# My Hair... It's So Straight! Squeeee! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 12, 2007, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506 "2007-07-12T15:46:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506/1 "2007-07-12T15:46:09Z")
So, I have, or rather, had extremely thick, curly, heavy, coarse, voluminous red hair. I tried to love it, really I did. I had an army of curl-enhancing, frizz reducing products. My old hairstylist, Apparently Heterosexual Phil, was always on me to love my curls. He did give me great haircuts. And plied me with wine and compliments. Oh, I kind of miss Phil. If anyone needs a great hairstylist for thick, curly, heavy, coarse, voluminous hair in the Ann Arbor, MI area, drop me a PM and I’ll give you his number. But I digress. Having left Phil behind in Michigan, I was fretting over what to do with my hair with some friends at school. (I have had a lot of disasterous haircuts and have “new stylist phobia”). A Korean woman of my aquaintence asked if I had ever considered having it straightened, and recommended a salon where they do Thermal Reconditioning, sometimes called “Japanese process straightening.” It last 6 months. I was intrigued. I had a consultation. They declared me an ideal candidate. I made a appointment. I got it done yesterday. It took 3 hours, and two stylists worked on it to get it done that fast. Did I mention I have a lot of hair? Now I have thick, **straight** , heavy, coarse, voluminous red hair. It looks completely phenomenal. I’m wearing a headband! I’m tossing it over my shoulder! Squeeeee! _toss_ _Warning: exteme nerdy/horsecrazy teen reference to follow_ Remember in _The Black Stallion’s Filly_ when they made Black Minx a fake tail and she just spent all day swishing it? Yeah, that’s me with my new straight hair. _toss_ _adjusts headband_ ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506/2 "2007-07-12T16:08:12Z")
Oh, congrats! I have thick, wavy hair that wants to do it’s own thing. Most of the time it looks “okay”, but when I can talk Hallgirl1 into spending an hour with the flat iron on it, it looks Damn Good. Mind if I ask how much it set you back? Also, have you had any breakage of the hair with it? ---
**Author:** ![velvetjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@velvetjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvetjones)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506/3 "2007-07-12T16:16:10Z")
You simply can’t start a thread like this without before and after pics. It’s against some kind of rule, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506/4 "2007-07-12T16:30:48Z")
Okay, it cost me $240… on the low side as I understand it for the brand-name Japanese process. This salon was mid-scale and serves mostly asian clientele. I have seen it as high as $600 in upscale salons. My hair looks gorgeous and undamaged (my SO kept saying… “its so soft!”) but they also told me that my hair was “very strong.” I needed a haircut anyway as I am very split endy (I have not cut my hair in 11 months due to aforementioned bad haircut phobia). Obviously the processing didn’t fix that but its no worse than it was. Overall, it seems very neutral in its effect. Squeee! I will try to get some pics up soon. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506/5 "2007-07-12T16:45:12Z")
Yeah, you actually got quite the deal- it was my understanding that $500 is the norm for that particular procedure. Are you totally shocked by how much longer your hair is now? I know when I wear mine curly for a week or so (mine is naturally wavy-curly, so I can easily make it into OMFG curly and it will stay), I’ll always be surprised when I wear it straight again and it’s 4 inches longer. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506/6 "2007-07-12T18:33:02Z")
Well, the thing about New York is… (my SO hates it when I start sentences this way, lol) …some things are way more expensive than elsewhere, and other things are way cheaper. I’ve seen it advertised as low as $175 in Koreatown, but I’ll pay a little more for a place that comes recommended. If you’re ever planning to be in New York… [http://www.hayato-ny.com/English.html](http://www.hayato-ny.com/English.html) Call with at least 6 weeks notice if you need an evening or weekend appointment. FTR, the staff’s English skills are only so-so (they all seem to be young stylists from Tokyo) but they are very friendly. Free shiatsu massage while your hair is cooking too! My hair is down to my bra strap – longer than its been since about the 2nd grade! I am going to cut off at least 3-4 inches though, just to clean up the split ends after a year’s neglect. _toss_ ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506/7 "2007-07-12T18:49:17Z")
[QUOTE=velvetjones] You simply can’t start a thread like this without before and after pics. It’s against some kind of rule, I’m sure. [/QUOTE] Seconded. The proposal has been moved and seconded: All those in favor? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506/8 "2007-07-12T18:50:29Z")
Yay. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506/9 "2007-07-12T19:14:10Z")
[QUOTE=garygnu] Seconded. The proposal has been moved and seconded: All those in favor? [/QUOTE] Aye! ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506/10 "2007-07-12T19:31:04Z")
As a child of the eighties, I find this obsession with hair straightening kinda funny in an ironic way. My god, the things I did to my hair to curl it when I was younger. And now that my perfectly stick straight hair is in style, I couldn’t care less and just cut it short to be convenient. 🙂 Have fun playing with your hair! ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506/11 "2007-07-12T19:35:56Z")
