Hair Straightening

I love this question and have also thought about doing this! Can you let me know what you find out?

Thanks,
C.

Hi A.,

You didn't mention how curly your hair is. I am of Latin descent and my hair is naturally curly in tight ringlets. I have relaxed my hair using Rusk Anticurl. If you are not sure about straightening, this is a great product to start with. It simply relaxes the curls without making your hair completely straight and it is not nearly as harsh on your hair as most straighteners. My salon charges $200 for the treatment, and used to have it done about twice a year.

The price depends on where you go. Is your hair curly? I have natural curly hair and thick. My curls are still loose and not tight and can sometimes get frizzy if I don't tame it with "stuff". I let it grow to my mid back because I didn't have time to straighten it anymore like I have been doing for years in the past. So i just throw on some gel and spray and let it air dry for a while and with natural curly hair a low blow dry works best and my hair is done.

When I was straightening it, it was down to like shoulder length, I would use a little bit of baby oil while my hair was still wet, then blow dry with a round brush. I tried many expensive stuff and I also had it professionally straightened, but it didn't help make it easier, I still had to blow dry it straight and once my hair started to grow, the curls came back. So i just stick with the baby oil. The amount depends on the thickness of your hair. I use about two quarter sized amount for mine. Once you try it a few times you can gage and figure how much you need. You don't want to use too much, then your hair will look greasy. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.

Hi there,

I have been straighten my hair once a year for the last 5 years. Personally I love it. It's expensive and time consuming. It probably will take 3-4 hours at least if they do a fine job, but also it depends on how long your hair is. In term of price, it's in between 300-500. The 180 quote one, you may want double check with them about what kind of solution they use. As you probably know, the new grow hair will still be currly, so if your hair is really currly , you want want to consider not to do so......... Good luck.

Hi A. ~ I am a cosmotologist. I don't know what your hair is like, but if the majority of stylist are quoting you approx. $400 for the service and you found somone to do it for half that price, I would be a little bit leary. Remember, you get what you pay for. It may be that this person is just starting their business and trying to build a clientele? It may also just be location, sometimes you can charge more in one location than another....anyways, just somethings for you to think about while making your decision. I would imagine that your hair must be extremely curly, and long if the price is so high, if not - you may be getting taken advantage of. Good Luck! Another thing that you might consider is going to an area that does offer lower prices for their services. for example, I would travel out of the bay area if that is where you are getting those quotes from. Maybe make a day trip to somewhere that you have researched and save some $?

A.,
I had my hair straightened years ago. I have curly hair but it's fine. It's not THICK THICK but I wanted the straight look.
I paid the expensive price and after you get out of the shower I still had to blow dry my hair. So for me it wasn't that great. I wanted to be able to just have it dry and it be straight. (And maybe now it's much better since its been over 7 years since I had mine done).
I bought myself a ceramic Straightner and got the hang of just straightening my hair the night before.
When I did straighten my hair I actually didn't wash it every day and was told it's best not to wash daily.
Good luck

I have naturally wavy hair. For the days I want it to look nicer I bought a straigtener at Target. I do my hair in sections. It is not as pricy. I got it straighten at the salon and it was not completely straight and very costly.
The name of the straigtener is Revlon wet to straight. Roughly $30.

Hi there...just a quick response to your question...sorry for incomplete sentences or mispellings...

I straightened my hair in March and have no regrets! Of course, it took me only 3 years to finally do it and I wish I had done it much earlier!

It has saved me sooooo much time---I have a 7 yoa girl and 5 yoa boy---with very busy kid schedules. I do not have to worry about styling my hair. Brush and go.. It is awesome and so very soft!! Husband loves it!!

I only paid $180 and totally recommend Johnny over at Shin's Salon in Milpitas. Only reason I could see it being so cheap is that he has soooo many customers requesting his hair straightening service...thus, the volume makes up for price.
He does not take appointments so you may have a long wait for him. The actual process takes a long time too---So, expect to be there for at least 4 hours...bring a book. Johnny has his assistants do much of the work, but he always comes in at some point to make sure everything is right. He cut my hair at the very end...but was attentive throughout the whole process. Johnny is amazing to watch!!! I trust him with my hair and recommend him.

Good luck and have fun with your new hair--I am!

I've had my hair straightened about 10 years ago, and I wouldn't recommend it to anybody. I still had to spend time blow drying it straight for it to look good, and about 4 months later my hair started to fall out. It was very scary. Since then I've learned to love my curls and found some products that help (ISO Bouncy Creme and Ouidad Climate Control - I can't live without these two). I also found that a good haircut is vital. I only get a Ouidad haircut. I've tried others and ended up disappointed. Unfortunately there are no Ouidad salons anywhere near, but there's one in Santa Monica. Look at ouidad.com for more salons in the country. I also found naturallycurly.com to be a useful website.

I wouldn't do it. When it grows out you'll spend more time trying to maintain it. Or else keep frying your hair till it falls out. Why not get a flat iron and Use it when your son sleeps? Or at night when your husband is home?

Dear A.,
The first thing you should do is go to Walgreen's (or somewhere similar) and purchase a straightening iron. The are way less expensive than the figures you have mentioned. First of all, see if you really like your hair straightened in the first place. I know a friend that just had it hot ironed in a salon and she looked gorgeous, but her husband liked her hair better the other way so she didn't go through with the chemical treatments. She can still do it on occasion if she chooses, but she also has her regular hair in between. She gets the best of both worlds that way.

