Relaxed Hair to Japanese Straight Perm ~ review & process

~~thanks, Ash (of @AshleyAkira) for the video request (⺣◡⺣)♡*
00:00 Intro
00:34 Disclaimer
01:01 Hair History
02:30 What I Used
3:05 The Process
9:54 Final Review
11:43 My Hair Goals
today I'm sharing information about my experience with Japanese Hair Straightening. There is not a lot of content covering this topic (trust me, I've watched every video multiple times lool), especially when people started with relaxed hair and transitioned to straight perms. I thought I would share how I did it myself and how things have been going for me.
also... let me know below if you have any other video requests and I'll try to get to them!!
(NOTE: Japanese Hair Straightening, Korean Magic Straight Perm, thermal reconditioning, and thio relaxer are terms that are used interchangeably for ammonium thioglycolate-based hair processing systems. They do the same thing, they just have different names)
~~helpful links~~
☀︎ DIY Japanese Hair Straightening by Crystal Lynn • DIY JAPANESE HAIR STRA...
☀︎Japanese Hair Straightening Q&A by Crystal Lynn • JAPANESE HAIR STRAIGHT...
☀︎ Should You Get a Japanese Straight Perm by hunxue • Should You Get a Japan...
☀︎ my hair routine + japanese hair straightening info by kali 칼리 • my hair routine + japa...
☀︎Getting the Magic Straight Perm in Korea WHAT A DIFFERENCE! by
Musical Seoul • Getting the Magic Stra...
~~more info~~
☀︎ I need a proper haircut, so please excuse my ends
☀︎ I wash & deep condition my hair in the shower about once a week
☀︎ EVERY TIME I use heat I use a heat protectant
☀︎ for curls and waves I tend to use sponge rollers or braid my hair
~𝕞𝕪 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕕 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠𝕤~
15 weeks post Japanese Hair Straightening ~ update & retouch
• 15 weeks post Japanese...
Relaxed Hair to Japanese Hair Straightening ~ review & process
• Relaxed Hair to Japane...
Heatless curls on Japanese Straight Perm | JHS
• Heatless Curls on Japa...
Heat Styling Wash Day with Japanese Straight Perm | JHS
• Heat Styling Wash Day ...
Heatless Wash Day with Japanese Straightening
• Heatless Wash Day with...
~~ I'm @itstawanza on most platforms, so feel free to check out my other socials
~~music~~
Music by Namoo Nara - Noonchi - thmatc.co/?l=E78CD336
Music by Kissmykas - Chill with me - thmatc.co/?l=54C3B7C9

[@Ryen111]

Thank you sooo much for posting this video! I just did my Japanese straighter and hands down the best thing I have ever done for my hair! It's sooo soft and it really does look like you got the best silk press ever ❤️❤️🥰👍🏽

[@itstawanza]

Oh my gosh congratulations 🎉 🎉 I’m so glad you are enjoying your results, beautiful 🤗 glad I could be of help to you 🥺💜

[@DynamicTouch]

I found this straighten system/process very interesting. Thanks for sharing. Rooting you on to meet your desired hair goals.

[@itstawanza]

Thank you so much for watching. It is so different than usual lol. I appreciate your encouragement!

[@brookehenderson525]

Your hair came out so pretty ^_^ loving it. I been thinking about doing this to my hair just doing more research on it before I get it. 💖✨⭐🌙🌙🌙🌸💮🌺🌼

[@itstawanza]

Omg Thank you soooo much 🥺🙇🏾‍♀️💖. Yes definitely take your time to research. I watched several videos (even watching some 3 or 4 times 😅) before I felt comfortable with everything. Either way, wishing you the best lovely 🤗💗💗🎶

[@ashleynicole9423]

I have a few questions and I’m sorry to bombard you 🥺 but as you know there’s just not a lot of info about this for textured/afro hair! My questions are: 1. When doing a touch up with JHS if you overlap is this bad? I know it’s like forbidden with relaxers but what about with JHS? 2. Can you wear weaves, wigs, extensions or braids with JHS? 3. How does it hold a curl? Any problems with curling or roller setting after JHS? That’s it, Thank you! 🩵💜🩵 (I saw that you answered a question in the comments about how to protect previously relaxed hair ends. Thank you so much!)

[@victoriavortex]

Also very concise and easy to listen to! Ty ❤

[@Amby-Amby]

Thank you for talking and showing us 🤗

[@itstawanza]

Yes! So glad it helped~! 💖

[@AvriSimas]

Quick questions. I think my situations is more complex. I want to transitions for texlaxed/ texturizer) (with a lot of semi relaxed portions) to JHS. I needed to do a corrective relaxer but instead the plan is to go all in with the JHS. I will most likely go to a salon but do you think this is a good idea to make the full transition in this state?

