Salon DEFI is Boston’s best salon for Japanese Straightening!
With over 25 years of experience, our stylists use their extensive professional skills to ensure quality results leaving your hair silky smooth and beautifully pin straight. If you would like to learn more, please read below!
Number of Japanese Straightening Appointments done at DEFI
2021: 145
2022: 124
2023: 183
2024: 39 (updated 4/26/24)
What is Japanese Straightening?
Japanese Straightening is a type of straightening that completely restructures the hair bonds, elliminating textures such as curly, wavy, and frizzy hair to achieve permanently pin-straight hair. The hair that is treated will remain straight with no frizz forever without the aid of heat or straightening tools. Retouches are done when the hair grows out as this would not treat any new hair that grows after the treatment.
With the straightening process, the straightening solution breaks down the hair’s bonds that give it shape and texture so that it is malleable. After it is washed out, the hair is dried and flat ironed to get rid of any “shape” allowing for pin-straight results.
Things to be aware of:
Japanese Straightening, along with coloring or other chemical treatments can posses a high risk of damage for the hair depending the kind of coloring and the frequency that it is done.
If you have done multiple sessions of Japanese Straightening or if you have bleached/highlighted your hair, Japanese Straightening can cause severe damage to the hair.
This is why it is imperative that all first time clients to our salon who are interested in Japanese Straightening do an email consultation at least 1~2 weeks prior to the appointment. This way, our stylists can analyze your hair and talk to you regarding your hair history so that they can ensure the best outcome for each individual. Chemicals react differently with each person and we take careful notes after each and every client so that we can regularly monitor what works the best and improve for future visits.
At our salon, because of the high (and almost certain) risk of hair breakage, if you have bleached your hair, we cannot proceed with the straightening appointment.
Additionally, depending on the length and volume of your hair, your hair condition, the strength of your curls, and the thickness of the hair, the appointment can take several hours to complete (even with root touch-ups).
The Process:
After the email consultation has been done and the hair has been analyzed by touch during the beginning of the appointment, the hair is first washed to ensure clean application.
Next the hair is saturated and the straightening chemical is applied. At our salon, we use LISCIO and AQUA straightening products of differing strengths which are mixed and prepared to match each individual clients hair type and texture.
Afterwards, the hair is rinsed, treatment is applied to protect the hair, and then dried with a blow dryer and flat ironed in small, even sections.
This is followed by applying a neutralizer which essentially locks in the straightening process.
This is also then rinsed out, followed by hair treatment and head spa. The hair is finally dried once more with a hair dryer and then flat ironed once more.
Afterwards:
Following the appointment, you cannot wash or wet your hair for 48 to 72 hours. Please keep that in mind when booking an appointment so that it does not interfere with any beach/pool plans.
Boston weather tends to be a little tempermental so please prepare for rainy weather as well.
During the 48 hour period, please do not tie your hair back or hook your hair behind your ear. The chemical is still working during this period and it may create bumps in the hair.
After this time, you are free to do anything to your hair and it will remain straight without the aid of an iron.
At the end of your straightening appointment, you will receive an at-home hair care treatment to use once a week for 4 weeks to maintain silky, hydrated hair. We recommend drying your hair with a hair dryer and using hair treatment.
