The FIGHT against HUMIDITY!!

Hey everyone!

I have curly hair (I'm 1/2 black & native american) that has been mildlly relaxed I think my stylist uses Rusk.  I don't want to use a relaxer any stronger than the one I already use but I'm looking for some products that I could use to keep the frizz out when I'm in the humidity.  Has anyone used Halo or Phyto products??  I want something that will seal the cuticle & give me that shine & bounce that people with straight hair already have.

P.S. any suggestions on a really good flat iron?

Thank you so much for your great advice!!!  I tried your straightening regimen and my hair stays silky smooth even in the Louisiana heat!! I can't say enough about the Sedu iron, it has changed my life!!!  Thanks Again!!

O.M.G.!!! this is the BEST advice i've ever gotten on one of these hair forums!!!  Nobody ever told me to deep condition after protein treatments (you are so right about the straw feeling).  My hair hasn't ever looked this good.  I printed out your advice so I can remember everything!!! I advise everyone who reads this to do the same. Your hair will NEVER be the same....especially if you have battled with unruly curly hair in high humidity!!! I can't thank you enough Sharyg11. I owe you my life LOL!

Thank you so much!  You really are a life saver. My hair went for night to day. I also purchase the Redken Smooth Down products and I loved them. I had no trouble with the Rusk anticurl I have very long hair, but it is thin so it was easy to work with. The whole thing took me a little under 2 hours. I do plan on having a trim on Wednesday, I am sure I will be even happier then. I will post some pics then.

Christy

Hey Miami, I am still waiting for those pics. What happened? how is your hair? Let me know.

Bye!

Hi Perula05, Welcome!!!

Unfortunately yes!. I had it done almost 3 years ago. It was a very bad experience. However I can not say that the treatment is bad. I just didn't do enough research about it. It is all about the stylist performing the procedure. In the hands of the right stylist you should have no problems. The thing is, there are very few stylist that are actually experts in the field. When I got mine done, the treatment was fearly new. At the begining I couln't be happier. I had super straight hair, that would stay that way no matter what (as long as I didn't get it completely wet). However, after the first 3 or 4 weeks, I noticed my scalp was getting dry. I could see my hairline had a white film. But I figured it would go away. Wrong! my hair started breaking off and falling out by the clumps. Every time I brushed my hair, my bathroom floor looked like a rug. I couldn't understand why. I was using the products I was told to use. I ended up with a bald spot on my frontal hair line. It took my hair 2 years and a big hair cut to finally recover.

All that  being said, done by an expert, that should never happen. I have since then learned alot about the procedure. First of all, stick to japanese brands ie: Liscio, Yuko etc. Stay away from american brands: Bio-ionic and Chi. I had the Bio-ionic done. It wasn't till much later that I found out that not all of them are the same. If you are going to have it done make sure you do your homework. Interview the stilyst. Make sure he is an expert in chemicall treatments, and specifically thermal reconditioning. Ask where did they get their training done. If they tell you that the company who sells them the product sent a team to train them, don't get it done there. The companies who sell the product in the US do not know the correct technique and the training they offer is incorrect. I tought that just because my stilyst had a certificate hanging on her wall  stating that she was trained to do Bio-ionic, she knew what she was doing. Don't get me wrong, my stylist is great, I still go to her for hair cuts and styling just not for chemicall treatments (unless is hair color). Their training should be received from an expert in the field. If they tell you that 2 people will be working on your hair, do not get it done there. That means they don't have enough experience or speed of hands to do the treatment. You will end up with two different textures on your hair. I had one side more damaged that the other.

Consider if it is worth it. This is very expensive, and you are kind of stuck with wearing your hair down all the time. If your hair is super curly, the difference on the new growth will be way too noticesable. And you will have to have your roots re-done every 3 to 4 months instead of every 6 to 8 months, like people who just have wavy or very loose curled hair. And they charge you almost the same just to do your roots.

Also the treatment is not designed to impart much shine to the hair. And the curlier your hair, the least shine it will have.

Personally I would never have the process done again. Even if it was done by an expert. I can get the same results with Rusk anti-curl and my Sedu flat iron. And I still have the option of styling my hair curly or straight. My hair comes out super straigth, but it has body. And I do it for $585 less. And I don't have to subject my hair to such a harsh treatment.

Go to verticalsinhair.com. The site is hosted by whom is considered to be the best thermal reconditioning expert in North America. You can find all the information you need, from what questions to ask, to which treatment to choose, and even what hair regimen to follow. Also tips on how the treatment should be done. That way when you interview your stilyst(s) you know which answers to look for. You can  read alot of horror stories, and get very helpfull tips.

Well I hope I didn't bore you. Overall, if your hair is not super curly, but more wavy, it is worth it to have the treatment done. If not then go with Rusk anticurl, Redken vertical or L'oreal X-tenso. You will get better results and save a bunch of money.

Good luck and beautiful hair.

Glad I could help! Hope the regimen works for you, and that your hair comes out as shiny and beautiful as mine. I will keep you posted if I find any other great hair products.

Welcome to the board girl!

I wish you beautifull healthy hair.

Hey Sharyg11, I was reading about your experience with the thermal reconditiong procedure and I'm going through the same thing myself.  The first time I had it done was 2 years ago, the result was not super straight hair (I had to blow dry it to get it really straight), but still my hair did not fall off.  Then I went to get a touch up one year later with a different hairdresser.  This time my hair was completely straight, but now I'm practically shedding!  This is almost one year later after the last treatment (I had it done again on December of last year).  I was wondering what you did about the whole hair falling off thing.  Did you do anything special or did it just stop falling off?  Did your hair grow back (where you had the bald spots)?  I want to touch up my roots and I've found a hairdresser which is supposed to be really good.  She uses the Schwarzkopf's Strait Therapy line and I believe she was trained in Germany (where the brand is from).  Not only that but she's part of the Schwarzkopf team and teaches hair dressers the technique, in other words, she seems to be really good.  I really like the straight effect that the procedure gave my hair, at least I no longer have split ends, I'm just a little skeptical because I'm afraid my hair will keep falling off.  I haven't gone to the hair salon yet for an evaluation, but I plan to some time soon, what questions should I ask?  Any advice will help a lot!  Thanks. ^^

Here's the link to the product (it's the Strait Therapy line):

http://www.schwarzkopf-professional.com/int_henkel/schwarzko pf_com/index.cfm?pageid=464

From what I've read (doing a LOT of research) this line uses the Japanese technology but it's supposed to be milder, giving more natural looking results, but just as long lasting as the normal thermal reconditioning products.