askpixie.

What I know about japanese thermal reconditioning, thermal relaxing, and straightening in general:

First off, I am not answering any more questions about thermal reconditioning, thermal relaxing, or straightening.

Once upon a time, like in early 2002, there was almost no information about TR on the web, but now, there is a hell of a lot more informative stuff out there than what I have to offer. There are more salons doing this now than I could shake a stick at, and they all seem to have info about the service on their sites. Most of them even have areas where you can ask questions yourself.

The actual function of askpixie is as an advice column for my website, www(dot)pixiemartin(dot)com, but a lot of people made straightener-based queries, so they got an area of their own.

What I can tell you is that I am a licensed cosmetologist, but I have never actually performed this procedure.

I also don't do regular relaxers, but I do know how they work and could theoretically do them.

I live in Chicago, and have no idea where you can get this done anywhere but here, and then I don't really know all the places that do it here, either. I do know that most Ulta Salons do offer Rusk Thermal Str8, and that Carissima on Clark St. does Bio-Ionic.

And, everything I have learned about thermal reconditioning/relaxing/straightening, beyond what has been shared with me by the helpful public, has been gleaned from google searches.

It takes some time, but that's where the majority of the answers to people's questions come from, which means you do have the power to find this information for yourself.

And there are so many different brands and options out there, I can't even name them all... Shinbi International (Liscio), Yuko, Bio-Ionic, Magic Hair, & Rusk Thermal Str8 are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

Here is an actual hair-based advice site with a huge section dedicated to queries just like yours, but other information is offered up in the actual askpixie entries.

Lots of other people have asked me all about the procedure, and here are the listings for those queries:

07.13.02 about revo styling brushes, and an intro to japanese thermal relaxing.

11.02.02 about getting tr training for a salon.

12.21.02 about finding tr in new jersey.

12.28.02 about cheap tr in nyc, and a rusk recommendation.

03.22.03 about how i don't work for rusk, but do know that they have an informative website.

03.29.03 about how i don't work for shinbi international, etc.

04.12.03 about where to find jay sung for tr.

04.19.03 about deciding on which tr system is right for you.

04.26.03 about picking a tr system and a stylist to do it.

05.17.03 about non-tr straightening systems.

05.24.03 about where to get a detroit-based tr hook-up.

05.31.03 about colored hair's tr alternative options.

07.05.03 about everything you ever wanted to know about hair, but were afraid to google.

11.22.03 about tr training in the uk.

05.01.04 about how you need to listen to your gut before doing something stupid to your head.

05.15.04 about hooking up with liscio.

05.29.04 about stephanie's experiences with tr.

06.05.04 about how long you have to wait after tr to wash your hair.

06.26.04 about pestering me with stupid questions concerning tr.

06.18.05 about other people's experiences and recommendations.

do you still have a question for askpixie? mail: askpixie(at)pixiemartin.com

If pixie can't help, you're screwed.™