By Danna Schneider
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invented in Japan that has swept America and made countless women
forever grateful to it's hair-transforming powers. It goes by
several different names - Japanese Straightening, Thermal
Reconditioning, Straight Perm, and Japanese Straight Perm. So,
what exactly can you expect after a thermal reconditioning
service? Well, it's actually nothing short of miraculous, if you
choose the right product and stylist.
I had my treatment done at a Japanese salon in Ohio that
specializes in this service. After about six hours of sitting in
the salon, being alternately shampooed, heated under intense heat
lamps, blown out, flat ironed, and then going through the entire
process again, I emerged from the salon with a completely
retexturized, smooth and sleek head of hair. All together, the
straightening process cost about $750, including a VERY generous
tip and a large bottle of shampoo and conditioner specially
formulated for my new tresses. The hourly rate for the service
was $80, which is actually below most others that charge about
$100 an hour. I was under strict instuctions to guard my hair
from water or any type of moisture for the next 72 hours.
I was completely thrilled with my new hair. The light reflected
off of it like crazy, and it blew naturally in the breeze, not at
all dried out or artificial, like you might expect after a
chemical treatment. It actually was in the best condition ever,
which seemed counterintuitive since it had esentially just been
through six hours of chemical and heat treatment. Nevertheless,
it was absolutely and undeniably true.
I was told I would need to come back for a touch up on the new
growth anywhere from 6 months to a year, depending on how
straight I wanted it to stay and the rate of hair growth. It is
now six months later, and even though it has more body, it is
still shiny and smooth. I actually like it a little more with
some body at the roots. It gives it a little extra lift, and the
remaining hair is still straight and manageable.
There are some things you want to look out for when searching for
a salon that offers thermal reconditioning. First, find out which
straightening product they use. The best Japanese Straightening
System is Liscio, and the second is Yuko. Both are made in Japan.
Any others are to be cautiously researched. Liscio has produced
the best results on clients, and if you've read about it
anywhere, there is nothing negative to be reported. This is the
system the salon I went to used, and my results were healthy and
beautiful. Second, make sure the technician performing the
service has plenty of experience in the process. Any good salon
will provide you with before and after pictures of their work.
Third, be sure to be open and honest with the stylist about any
prior haircoloring or processing, so they can adjust the
treatment accordingly for the best results. Don't fall in to the
trap of buying expensive shampoos and conditioners like I did (I
spent about $85 on shampoo and conditioner).
You can actually use several quality, gentle shampoos and
intensive conditioners and get the same, if not better, results (
http://www.cosmeticsgalore.com/best-haircare-products-reviews.html
).
After Japanese Straightening, you do want to be sure to keep hair
protected from the sun and moisturized, so frequent deep
conditioning and an SPF spray or other UV protective hair product
is highly recommended. You must wait at least one to two months
before coloring your hair after the treatment, depending on your
stylist's recommendations. If you can, go to a stylist who was
actually trained by a top technician at the corporate
headquarters for the system they use. This assures they have been
trained correctly and specifically on how to get the best results
possible.
What this means for you is a lower risk of getting a "botched"
straightening job or damaged hair. Do your research. Get online
and find the salons in your area that offer the service along
with their credentials. After all, you don't want to waste your
hard-earned money on something that is less than a superior
result. The cost of the treatment can be very high, especially if
your hair is particularly long or hard to "de-curl". Typically,
the longer and curlier the hair, the longer the process takes,
and the more you will spend.
Bottom line, if your hair is unruly, frizzy, or overly curly and
you would like to have low maintenance, hassle free hair that is
shiny and straight, the "Japanese Straight Perm" is just the
thing for you. I know I will be going back for a second round!
Danna Schneider is the webmaster of the beauty and makeup product
review and advice website CosmeticsGalore.com
http://www.cosmeticsgalore.com and her new dedicated natural
breast-enhancement site http://www.natural-breast-guide.com.-
providing reviews and research on everything from natural breast
enhancement products and cellulite treatments to self tanners,
acne treatments, and makeup. She is a cosmetics and beauty
product researcher and enthusiast.