Hiro is my hero.
Have I mentioned I have hair issues? Well, um, yeah.
Even my most intimate of friends are unaware that my hair, when un-blown-out, un-producted, and un-straightened, looks something like this:
Nope, that photo was not taken on Halloween. (Then, I actually looked quite cute!) It was taken about six hours ago at Hiro Haraguchi’s sexy Midtown salon, promptly after washing.
Hiro has been featured in publications such as InStyle, W, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Gotham and Allure, and has international clientèle such as musician & composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. Celebs ranging from the Hilton sisters to Kate Hudson flock to his salon (actually, he took a call from Yoko while I was there).
Clearly, I was in good company. The question: Was I already a lost cause?
Well, almost.
I had made an appointment with Hiro for his much-lauded Japanese thermal straightening reconditioning and steam conditioning treatment. An all-afternoon affair, it would take my frizzy, fried, locks and make them smooth and straight. In theory.
Hiro looked at my hair and expressed doubt. I informed him about my beauty history: former Japanese straightenings, low lights, Brazillian keratin treatments, frequent flat-ironings…his eyes widened. I assured him that I had been a very good girl for the past year AND had been eating lots of protein. He was not amused and countered by touching my apparent breakage. “I know breakage.”
Sigh.
As I began to plea my case, we came to an agreement - he would give me my sought-after straightening, but avoid the areas of severe demage. He would also keep the solution on less than the usual time (which would give me straighter hair, but not straight hair), and give my hair a powerful dose of Keratin before even starting.
Hey, I love keratin, I’m all for it!
For those unfamiliar, Japanese straightening is a method of permanently straightening and defrizzing hair. The process simultaneously straightens and repairs the hair by realigning the cystine bonds and improving the structure by sealing in the highest quality of proteins/emollients into the hair through the heat and compression of a flat ironing process. From that moment on, that hair is straight for life. The only hair you will have to worry about is the new growth.
I learned a lot today - a lot of this treatment involves judgment calls, which is why you can’t go to just anyone. (I myself have been often tempted to go for the bargain Chinatown deals.) Someone with experience will know a - if you are a candidate, and b - just how to make this treatment best work for you. For instance, Hiro realized that my hair could only handle the chemical on for up to 15 minutes, though it normally stays on for an hour. Some less careful could have not done that - and left me bald.
Also, though after the straightening hair may *look* healthier because it is shiny and sleek, the treatment is much more damaging than a dye or perm, and you must be committed to taking good care of your hair, deep conditioning frequently, and not using permanent dyes or highlights in the future. (That would be the second place I failed the last time around.) Poor aftercare can result in the damage beginning to show, or even causing breakage in your hair. (Um, hi.)
So, Hiro knows what he’s doing, and I’m happy - lets just hope I don’t screw it up this time.
Uptown
41 East 57th Street 4th Floor New York, NY 10022
Telephone: 212-593-3030
Downtown
Hiro Haraguchi Hair Salon at Hotel Gansevoort
18 Ninth Avenue at 13th Street New York, NY 10014
Telephone: 212-660-6733
Points & Prizes Keyword: HAIR worth 25 points good throgh 12/16/07
Fun fact! Aly Walansky wrote this story just for you on December 10th, 2007 |
December 10th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Whoa!! Looks nice!! Also, let it be known that this is the first time I have seen your UNSTRAIGHTENED hair.
December 10th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Wow! What a difference! You look fabulous! I’m quite impressed with what Hiro did for you! *stands up and claps hands*
December 11th, 2007 at 12:50 am
(I think that’s what stunned silence should look like)
December 11th, 2007 at 1:39 am
Wow! That is very impressive! Sounds like an interesting process
I had never heard of it before. But then again I live in the backwoods of North Dakota 
December 11th, 2007 at 5:56 am
Very cool. And it looks good!
December 11th, 2007 at 9:05 am
Dang what a difference. I know that now that I have found the best of conditioners for my hair, mine does not frizz at all and I love the straightness to it. I have never had straight hair until now and I love it. I see those people in the mall trying to get you to come over and let them iron out your hair so it is straight OMG!!
December 11th, 2007 at 9:05 am
By the way - Your hair looks AWESOME!!!!!
December 11th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Upon second glance, I am still shocked at the results. Not to mention your crazy curly hair. I had no idea it was THAT curly.
PS: You look fab!
December 11th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Wowee Wowee! You look great. I have stick straight hair and would love to have curls. Why is that? Straight haired people like curls and curly girls want straight hair. But you look great.
December 13th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
you look beautiful….the straightening is perfect
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