Any Thermal Reconditioning Ladies out there?

[Africangal]

I have thermal reconditioning in my hair not a keratin or a Brazilian.
I have had it now for just over a year and would LOVE to chat other ladies who have it too.

Why I LOVE it!!!
· It is truly wash and wear, really! It air dries silky with body and movement. You would think I had it done at the salon.
· Had no breakage at all from it.
· My hair is so easy to maintain, I used to be a product junkie thinking one day I'll find the magic cream, that will melt all my hair challenges away. Now I buy what I need cause I have finally found what have been looking for.
· It takes about 5 hours but hey I have had a weave take that long!!
· The best part is that I don’t need to go to the salon for the next 4 months cause it looks perfect very day without effort.
· I SOUND LIKE A COMERICAL DONT I BUT IT WORKS ON OUR HAIR DONT BE FOOLED. I HONESTLY FEEL LIKE ITS A CONSIRACNY TO HAVE FEW WOMEN OF COLOR DO THERMALS BECAUSE THAT WOULD STOP WITH THE WEAVES AND SPEND LESS ON PRODUCTS!
· I wish more stylist of color would offer this service If you’re out there PLEASE let me Know where you’re at?

 

[nurseN98]

Ok, I'll bite.

What type of thermal svc. have you had done?

 

[Africangal]

Thermal reconditioning AKA "Japanese straigthening".

 

[Golden75]

I remember hearing about this maybe 10 yrs ago. What's the process?

 

[Your Cheeziness]

Isn't that permanent like a relaxer just without the chemicals?

 

[nurseN98]

I remember hearing about Japanese straightening. I remember on another board some ppl had hair breaking badly because of it. But it seems like it's something that if you have a good stylist that does it right then it's great but if you have a careless stylist then you can kiss your hair goodbye.

And you are right you did sound like a commercial I thought you might be trying to push a product or something..lol. Glad it's working for you. I might consider any of those options if I wanted to go straight permanently.

 

[Africangal]

This how they did my hair,

They washed my hair then dried it.
She then applied some protector to my sculp and the hair that had been done before.
She then applied the chemical its has like a liquid consistency. Let it sit for about 13mins I think. She washed it out then flat iron it ( the flat ironing is were the labor come in about 4hrs I think tiny tiny sections!!! then she washed it, then she dried it and done. after the second wash it took about 10mins to dry it! I couldnt wash, wet or bend it for 3 days. After the 3rd day I washed it and air dried it. And it looked like my pic.

 

[Golden75]

Ok, thats what I remember the process was. When I heard about the Keratin Treatment, I figured it was a take on the Japanese Straightening.

Glad it worked out well for you!

 

[Africangal]

Japanese can only be done on virgin hair, no color, no hena, no relaxer. Keratin is done over relaxer, color etc.
I was looking forward to lots of ladies saying they had it too

 

[Africangal]

Your right nurseN98 finding the right hair care professional to put it in your hair is the most import decision you will have to make about the process.

They have to really know in great detail the in and outs about applying this chemical to our textured hair. Applying the product correctly is an art and a science. I am so sadden to say, I have yet to find a Black stylist who is an expert on TR. It is knowledge, experience and expertise that contribute to being an expert, and those are the only people I want working on my hair. Most if not nearly all of the experts on TR are not people of color.

This product is still being marketed to non black salons heavily. In fact the 2 major companies in this industry still say this is not for our hair! The reputable companies that have created this product are based in Japan. They market their products to the Caucasian and Asian markets exclusively. Just check out their websites not one person of color! All their training is geared towards selling their product in that market!

That being said the stylists that have done it on our hair have taken a big chance and have perfected their techniques. So find yourself an EXPERT on this, if you want to be happy with the result.

I think the more we request it in our community this will encourage our stylists to seek training from these companies, and when these companies see the success of their product they will go into research and development of a product exclusively for our hair texture. Afro textured hair is VERY fragile!

This will defiantly lower the price over time. It’s all about supply and demand. If a pretty good weaveologist can spend 5 hours putting in a weave for around $300, I’m sure she can spend the same time flat ironing your hair for the same price. 

 

[candy626]

I had considered this at one point since relaxers provide a minimal straightening effect to my hair. But I remember coming across a lot of warnings about using it on previously relaxed hair. I also heard the results could be lackluster on kinky curly hair types so I never took the risk.

