Tress reliever

MANILA, Philippines - If you’ve ever watched an episode of The Tyra Banks Show, then you’ll be familiar with how Ms. Tyrant just loves her extensions and weave, next only to talking constantly about herself. A leonine mane one day then cornrows the next, Banks probably has a wig and hair glue collection that is worthy of a face-off with those of Rihanna’s and Lady GaGa’s.

There has been an old rumor, though, that the First Lady of Fierce doesn’t let anyone except her hairstylist see her follicles au naturel. Why suddenly so shy, Ty Ty? Gossip sites have speculated that the former Victoria’s Secret model might have really thin and damaged hair underneath all those wigs, or that even her tenhead has progressed into full-grown baldness.

Banks is lucky to have a money-making entertainment empire to conceal and fix her real hair woes. For the rest of us mortal women, however, going to a salon to condition and keep our hair manageable can be as frequent only as much as our pockets allow, which, in this economy, don’t allow that much.

Fortunately, Basement Salon is introducing a revolutionary treatment that not only nourishes hair but also cuts down on salon after-care. Permanent blowdry, which is also known as Brazilian keratin treatment, seems set to replace (finally!) that fad of a hair treatment, rebonding, that has left many a victim in its wake.

But before girls start rushing in to get a permanent blowdry, Basement Salon’s Fritz Webb clarifies first what the treatment can and cannot do: “For those who have a lot of frizz and volume in their hair, this would be perfect for them. Permanent blowdry means less maintenance, transforming your hair into a wash-and-wear hairstyle.” This means those with already sleek tresses who want a little body to their crowning glory need to opt for something else; the treatment can’t provide visible effects to these hair types. 

Compared to rebonding and relaxing, the permanent blowdry doesn’t affect the structure or the chemical makeup of your hair. “This treatment works only on the surface of your hair strands,” Webb explains. “Hair is coated with keratin and a bonding agent, which leave it smoother and softer, but the permanent blowdry doesn’t alter the structure of your hair.”

Treatment begins with a shampoo then a blowdry. Keratin treatment solution is then applied to dry hair. Describes Webb, “The stuff that we have here is kind of advanced compared to the stuff they use in the US and in Europe. Abroad, they use a bonding agent that contains formaldehyde; here, we use a formaldehyde-free one.” For safety precautions, though, Basement Salon had installed exhaust systems in the treatment area and provides goggles and masks for both their attendants and clients to protect them from the solution’s fumes.

After application, the solution is allowed to soak into the hair for 15 minutes. Hair is then blowdried and ironed, then left alone again for 45 minutes to an hour. Once enough time has elapsed, hair is washed with salt-free shampoo, then blowdried. The result: soft, smooth, super shiny hair, with natural-looking turned-in ends. An average treatment session lasts between 2.5 and 3.5 hours.

“Clients who have had their hair colored must have their colors fixed first,” Webb advises. “The difference between the sheen and smoothness of healthy and chemically damaged hair becomes much more obvious after treatment, so it’s best to repair hair first to get maximum results. Getting your hair colored half a shade darker will work well, because hair reflects more light when it’s smoother.”

While permanent blowdry works only on the hair surface, making it a less harmful alternative to rebonding and relaxing, it also means less worry about regrowth. Growing out your natural roots after rebonding is a big pain, and it is common to see women who are not religious with the upkeep walking around with two different hair textures: kinky party on the top and stick-straight business on the bottom. This leaves them only two options: schedule a rebonding touch-up, or get a haircut. Permanent blowdry, on the other hand, allows hair to go back to its natural condition gradually over three to four months. “Girls who’d like to try out a different hairstyle for a few months only can avail of this, then they can go back to their original hairstyle. If you’re happy with how your hair looks after the treatment, you can have it treated again,” says Webb, adding with a laugh, “It’s actually not so permanent.”

But more than the sleeker look it provides is the way the treatment cares for the hair. While rebonding, perms, and such hold great potential in damaging hair, permanent blowdry actually reduces the need for frequent hair treatment. Though its cost ranges from P6,500 for short hair to as much as P11,000 for longer lengths, the time and money saved from repeated trips to the salon is worth it. Webb adds, “The great thing about this is that a lot of women have damaged hair due to rebonding or perms — we can fix those. Porous, damaged hair gets repaired and restored through keratin treatment.” This is definitely good news for those who had the bad luck of getting a less-than-stellar hair treatment.

After care for permanent blowdry requires only the use of salt-free shampoo, such as the Davines Nounou Nourishing Illuminating Shampoo (P1,020 for a 250ml. bottle). You can also wash your hair the day after treatment, which is a welcome relief to the three-day rule of other hair treatments that leave your strands gross and gloppy with excessive oil. Webb adds, “You can also condition your hair when you think it needs conditioner, but it won’t be as frequent.”

The powers, indeed, of science: women with massive, frizzy, and less-than-perfect hair now have something to turn to in keeping their manes healthy and under control. With permanent blowdry, you can leave the battalion of hair products, wigs, and hair stylists to girls who can afford it and just wake up to a good hair day every day.

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Basement Salon is located at the 2nd Level, Powerplant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati City. Call 899-6666 or 898-2222 for more information, or visit their website: www.basementsalon.com.