Questions and Answers About Permanent Straightening

• What is the difference between semi-permanent and permanet straightening?
• What type of straightening should I choose?
• How do you decide which brand of semi-straightening to use?
• Why are there so many different opinions on straightening the hair during pregnancy?
• Why are UnSprung's prices lower than most other salons doing thermal hair straightening?

A: Semi-permanent straightening wears off in @4 months time, leaving the hair in it's origonal condition. It does not break bonds. Permanent straightening breaks bonds and permanently alters the hair's condition. It always leaves the hair more vulnerable to future damage.
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A: If you:

• Have relatively virgin hair and are NOT intending to ever do highlights or home color jobs
• Have thick course hair
• Can spend @$900/year
• Want to permanently kill the curl bonds,and never want the curl back in the hair that is treated
• Want your hair to airdry the chemically treated hair as straight as possible
• Want to maintain your hair with high end products formulated for chemically treated hair
• Are not necessarily growing out your hair and are willing to get regular trims
• Are willing to deal with the curly new growth in between straightenings, which will be up to 4 inches, and you are okay with a definite line of curly hairvs. straight hair
• Don't mind getting split ends a little quicker, and having to use conditioning treatments to maintain as much shine and health as possible
• Can spend potentially 6-9 hours(the average is @7) in the salon.

.......then go for the Permanent Straightening (TR, Japanese Straightening).

If you:

• Have either virgin or damaged hair: highlights, overprocessed color, thermal styling damage, split ends
• Have fine hair to thick course hair
• Can spend @$320-640/year
• Want to preserve your hair's full strength, and only want to override your curl
• Want the option of blowdrying for ultimate straightness, or airdrying for more body. Or,if you want to keep a blow out or curling set longer
  
• Do not want to be obligated to purchase high end products, and in general would like to have a budget friendly up keep program
  
• Are growing your hair out and want to trim as little as possible
  
• Want to deal with as little new growth as possible, and if you do not want a definite line of curly vs. straight hair
  
• Want the most shine and conditioning and preservation of the hair's health without having to use additional products daily
  
• Can only spend 2-4 hours in the salon
  
• Think that at some point you want all your curl back, and you like the idea of it being able to revert back to your natural hair

........then go for Semi-Permanent Straightening(Keratin Treatment)

A: All brands are put to a 1/2 & 1/2 head test to determine initial straightness and longevity.
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A: There are so many opinions because the actual facts remain unclear. Pregnant women will not be allowed to book for any straightening at UnSprung.
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A: As far as semi-permanent straightening(Keratin Treatments) goes, UnSprung was the first salon in Portland to offer this service, March of 2007. The same formula used for pricing other services was used to determine the price of semi-permanent straightening. Fast forward to now, it's purely coincidence that the price is the cheapest(as of 2010). That was not the plan, nor does it reflect any intention to undercut other salons, since there were no local salons to undercut in 2007. Other local salons have simply priced themselves higher. It is a unique predicament. Clients of UnSprung can rest assured that prices will not be increased to better fit in with the current pricing trends for semi-permanent straightening.

In general, the going rate for any kind of straightening in Portland is around $100- $200 per hour. This price reflects overhead costs and personal stylist mark up. At UnSprung, the cost for Semi-permanent straightening breaks down to $53.33 per hour. The overhead costs are @$13.33 per hour for semi-permanent straightening, and the stylist mark up is @$40/hour.

As far as the cost of actual Keratin Treatment solutions goes, they range from $250-$380, per 32oz., which makes that around $8-$12 per ounce. The overall cost of solution has very little to do with the huge difference in cost between salons, no matter what brand is used.

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