[@itstawanza]

I have to preface by saying that I am not a professional, so be sure to keep in mind my experience is from me doing this as an amateur. I will say that my hair was relaxed the full processing time (not as lightly as texturized hair usually is), and I transitioned in that state with no problems. You may just want to be prepared for more trims, and trial and error with your hair products. Some of the products my relaxed hair needed are too heavy or high protein for my JHS hair, or some aren’t moisturizing enough. Since you’ll be going to a salon, if they have experience, they’ll likely just apply product to your new growth and then trim as it grows out. If you don’t like that look, I suggest trying low heat or heatless styles to blend the two textures. My JHS hair looks really nice even when I do roller sets or braid outs, so I think your experience will be the same. If you have anymore questions, please feel free to leave them below. I plan on doing a 2 year update video with a Q&A before the year ends. Best of luck on your journey!! 🩷🩷

[@AvriSimas]

Thanks so much for responding. I reached a hairdresser who does JHS and I told her my story and she said she doesn't recommend it given the state of my hair. I will get a second opinion though.@@itstawanza

[@0tismadaline]

Thanks for the review dear 😘

[@itstawanza]

You are so so welcome 🥺💗

[@donnamcdonald3709]

Thanks for the informative video!

[@itstawanza]

Thank you so much for watching!! 🩷

[@victoriavortex]

I loved this video thank you so much! Also so you’re so cute and likeable :)

[@user-em2fj5rj8m]

Hi! I want to transition from a relaxer to JHS. So starting from the new growth on. However I’m really scared with the overlapping part as I don’t want the relaxed part to break of. Do you have any tips to prevent that?

[@itstawanza]

Hello Z! When I transitioned from my relaxer to JHS I made sure to apply a strong coating on my previously processed hair and neutralize ALL of my hair to ensure no problems happened. If you can use hair grease or a really thick conditioner as a barrier I think that would work to make sure the chemicals aren’t treating the hair you don’t want to process. I think if you’re going to the salon they should have a product that does that, but if you’re doing it at home feel free to look at other suggestions for products if you don’t want to use something like Vaseline. I hope that helps! Good luck on your new hair journey 💖

[@user-em2fj5rj8m]

@@itstawanza thank you for your reply! Did you apply the protection before applying the rest? And what this you do with the like 1 cm overlap because otherwise you’ll get a weird line.

[@outtadabl3u474]

Watching this is 2023 after being natural for 5 years I’m now considering the Japanese relaxer , any updates ? Have you done it again? And what’s the retouch process like?

[@itstawanza]

Thanks for watching! Honestly, it would be too long to comment but I have a playlist showing all my updates and my last 2 uploads were fairly recent. I’ll be touching it up again next month, but it’s basically the same as doing it the first time (just avoiding your straight ends). Here’s the playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLX9DPwScg7YjyEFYyGk369MRBgQJVd9PF

[@outtadabl3u474]

@@itstawanza oooh thanks 🙏🏽♥️

[@lumina6512]

Hey I had my hair texlaxed in 2020 (only one time) am I able to get a jhs without cutting my hair?

[@itstawanza]

I had my hair relaxed a few months (maybe 6) prior to my JHS and I was okay, but you want to either go to a professional or be really careful if you’re doing it at home. If you diy you can NOT overlap them, so you will have to grow out your texlaxed ends with trims. If they overlap the damage to your hair can be intense. Think people that relax their hair and then bleach it (sometimes it melts off, sometimes it’s okay, but it’s better not to risk it). I hope this helps

[@takilove3566]

My daughter has the same hair type as you I was thinking of trying the STRONG do you think it would be too harsh ?

[@itstawanza]

I wouldn't base it on hair type as much as porosity. If her hair has no problem absorbing water when it's wet, then she probably won't need anything stronger than mild. Also, if it takes you a while to apply it (like it's your first time using this) you don't want to use anything but normal or mild. I used strong for a while because my hair is low porosity and takes a long time to get wet. I'm using regular strength at the moment so they don't expire and I still get the same results, it just processes at a normal time (about 25 minutes).

[@takilove3566]

Thank you so much for your reply I order both Strong and normal, some people are staying for Virgin hair you could go for 1 hours, did you do a Strand test?

[@itstawanza]

I wouldn't advise going 1 hour for virgin hair because of how much breakage could occur in the future, but then again I'm not an expert so this is just what I think based on doing it at home. I didn't do a strand test but I did do the knot/elasticity test where you check every few minutes (like 5) to see if your hair will take the new shape before you rinse it out If I were you I would take some shed hair from a comb or brush to test the processing time. That way you don't over or underprocess! I hope this helps

[@takilove3566]

Hi sweetie I can’t see the links for the research articles ?

[@itstawanza]

Oh no they might have gotten removed because of the new policies. 😭 Can you send me a DM on instagram so I can forward you some?

[@takilove3566]

@@itstawanza ok lovely will do

[@takilove3566]

What do you protect you relax hair with?

