The Yuko System was developed in Japan created by Yuko Yamashita back in 1970. It is a permanent hair straightening system which works on most hair types and leaves your hair straight glossy smooth and straight. Compared to straighening irons which have to be used nearly every day to create straight hair, the yuko system lasts between 8 and 12 months and only needs to be redone when you have significant hair growth. Your hair has to be at least 4 or 5 inches long for the system to work and can be done on coloured hair.

Yuko is highly favoured by professionals and celebrities; it actually restores damaged hair, straightens frizzy curly and wavy hair, leaving a radiant shine and very natural healthy finish.

The process can take anywhere from 3 to 5 hours depending on the length and condition of the hair. The cost can be anywhere between £300 to £600. The success of this treatment is very dependant on the expertise of the hairdresser performing it.

So how is it done?

The first process is to wash and condition the hair normally then spray on a pH balanced "hair water" solution which is in preparation for the neutralising solution. Then pr-treatment protect is applied to your hair to prevent it from being damaged. Next a mild ammonium thioglycolate solution is applied which effectively breaks down the protein bonds of the hair shaft, leaving it week and stretchy. The solution is left on for about 15 minutes. Then the solution is washed out and then the hair is straightened using special flat irons that activate collagen and keratin and dries the hair in the process, all be it with a lot of steam. This is the longest process as they use the irons on very small sections of the hair and depending on the length of your hair it could take up to 2 hours or more. Once finished and dry the hair will be straight but there is another process to it. They then add a gel like substance and left it in for 10 minutes. After this the hair is rinsed and dried and that's when the miracle kicks in. The hair is dried straight and the irons come out again to 'seal' it and ensure that all moisture is extracted from it. Process complete! The result is pretty amazing, no frizz, straight and silky, knot free and glossy. The perfect straight hair you've always dreamed off.

If you are convinced that the Yuko Hair straightening is for you then ensure you enlist the expertise of a hair salon that has plenty of experience in doing this system. If you look around the net you will see lots of reviews where the treatment went wrong because the person doing it was not experienced enough. If in doubt why not ask the salon for a phone number of one of their previous customers that had the Yuko treatment successfully. If they have nothing to hide and have many happy customers they should be able to provide this, although they should ask the customer if they mind someone phoning them.

If you can't afford the Yuko hair straightening system why not try a home kit. Good old Boots have one which is based on the Yuko treatment at the fraction of the price. It is only 14.99 and promises to permanently straightening hair, leave your hair stronger than before and leaves it in superb condition and shine.