Japanese ION Hair Straightening

Posted by disco babe (128 days ago)

I need to get my hair straightened again. My hairdresser charges me $3500 for the process which includes Japanese Treatment & a cut. Do you think it's a bit expensive?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by lesliehad (127 days ago)

My friend had her hair straightened by Robbie at The Firm, he did a fantastic job, best she has ever had. She said they had a promotion happening, I think it cost about $1800 inc the treatment, try giving them a call, she is very happy.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Douglas Lillico (126 days ago)

DB,
please be careful when price shopping this service as the tares vary as much as the experience here. You want to, above all, make sure that your condition is not sacrificed, straight or crully damaged hair looks bad. If you like I can offer some suggestions for you as I have worked with a variety of stylist in HK at varying levels and know there work personally. Just let me know if you need assistance and please make sure hey explain the long term effects of this service and the after care...cheers

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by iluvprada (126 days ago)

My friend had a great japanese ion straightening at a salon in lower Wyndham st, Number 8 I think it was.
She paid 1800 and was jolly happy with the result.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by mayita (125 days ago)

What is the name of the BEST brands / products for hairstraightening..
What is actually the Japanese "ION straightning" process ?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Douglas Lillico (124 days ago)

Mayita,
There is no molecular difference in the process. The Ion system breaks the Bonds just like any other but they add an extra step and conditioners to buffer things. This is a very dangerous area fr clients because the entire reason this came about is because Asian hair is more resistant (hence more Cystein Bonds which make the hair stronger). They added an extra service where they use heat to further stretch and break the bonds this works with Asian hair and Ethnic hair as they can afford the bonds to be broken. However, Caucasian hair does not have near the bonds or resilience to damage. In Multi-Porosity hair (highlights) for instance it can cause enormous damage on the wrong hair and is not recommended by most chemists. The reason is that you must time for the natural hair not the highlighted or you still have wave. I have done and seen successful ones but to be honest it is a last result because even after many westerners still have allot if not more maintenance. I can give you actual client contacts if you like that I have been working to repair the past year so you can hear both sides. Now, I did not say this to talk you out of your service, but to be honest with you and inform you. Most stylists will not give you the down side, not out of purpose but because the companies many times do not inform them. You can, depending on the hair have good results, the problem is usually the retouch process. This at some point usually starts to have issues because any over lap and you have a weak spot in the hair that can break. If you do have it done always recommend that you use the original tech that did the work, if not you play with fire.

If you do have this done please make sure that you are using professional products only, and acid balanced. NO SILICONS!!!!! or Dymethicons if you can at all help. You should also be keeping up on weekly treatments that contain a Cystein protein to help repair the bonds. Lastly, a good brush such as Boars Bristle will help prevent breakage. Good luck and please keep me informed of your process and how it comes out. If you would like any recommendations please let me know...cheers

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by iluvprada (124 days ago)

for the most up to date product for for straightening caucasian hair is the BRAZILIAN HAIR STRAIGHTENER. I know of only one Salon owner who is investigating this.
Check out: http://www.elle.com/beautyreport/11431/brazilian-hair-straightener.html
My friends are all talking about it, and it is sweeping the US and Europe.
Oh by the way, d'ont worry about Dimethicone's [correct spelling] as it is deemed safe by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review's (CIR) Expert Panel.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Douglas Lillico (124 days ago)

On this product... I'm from Florida where it actually originated...Del Ray Beach is where I used to surf this is where the product is from and where owners Marcelo and Marcia live. It was, I believe ,designed after she moved here from Brazil and not in Brazil but I will have ask her to be certain. The product is good but not sweeping the country yet, though I hope it will with a little help. I was involved in a informal trial with some folks that put products on QVC and HSN who were thinking about contacting the company and putting it on air. Marcia was unaware of this as we rarely contact the company unless its going on air. I heard of Marcia and her husband from friends there and am hoping to meet up on the next trip back. Currently I have been trying to contact Marcelo to possibly work together and perhaps share my Recondidtioning formula with them though with the time difference and schedule its been a bit hard to connect.

As for CIR, there are many certification programs one can use but, and this case is the exception, not always does it mean quality. It can simply be marketing. As for the validity of the product, until I work with it more closely I cannot say. But either way I believe in them and what they are trying to do. My goals are simple, to use what time I have left on this rock to help as many people as I can and pass on a knowledge I was blessed to be given. No, thats not noble, I was not always that motivated to care for others. But the universe aligned to remind me of its importance. As it seems it needs to do for you apparently.

I am not sure who dismantled you or harmed you but it was not me and it was obviously many years ago because your bitterness is overwhelming. I have tried to write you personally and try to appeal to you professionally but you declined, this is your choice. I am sorry you have the feeling you do, life is far to short I assure can you on that from personal experience, remember that it is not what happens to someone that shapes their character but rather how they react to the happening...cheers

I will not be engaging you again and in response to your note on another page, you never called me or made plans and I do not appreciate accusation. I think you need to rethink both your profession and your integrity levels...thank you and sorry for this ladies.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by mayita (123 days ago)

Thanks for all your advices...
Just a few stupid other Q about straightening...
1) In Europe people are all raving about the 'YUKO' straightening process, which "seals in" protein / moisture into the hair while straightening it...
However, nothing here is advertized as the Yuko process.... so i guess it comes by another name... What would be the equivalent, in your opinion ?
2) What is the difference (or advantages) of the ION straightening system compared to non ION ones ?
3) Can you name a few straightening products i can actually ask for directly in a hair salon ? Would you recommand Japanese, US or Euro brands ?

Thanks in advance...

