My Salon Keratin Experience

[winona]

Hi ladies,
DISCLAIMER: This is very long but I want to be detailed.

I just wanted to tell you all about my salon keratin experience. After reading the entire BKT Support Thread and completing my first keratin at home(QOD gold) I decided that I wanted to experience the treatment at the salon(Global for resistant hair).

I purchased a groupon after contacting the salon. Some questions that I asked with my brief phone interview are: Do you have any experience handling ethnic hair? Please explain. Are you adverse to using my utensils?

I made my initial appointment over 3 weeks ago site unseen but called back promptly(within 2 days because my heart was uneasy) to cancel and schedule a consultation. During the consultation I asked the following questions: What do you feel you do best(styling, coloring, precision cuts, ect)? I believe I do the BKT the best because that is what I do the most offWhat brand of products do you use? Global and Kevin Murphy because I believe salon products should not be available to the publicI do not flat iron my hair on anything over 410 will this be a problem? Well Global BKT might not take as well so I just want you to know this going inDo you use seamless combs?Whats the difference?(I told her) When combing do you use the tip to root technique? Huh(I showed her)Do you use developer in the shampoo prior to treatment? NoI do not wish to blowdry my hair naked will this be a problem? Nope I dont blowdry until after the keratin is inWhat type of blowdryer do you use?Cricket and it is ceramic and ionIs it ceramic or ionic?What type of flat iron do you use? Babylis(sp?) titaniumIs it ceramic or ionic? What temperature do you use when flat ironing the treatment in?450 How many passes do you normally use?As many as it takes (I requested no more than 10)
At this point she requested to see my hair and took down my bun I informed her that I would come with my hair already detangled in 6 twists

Day of treatment(today). I arrived early and set out my utensil that she was to use She took down my 6 twists and clarified my 2 times(yes I was counting) Applied the global and proceeded to blowdry my hair with a brush I probably should have stopped her but it glided through my hair so I didnt think it was neccessary. i kept careful watch over her She reiterated that treatment should be done and 450 and I reiterated that 410 is all I am willing to budge I also informed her that I watched the global video on the offical global website and they even stated you just need 430(I was well aware that her babylis flatiron was digital and only went from 410 to 450/Yes I called the manufacture already) Anyway she agreed to the 410. She did a decent job but I could tell she was a little scared to get the roots. Probably because I made her face me towards the mirror so I could watch her I think she overall did a decent job but I will not be going back because I can do the same/better job in my PJs. It was a good experience. When I got home I hit my roots at 370 with my Hana elite.

Here are the pics. I have trimed off approx. 4 1/2 inches off the back since last month because I wanted to even up my hair. It was looking crazy because as my afro grew out you could tell that the back seemed longer than the rest(front and sides have farther to go)

Without further ado here are the pics I probably wont be trimming my hair again until the end of the year. Looking at these pics I need to work on my edges more

 

[NEWYORK20004]

great job asking questions,and telling her exactly what you wanted. You saved yourself from a lot heartache.

 

[EbonyCPrincess]

very thorough review. honestly if everyone were THIS take-charge about their hair, we'd probably only see 1 "salon experience vent" post per year. Thank you for sharing your experience and showing us that you DO INDEED have control over what is done to your head in a salon.

Pretty hair too!

 

[danysedai]

Completely agree with above. You were quite through, after all it is YOUR hair.
Glad that it turned out well

 

[winona]

Thanks ladies I am pleased with my hair

 

[Lynnerie]

Op I enjoyed reading your review. Thats how we should always be when going to salons. Glad it turned out well.

 

[Ariana4000]

It looks good and healthy

 

[winona]

Thanks ladies. 1 1/2 years ago before lhcf I didn't know enough to speak up for myself.

 

[Lovelylocs]

What do you wash the keratin out with 5 to 7 days later?

 

[JJamiah]

Lovelylocs, you have to use a sulphate free shampoo or you risk removing the BKT.

OP I am so glad you had a great experience

 

[Lovelylocs]

Lovelylocs, you have to use a sulphate free shampoo or you risk removing the BKT.

OP I am so glad you had a great experience

Thanks, JJamiah! I just rinsed it out. I got it done in the salon last week and didn't want to go back. lol

 

[winona]

What do you wash the keratin out with 5 to 7 days later?

Sorry for the late response. I was studying The first BKT I CoWashed out. This time I am going to use my regular poo mixture. (1tablespoon Elucence, 1tablespoon of my favorite oil(right now it is JBCO), and 5oz of bottled water)

BTW 1tablespoon is approx 0.5oz so the ration is 1:1:10 =pooil:water

My scalp is always clean without the striped feeling.

Lovelylocs, you have to use a sulphate free shampoo or you risk removing the BKT.

OP I am so glad you had a great experience

Thanks for answering Lovelylocs JJamiah

 

[MarieB]

Great post, OP! My first BKT experience was at a salon, and it went really well. I did a lot of research before-hand, and asked a ton of questions before, during, and after the process. You were very wise to call your own shots.

 

[Lovelylocs]

Are there any risks to doing it yourself? It seems like it's not as complicated to apply as a relaxer.

 

[winona]

Great post, OP! My first BKT experience was at a salon, and it went really well. I did a lot of research before-hand, and asked a ton of questions before, during, and after the process. You were very wise to call your own shots.

Thanks. To be honest I was scared to death since this was my first experience in a salon in a very long time.

Are there any risks to doing it yourself? It seems like it's not as complicated to apply as a relaxer.

I am not sure. It was a very simple process when I applied my QOD and my hair got straighter during the flat iron with a lower temp I am just doing it for manageability not for straightness though.

 

[AtlantaJJ]

This is an excellent review! It's good to know Global makes a BKT for resistant hair! Global worked the best for me when I was doing the BKT, I would definitely use it again.

 

[winona]

This is an excellent review! It's good to know Global makes a BKT for resistant hair! Global worked the best for me when I was doing the BKT, I would definitely use it again.

Thanks I took notes every step of the way so I could recount everything for you ladies