason, Velaterapia proves to be a good way to quickly and permanently free your hair from split ends.
The experimental hairdresser shares that he has also developed a follow-up treatment in the form of an intensive hair treatment. Of course he doesn't reveal his secret ingredients, but at least he reveals his interesting working principle. Hair care invented by Ricardo improves the condition of the hair cuticle after velaterapia and so-called.
In other words, immediately after the split ends are burned off, the outer layer of the hair is open and brittle. “When the hair is treated with the candle flame, it is a shock. It therefore requires extra care to seal the cuticle and promote the regeneration process. “The hair becomes visibly silkier, healthier and shinier,” he says.
Are the benefits of Velaterapia scientifically recognized? Actually, there isn't much scientific research on the effectiveness of this exotic hair treatment. So it's no surprise that dermatologists who specialize in hair care aren't entirely convinced that this is the best way to get your hair smooth and shiny.
“The most effective way to prevent split ends is to have the ends trimmed regularly,” says Dr. Melissa Piliang of the Cleveland Clinic. “A visit to the hairdresser is recommended every six to eight weeks. This makes the hair grow faster and healthier. It’s a much better option than playing with fire, which seems downright dangerous.”
The specialist adds: “The most important thing to avoid split ends is to keep your hair from drying out. It's not a good idea to expose your hair to more heat. Curling, straightening and blow-drying are not recommended, so the heat of an open flame may not be beneficial either.” And these considerations are logical...
Josue Perez, celebrity stylist for Hollywood stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Sarah Jessica Parker, doesn't recommend it either. “Although Brazilian stylists swear by this anti-split ends method, it would only dry out the hair even more,” he said.
So before you choose Velaterapia as your anti-split ends treatment, keep in mind that hair care starts from within. So, a balanced diet and enough sleep can have a positive effect on your hair.Zinc, vitamin D and ironare essential for hair growth. Consuming enough omega-3 fatty acids is also good for a shiny mane and healthy skin.