I used to do that all the time, back home. Where it was cheaper (the most expensive salons would charge $200). Loved how it made my hair feel, although the process was always torturous. It’s worth springing for a decent job, though. I once got one for $80 and it ruined my ends something terrible. Usually the ones around $150 were decent. American hair salon prices are ridiculous, I tell you. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506/12 "2007-07-12T20:26:40Z")
[QUOTE=Hello Again] Well, the thing about New York is… (my SO hates it when I start sentences this way, lol) …some things are way more expensive than elsewhere, and other things are way cheaper. I’ve seen it advertised as low as $175 in Koreatown, but I’ll pay a little more for a place that comes recommended. If you’re ever planning to be in New York… [http://www.hayato-ny.com/English.html](http://www.hayato-ny.com/English.html) Call with at least 6 weeks notice if you need an evening or weekend appointment. FTR, the staff’s English skills are only so-so (they all seem to be young stylists from Tokyo) but they are very friendly. Free shiatsu massage while your hair is cooking too! My hair is down to my bra strap – longer than its been since about the 2nd grade! I am going to cut off at least 3-4 inches though, just to clean up the split ends after a year’s neglect. _toss_ [/QUOTE] I am at work. Just finished with an irate caller. Was feeling very slightly grumpy about. Then I read that little “_toss_” at the end of your post and disolved into giggles. Enjoy your straight hair, **Hello Again.** ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506/13 "2007-07-12T21:47:03Z")
Yay for getting the hair you want! I naturally have very, very fine, frizzy, poofy, wavy/curly hair. I remember the first time I used a flat iron on it. It seems like I spent the entire day just… petting it. And swishing it, of course. 😃 So I know how you feel! ---
**Author:** ![Morelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Morelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morelin)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506/14 "2007-07-12T21:51:21Z")
[QUOTE=lisacurl] As a child of the eighties, I find this obsession with hair straightening kinda funny in an ironic way. My god, the things I did to my hair to curl it when I was younger. And now that my perfectly stick straight hair is in style, I couldn’t care less and just cut it short to be convenient. 🙂 Have fun playing with your hair! [/QUOTE] _grin_ Ha! I still do crazy things to make my couldn’t keep a curl if my life depended on it hair curly. I’d try a perm, but I’m almost positive it would stay for all of a month and then straighten out again. ---
**Author:** ![Viridiana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Viridiana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Viridiana)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506/15 "2007-07-12T23:22:32Z")
I’m still agonizing over whether to try this method. I require B/A pics. (please :D) ---
**Author:** ![Apricot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bcef8e/32.png) [@Apricot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apricot)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506/16 "2007-07-12T23:24:58Z")
I’m curious, what happens after it starts to grow out? Are you then addicted to getting it straightened? Is it like getting fake nails, where the retip is never as good as the first time? Will your hair start to fall out? Can you get it colored, too? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2007, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506/17 "2007-07-12T23:34:38Z")
I saw this in an article in the WallStreetJournal a few years ago. It intrigued me. I, too, have thick, unruly, curly blonde/brown hair. I bought myself a flatiron, though–and that works wonders. True, any mist or rain and I’m back to Shirley Temple, but what the hell. How does it grow out? Do you end up with curly roots and flat ends? Congrats on your new look. When I first had my hair flatironed at a salon–I couldn’t stop touching it. Lookatme! I can run my fingers through my hair! Enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506/18 "2007-07-13T00:51:33Z")
It does grow out and requires touching up every 6-9 months. The way my hair grows, it is flat(ish) at the top from the sheer weight of it, so I expect to be able to go 9 months between treatments. If you want to grow it out, you just curl the straight part to match, or cut the straight part off, depending on your inclination. As far as being compatible with other chemical process – you cannot have it done on hair that is currently colored or highlighted etc. I don’t know if you could highlight it afterwards though. I am working on pics. Sorry to keep you waiting! ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506/19 "2007-07-13T01:04:28Z")
Congrats! I bet you look fantastic. 😉 (I have hair that makes Medusa’s do look Oscar-ready… how do you get less frizz and more volume?) ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506/20 "2007-07-13T03:30:32Z")
Shave your head. It’s the only way to be sure. For dramatic effects, try a Sharpie marker and some highlighter (for tint). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hair-its-so-straight-squeeee/411506.md?page=2)