THanks inn advance
m.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Douglas Lillico (122 days ago)

Mayita...I do not have time to answer this til tonight but in short, no difference, its just marketing. This is a big issue for me so I will explain this later....basically it uses the same ingredients to break and reform the bonds...the process is different. It was an offshoot of straighteners being done on Asian hair...they made it stronger because it has more bonds to shift...be back later...cheers

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by disco babe (122 days ago)

Hi Douglas,
Thanks for your time to answer all these questions. You're very dedicated and believe in what you do very much...... very inspiring!
I did end up going to get my hair straightened again. They did a great job, but I find it difficult to maintain that at that price, especially when the locals tell me they only pay about $500 for the complete job.
I know and understand that hair types are very different. Mine is particularly difficult to manage, so I couldn't deal with any complications.
I once went and had a cheap straightening job done & I spent over a year trying to grow it out and get it back to life again. It was very damaged and burnt out!

Douglas, can you please tell me why we shouldn't use the silicon stuff on straightened hair?

Where can I get the Cystein Protein stuff from?
Is Cystein the brand name?

Thanks!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by D-Man (122 days ago)

People do keep in mind that the straightening products now have a variety of formulations meaning that one brand say 'ion' can have 4 formulas for different hair types. Originaly there was only one type but many of the 'better' companies have created versions for all different hair types. It would be good to ask the salon or stylist what type of solution they are using or at least for what hair type. If they say there is only one for all hair types then I would be a little worried.

Many things to consider when having this done so its good to ask alot of questions. Lots of good advice from Douglas there which is very helpfull.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by mayita (122 days ago)

Thank you Douglas, D-man & the others for your advice.
Now, researching the forum, i've found a discussion where merits of plates v. blowdry for "straightening" the hair during the permanent straightening process, to avoid the too straight / unlively / lank hair effect.
1- Can the hairdresser actually blow dry straight the hair during the process of permanent straightening instead of plates, and not "ruin" the hair (thought they were made fragile by the chemicals breaking the cystein bonds) ?
2 - Which one shall i prefer, to have very straight but still lively looking hair (like all those hong kong / japanese ladies, with "natural" straight hair....

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Douglas Lillico (121 days ago)

M,
I would really like to have a chat with you in person if you don't mind so I can at least acess your hair a bit further and tell you the realistic issues you face here. I don't want to spend allot of time here without first seeing what we are working with. I am right next to D-man so we can always arrange to walk to his place and you can get both of our inputs...Let me know if that sounds good to you...cheers

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by mayita (117 days ago)

Thank you so much guys, especially the hair experts....

Eventually, a HK Chinese colleague of mine, who straightens her hair (did touch them before to check that they were not damaged or anything), brought me to the place she goes to, local place, affordable for my budget (straightening with Wella products + extra nourishing treatment for about 600 HKD, including tips - don't know if you have to in HK, but i did...). In fact i had so much talked about straightening my hair and my fears, etc. that she booked in an appointement in as well as for herself (little unexpected, as i had a friend gathering the same evening, but i did not miss the chance of the "guide").

The pros :
- nice job, hair so smooth and silky i can't believe it : better that any brushing i
have ever had
- the master always tries the elasticity of hair before and many times (like 5 or 6 times) throughout the process + they spread the product application over time, so as not to spoil the end of hair which are more porous

The cons :
- As never had hair straightening before didn't know whether i should or not have some "volume" on the top / sides, they advised me top a bit only : now, i think a bit of sides would have been nice as well, as a "normal" brushing - anyway since hair will grow, i'll get the volume back at the roots in a month or so..
- Haven't washed hair yet, will update tomorrow about after shampoo result, but should be ok because after last moisture treatment, master hairdresser just dried hair with hairdryer and fingers

- Warnings :
- I have very thick hair (i mean each hair strand is thick - Indian hair) and had been using organic shampoo & mask & conditionner w/o silicones for a while, so my hair were in good condition
- Language can be an issue.... fortunately colleague was there & one attendant had been studying in Australia for 4 years (working there during her school break),
- Spent 4 hours in a salon.... most of it without my specs on (= not able to read) - should have put on lenses or brought music.... (colleague just had a trimming, so left before me)

Conclusion :
Rather happy with the result, but :
- Would never have tried it with thin European hair, as not sure they are used to deal with it (+ was the only no Chinese non Cantonese speaking person in the salon)
- You need to know what you want, technically speaking, as they are not used to what we, in Europe, mean by "straight hair" compared to what Chinese people mean by "straight" hair....
Therefore, if you can afford it, try to save money for a while, to go first to a more expensive salon used to westerners vocabulary & western hair.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Douglas Lillico (115 days ago)

M,
nice job...you pointed out something really important....Type of hair!!!! Yours being Asian has much stronger and higher quantity of bonds than the average Western hair. This is very important as is another factor, porosity. Most western hair has highlights or color. Highlights mean multiple porosity...this greatly effects the way things process and can lead to breakage. These products were not intended for multi-porosity hair so be careful in this area. I would also highly recommend a regular treatment system with this service, great input...cheers

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by mayita (108 days ago)

Sorry guys, i've been out of town/ busy for a while...
My hair are still great, but need conditionner or mask after shampoo...
otherwise, it's just a matter of wash and go : i don't even comb them after leaving the house, and they look so nice once naturally dried .... (less straight than when leaving the hairdresser, more like "natural" western straight, which is great).
Am definitely happy about it !
(Much more than when i had my hair "straightened" in Paris a few year back, where they did not really master the technique, and just applied a Carlson Softshine relaxing mixture on my hair on 20 min, then wash & mask, that really dried my hair....but that's a different story)

(I am based in Hong Kong)