If you are not interested in this topic do not read any further. If you have never paid the price of this treatment you may be shocked!
To provide some background:
On our first visit to Bali, (way back in 2005), based on recommendation from this forum, I had my hair chemically straightened at Secret Garden with Ryan. Since then I have had my hair chemically straightened several times both in Bali and in Australia. Why? Well because I cannot be bothered to spend the time making it look good every day, basically I am just too lazy!
When having it done in Bali I always try to fit in at least two hair cream baths before the treatment. This really conditions and prepares my hair. My hair always goes at least two shades lighter in colour so afterwards I am always asked if I had it dyed as well as having the straightening. That is how much difference it makes.
Normally I have frizzy, almost afro style, dyed blonde hair. Also in my frizzy state I have handfuls of hair coming out after every wash and each time I comb or brush it. My hair would probably be totally grey if I did not dye it regularly. Since I started going grey, at 15yrs, I have dyed it all the time so have no real idea of what it could / should be like.
I have always been happy with the treatments and when having the treatment in Bali hairdressers here in Aus have always told me that my hair is great and in good condition for ages afterwards. I have always found that my hair is so soft and manageable, no hair coming out and best of all I don't need to comb or brush it all afterwards, it just stays flat. The treatment usually lasts about a year if I have it done in Bali and around 6 months if done in Australia. Not sure why but I suspect that due to the coarseness of their hair the chemicals are harsher. Cost in Bali is always around 700,000rp. Cost in Australia has varied from au$350 to au$790.
I last had a Bali treatment in October 2009. My hair wasn't quite ready when we went in July 2010 so I didn't have it done. I did try the Keratin treatment in Aus at my hairdresser here in November and sadly that only lasted about 6 weeks for $350!
So that said onto my story this time.
This time I chose to have the Bio Ionic Japanese treatment done at Secret Garden. Secret Garden does not have a hairdresser there all the time so I booked for when the hairdresser would be there. Normally the treatment takes around 5-6 hours. Stuff is applied to your hair, wait, wash out, dry, straighten with tongs, more stuff applied, wait, wash out, dry, then straighten with tongs, and you are done! Keep it dry and flat for at least 3 days, don't tuck it behind your ears, kink it putting on glasses and definitely do not tie it up at all.
At the appointed time I turned up and there was no sign of the hairdresser. One of the girls who had done massages and body scrubs on me previously starting working on me. Now I know at this point I should have said something but I didn't! Anyway she did the whole treatment and at the end of it, which only took about 3 hours all up, I knew, just by feeling my hair that it was not how it should be. She told me I would need to keep it dry for 4 days.
I did keep it dry for 4 days and having now washed my hair about 5 times since the treatment I can tell you that I am not totally happy with the condition of my hair after the treatment this time. My hair feels dry on the ends and even though it is straight I am not able to go without brushing it as it is getting very knotty and tatty quickly and I am getting some hair coming out. As mentioned in a previous JBR I only had one hair cream bath treatment this time so not sure if the lack of preparation treatments made a difference.
I have been in contact with Secret Garden and they have confirmed that the girl who did the treatment was not the hairdresser and she should not have done the treatment. They have asked that I call in to see them when we go back in April which I am impressed with. They have assured me that the staff member has not been chastised and will be trained further so that this does not happen again.
Moral of this story. I should have listened to my instinct when she started and asked for the hairdresser.
Overall I figure that this experience could have been far worse. I have heard of people's hair breaking off, falling out and the treatment having no effect.
More to come, hope I haven't bored you ;-0 Thanks for reading!