 

[Africangal]

candy626 , you were so right in doing your research because the sodium hydroxide is NOT compatible with Thioglycolate based products. Your hair would have been on the floor. I had seen my girlfriend’s hair after she had it done for the first time and I was sold, so I did a big chop with my goal being to get TR. So when I had it done, it was on 100% natural hair. No colors ever or henna.

 

[NYDee]

So how do you manage your new growth?

 

[Africangal]

OMG……………

That is a million dollar question!!

I really struggle with that. That is the only time I see breakage! In an ideal world, I would get it re touched every 3 months because at that time I start to see damage from the two textures. I can’t afford to do that. So I go with every six months!

I try not to manipulate my natural hair as possible, wear ponytails a lot and gel the front down. When I do wash it X2 every week, I do it in the shower, and focus my conditioning product at the base to soften my natural hair. My hair is very tightly coiled at the bases. I use a wide tooth comb and take my time. I NEVER use a brush.

 

[NYDee]

How much does it cost?

Will your hair ever revert back to its natural state if you want it to?

 

[Africangal]

The cost …..

Peter Louis in NYC charged me about $700 incl of tax, then tip. They are experts when it comes to TR on our hair. You will be very happy! This is something that I am very happy about and would like to keep it up.

BUT these prices are killing me. I actually called them yesterday and asked if they could do a price adjustment if I came every 4 months and Maria said no! I was not happy about that at all, because I feel like they have me . I am in the process of looking for new stylist who does thermals on my texture hair.

 

[Africangal]

No my hair will not revert. It’s a permanent straightener, just like a relaxer.

 

[NYDee]

Why would they charge the same price for full head and new growth. That's ridiculous.

 

[Keshieshimmer]

$700? I am assuming this is an upscale salon but man I would just get a regular relaxer at that point. lol.

 

[Africangal]

It is actually more work to do a re-touch because they put stuff on the previously done hair to protect it from being re processed. Then they re flat iron the whole head. It is the flat ironing that’s labor intensive. In my unprofessional opinion this is where the expensive labor cost sets in. Think of it as getting a relaxer then flat ironing your hair in tiny tiny sections after that. The heat from the flat iron activates the chemicals so you want this done right!

 

[Africangal]

That's why we need more salons in our community doing this service! That will defiantly lower the price! Ask your stylist about it......

 

[grownwomanaz]

You hair looks awesome but $700 though? Why did you choose TR over relaxing?

 

[NYDee]

No reversion and frizz, I believe.

You hair looks awesome but $700 though? Why did you choose TR over relaxing?

 

[leona2025]

Wow a lot of work. Your hair is beautiful. My hair would be on the floor because I can't see paying $700 for a single service ever. Plus I'm not nearly gentle enough to prevent the breakage. I'm a diehard diyer and this doesn't seem like something you can do on your own. I would HATE HATE HATE to have such a dependance on a stylist. I love color. It just seems like a lot of sacrifices.

While I'm relaxed, I have some texture when I airdry which I love. I would be sad to see it just bone straight even after washing.

 

[Africangal]

Such dependence on a stylist is really bad I agree, but I really do love it. Just as I found them I can find someone else!

When I get my next re touch I’ll bring in the cameras so you all can see!

To the other question why I chose TR over a relaxer was simple, manageability. Taking care of my relaxed hair was a lot work for me. On my first post that made sound like a commercial I really meant very word of it (corny and all) .

My hair looks great everyday with no effort, I can wash it daily after a workout and have salon like hair in 10mins. Using the blow dryer & using my fingers to guide my hair while it’s drying. I really am a no fuss hair gal, That’s the main reason I did TR.

Yeah defiantly not a DIY job, in fact the 2 major companies out of Japan don’t have a box kit. Trust me after the conversation I had yesterday about pricing with the stylist at peter Louis, it did cross my mind for a HOT second!

 

[candycan]

$700 yikes! Africangal check out hairib.com Seems like the same service but for cheaper: $150

 

[oyveh]

There is a salon in East Haven, CT, Hairs Talent that performs TR on AA with relaxed hair.
Gina Rivera, and Wendy are excellent with hair and are very sensitive to ethnic women and all hair textures. Gina spent most of her professional career styling AA hair. They will be providing the service in Arlington, VA in December this year !!!

I plan to have the treatment in either January or February. I believe their prices may be less expensive. The process sounds exactly the same as the Peter Louis salon.