As some of you may know, I've become a digital perm convert. I really like how the digital perm "resets" each time you wash your hair, so that the large body waves or loose ringlet curls spring back to life once the hair dries. Straight hair looks great on a lot of people but I think I look better with curls. Maybe it's the Kate Middleton effect or maybe I just can't be content with what I have, but I haven't looked back since I got my first digital perm.
The funny thing is though, this is technically my fifth digital perm in three years, because each time I get the perm I essentially have to get it twice. Each time without fail, my hair slips stubbornly back into its straight limp form. Apparently this is because my hair is very "soft," so it won't hold the shape.
I've gone to a salon owned by the il Colpo group out in the apm mall in Kwun Tong the last two years to work with a pretty fabulous senior stylist. However, this year I didn't really feel like making the trek. I'd also heard really good things about hair-do, a Japanese salon with many chain locations in Central and Causeway Bay. Given the convenience, I thought I would try something new. It was also a little more reasonably priced.
Saturday morning found me at Chicca, an offshoot of hair-do. It took me a while to find the salon because it is located on the first floor (what Americans think of as the second floor) and I walked by it at least twice before I found the right entrance. Hong Kong is so tricky like that!
Now, without further ado, here are the annual pictures where I look pretty ridiculous.
Chicca proves its Japanese heritage by providing ear shower caps for each ear, so that you don't get dye or soap or water splashed into your ear canal. Haha. So Japanese. For some reason after they applied the chemicals they felt the need to wrap my hair in plastic wrap. Maybe it makes the hair absorb the chemicals better.
I am getting a little bored here, can you tell? I am not sure why they hooked all these yellow vinyl or nylon tabbies to my curls. They didn't do that before at the other salon.
Making faces as I try to see the back of my head. I liked these wires better because they didn't hang from above, so my hair didn't feel like it was being pulled on. Such well executed design. Too bad I still look crazy.
After the heat came off but with my ear caps still on. I stopped taking pictures at this point because when the curlers came out I was shocked at how springy and curly and short my hair was - shocked to the point of fright. Plus the picture refused to come out well.
The funny thing is though, this is technically my fifth digital perm in three years, because each time I get the perm I essentially have to get it twice. Each time without fail, my hair slips stubbornly back into its straight limp form. Apparently this is because my hair is very "soft," so it won't hold the shape.
I've gone to a salon owned by the il Colpo group out in the apm mall in Kwun Tong the last two years to work with a pretty fabulous senior stylist. However, this year I didn't really feel like making the trek. I'd also heard really good things about hair-do, a Japanese salon with many chain locations in Central and Causeway Bay. Given the convenience, I thought I would try something new. It was also a little more reasonably priced.
Now, without further ado, here are the annual pictures where I look pretty ridiculous.
Chicca proves its Japanese heritage by providing ear shower caps for each ear, so that you don't get dye or soap or water splashed into your ear canal. Haha. So Japanese. For some reason after they applied the chemicals they felt the need to wrap my hair in plastic wrap. Maybe it makes the hair absorb the chemicals better.
I have to say, I quite enjoyed my experience at Chicca. It was all very high tech and I was impressed by the efficiency of the
whole process and how streamlined it was. They got me in and out in
just over three hours. That's barely any time at all for a digital perm.
The real test will be whether I have to go back for my usual second round perm a week after the first. Unfortunately, I have a feeling I will. I will share my "After" pictures then, because right now my hair is already limp and not particularly wavy.
Hi there, I just moved to HK and am looking for a place to do digital perm as well and stumbled onto your blog. I have the same issue last time I got digital perm where I had to redo it the very next day so my hair became really damaged. I know it has been a while since you wrote this post but I am curious to know how did this perm work out for you? Would you recommend this salon? Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteHi Cynthia! Welcome to HK! So I was really skeptical when the salon told me I wouldn't need to come back, but it turns out I didn't! I think the key may be in the curling solution and then whether your hair becomes more tolerant of the process. The machinery at this salon is pretty good (the perm was fast) and they clearly used a pretty strong solution. I've cut my hair since, but I still have some curl. I would recommend this salon - you can also go with a junior stylist to save on cost. Maybe let your hair rest before you try again? Good luck!
DeleteHi Allison! Thanks! The last time I did the digital perm was almost 3 years ago so I think I am ready to do it again. I did go to another Japanese salon here in HK (supposedly former Hairdo stylist) but it didn't go as expected. Glad to hear that it worked out well for you. Do you mind sharing who was your stylist? Thanks again!
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI am new to HK, thinking to go to digi perm....please advise any good stylist reasonable as well please.
Love to read it,Waiting For More new Update and I Already Read your Recent Post its Great Thanks.
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