Q: What is Thermal Reconditioning?
A: Thermal Reconditioning is an innovative new technique
from Japan to make frizzy, curly or wavy hair straight while
preserving the hair's health. Almost always, Thermal
Reconditioning will improve the hair's feel, softness and shine
while making it completely manageable!
The treatment is performed as follows:
- Assessing the hair type and condition.
- Washing the hair.
- Applying protein to the hair (done by spray or running a gel-like solution through the hair).
- Applying the first solution (this is to cut the hair's "Cystine Bond" - the bond that holds
the curl or wave pattern).
- Testing to see when the bond is properly cut and is ready to rinse.
- Rinsing the hair (in some cases washing the hair).
- Returning to the chair and applying a protective protein solution (by spray).
- Eliminating some excess moisture in the hair (blow-drying to a certain point).
- Ironing the hair in extremely small sections with a special Thermal Iron
reaching temperatures of 180 degrees Celsius (356 degrees F).
This will not damage your hair.
- Applying a neutralizer to the hair after ironing is completed.
- Rinsing the hair and conditioning.
- Drying the hair and applying a flat iron to remove excess moisture if necessary.
Q: How long will the Thermal Reconditioning treatment last?
A: Whatever gets treated will remain straight forever and
will not become curly or wavy again. The new growth that
appears in the months following the treatment will need to
be Thermally Reconditioned again. The new growth usually
needs to be treated about four to six
months after the initial treatment.
Some stylists will offer a "Partial Reconditioning Treatment"
to cover the part line (where you normally part your hair)and
around the hairline. This will make it possible to go longer
between full treatments because the roots
are less noticeable underneath.
Q: What kind of hair is suitable for Thermal Reconditioning?
A: Most hair types except African
(sorry, the hair is too fragile and cannot withstand the heat)
will work well for Thermal Reconditioning
These types include:
- Caucasian Hair.
- Asian Hair.
- Middle Eastern Hair.
- Norwegian Hair.
- Latin Hair.
- African Mixed Hair (mixed with any other hair type that makes it stronger).
- All other Hair types.
Q: What will my hair look like after the treatment?
A: Your hair will be straight and will feel incredibly soft and
silky with more shine.
Q: Will I still need to blow-dry my hair after the treatment?
A: Sometimes yes, but just tussling the hair to get the moisture out.
This usually takes about 4 to 5 minutes instead of 45 minutes!
Some people will not need to blow-dry at all. In most
cases you will not need any kind of brush.
Q: When I get the new growth retreated, do they do all the hair again?
A: No, just the new growth is treated. The other hair is usually
protected by using oil or conditioner so the solution will not saturate
into the previously treated hair. If there is still curl or wave in the
previously treated hair, solution can be applied,
but for a shorter period of time.
Note: the retouch is often more difficult to perform, so it is strongly recommended
that you go back to the same stylist as before or find someone better!
Q: I have color in my hair, will that matter?
A: Tints and semi-permanent hair color that deposit color are
not usually any problem at all.
Q:Can i get Thermal Reconditioning if i have highlights?
A: Highlights can be very tricky to work with. When hair is highlighted,
usually bleach is involved. This makes the timing very difficult because
some hair is lightened right next to hair that is not lightened. Therefore
the hair may process fast where highlights are present and need much
more time where the hair is dark and unprocessed.. So in order not to
over process the light hair, the solution should be rinsed out and the
darker, healthier hair may not take. A prior consultation with your
stylist is necessary to determine if Thermal Reconditioning will be
a good choice for those with highlighted hair.
Q: What about bleach? Is this O.K.?
A: Not usually. Highlights often contain bleach so it is imperative
you see your stylist before the treatment. They may want to cut
some hair from your head and test it to make sure it will work well
and there are no sunrises. If you are at all nervous, ask your stylist
do this anyway. Any good stylist should be happy to perform a test strand.
Q: What about Henna?
A: A test strand should be performed to verify compatibility with Henna.
Q: How much does Thermal Reconditioning cost?
A: Typically from $300-$1000 depending hair length, thickness, amount
of chemical processing present and of course, the stylist's experience.
Q: Why does it cost so much?
A: The process usually takes from 3 to 6 hours straight to perform.
You may be able to find this service for less, but beware, this is an
extremely difficult treatment to perform and those
who charge less often are less competent.
You can get a perm for $30 and a haircut for $6. If this sounds
like you, maybe finding the lowest price is worth the risk.
Q: Will I get any breakage as a result of a bad treatment?
A: It is possible. If the stylist does not know what they are doing,
you could get breakage from the service, although it almost never
happens with a trained and competent Hairstylist.
FYI - Be sure to find out how many treatments your stylist has
performed and how long they have been doing it. You certainly
don't want to be part of their "learning curve".
Q: When I go back for the re-growth, does it cost less?
A: Not usually. Because the same amount of time is involved
with the retouch, often the cost will be the same as the first
treatment. All the hair still has to be ironed even though the
solution is mainly on the roots.
Q: What other names are used to describe Thermal Reconditioning?
A: Japanese Hair Straightening, Japanese Straightening,
Ionic Retexturizing, Thermal Restructuring,
Rebonding, Thermal Reconstruction.
Q: Why are the old type of relaxers so damaging?
A: Most relaxers contain corrosive ingredients such as
Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Hydroxide, Lithium Hydroxide,
Calcium Hydroxide etc. These ingredients corrode the hair
to the point where it is able to be changed to a straight look.
These products leave the hair feeling like straw and the
curl comes back after a (often short) period of time.
