Japanese Hair Straightening

Having been cursed with frizzy hair, about a year and a half ago I decided to undergo Japanese hair straightening. For those not familiar with it, Japanese hair straightening is a 6 hour process that transforms even the curliest hair into bone-straight, super-shiny hair. And it STAYS that way. Of course, your roots will come in curly, so you have to get it touched up 1-2 times per year. Here is a summary of my experience with this treatment:

• Right after I got it done, my hair was shockingly straight--a little too straight, actually. It had NO volume, and just hung there, limply.
• It was, however, VERY shiny and silky.
• But do not confuse this with healthy. Any treatment will damage your hair, and this is no exception. I found that my once-strong hair was now really easily breakable. For example, if I got a knot in my hair, and tried to run my fingers through it, it would often break off.
• Once the roots started to come in (about a month later), that gave my hair some volume, and that phase of hair growth was just wonderful. I could step out of the shower with dripping wet hair and do NOTHING to it, and it would dry on its own into this amazing, soft, silky, voluminous hairstyle. SO low-maintenance!
• When my roots started growing out even more, it looked really weird. I had to start flat-ironing the roots or get it re-touched.
• For me, it was a must to get a touch-up every 5 months.
• This treatment is expensive. Even touch-ups. Typically, it'll start at $500 per treatment, but I was able to find a place in Chinatown that did it for $200. But I was referred to this salon by a friend who had gotten this treatment done there. NEVER get this done by someone you haven't checked out. If done wrong, your hair could fall out!

Note that I have described all of this in the past tense. I have stopped getting touch-ups. I has been almost a year since my last one. And yeah, I have to flat-iron my roots now. And it SUCKS. I am considering getting the straight portion of my hair permed. I didn't think you could do that, because it seems like that would make your hair fall out for sure. But apparently there are methods.... My hairdresser has done it successfully (she says), so I am tempted. But we shall see. If I do end up doing it, I shall report my findings here. Wish me luck.