Last June I bought a voucher of Digital Perming at Hair To Go via Metro Deal site. I normally check on the locations of the deals if it’s convenient for me. And my trusted deal sites are CashCashPinoy and Deal Grocer. I don’t know what happened that day but when I saw that it’s in Ortigas, I just click the buy button and poof! I got the voucher. To my dismay, I thought I bought a wrong deal.
Here’s what happened on the day I claimed my voucher. Read on!
It says in the voucher that no reservations required so walk in was allowed. When I went there, I was surprised. First, it was just a small salon where they try to fit it 5 customers at the ground floor and another 5 on the second floor. The stairs going to the 2nd floor is very steep that I had a hard time going up. You have to walk sideways to fit your foot. You have to take care not to fall so it’s best to take one step at a time. Going down, I just want to jump off from the 2nd floor down to the ground coz I’ll have to use their staircase again.
Second, they suddenly told me that I have to make an appointment to get served. I told them that it was indicated in the voucher that no reservation is needed and walk in can suffice. The girl in the “reception” told me that they extended the promo until the second week of October and all the weekends are filled up already. I told her that I won’t take a day’s off just to get my hair permed. It seems like that I don’t have a choice so I asked her what alternative can she give me. She told me that if I get the “Cold Perm” services, I would be accommodated on the same day. Being innocent of those hair treatments available, I asked what’s the difference between the Digital Perm and the Cold Perm. She told me that Digital Perm has a machine while the Cold Perm will just soak your hair in a couple of minutes. Since I went out of my way just to go to the salon, I agreed. By the way, the receptionist validated the voucher first before this whole process took place.
Their hair expert, Anne, checked my hair if the cold perm treatment can be done to me. She asked if I already had treatments like rebonding or perming before, I answered no. This would be my very first time to treat my hair drastically. I had cellophane treatments and hair spa but I am too scared to try perming or rebonding. Now’s the time to try all of these before it’s too late. Time Check: 13:00
She got me shampooed and started to cut my hair because she told me that it should be layered first to have good curls. Since I’m no expert with these, I again agreed. This cost me another P200 just for a trim! I debated it should be free since I got the Cold Perm instead of the Digital Perm but they keep on insisting so I just nod and pretend it was okay for me. I realized that they can ruin my hair when I begin to act like a b**.
Anyway, after cutting, she started to wind my hair in the plastic rollers. I suddenly remembered old school curls I saw way back elementary/highschool years. I was calmed by Anne’s warm accommodation and superb service. She was actually quite the star of the day as she’s doing 3-4 clients all at the same time. Imagine that?!
After the winding thing, I asked her to take a photo of my hair. I noticed my brown hair is still visible after almost 2 months of trying the Etude House Bubble Color. 🙂
Then a plastic neck rest similar to the shapes of travel pillows was used when she started to put liquid hair solution for my curls. I actually didn’t like the smell and was almost at the verge of barfing since it was concentrated very near my nostrils. The chemical also hurts my eyes so I was closing my eyes while clipping my nose as she continues to put on in every hair roller in my head. Time Check: 13:45
After which, my hair was covered by large hair cap. Even if it’s almost sealed, I can still smell the bad smell of the chemical, I’m not sure what it’s called but this is normally the smell when you go to a parlor and clients are getting a treatment.
I waited for about 25mins before she checked my hair if the curls are made. She added another 5mins since the curls are not yet in good shape. I was asked to go upstairs to wait since they will accommodate other clients who availed of the Keratin Treatment deal also in Metro Deal I guess. When I got up, the Digital Perming machines where there. There were 3 machines but only 1 survived. I heard that the 2 machines was busted the night before. Luckily it happened before someone had her hair wind in the machine.
I happened to bring my net book since I feel that I would stay in the salon for quite some time. I also talked to some of the clients who were in line for the Digital Perm service. They happened to be there a week before and most of them are already back jobs. They curls didn’t last when they washed their hair after 3 days. It was recommended not to wash the chemical off so that the chemical would settle nicely on the hair. (Note: I didn’t do that, the next day, as my friend Coe suggested, I had some hot oil treatment so that my hair won’t dry up.) One client was there for a back job that was done the night before. She will just avail of the Cold Perm instead of the Digital Perm. It was before 15:00 when she arrived.
When my time is over, I was called downstairs to be shampooed. I was shocked that the salon was really jam packed. Some are already sitting in mono blocks just to be served. I was shampooed by an assistant and waited for a sit to be empty. So it took a while since they’re finishing the blow dry in one of their clients. When she finished, I thought it was over. The neck thing was again placed and another chemical was given to my hair. They said that it was a Neutralizer to tone down the 1st chemical. I’m not sure. Again, it took me another 15mins plus waiting time around 5-10mins so a total of est. 30mins.
By this time, the girl I was talking about earlier was being frantic upstairs. She was literally shouting and told the stylist, “Anong oras na? You should have told me na hindi pa ako pwede, sayang ang oras ko!“. Infairness and all due respect to the salon, the client has a point. They should have told her that I was still using the rollers and she has to wait for some time before her turn. Imagine, they only have 1 set of rollers?!
Anyway, after 15mins, the neutralizer settled and I was shampooed again. After this, she started to unwind my hair and I can already see the curls. I was excited but worried too if it suits me. She used a different kind of blower for my hair and taught me how to maintain the curls. Thank Goodness it was okay! Here’s the result of the Cold Perm treatment:
I bought a Finesse: Curl Defining Mousse for my hair. She told me that when my hair is damp, I should form curls before my hair dries up.
As mentioned, I thought my curls will straighten up after I washed my hair the next day. Fortunately, it didn’t. I still have my curls the next day. 🙂
Here’s a comparison of me having a straight and curly hair:
A closer look of my curls that I uploaded in Instagram:
As a conclusion, even though it started as a stressful and frustrating conversation, Anne did her job well. I can’t say how other stylists work but for me, she did a great job. If you are not okay with so so look of the salon and the materials or equipment they use, then this salon is not for you. Actually it was too late for me to back out. Hahaha! They don’t treat their customers that well especially if you’re waiting in line. Their magazines are soooo yesterday. Hahaha!
In the end, I got complimented with my hair so I guess it’s okay. I can recommend this to people who are in a budget and has a LOT of patience when having their hair done. If you’re not one of them, look for a better salon for you.
Hair To Go Salon Ortigas
G/F St. Francis Square Bldg., Ortigas Center, Julia Vargas Ave., Mandaluyong City
Contact number: 497 – 3387
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