Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

I took the plunge yesterday and got my hair Japanese Straightened!!

I went to Hair Village in Woodside on AM470's recommendation and although I feel it's still too soon to say, they did a great job. I paid $190 plus tips and my hair was almost down to my waist. It went something like this:

First you get there and you see that there are about 50 other girls there doing the same thing. I was shocked to see how many TRs they turn out on one Saturday.

1. They wash your hair then you blow dry it yourself. Thaaaat's right. You walk up to a station and steal a blow dryer and stand there and dry it yourself. (I went with my hair freshly washed so I didn't have to get it washed)

2. You wait on line (sitting) with a bunch of other poofy haired girls (just like you) to get the chemicals put in. The lady in charge checks your hair and tells the girl how much of the chemicals to put in and for how long. Remember that time because you have to keep track, they don't. She'll clutch your hair in her fist and give you a price. They wrap your hair in those plastic thingies and put some cotton on your forehead. Off you go to wait for your hair to cook. Find a place to sit. Mine stayed in for 20 mins. It doesn't hurt.

3. See price lady and get checked. If you're good to go you get your ends washed, then the chemicals stay on the roots a little longer. 10 mins more for me.

4. Get washed and get a number.
5. Go blow dry your own hair again. Watch out, if they need the blow dryer you are using they'll kick you out and you'll have to go find another at one of the 6 stations.

6. Wait. A looooong time for your number to be called to go get flat ironed. During this time you can go get lunch or something. At this point your hair is blow dryed straight but looks a little frizzy and poofy, but presentable enough to go down the block to the deli.

7. Try not to fall asleep as your hair is painstakingly flat ironed first with a teeny iron at the roots and then a regular iron for the rest. Breathe a sigh of relief as they blow on your head so as not to burn you with the iron that heats up to 356 degrees. They do sections about 1/8th of an inch thick and 2 inches wide so plan to be sitting there awhile. A LONG while.

8. The worst part is over. Straightening took almost 2 hrs for me but my hair is very long and very thick. Go get neutralizer put in. They wrap this foam thing around your neck to catch the drippings and soak your hair in the solution. Wait 10 mins. Get washed.

9. Guess what? Yep - blow dry your own hair again. But this time...you are AMAZED. Your hair is drying completely straight!!! You are in awe that you cannot feel a single curl as you tousle your hair. You want to squeal, but contain yourself.

10. Go back to the flat iron lady who did you and she'll style and polish off your hair. She'll cut it if you want also. And you are finally done. It is 8 hrs later.


Expect a bizarre sort of organized chaos at Hair Village, but they churn out so many TRs (thermal reconditionings) that you can tell they know their stuff. I don't recommend letting them cut your hair. I told her to cut an inch off my ends and she chopped off a good FIVE instead. Plus she used pinking shears and that odd cutting INTO the hair method that I KNOW is horrible for your hair. It took all my strength not to cry as I watched her butcher my ends. But it looks good.


Now, I can't wash my hair until Tuesday, no scrunchies, hair clips, etc, but my hair is absolutely pin straight, shiny, and soft. I am cautiously THRILLED with it. I'll give an update after my first washing...the true test!

HAIR VILLAGE
6302 ROOSEVELT AVE,
WOODSIDE, NY 11377
Phone: (718) 507-6244
(no appointment necessary)

I'll post pics when I can get my DH to cooperate and take some!

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

Great review!
I really want to get it done, but I keep heistating for some reason. I would love to see your pictures!

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

My two friend SWEAR by this place. I love when they describe their ordeal( much like yours )
They have probably recommened 40 people there and its the best results I have ever ever seen.

My friend Theresa has VERY thick curly hair, she takes a shower, comes to work and her hair is PIN striaght, no heat, dries straight.

Another friend paid $600 ..yes $600 for a place to do her hair, it never once looked as good as this place does.

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

WOW...That is some day.

I cant get over the blow dry your own hair. That is funny.

8 hrs. Oh goodness. I dont know if I would have the patience to do that for 8 hours.

I have actually been straightening my own hair the last few weeks and it's not really that bad. I've gotten used to it. Then when I get tired of looking at it straight I go back to curly. One morning I gave it that curly just out of bed kinda messy but neat look. It was something I'll probably never get to happen again and everyone at work was like wow I really like your hair like that.

