Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

opinions on having hair permanently straightened

23 replies

superwomanStitch · 12/09/2006 19:36

i never get round to straightening my hari, as i dont have the requisite hour to spend. nor the desire to spend that much time on something that is going to be ruined the next day when i wash it anyways.
ive been hearing about chemical straightening, a bit like a perm, but the opposite.
anyone on MN have it done? or do i t? any opinions please.

OP posts:
pesme · 12/09/2006 19:37

wouldn't it look abit odd as it grows out?

Original poster
superwomanStitch · 12/09/2006 19:44

no more so than a perm
my hair is straightish anyways. just not straightener straight iyswim

OP posts:
sorrell · 12/09/2006 19:47

It can look a bit Ozzy Osbourne, I think (seen it on a friend). Sort of thin and unnaturally flat. If your hair is strong and very coarse it works better, I suspect. But it does make hair very wash and go. Tara Mellon who owns Jimmy Choo shoes has it done. And it does look a bit odd growing out IMO.

Northerner · 12/09/2006 19:48

My SIL has it done, it looks good, is easy to manage, but I agree it looks very odd when it grows out - you get wavy/frizzy roots.

serenity · 12/09/2006 19:55

My friend did it for me once, it was bliss

I didn't really notice it growing out tbh, but my hair is unruly and wavy rather than curly, so it wasn't that much of a contrast, but your hair is wavy rather than curly iirc? Someone at work has it done quite regularly, and when we were discussing it, she recommended going to a hair dresser who specialised in Black hair rather than a high street salon, as they did it more often and were better at it (she is white btw)

busteach · 12/09/2006 20:19

I think Jennifer Aniston used to have it done - some japanese system called Yuko or something. japanese hair straightening

themoon66 · 12/09/2006 20:30

I understand it's very expensive. My DS (aged 15) has a massive Hendrix style afro head of hair, with a wire texture. Its always matted at the back where he sleeps on it.

He begged to have it chemically straightened for his birthday last month. I went to most reputable local hairdresser who quoted me £300

DS still has his afro

Sophiev73 · 12/09/2006 20:40

In last Sunday's 'Woman' Observer magazine - a good review of all options if you can get hold of it. I had a salon tratment (not the Japanese one and less expensive) and I've got fairly fine hair with a dodgy old wave in it - worked really well for me but hair looked very flat...but very shiny etc too. Ask your salon?

aitch71 · 12/09/2006 20:49

i had it done, it worked for about a week and a half.

themoon66 · 12/09/2006 21:04

aitch... have you got real afro, wire-like hair?

littlemadam · 12/09/2006 21:21

Had mine done in Oz with Japanese system, I looked "groomed" for the first time in my life!! Had poker straight hair for about 6 months. Didn't get frizzy roots, just more body as time went on. Loved it, but v expensive...I had it done in Oz as cheaper, I wanted it done again last year but wasn't allowed as b/feeding DD.

magicfarawaytree · 12/09/2006 21:44

the thing to remember with the black hair straightening creams is to remember that you will have to style your hair every time it gets wet. you cant just wash it leave it wet and hope that it dries straight. you will need to tong it or blow dry it what ever you need to do get the style that you want. when there is a lot of moisture in the air if you dont have the right products on it it goes frizzy. I have heard that there is this new method it might be the japanese one where it stays straight even if it gets a bit damp but dont know anyone who has used it. It can look odd when its growing out but depends on how long you let the root get before you do it again much like a perm.

sorrell · 12/09/2006 22:21

Japanese method is permanent - lasts as long as your hair. also is unaffected by wet/humidity etc.

Molesworth · 12/09/2006 22:23

how does the Japanese method work? Is it like a reverse perm?

sorrell · 12/09/2006 22:26

Yes, it is really.

magicfarawaytree · 12/09/2006 22:32

japanese method wont work on afro hair because afro hair is not strong enough for the heat part fo the process. everything else I have heard about it is that done correctly it is brilliant but expensive.

Original poster
superwomanStitch · 12/09/2006 23:25

thanks for all your input ladies, i had to go but am back now.
serenity, where did you have yours done? mine is wavy straight rather than curly, which is why i am not too concerned about the roots. the local salon said it was yukot or some such name as well. but she also said 3 or 4 hundred. which i gasped att.
she aslo said the same about afro hair being too brittle.
im concerned it might ruin my hair forever and ever. its nice enouch as it is when clean, if a bit big. it would just be so nice to look groomed.

OP posts:
QueenEagle · 12/09/2006 23:31

I had it done and I loved it. But as my hair is very short it grew out way too quickly. Depending on how curly your hair is, the results will vary. Mine is wavy so not too noticeable on the regrowth. It cost me £50 but longer hair would cost £100. Takes about 2 hours or so. Lasted about 4 - 6 weeks. Much too costly to get it done that often but I liked it as a one-off. I now spend about 10 minutes every morning with the hot irons. Am considering getting it done again though in a couple of months.

aitch71 · 13/09/2006 00:37

LOL, I wish. I have stupid Scottish hair... fine but plenty of it and with an irritating kink to it. In fairness, the reason mine didn't take so well was that I was going out to a party a few days after i had it done and i was reluctant to comply with the hairdresser's instruction that i leave my hair unwashed for FIVE or SIX days! Yuck.
So if you do get it done, make sure you don't have to leave the house for a while afterwards. I did feel groomed for a while but i would say that it was not in any sense worth the money. I'd get it done if i was loaded...

kama · 13/09/2006 00:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

kama · 13/09/2006 00:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

serenity · 13/09/2006 10:18

Stitch - I didn't, at the time every hairdresser I asked about it refused to do it because they said it was too damaging. Never really understood that, as it's effectively a perm as far as I can see. I got a kit from a chemist near me that used to sell proper hairdressing supplies and a friend did it over the bath Sadly the chemist no longer sells it otherwise I'd be doing it at home all the time!

I can't believe how expensive people are saying it is I'm going to be sticking to my Remingtons I'm afraid.

littlemadam · 15/09/2006 17:29

Kama, think they were been very cautious...would love to have it done again, think cost the equivalent of £200-250, but over here about £400 . I actually preferred it after about 6 weeks, as at first it was a bit lank. Did you have a wayward bit??? I had to go back coz a quite a few strands stuck out sideways at 90 degrees Not sure about afro though, know they did a lot of thicker asian hair.

Just thinking about it makes me long for straight hair again.....

New posts on this thread. Refresh page