straightening treatment- what do you use, where do you go, how much?

[Anonymous]

I used to have beautiful curly hair, then I had two kids and grew older. Now, I have frizzy, wavy ugly hair and I can't take it. I need it to be curly or straight and am looking for the best treatment out there. So, ladies- what do you use, where do you go and how much does it cost?

Also, I color my hair frequently.

Thanks!!!

[Anonymous]

I do keratin treatments. I like the OK Keratin brand is significantly better than the Coppola brand, which is much more commonly used. My stylist says her other clients can avoid shampooing for 24 hours and have good results; I need to avoid shampooing for 48 hours for the results to last 5-6 months. I pay $250 now but have paid $350 at other salons in the past.

I also color my hair every 6 weeks. You want to do the keratin right after coloring -- it will make the color last longer, too. So I usually color my hair and either do the keratin the same day (but plan ahead, you'll be at the salon forEVER!) or color and then do the keratin later in the same week. You cannot reapply color for two weeks after the keratin.

[Anonymous]

I have coarse, wiry hair that is shoulder length. So in order to get my hair straight I blow dry with a large round brush and then use a flat iron. I do this every two days. My hair grows quickly. Would a keratin treatment save me time in the mornings? I wash my hair every two days. TIA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have coarse, wiry hair that is shoulder length. So in order to get my hair straight I blow dry with a large round brush and then use a flat iron. I do this every two days. My hair grows quickly. Would a keratin treatment save me time in the mornings? I wash my hair every two days. TIA!

I'm not the PP but I get a keratin treatment once a year and yes, it will save you time in the morning. I have thick, frizzy curly hair and the keratin treatment makes it frizz-free, so I can even go without heat styling if I want to! And when I do blow dry, my drying time is cut in half, if not more.

The downside is that the keratin will wash out over time, (I am on month 5 and still going strong, but for most people it lasts 3-4 months) so you will need to get it done on a recurring basis. Also, its old formula included formaldehyde and there is speculation as to how safe the new formula is.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have coarse, wiry hair that is shoulder length. So in order to get my hair straight I blow dry with a large round brush and then use a flat iron. I do this every two days. My hair grows quickly. Would a keratin treatment save me time in the mornings? I wash my hair every two days. TIA!

I'm not the PP but I get a keratin treatment once a year and yes, it will save you time in the morning. I have thick, frizzy curly hair and the keratin treatment makes it frizz-free, so I can even go without heat styling if I want to! And when I do blow dry, my drying time is cut in half, if not more.

Doesn't it grow out so your roots are curly/frizzy and the ends are still straight?

[Anonymous]

What salon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have coarse, wiry hair that is shoulder length. So in order to get my hair straight I blow dry with a large round brush and then use a flat iron. I do this every two days. My hair grows quickly. Would a keratin treatment save me time in the mornings? I wash my hair every two days. TIA!

I'm not the PP but I get a keratin treatment once a year and yes, it will save you time in the morning. I have thick, frizzy curly hair and the keratin treatment makes it frizz-free, so I can even go without heat styling if I want to! And when I do blow dry, my drying time is cut in half, if not more.

Doesn't it grow out so your roots are curly/frizzy and the ends are still straight?

No, because it washes out over time. (It does not permanently alter your hair cuticle like chemical straighteners would.) And in my case, because the keratin treatment allows me to grow my hair out longer (due to less heat styling and damage on a day-to-day basis), the weight of having longer hair pulls down on the roots causing the root curl to be less tight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What salon?

Casals in Clarendon. (Read the Yelp reviews- it's an amazing salon!)

I've also done chemical straighteners, including the Japanese method. I got it done at a fancy DC salon (can't remember the name) and it was EXPENSIVE. That method did lead to curly regrowth that did not match the rest of my hair and it also severely damaged my hair.

The best chemical straightener I ever had was actually at a Regis salon (which I do not recommend in general)- I think it was less than $200. But I do not touch the chemical stuff anymore because of the damage.

[Anonymous]

I have done japanese straighteners for 10+ years. In DC it was outrageously expensive for me ($800!), so I only did it every 8 months. I have sknce moved to CA and it's worlds cheaper here. In LA I paid $200, in San Francisco I paid $400 and in The town I live in now I pay $500 (figures include tips for everyone).

I have done both Liscio and I-straight. Both systems work the same.

I have course, curly and A TON of hair. I am ethnic, so its very unruly. It used to take me 1 hour to straighten it by myself. Now, I do it 2x a year, and waste NO time (zero) - since its as if I was born with perfectly straight hair. Its truly a miracle for me.

These procedures changed my life. I will pay till the day I die to have these done!!

[Anonymous]

Do the Japanese straightening! Stick straight out of the shower until it grows out. It's a ton less work than keratin.

I love AC at The Shop in Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Keratin, every 4-5 months. I've been doing it for 2 years, changed my life! Now you all have me interested in the Japanese treatment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the Japanese straightening! Stick straight out of the shower until it grows out. It's a ton less work than keratin.

I love AC at The Shop in Bethesda.

I stupidly did a relaxer in my hair and half of it fell out. It's also look like crap and never really got straight. Not even the same day. Did a Japanese straightening damage your hair at all? How curly was your hair to begin with?

[Anonymous]

Re Japanese Straightening.

Before, I seriously looked like Merida, the disney character.

Now, my hair is like Mulan's.

Life. Changing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have done japanese straighteners for 10+ years. In DC it was outrageously expensive for me ($800!), so I only did it every 8 months. I have sknce moved to CA and it's worlds cheaper here. In LA I paid $200, in San Francisco I paid $400 and in The town I live in now I pay $500 (figures include tips for everyone).

I have done both Liscio and I-straight. Both systems work the same.

I have course, curly and A TON of hair. I am ethnic, so its very unruly. It used to take me 1 hour to straighten it by myself. Now, I do it 2x a year, and waste NO time (zero) - since its as if I was born with perfectly straight hair. Its truly a miracle for me.

These procedures changed my life. I will pay till the day I die to have these done!!

Yup!! New poster here, and I've had Japanese straightening for eight years now. It costs $600 without tip and I go every three to four months. I agree it is life changing!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do the Japanese straightening! Stick straight out of the shower until it grows out. It's a ton less work than keratin.

I love AC at The Shop in Bethesda.

I stupidly did a relaxer in my hair and half of it fell out. It's also look like crap and never really got straight. Not even the same day. Did a Japanese straightening damage your hair at all? How curly was your hair to begin with?

My hair is curly but not crazy. It's some damage, but not terrible. Dyeing plus Japanese straightening isn't bad, highlights was too much and gave me crazy split ends. My friend who introduced me to Japanese straightening had the biggest , craziest Jewfro I've ever seen and she's stick straight now. It's amazing.

I think it's usually around $650 when I go to a The Shop?