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What You Need to Know about Japanese Hair Straightening
Over the last 4 years a new type of hair straightening has crept into the USA. Called Japanese hair straightening it also falls under other names including; Thermal Reconditioning, Magic Straight, Bio Ionic Straightening, Yuko System (named after the Japanese stylist who is meant to have popularised the treatment), Liscio, and Rebonding. The Liscio process is the original and the one you are most likely to see in salons.
As the name suggests it originated in Japan and the process will give you permanently straight hair as opposed to the temporary straight hair provided by in-home straighteners like the excellent Sedu flat iron. In reality it lasts about 6 months when your hair will need re-touching because of the hair growth.
This form of treatment is not recommended for:
* more delicate African hair
* hair that has been heavily treated or damaged
* hair that is quickly thinning and falling out
The treatment is very expensive, $300-$800 in top salons and depending on which process you opt for can take between 4-6 hours to complete. This is a far cry from using your own hair straightener at home for a fraction of the cost and only taking a matter of minutes. Given the cost you should expect a free consultation on how well (or if) the treatment will work on your hair.
As the treatment is very expensive you should do your homework,here is a summary of the whole process.
* A protein conditioner is applied to your hair.
* A cream based thio relaxor is then applied. This will soften your hair and disassociate the sulfur bonds inside the hair shaft.
* After a period of time the stylist will do a test to see if the hair has broken down to the right degree.
* Once the proper amount of Sulfur bonds have been disassociated the stylist will rinse your hair.
* Your hair is dried into the style you normally wear it in.
* The stylist will take small sections and apply some degree of tension to get your hair as straight as possible.
* Once the neutralizer has been on the hair for the proper amount of time it will be rinsed from the hair.
* After the hair is rinsed it will be dried again and ironed into the style you wish to wear.
* The neutralizing chemical only begins to re-associate the sulfur bonds. The hair still needs to absorb more oxygen and will do so naturally through the air.
* The hair designer will instruct you not to shampoo, wet or style your hair for 24-72 hours, this is to allow it to completely neutralize into the current shape.
The results from the process are amazing, considering your hair is subjected to nearly 6 hours of chemical and heat treatment. You will probably be advised to use special after care products. You should take the stylists advice but make sure and shop round for the products online, as they can be very expensive in salons.
However, all the time and effort is worth it, as your hair will not need to be treated for at least 6 months. So twice a year should be enough for curl free hair all year.
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13 Comments » |
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by Alicia from Honolulu, HI on Jun 19, 08
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! So worth the 8 hours in the chair. Make sure you have a certified, well-experienced stylist as this involves lots of specifics, time, and chemicals. I love love love the results. My hair is less dry and healthier than before the treatment. And whats better...My huge, frizzy, semi-curly, thick hair is now controlled!!!
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by melissa Pena from atlanta Ga. on Jun 12, 08
I had the Japanese hair straightener done at BlowOut Salon In Atlanta and I love my results!!!!My hair actually lookes healthier now than before. The stylist name is Jade she charged me only $300, and she has alot of experience. japanesethermalrelaxer 404 488 7150
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by Leila from Miami, Florida on Jun 11, 08
I purchased the Maxiglide a couple of years back and have to say that I was EXTREMELY disappointed. It did not work well on my hair or my daughter's, we ended up with ugly puffy, stiff hair--instead of the smooth, silky straight hair that portray on the TV. Has it worked for anyone?
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by manasa from india on Jun 2, 08
i am 16yrs i got my hair straightened two yrs back .....even till today i suffer with hair fall...can someone plz tell me how to control it ..wat type of treatments should b taken for it and .......plzzz i want to maintain my hair straight alwayzzzzzz .....is there any way for it???am ready to spend all d money..rq...plz tell the best salons in bombay where film stars goooo....is the jananese treatment gud??/can i go for it?
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by Lisa from SD california on Apr 23, 08
i am looking for a salon to get my daughters hair done. Japanese Straightening. Please recommend. money is no problem whin it comes to her hair. She is half black/white. Beautiful curls but you always want what you dont have. Thanks for your help. Mama
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by Marie_TXMD from San Antonio, TEXAS on Apr 18, 08
I just had my treatment for Japanese thermal straightening. If you live near SA, you should try Seshi Salon. This treatment is not for unskilled hands. It can really get screwed up if people don't do it right, but when done well, it is exceptional. I have very course wavy, frizzy hair it now hangs beautifully and took 10 years off my face. See Yuon, she is very thorough and a total professional with experience in all hair types. I waited for years to get this done b/c of the cost ($400) but now I won't go back to curly hair.
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by jane diamond from texas on Apr 13, 08
My hair is half black and half white. I did the Japanese iron and i DO NOT recomend it. My hair is brittle and damaged and it doesnt grow. i still have to blow dry it and straighten it every morning just as i did before i got it done.
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by Kathryn from Orange County, CA on Mar 19, 08
I straighten my hair almost every day or every other day using a flat iron because I have pretty thick and wavy/frizzy hair. So my hair stylist suggested the Japanese straightening. Although I'm not sure which type it is, the results were amazing. Not only could I just take a shower and let my hair air dry perfectly straight, it made my hair softer and less bulky. It only lasted about 6 months and cost me $600 so the next time I went to a Japanese hair salon to save money. Unfortunately my hair ended up completely damaged- apparently the woman didn't take precautions for my highlighted hair. It's now taken me months to grow out the damaged parts. My advice if you have the money and really unmanageable hair- do it! If you're just trying to save a little time with the flat iron in the morning, it may not be worth the cash.
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by Adri from Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, SA on Mar 15, 08
Need a salon near me that is doing the treatment
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by Jenelle Russell from New York on Feb 23, 08
My daughter is ten years old,and is half black and half white. Her hair is very thick
would this process be ok for her?
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by UNHAPPY CLIENT from Gauteng,South Africa on Feb 9, 08
HI.I DID THE YUKO STRAIGHTENING TREATMENT IN DECEMBER 2007 AND I AM VERY DISSAPPOINTED WITH THE RESULTS.WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS PLEASE?MUCH THANKS.
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by straight hair from China on Jan 11, 08
hi i want a good straightner that works well on frizzy and dry hair
i heard the maxiglide and chi work well
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by Vanessa Pillay from South Africa on Dec 20, 07
Hi
I have very fine hair, and don't like my hair too flat. Does the bio-ionic treatment make your hair flat, or is there ways to add volume?
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