[@itstawanza]

When I first did the process I didn't protect my hair at all. Even now when I touch up I don't use anything to coat my hair because the formula is not runny for the JHS. Since you wash the hair 2-3 times you can use a simple thick conditioner on hair you don't want to process, but be careful not to apply it to the new growth. Shiseido makes a treatment that prevents overlapping, but I couldn't order it online so I never tried it

[@takilove3566]

Me too I tried to order it but don’t post to uk Some people are saying you can go over the relaxer Ps with the 30 min time is that including application ?

[@itstawanza]

@@takilove3566 aw I hate when there’s problems with shipping 🥺 I went over my hair the first time with it but only during the last 5 minutes because it can literally melt off if it’s over processed. I wouldn’t advise it if you can avoid it though because I had to trim super often because of it I always start my timer at 30 minutes as soon as I apply it to the first section. It’s just to make sure I don’t over process any section. I suggest starting with a coarser section of hair and ending with the edges or other delicate sections for that reason. You don’t want any parts to be too under processed

[@takilove3566]

@@itstawanza that’s a good idea I’ll do that see how the hair doing , maybe go over it for 5 min Yes set the timer ⏱️ Thank you

[@kimwill9809]

Hello after you used the straightening cream and blow dried your hair, did you flat iron it and then put the neutralizing cream in?

[@itstawanza]

Yes that’s exactly what I did. Then you rinse out the neutralizing cream thoroughly before you blow dry and flat iron for the final time

[@kimwill9809]

Thanks for the clarification. Look forward to you posting an update of the results a few months from now and if you will continue to use the Japanese hair straightener. Take care.

[@AnaRojas-cc9pw]

Wait. So. You only left the straightening cream on your relaxed hair for five minutes? Am I understanding your correctly?

[@itstawanza]

Yes, because if I left it on the previously relaxed hair longer than that it could have completely melted off. If you're doing this on unprocessed hair (never chemically straightened, colored, or bleached), you can leave it the full processing time

[@AnaRojas-cc9pw]

Thank you for replying so quickly omg no one ever does! I have previously relaxed hair and about 2 inches of new growth. So same situation as you. I’m looking to transition away from hydroxide relaxers also. Have you heard of cysteamine perms? I’ve been looking at those. Because I know thio based relaxers aren’t compatible with previously hydroxide relaxed hair. But I wonder about cysteamine, I think it would react the same as thio and potentially melt it off. Ive been trying to find more videos/info about it. But I think it also works by breaking disulfide bonds which obv wouldn’t work for my relaxed hair. I’m so tempted to try it tho idk I’m scared but also just want one texture all over bc it’s hard with these two textures going on. But. Rather than going completely straight I want to just maybe do a perm vs relaxer. Perm down my 3c to like beach waves. But that would mean also perming the relaxed hair.. which could melt off I think. Idk what I’ll do yet 😅

[@AnaRojas-cc9pw]

The cysteamine perm im looking at is ‘texture EFX’ which specifically has one for previously “colored or chemically processed hair” which sounds safe… but hair is a whole chemistry experiment🙄 like I can never be sure. Because what chemically processing does that all include you know? Perhaps they just mean like a thio based relaxer such as Japanese straightening and not a hydroxide based one. But I can’t find an exact answer anywhere. I just wish things were more specific! Would really help us girls out who have hydroxide relaxed hair looking to switch. My hunch is that cysteamine would act the same as thio tho so I prob shouldn’t risk it but

[@itstawanza]

Oh I'm so sorry I missed your replies! They are so bad at alerting us when people reply 😭 I think it is always so risky mixing two systems that are not compatible. Plus I'm not a hairstylist and I don't have a degree in chemistry so I can't say for certain what to do. I will say that I was able to mix the two systems (sodium hydroxide and ammonium thioglycolate) and lucked out. I'm not sure if everyone could get the same results, but it also depends on how processed your hair is. If you don't mind spending the money, you should probably only do a strand test in a section you don't care about losing or on shed hair that you get out of a brush or comb. Otherwise you could always transition or find a way to process your new growth without processing your ends. I wish I had a better answer than this especially because you are so sweet and I'm rooting for you to get the results you want 🥺

[@porshMeh]

How did you sleep after the first night??

[@itstawanza]

I smoothed my hair straight back with a scarf like if I were laying down my edges and then put a bonnet over everything. I also had my satin pillowcase underneath. I was so paranoid to sleep. As soon as I woke up I pressed whatever seemed like it had a bend in it lol

[@porshMeh]

@@itstawanza ah ok thank you! Cause I was miserable my first night cause I slept with no bonnet just a satin pillow case I thought bonnets would fuck it up but now I know thanks!!

[@malikbooker9187]

How do you deal with new growth? I hate ittttt

[@itstawanza]

Lol dealing with the new growth is pretty rough. I think I'll make a video on it, but I ended up stretching for almost 4 months and by the end I was going crazy. At that point all you can do is low manipulation styles like braids, curly sets, etc, or slick your hair down with gel and a scarf. I just made sure to detangle before I washed to avoid breakage