For about two years, I had been wanting to have digitally permed hair but I could not…because of the price. In SGD converted to PHP, the service plus the products would cost at least PHp 5,000. I thought I could use the money to buy more important stuff or add it to grow my investment fund instead. Yet I still found time to research about digiperm and wrote a summary of it in my other blog.
Last January, I saw an online deal P888 instead of P6800 for Digital Perming with Treatment, Haircut & Back Massage at Mary Pauline Salon (10 Branches) posted by Metrodeal. That was 87% discount leh! The ad highlights were as follows:
- Achieve loose waves and shiny curls with a Digital Perming treatment
- Comes with treatment, haircut and back massage
- Less time spent on styling your hair with curls that lock in place
- Treatment adds more volume and bounce to those tresses
- Revive those curls with a twirl of a finger
- Treatments are facilitated by well-trained staff to ensure proper care
How could I let it go?
I couldn’t. π
I bought the voucher online immediately and went to the physical address of Mary Pauline Salon (Masangkay branch) to book for a reservation. Since I knew that newly digipermed hair can’t be washed and can’t be tied 48 hours after the procedure, I had to time it when we don’t have wushu practice. I didn’t want to go training without a ponytail and more than that, I didn’t want to go to work with hair marinated with perspiration. So I made a call to have the “drastic change” done before Chinese New Year, when our wushu team was busy training for their lion and dragon dance performances. Whew. π
Today, my digitally permed hair is exactly three weeks old. From a naturally straight hair, my hair now looks like this:
My Experience with Mary Pauline Salon ~ Hot Perm Treatment
Before we got started, I showed the stylist some pictures of Korean actresses’ digi-permed and treated hair that I wanted to achieve: gentle waves / big curls. In contrast, he advised to get smaller curls because they would eventually become loose after six months and become larger curls before becoming straight again. When asked if my hair should be cut, he said the length and the shape of my hair (‘V’ in the end) are already ideal for digital perming. So there was no cutting doneβand no back massaging either. (Er, I forgot to ask about the latter.)
Anyway, the entire procedure lasted for almost five hours. I can’t remember the exact number of minutes per step but the hairdresser performed the following: washed my hair and put the mixed protector, conditioner and in-house solution for absorption, rinsed my hair, segmented it and rolled each grouped strand to the curler, placed heat protection pads and secured each rolled strand with a tie, attached the curlers to the hot rods connected to the perming machine and waited for the longest time, washed my hair for the last time and squeezed it with a towel without blow-drying.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror and blinked to test if something different would appear next. Nope. Gasp! I actually have curled hairs now, was in my thought bubble.8O Before I walked out of the salon with wet hair, the salon staff gave me some tips to manage my digi-permed hair.
Mary Pauline Salon
How to Take Care of Digitally Permed Hair
- Apply hair polish after a shower or bath while hair is still damp. This is to easily style the hair afterwards and make the curls more defined. I bought Splash Control Hair Polish at PHp 28 and Monea Curl Defining Milk Lotion (in the picture below) at PHp 99 both from Watsons.
- Never comb the hair as doing so will only make it uncontrollably frizzy and messy. The only part that can be combed is the upper part where my original straight hair is and the bangs.
- Do not rub digi-permed hair with a towel for this will also make the hair tangled and frizzy as well. Fingers can be used to undo tangles.
- Section the hair to two, create partitions, wound each partition inward and twirl the waves using the index finger to add more bounce to the curls.
- Use shampoo and conditioner every day. (I think this is simple logic, even for un-permed hair.) He didn’t suggest using special products for permed hair so I’m still using my current ones (TRESemmΓ©).
Other Hair Maintenance Regime I Got From Blogs and Websites
- If you have dry hair which is fragile and prone to breakages, use hair products that are friendly to the hair. Recommended are Keratase Nutritive Bain Oleo Curl Definition Shampoo and Human Heart Natureβs Avocado and Seaweed Moisturizing Conditioner. You can also use other brands of products, but make sure that they have ingredients such as almond oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil and Vitamin E used to soften permed hair, add more gloss and hydration.