Try experimenting first. Straight hair is not always easier, believe me, if you are in the habit of doing the ponytail and going thing. Straight hair can actually be a lot more work. If you have it chemically straightened, it will grow in curly at the roots so that is another thing to consider. My daughter has naturally curly hair and sometimes she straightens it with an iron. But on other days, she has the option of leaving it alone. If you have straight hair, and you want something different, then you have to work to get back what you had in the first place. Naturally.
Try a flat iron first and see how you like it before doing anything permanent. That's my advice anyway. I have straight hair and have always been jealous of those that have curly hair. At least they have the choice. My hair won't even hold a curl so it's a real pain.

Good luck!

I had my hair straightened before I was pregnant and gradually through the pregnancy, it grew out and I could tell. THen you have to maintain it or else the top looks frizzy and then the bottom doesn't. I realize you mentioned you just tie your hair in a ponytail. Realize that the first 2 days (I think), you can't do that. You can't even pin it or put it behind your ear. Or else, that will ruin the straightening process. Also, depending on the length of the hair, it will take a long time. Once when I had it done (a little above the shoulders), it took at least 4 plus hours. Also, I'd recommend getting the Japanese style of hair straightening. If you need a recommendation, I can give you one if you live in the City. Also, if your hair has never been treated, then you should do fine. Make sure you talk to a good hair stylist (not one that will just do it for the money). I've been to a couple of places where they won't do it and they will tell you too. That's a good sign. Other than that, I loved having my hair straightened. Unfortunately I can't find the time or money to do it right now so I just use a flat iron. Let me know if you need any other info. I'll be glad to help.

Like many that have already responded, I'd recommend a flat iron as well. I use the Remington Wet to Straight flat iron, and I would HIGHLY recommend it. It is only about $30, and works GREAT. I also have a more expensive flat iron ($80 Helix by Hot Tools), and I like the Wet to Straight one better. It makes my hair very soft, and stays straight, with no fly-aways, for much longer. I usually have REALLY bad bed head in the morning, but if I've straightened my hair with the Remington the day before, I always wake up with it looking the same as it did when I straightened it, almost 24 hours later.

If he can turn over you dont really need to worry about him suffocating. You probably dont need to swaddle anymore either. Both my boys only liked swaddling for a couple of months and then they would cruise all over the crib. You really dont need to worry.

Have you thought about buying a ceramic flat iron? I have one and I love it. I ordered a good quality one from my hair dresser. At her cost it was about $100. Its great because you can straighten your hair, and go a day or more (depending on how oily your hair gets) without having to do it again. It takes a little time, but is worth it.
Good luck!

Hi A.,
I know how you feel, you want to look good without all the effort. My hair is thick and wavy and what I've found to be helpful is a blunt cut, not layers. This way it gets the weight it needs on the ends to not frizz up. I'm a massage therapist so I've tried many oils in my hair, my favorite is sweet almond or jojoba (you can get at Trader Joes). A tiny bit can add some weight as well. I also shower at night and go to bed with wet hair. When I get up it is wavy and shiny, not dull and frizzy.
I think we've all wished for different hair, but it is best to accept what we've got and learn to care for it because it is unique and beautiful. However...on special occasions I straighten mine on a reg HOT iron with the ends curled in a flip--its fun to do this once in a while! Best of luck!

I've been straightening my hair. I'm Portuguese & have very much hair like African people (I hope that doesn't offend anybody)except my hair is a little more loose. Anyway, I've used some of the African hair products from Walmart & Target. I've had my mother-in-law & my sisters do my hair. My hair gets extremely straight. My hair usually is pretty tame. Straightening my hair has helped me put it in different hairstyles (like just using a clip sometimes). By the way, when I did get it professionally done from a stylist in Sacrament (who knew my kind of hair), I paid $40 (granted that was done in 2000) but would prices change THAT much? Ask people who have hair like yours around you for suggestions as well.

I know how you feel! I really wanted to get my hair straightened a while ago so it would be easier to put up and leave it alone for the rest of the day. But, then I realized (by doing research) that perming your hair can damage it alot and in a couple of months it will start falling out so maybe u could straighten it regularly which would probably be quite expensive

I am right by you my frizzy haired friend

I've never had my hair straightend by a salon, too expensive for me, but I have done the at home relaxers. My hair is naturally curly, and with three kids, one of which is an infant, it makes life soooooo much easier having straight hair. And to top it off, I feel pretty again. So however you do it, just go for it, make a change, and feel pretty. Good luck.

My stylist says that permanently straightening your hair is the worse thing you can do. A friend who just got it done cut her hair after because her hair was fried! Realize that your hair goes back to going curly as soon as your roots begin to come back in. My advice... Don't do it!

Straightening hair is very damaging. I hope you will reconsider and learn to love your locks- curls are FABULOUS! There are products which can help them keep their shape better, although I don't know what works because I am the opposite- straight-haired who wishes she had curls. You are blessed! The least trouble I've had to take with my hair is braiding it and leaving them in for several days between washings. There are a lot of ways to braid that keep it interesting.

Hi A.! My best friend keeps her hair straightened and has for about 5 years now. I've been with her when she's gotten it done and having been through beauty school myself (for nails, but always talked to the hair girls and still get the little tips and secrets from my hair dresser) I can tell you that if you're going to do this be sure to get a thermal straightener and make sure the stylist you have do it is not only familiar with the product but that she is also COMFORTABLE with it. You'll have to have it done about every six month or so (depending on how fast your hair grows) and yes it can get pricey to keep up on. The cost will vary from salon to salon as well as the area you live in. Stylists charge based on their time as well as the product. If you are in or near the Yuba City area I can recommend Carrie Cheatham at the look and Stephanie at Revamped. I know both of those stylists are very familiar with the thermal straightening product and proceedures.
GOOD LUCK!!!