Magic Straight - Vanity Purchase #1

I had a pretty good day today. I donated some dog food to my friend who is doing a project on animal shelters and animal rescue at her school, I had a delicious grilled cheese sandwich at House Grill, and I decided today would be a good day to get my hair chemically straightened.

I've been thinking about it for some time, and even had it relaxed four or five years ago back home (which didn't do anything really). But this is different. It's different than a relaxer, and acts like a curl-perm in reverse. You can read more about it here. You can pay anywhere from $150-900+ for this same exact chemical treatment in the USA, or you can come to Korea and get it done for 50,000won, or around $56. Of course the airfare will cost you.

I decided on the hair shop across from House Grill, partly because of the location, partly the price, and partly... well, there is nothing else. I didn't do much research, I was going on instinct and possible traffic this shop gets, but mostly banking on them doing this procedure a lot because Koreans are always getting their hair chemically straightened. 

It took about 2.5 hours for my hair, which is just a bit longer than my shoulders. First the guy assessed my hair and said it would be good if he did a conditioning treatment as well, but it adds another 10,000. Sure! I always get the conditioning treatment anyway. When I sat down, he started applying the chemical to my hair in sections until all of my hair was covered, making it somewhat difficult to breathe normally. Thankfully the aircon was blowing on my face and I kept getting a supply of fresh air. When he was done applying the chemical, he set a Star-Wars-esque heat dryer on my head that made absolutely no sound but shot these little orange heat lamps at my head from about two feet away. When that turned off about ten minutes later, he returned to apply more chemical agent to my hair, after which I sat for another ten minutes without the Darth Vader cap. Then I got a cold rinse, followed by a blow dry and flat iron service, application of the conditioning treatment, another cold rinse, blow dry and set, paid my 60,000won and was out the door. But not before receiving some translated instructions not to wash my hair or put it in an elastic for one day. I've read other accounts of magic straight where people were told not to do any of that to their hair for up to three days, so I'm going with that. The time helps the hair set and lock in the chemicals. I'm just wondering how I'm supposed to shower without getting my hair wet if I can't put it in tie. 

Before, complete with puffed out, aimlessly blowdried hair.

During, while my hair is being aimlessly blowdried post chemical application. It's straight!

My hair is being flat ironed to seal in the chemical treatment. 

Directly after leaving the salon. My hair puffed out in the humidity.

After arriving home, out of the humidity. 

Hopefully it'll hold up!