- Avoid using hair dryers and just let the hair dry on its own. Blow-drying permed hair will cause more split ends you will regret and make it unruly.
- Go for hot oil treatments or apply deep conditioning creams once a week. This will pamper your locks and let the oils saturate through the hair cuticles that will help strengthenΒ weakened hair strands from the inside.
Taking care of digitally permed hair is not as hard as I thought. I have low maintenance with my hair even before, and I really don’t put in a lot of effort combing and styling it every day. Having permed hair now made me feel more feminine and extra presentable. But looking back to my pictures with straight hair, I say I still prefer my former hairstyle! Wahaha.
What say you? Let it flow in the comments. π
UPDATE: This branch of Mary Pauline Salon in Masangkay has been closed down already. Last check was July 2013.
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
You really got a very good deal here and you look a lot fresher after the digital perm.
Thanks, Franc. π
hi what branch of mary pauline did you exactly get your hair permed? π
Hi Carezza, I had it done at Masangkay branch (across Jollibee). π
Thanks for this simple tip. I will forward this article to my sister who is having hair issues.
You’re welcome, Paul. π Hope she finds my tips useful.
There you go with great result..
Changing hairstyle can really bring dramatic changes to your look.
Ive always been carefree about my hair that even on getting haircuts, I’m used to just going to a barber arround the corner.
But when I finally tried to go bald with shaved hair,
I understood then what I lost but then I gained something.
You got a really great deal here. I think I can understand why you cant resist, it happened to me too when I got a great deal for teeth bleaching from metrodeal.
And untill now, 2 years after it, Im still happy with my teeth. π
Haha all for the sake of beauty! Yeah, our mane and pearly whites are two things that should always look presentable. It’s like wearing a great outfit or wonderful accessory everywhere we go. π
Nice hair madame, I really do hope you can maintain how nice they look like
Thanks, Mark! Now that I’m using Monea Curl Defining Milk Lotion for digi-permed hair, I think my hair will be more manageable. I have to buy a bottle a month though.
You already look pretty without the perm. Now you look gorgeous!
Naalala ko to: canβt be washed and canβt be tied 48 hours after the procedure = I believe this was the reason why Reese Witherspoon won her case in Legally Blonde! haha
Ohh I saw that movie before but not entirely. I only remember that she’s the girl who loves wearing pink.
Thanks, Zion! π
With your curly hair you looked a bit matured or professional looking. With your straight hair, you look innocent and sweet π
I take both sets of adjectives as complements, haha. Thank you, Makoy! π
very nice! i’ve been curling my hair with curling irons occasionally whenever i just wanted too but I am not into perming my hair hehe. My husband lovesit straight hehe though my sister is a big fan of perming she’ll have hers done very soon again hehe xx
I think your straight hair fits you very well! Did you have it rebonded or it’s natural? Anyway you look great just the way you are (parang kanta lang hehe). Thanks, Jane. π
I love your straight hair because it makes you younger. And I love also your digitally permed hair it makes you more gorgeous. Hehehehehehe…In short both styles make you prettier.
Naks naman haha thanks Pal! π
minsan talaga ang hirap ng pagiging babae. kasi ang dami nating kailangan intindihin sa ating katawan. .isa na dito ang beauty natin. .hahahahahahah i love this post of your’s. .
Thank you! You’re right. When it comes to beauty, women react against the burden of expectation, the fear that they will fall short of the desired standard, the inevitability of decay, and the resentment that the script is different for men than women.
This is the right one for my long and dry hair.Right mow, I need to go to the parlor.
Yep and maybe you can ask them what products are suggested for your hair type and hairstyle.
i just did mine yesterday at Coco Hair Studio here in Cebu. It’s Korean and so goes the price. It does changes the look and I just love the people’s reaction. HAHAHA! We girls just the the caption “for a change”. and hey, you look great with that curls!
