Japanese Hair Straightening

By now, I'm sure you've heard of the hair straightening process 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.

---

The Skin Care Benefits of Azulene

Azulene is a constituent of the volatile oil obtained by... Read More

Divine Food for Divine Beauty

Excerpted from the book "Your Right to Be Beautiful: How... Read More

Help Prevent Wrinkles Through Dieting

How many times has your mother told you, you are... Read More

How to Reduce the Appearance of Age Spots

Age spots are mainly caused by long-term sun exposure. Although... Read More

Beauty Sleep - Is It A Dream?

As women we know that a lack of sleep leaves... Read More

Best Home Tanning Beds

It would be really nice to be able to tan... Read More

Importance of Your Skins pH

One of the most important roles of our skin is... Read More

Are Parabens Really Safe

You've probably heard the news stories about parabens and the... Read More

Eye Care: Make Your Eyes Look Beautiful and Let It Say Your Hearts Voice

Ralph Waldo Emerson very rightly said, "One of the most... Read More

Catty Eyes Are The Statement This Season!

It's a catty kind of season with dramatic cat eyes... Read More

Why Skin Care Products Wont Work!

Skin Care Products Wont Work! No skin care or cosmetic... Read More

Lanolin for Dummies - Benefits of Lanolin

Lanolin n.Fatty substance obtained from wool. [German : from Latin... Read More

The Benefits of Shea Healing Butter

Shea HEALING butter is a high performance lotion, and cream... Read More

Differences Between Perfume And Perfume Oils

The history of perfume oils dates back to ancient Egypt... Read More

Factors that can Influence Your Skin Type

Normal skin typeNormal skin is smooth, finely-textured, soft and supple.... Read More

5 Hot Hair Style Trends For 2005

Folks are so diverse in 2005, which means that there's... Read More

Makeup Tips for 40, 50, and Beyond

Growing older doesn't have to be a burden. Aging is... Read More

Protect Your Eyes with a Wide Variety of Sunglasses Available Online

Besides being a wonderful complement to your wardrobe, sunglasses (including... Read More

What Do Plastic Surgery Pictures Look Like?

The plastic surgery pictures usually come in pairs. One shot... Read More

Are Tanning Lotions What You Need To Make Tanning Beds safe?

Long debates on advantages and disadvantages of tanning beds and... Read More

Cancer in Your Shampoo?

You may be amazed to discover that some of the... Read More

Are You Happy With Your Hairdresser and Salon?

How many times in your life do you think you... Read More

Beauty Sleep

Beauty SleepThe health and beauty of a good night's sleep... Read More

Deep Vein Thrombosis...an In Flight Risk

DVT?an in flight riskby Cathy Gatson Planning to do some... Read More

The Truth About Beauty

Why this fascination with beauty?The demand for beauty services in... Read More

Sunless Tanning: Tips For A Safe, Gorgeous Tan

Tanning products, both sunless and sun, work on the epidermis,... Read More

Benefits of Soy in Facial Creams

Creams with soy are recommended around 40yrs and up or... Read More

Tanning Bed Pillows - A Great Addon to Your Tanning Bed Experience!

Remember the last time you were on a plain vanilla... Read More

A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever! And that can be You!

It is said that a thing of beauty is a... Read More

7 Tips for Great Skin At Any Age

1. Cleanse your face twice a day - Did you... Read More

Hair Extensions

Who gets hair extensions? What are hair extensions, methods, etc.?... Read More

Simple Beauty - 10 Tips that are Free and Easy

It is simple to look and feel more beautiful starting... Read More

Tanning Bed Lotion

Apply a tanning bed lotion an hour before and immediately... Read More