thermal reconditioning?

[questionaboutsettings]

Hi - I don''t see a topic about this yet... has anyone tried thermal reconditioning for curly hair? I''ve seen pictures and it looks like a great option to permanently straighten hair. However, it''s expensive (I''ve seen prices between 300-1000 per session!) and I don''t know anyone who''s done it. None of the hairdressers in my city do it, so I would have to travel 1-2 hours away just for a consultation.

I''d love to hear your experiences with this! I have curly, frizzy hair that''s pretty short (mid-neck) and almost all the pictures I''ve seen are for people with long hair.

Thanks!

 

[diamondfan]

If this is the Brazilian or Japanese, you need to be doing research. the Brazilian, which I did last October, had formaldehyde in it and was determined to be very dangerous. There is a new version without it but I am not sure it works as well.

the Japanese one can be very damaging and I have seen girls who do it and they have poker straight hair that does not look great. It hangs and has no movement. I have long curly/wavy hair, and I get blow outs a couple times a week. I like it smooth but not completely straight.

Also, if you color your hair you need to be careful as there can be breakage when you do these things and color as well.

 

[questionaboutsettings]

Thanks so much for the reply, diamondfan - that''s exactly the kind of info I was looking for! Of course the professional websites are going to make it sound so easy and risk free, but it sounds like there''s definitely some safety stuff to consider...

 

[Mara]

my sister had the japanese one done and paid like $400 or something and it lasted about 5 months, but that''s it. it seems like total hit or miss and i have heard good and bad. i straighten my hair chemically about 2x a year...it''s damaging and i am the queen of using conditioning shampoos and reconstructive conditioners to keep my hair in good shape. i only do 2x a year as well when i could probably do it more. i also do it myself with a $10 revlon kit since i''ve been doing it so long, i don''t need anyone else to do it for me anymore (used to be $100 a pop at a salon). i have never seen one person with really curly hair do any of the ''permanent'' solutions and actually end up with hair that is soft, swingy and looks like it''s naturally straight. curly hair has a texture straight hair does not have, so even if you straighten it, it''s hard to get that same straight looking texture.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Allure had an article about the Brazilian one and said it''s very dangerous to your health and women have even died from the process! Not worth the risk.

 

[questionaboutsettings]

Wow, thermal reconditioning is sounding like a bigger deal than I realized! Gosh. Thanks Mara and MC for your posts - it''s really helpful!

 

[2danes]

I do the Japanese straightening.
I''ve done it three times now, and it''s almost time for my fourth.

I''ve had VERY good luck! For me it lasts about 6 - 8 months (when my hair is longer it weighs it down and feels straight longer.)

I''m in love with it. For the first time in my life I can shower and go and my hair feels glossy and slick.

DON''T even consider it if your hair is dyed, though. The combination of the straightener and dye can cause your hair to dry out and possibly FALL out!

I go to a wonderful vietmanese hair salon. I''m Italian American so I have thick, wavy curly hair.

Oh, by the way, if you do it it will seem like your hair is longer because it''s straighter.

 

[questionaboutsettings]

2danes, that''s great you''ve had such good luck with it. How did you find your salon? Did they have you do a consultation before getting the treatment? I''ve been trying to research this and it seems like having a skilled hairdresser makes a really big difference - there are some horror stories out there, but also lots of awesome pictures! I have thick, wavy/curly hair that''s pretty short that''s not dyed, so I am hoping maybe it would work. Is the hair permanently straight and you just retouch your roots? Do you have to do anything special afterwards (like different products?)
Thanks - I am trying to get lots of information since there''s no one in my city who does this!

 

[2danes]

I really did get SUPER lucky.

I was in grad school and noticed this girl who had beautiful silky hair (I would iron my frizzy hair daily --obsessive!)

After a while, I just HAD to ask. Turned out that she''d had it straightened. Through word of mouth she''d found this little international salon in one of our more international neighborhoods (I live in Atlanta.) There are salons in the city that charge 1000 for the process. This salon charged me 300 (I have pretty THICK long hair.) There''s not a lot of English spoken at the salon, but everyone is super nice.

Honestly, I was just lucky. They are GREAT, but I have heard horror stories. It''s quite an event, if you have it done. It takes HOURS.
To me it''s been totally worth it, but like I said, I know people who have lost some hair.

I HATED my hair before, and now I love it. It''s not STICK straight, like some people get, but it''s shinier than ever before.

When they do a touch up, though, it''s not just the roots, they''ve got to do the whole process again.

I think I last straightened in September, will probably try to wait it out until June, just starting to feel the waves and frizz return.

 

[questionaboutsettings]

2danes, sounds like you found a great salon (and awesome price)! It seems like word of mouth is one of the best ways to find a salmon. Too bad no one in my city does it!

 

[2danes]

I"ve been really lucky with neighborhood discussion boards in searching for services (house cleaning, etc.)
If I were you, I''d try to check out discussion boards in the town where you are thinking of having it done.
Read answers from real customers is so helpful.

Like I said, my experience was AWESOME. I hope to NEVER have frizzy hair again.
For me, paying 300 dollars every six of so months is TOTALLY worth it. Actually, I think I''d even pay up to 800 if that was my only option. The time I spent ironing my hair every day... It''s like paying to have my mornings back, AND infallible hair.

Good luck on your search. It really is worth it if you find the right salon.

 

[LegacyGirl]

My sister had the Chi done and it made her hair so soft and smooth and straight, but she has really, really thick hair. I have thinner hair so I bought the Chi Iron Tubro and I think that works great. I only have to straighten my hair once a week and I didn''t need to worry about chemical damage.

 

[niccia]

I had it done 3 years ago while living out East. Ontario humidity sucks and my naturally wavy thick frizzy hair became a nightmare to deal with. I researched it very carefully because I read a lot of horror stories, and ended up going to a girl in Toronto. She used to work in a well known salon in NY, but had recently moved to TO. Not sure if she is still there or not. Anyway, she was very careful (so much so that I ended up having to go back 2 weeks later to have some sections redone). It took her about 6 hours and it cost me nearly a grand. Once it was done, however, my hair was beautiful. Soft and silky straight without being poker straight and so much easier to care for. Definitely less volumous. It lasted for about a year (my hair only starts to wave around my ears). I haven''t done it since as I moved back west to a drier climate and just use a straightener now (albeit a very good one that is not damaging - chi or hai ). There are days when I think about doing it again but I am always afraid of it going wrong. For those women near Seattle, I have heard that a women named Lore Shimamura does a beautiful job but have not used her myself.

 

[2danes]

indeed,
my curls are starting to return just above my ears.
It''s almost my time.

 

[questionaboutsettings]

It seems like the hairstylist makes such a big difference for this! Can anyone recommend someone in the DC area? I''ll be visiting there sometime soon, and I''m sure there are more stylists than in my small city!