Permanent Straightening Information

A consultation is required for any Permanent Straightening service.

Please click here to download the questionnaire and release form in a pdf file format. Fill it out and bring it to the consultation.
Permanent Straightening, specifically Japanese Thermal Straightening, is a complex, detail oriented process that has been the salon specialty since 2003. A person needs to have at least 2-4 inches of hair for this service. Different methods can be customized or combined for various results. Scalp protection is ultimately important, and is used on every permanent service. This gives the hair up to 1/2 inch of untreated hair at the scalp.

Results Will Vary. Because of the many different textures found in hair, each person will experience different results. A wiry head of hair will not become a slinky soft head of hair and visa versa. Curly hair that is dry, broken, and split before the service, will still be dry, broken and split, except it will be permanently straight. Most textures have the ability to go straight, but not all are going to be super slinky, super flat or super shiny. Those qualities will depend on your pre-straightened texture. Previous chemical services, genetics and thermal styling affect your straightening results. With this straightening service, the most damaged part of the hair will process the fastest.(Ex. highlights) If the damaged and healthy parts cannot be precisely separated, then those hairs that reach the finish point first, determine when the whole head is rinsed. If the healthy hairs are not totally straight when the damaged hairs are finished, then the healthy hairs will most likely still be wavy.

Color. Permanent straightening can be done 2 weeks after a semi-permanent color or 4 weeks after a permanent color. After a straightening, the wait period is 2 weeks for semi-permanent color and 4 weeks for permanent color.

Day of Appointment. Wash and detangle hair. Do not apply styling product, or leave in conditioner. Let it airdry, hanging freely. If the hair is not totally dry by the appointment time, that is fine. Please bring snack food if the appointment is open ended and dress appropriately. This is a potentially sloppy process and any items worn or used during the treatment could be splashed on.

The First 48 Hours.

• Do not get the hair wet for any reason for the 48 hours following the appointment. That includes rain, mist, bathroom "after-shower" steam, SWEAT, hair products (most contain water), spit or any other form of H2O. A simple plastic cap is provided for use during showers. The hair must not be air-dried for the first week.
• Do not use anything in the hair that might leave impressions. NO clips, ponytails, headbands, hair sticks, scarves, hats, barrettes, tucking behind the ears, braiding, or styling. If applicable, do not switch the part. The hair has to be processed in the direction in which it naturally grows out of the head to prevent breakage.
• Smooth out all impressions using a flat iron on the lowest setting possible.

Products. Any kind of permanent straightening breaks bonds and weakens the hair. Good quality products must be used to maintain the hair's health. A gentle shampooing and styling routine should be adopted. The hair has on average 8-18 layers of cuticle on each strand. As the hair grows out and is exposed to damaging influences, the cuticles peel off, eventually revealing the hair's core. Good quality proteins reinforce the cuticle temporarily, helping maintain optimum hair health.

Grow-out and Touch-Ups. Depending on how fast the hair grows and how curly it is, curl will be visible at the root between one month to one year. Generally, longer hair pulls the roots flatter than short hair, allowing more time between root touch-ups.

If the curl diameter is 1 inch across, it might take about 5-7 months to see a definite curl pattern. Most people have touch-ups done every 7 to 8 months with permanent straightening. The root touch ups usually take as long as the original straightening, give or take an hour or so. In some cases the roots take longer.

The options for going back to curly are: cut the straightened hair off or grow it out. So far, curly-perms have not been successful on straightened hair, so that is not a reliable option.