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When
I was first offered the opportunity to review a Japanese Hair
Straightening I thought, yes—please
straighten my thick wavy/curly hair! Then I thought, no
please do not permanently flatten my hair.
I was apprehensive because my hair had been curling
exceptionally well lately. Did
I really want to limit my hairstyling options by following through
with this procedure? I
reminded myself of the days when my hair was too big, too curly, too
frizzy, or only wavy (and how one side always curled better than the
other). Also I thought about the 40 minutes it takes me to blow dry
and flatiron my hair when I want to wear it straight.
I loved my curls because it takes me one scrunch with a dime
size amount of product and I’m out the door.
Would a Japanese Hair Straightening simplify my beauty
routine? Would it be
harsh chemicals that would damage my hair (I’ve never dyed or
tooled with my hair in any way and this further fueled my
apprehension)? Would it
really stay pin straight no matter the weather? Enter Maki, my
extremely talented stylist at Facestation.
Maki
has been working at Facestation for 8 years now and used to
teach Japanese Straightening to the students at stylist
schools in Manhattan. I
was in good hands and she was ready to give me a “big change,”
even if I may not have been. Maki
ensures me that a Japanese Hair Straightening will not damage
my hair (she will see to that) and that it will permanently stay pin
straight (until its all grown out) no matter the weather or even if
I tried to curl it with
hot rollers etc. I could retire the blowdryer and flatiron for a few
months at least. I
decided to take the plunge—what were a few months of my life with
only straight hair other than just that, a few months of my entire
life.
My
Japanese Hair Straightening turned out to be an amazing
reconditioning treatment. Four
(4) hours of reconditioning to be exact (During which I
witnessed the goings on of a super friendly and celebrity-aiding
salon including the journey of a bald man going into the back room
and coming out with a full head of hair).
It began with a wash and blow dry.
Then section-by-section protective oils were applied at my
roots/scalp. Next a
protective cream was applied to the roots/scalp. A low keratin
solution (because I had virgin hair—higher keratin solutions are
used for treated hair) was then sprayed onto the ends of my locks (WARNING:
when the stylist asks you if you have recently or ever dyed your
hair do not lie because certain dye jobs + a JHS= melted hair!).
Then a water and lisio solution was applied to the midsection
of my hair for moisture protection.
Finally the actual straightening cream was brushed on and
fingered through my hair. It
was a weird sensation as all my hair started to feel heavy from all
the product in my hair. Maki
then wrapped my goopy hair with saran wrap to keep the warmth in,
but formed a Teepee with the plastic so that it wasn’t so hot as
to burn my scalp. I was
left with that lovely headgear for about 15 minutes; with Maki
checking periodically to be sure she wasn’t damaging my hair.
After the plastic wrap was removed Maki tested the elasticity
of the hairs. She tied
little sections of my hair in a bow and folded it in half.
This clearly showed my hair was still springing back and
needed more time to soak in the cream.
I was left again for about ten minutes longer for “pin
straight hair.” After
the ten minutes the relaxing cream was rinsed out.
Then a Ph balancing solution was sprayed into my hair
followed by another wash and rinse.
Next a conditioning treatment (that came out of a bag that
looked like those bags of wine in cardboard boxes) was fingered
through my hair. Then my
hair was blow dried (in the natural direction of how it grows out of
the scalp) so that the treatment fused and penetrated the insides of
my hair shafts. A
collagen leave-in treatment was sprayed into my hair next before it
was flat ironed. Then
the last step of the actual straightening process, a neutralizing
goop, was fingered into my hair along with more collagen and a
chitoaqua treatment to prevent breakage.
Again I’m shampooed and blown dry and left with a new head
of silky hair.
Silk
is the best word I can use to describe my head of hair post Japanese
Hair Straightening. Its
shiny and smooth and I can’t stop running my fingers through it!
My hair is frizz free, and stays straight no matter how much
I walk around the city and sweat in the Manhattan heat, or if I’m
dumped on by rain showers. My
daily beauty routine is as minimal as it will ever be, as all I do
after showering is brush my hair and I’m out the door (no
flatirons needed!). I
couldn’t ask for an easier hairstyle, and I’m guaranteed a good
hair day everyday. I am
extremely pleased I went through with the procedure and definitely
enjoy the shininess, the ease of styling, and the absence of frizz.
Andra Kucerak
Beauty Editor - www.spa-nyc.com
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