Hi Haidee. π Thanks for the compliment! How much did it cost you? Do you have any before and after pics as well? Lemme see! π
2500 + 300 for the hair cut. the price is double on weekends.
i don’t have before and after shot. but i certainly love my new do.
Good for you! π
Your hair looks so gorg!! I wanna get a digi perm too but I’ll be going abroad to study so instead of deep conditioning/hot oil treatments, can I use leave in conditioners?
Thanks, Nicole. π The waves are loose now — after six months but I prefer how they look like now over the first few months.
Yes, leave-on conditioners are okay to use to condition and maintain the moisture of your hair. I especially apply them on the tips of the hair because this is the part where tangles are mostly formed.
wow! good deal! when I had my hair digipermed, i used gatby’s cream wax(?) but only a little. then I only combed my hair after taking a shower and I’m good until the next shower. hehe. π
Oh I thought Gatby’s is only used by guys or those who have short “guy-length” hair. Hmmm might try that as well some time. π
i’m happy for you. but yeah sure i know you miss your straight hair like i do—i miss so bad my silky straight hair! having my straight hair was so easy, i didn’t need to put anything on it yet its so naturally silky and smooth
however, after having DIGITAL PERMING @ David’s Salon 2 weeks ago, my hair is a DISASTER! And i paid 7,000 pesos for it! Until now, i am waiting if they will give me refund or not or if they will fix my hair at no cost. I hate them so much..I thought I have chosen the CORRECT SALON for my hair!
Whoa. 7000 for digiperm is certainly too expensive! I’m interested to see how disastrous your hair is now. Do you have a picture of it? I hope they do something about it. π
Now on my 7th month of digipermed hair, I’m thinking of having my hair rebonded maybe next month. The peak of its beauty was only from the 3rd to 5th months, I guess. Now it looks like just…wavy. My hair is still manageable though, without tangles and split ends.
Which salon would you have gone to?
I really hope DAVID’s SALON will do something about it very soon…because now i can’t wear my hair down anymore because its so ugly!
Until now, I can’t believe this happened to my hair!
I have photos–sure because i sent it to David’s Salon main office when i made my complaint.
But i dont know how to post my photo here on your blog.
Ohh. :O You can copy link and post the URL here. You can also use twitpic and mention me: @rochkirstin.
sorry, i don’t have twiiter account.
i tried posting the link…i think it didn’t work.
Mmmmm that’s okay. David’s Salon is one of the highly reputable and prestigious salons in the local scene, yet I’ve heard many complaints about their services. Thanks for sharing your experience here anyway, for other people to watch out.
this is my digipermed hair! π
Your hair is very long. I think it was all nice when straight. π
yeah i thought so too—i trusted them that DAVID’s will give me the best service, but i was wrong!
so for those people who wants to enter the beauty world :), think twice please. better be happy with what you have hehehe.
you’re welcome. have a great hair! π
hi rockkirstin, i’m a bit relieved right now, because David Salon replied to my complaint. And in two (2) weeks time, they will refund my payment because according to them, they are unable to REDO the digital perming service at the risk of damaging my hair. So its fair enough. I can use the money to go back to them to probably have rebonding in the near future:)
I am very happy that they consider my situation.
Hi Sharm, that’s very good news! π You can wait 6 months – 1 year before getting your hair rebonded. In the meantime, stay pretty and use safe hair products for proper hair maintenance. π
thankssss π
Me and my sister went to MARY PAULINE MAKATI BRANCH to get my hair rebond and for my sister digiperm. The stylist told us that it will be an inhouse medicine that they will be using so they need to test our hair strands first if our hair can take their inhouse medicine treatment. Both of our hair are freezing and it falls off!.
