STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

My best friend did it and LOVES it - it looked amazing.

She only did it once because we heard that the second time you do it is when the damage occurs- the hair can't really handle the process twice. Once it started growing out, she just went back to blow drying/ironing and you really couldn't tell.

So if it would help you in the next few months, I'd say do it.

I had this done and I was really pleased with the results. It was expensive, but worth it. I don't think I'd do it again because after I had it done I actually missed my wavy hair, but it was cool to experience what it was like to have straight, maintenance free hair!

do you mean like the japanese thermal straightening?

i got it done once in korea and my friend got it done here (in nyc). for me, i don't remember how much it costs b/c it was a treat from my aunt. my hair had kinks from a much-regretted body wave/perm. my hair was probably not middle of my back but at the shoulder blades. it took forever, pulled at my scalp and after the process i had to cut my hair to a chin-length bob because a lot of it broke off.

but it was worth it. 1. because that perm was gone (btw i have naturally straight, asian hair that's pretty thick) 2. i couldn't stop touching my hair for about 6 months b/c it was so smooth and straight.

my friend who had it done here said it ended up costing her about $700 ($500 for the process and $100 tip to each of the stylists who spent 5 hours with her). she has hair to the middle of her back that i guess it's naturally slightly wavey. i don't think she had much breakage (her hair is very thick) because she doesn't color it (i think i had so much breakage b/c i color mine, it was permed and sometimes i was using heat products to manipulate it.. so damaged!).

anyway, she said it was worth it for her because now she has wash and go hair. Because the rest of her hair seems to weigh down the non-straight new growth, she didn't have to redo in over a year (this was a while ago). i haven't asked her about it recently but i know that even after a year she had to get it redone. her main reason for happiness was that she was no longer a slave to her hair. i think you and her probably have similar hair type (not sure about how much you color it).

an old co-worker's sister was addicted to it but she has super, duper frizzy curly hair.. think diana ross.. and had to get it retouched all the time b/c it would look weird to have the new frizzy growth and then super straight hair. i know this isn't your hair type but just thought you would want to know! :)

just wanted to add that my friend who did the straightening goes for that flat, lifeless pin straight look... like avril ligne style but she has a lot more hair and it's thicker.. maybe like jennifer aniston style???

i thought trisarahtops had a good point about not being able to achieve body or volume when you do this. oh and another thing.. i felt like my hair was kinda slippery after doing this. like trying to curl it in a curling iron and it would kinda fall loose or not stay as well.

don't know how important any of this is to you but just throwing it out there! ;)

Ok! Here are some before/after. The first two pictures are so old (at least 4 years....back when I was obsessed with my webcam) that it feels weird to look at them! I couldn't find any pictures of when it was long and straight, probably because I only kept it like that for a couple of months. I loved my straight hair after I cut it. It was so easy and I didn't have to use product or dry it or anything. Just wash and towel dry! If I ever decide to wear my hair that short I'll probably have it straightened again.

JMR wrote:

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I did it!!! Ack - I will post pics when I wash it on sunday - that is the REAL test to know how it came out.

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Oh I cant wait to see it!

What do you think so far?

Post those pics!