I cant wait to see pics of what it looks like. I heard it's fabulous.

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

how often to u have to get a touch up

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

That's awesome.
Drying your hair will be a breeze and sometimes you don't even have to do it.
I have naturally curly hair but for the most part, I'd always used to blow it out and wear it straight.
I went to a place in Bayside and paid $350 without tipping. They did an awesome job. It has been 9 months and my hair still looks great even though I have to blow-dry it now if I want it to be super-straight because you can see my curls coming back but my hair still looks awesome even if I blow-dry it or not.
You said you paid $190...that's really great. I think this is the first time I've heard of any place that does it so cheap. But I think it's because you are doing some of the work (with the blow-drying part). Where I go, you just wear a bathrobe so that your clothes don't get wet etc...and they do all the work for you. I remembered just bringing a good book to read.
Another tip...Don't put your hair behind your ears no time soon. That will get your hair with that shape and you don't want that.
And Enjoy....You are going to absolutely love it having to cut the time to get ready. My husband loves it because I now can blow-dry my hair in half hour....it used to take me an hour...my hair is long and thick so it used to take longer. This makes things so much easier. I'm planning to have it done again sometime in June(I did it last July) and I'll probably go back to the same place I went. I met some girls there when I had mine done that had paid at other places $500-750 and they found this place and have gone there ever since. So when it was my first time doing I felt relieved to see some customers that were there for their second or third time.
And I hope you post pictures soon for us to see.....

Message edited 3/19/2006 1:30:39 PM.

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

I think this might be the place someone I know went to. Do you know if they can do it if you color your hair?

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

BabyAvocado.....How many times they put your hair at this place "to cook" as you put it? ....with that steam machine they used?

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

Holy crap!! That's some ordeal!! I was just thinking about doing this. I sooo don't have 8 hours. OMG, I would die. Is there any place that does it for $300 or less where it doesn't take a whole day??

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

WOw- that sounds crazy-

I have really curly thick hair that I always wanted to do but never had the courage.

I have been a slave to the blowdryer for YEARS!
2 of my Best friends did this process but in the city. They both love it--- thier hair grows so fast now.

Great review--- can't wait to see pics! congrats on the change!

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

WOW what a day but it sounds like it was well worth it!!!! Now how often do you have to go back to touch it up?
I cant wait to see what it looks like!!!!

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

Let us know how it dries (without being blow-dried).

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

Wow...sounds like a crazy day! I can't wait to see pictures. I have really curly hair...but I like it and haven't had the desire to straighten it....yet.

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

8 hours

I'm glad you like the results!! My girlfriend went somewhere on LI, paid like double that and hated it!!

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

Posted by MrsFresca

BabyAvocado.....How many times they put your hair at this place "to cook" as you put it? ....with that steam machine they used?

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

My Friend went about 5 months ago and you cant see any frizziness at all on the roots.

That place must rack in the $$$$ .

I Dont even need my hair straightened but I have to say again, I have NEVER seen any place do as good a job as they do. Its like magic compared to some of the places I saw charge hundreds for worse results.

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

Wow! that sounds like some day! I can't wait to see pictures!!!

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

bump

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

NEVER go to Hair Village on a Saturday
Go on a weekday and get there when the doors open, and go with washed hair so you don't have to wait. Oh and bring tons of quarters for the meters , snacks & a magazine.

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

OMG....this was too funny to read, as I went to HV a few years ago. It was chaotic and kind of comical. almost like i bonded with all of the others who have dealt with frizz! A big risk as you have no idea what the "chemicals" really are! but was fun! loved the results for a short time. loved washing my hair and actually using a brush!!!then air dry on way to work......pin straight. only thing is that it takes a long time to grow out and it can be frustrating to blow out the curly part. Plus it is so incredibly straight that you can't even throw it up into a ponytail b/c the edges stick out and look a bit strange. ill try to find some pics.....not sure if i have any as that was a few computer crashes ago. good luck ladies....you probably don't believe me now, but eventually you will have a new appreciation for your curls (:

Re: Curly girls: I did it!! Japanese Straightening!!

What if you have your hair highlighted?