My hair doesnt really need to rebond but what irritates me is my fly away hair. The stylist told me that I dont need to rebond my hair but instead he recommend the brazillian blow out. I know that Brazillian blowout is really good. I asked him how much will it be, he said “Additional Php 2000 on toip of my voucher”. Good thing I didnt accept his offer because after couple of hours when I went outside of their salon I saw their post that Brazillian Blowout is just actually Php 2000!. My voucher is worth Php 1000, so it means if I accept the stylist offer its like I wasted my Php 1000 for the voucher!. What a liar!.
For my sister digiperm he said that their “in house treatment” is not good for her hair so he recommends loreal but that will be additional Php 1500. Same thing after couple of hours while the stylist is fixing my sister’s hair I saw their post outside their salon that the digiperm is just actually Php 1500. The stylist said that we cannot use the voucher to other branches. I have nothing to do with my voucher and I know no my friends cant buy it because its too far. The stylist said taht we can combine our voucher, so that is Php 2000. But again the digiperm that they post outside of their salon is just actually Php 1500.
Now its ok if the stylist deceived us, but the thing is at the end my sister’s digiperm looks VERY BAD!. its like dreadlocks!.. Even my other sister asked if that is really Loreal!. It really looks bad. First of all the gay stylist deceived us then second the outcome of my sister’s hair sucks!.
I STRONGLY RECOMMEND not to purchase MARY PAULINE in MAKATI BRANCH!. Take my word!. I’m still checking on how to complain with them.
It was also an inhouse medicine treatment that has been used to perm my hair. Fortunately though, or I don’t know if it’s just that the quality/texture of my hair happened to match the chemicals, I do not have falling/freezing hair.
I’m also interested in Brazillian blowout since I’ve heard a lot of great results happening to girls who had experienced the procedure. In fact, I’m keen in purchasing another voucher online when I see one that would look worthy. Right now though, I thought I’d let my permed hair go back to the normal straight hair without any machine or chemical intervention.
Oh my gosh. Thanks for sharing your encounter with Mary Pauline Salon Makati Branch. Your words would really warn those people who’d want to get their hair done in this location.
i’ve got my 6,781php back! yipaaaa!
Great news! At long last. π
Sayang naman miss rochkirstin…
Ang ganda ganda na ng hair mo without the perm and ang ganda ganda mo na rin without the braces and without the makeup.
Baka naman sa susunod maglagay ka na ng kulay ng eklavu sa hair mo.
ahihi
Louie Balouie
Ano eklavu? Maraming salamat sa inyong mga papuri, Louie Balouie. π
How I wish my experience was same as yours. Mine turned out bad. I availed the digiperm service of EdwinLisa Salon at their JP Rizal branch in Makati using the Metrodeal voucher. It was a total of almost 6hrs of procedure and it cost me 4k (incl. root color, treatment, half rebond) but the result was frustrating. I was told that Iβm okay to leave even if my hair was still dripping wet and was applied with 10-12pumps of curling lotion. When my hair finally dried, it was so stiff and heavy. My hair looked so messy and frizzy. I donβt know what to do with my hair now, I even messaged the fb page of EdwinLisa but they did not reply. I had my digiperm at a Korean Salon last year but the result was beautiful and it even cost me less (ensogo voucher 1.8k only).
Whoa sorry to hear about your story. That’s just really bad service you received. I wonder if their other customers had the same complains. Six hours of waiting for the process to be completed was quite grueling and you now have to find ways to tame the stiffness of your hair. Wah! π
What Korean Salon are you referring to, Joann? I would want to give that a try π
[…] having straight-as-a-board hair anymore after the digi-perm procedure last February, I don’t have spend time prepping and styling my hair before going out. However, I still have […]
Hi! Did you have additional charges at the salon? π
Hi Lyka. No additional charges. π
Great post you have here! I’m actually afraid to try Metrodeal vouchers for hair treatment, my fear is that they will give you a so-so kind of service because you pay too little than the original price. Your hair turned out really amazing. π
Hey!
Thanks so much for sharing this amazing article and tips.