I went in for my 'consult'. My hair is just a bit below my shoulder and quite thick. Price: $425. Ouch. Here's what I was told; no washing for 3 days, no pulling hair back, no tucking behind ears, no sunglasses flipped up on head (that one is really tough for me!) and then use special shampoo with no, um - something sulfate? I can't remember but they said it's readily available and no need to buy their brand, and be sure to color my hair BEFORE the procedure because it actually helps to seal in the color. I forgot to ask what coloring after the fact is like because I color every 4 weeks. During those 3 days, any curve, curl or kink in my hair from sleeping or whatever needs to be ironed out. Regarding what I could expect; will last 3 - 4 months, does not grow out in the way that chemical or Japanese straightening does but more or less 'wears off', will make my hair very shiney and healthy. What it will NOT do is make my hair totally stick straight but it will eliminate frizz. It also will not mean that I am blow dryer or flat iron free but that could be based on hair type. She told me I will be able to wash, comb, then pul my hair back in a pony and it will remain smooth, something I've never been able to do. But if I want some semblance of a 'style' it will require blowing it out as I do now but will require far less work to get it smooth. I'd love to try it but the price is stopping me. If it was $300 and I had it done at the beginning of the summer I could maybe justify it. I'm sure there are other places here that do it (I'm in the Chicago suburbs) but this is the only one I know of. And this isn't a technique I want done by a newbie - this gal has been at it 8 months and has done hundreds of heads.

Jerzeegirl: I have a less expensive one (Conair from Sally's, don't remember exactly - maybe $40?) that I got to try it out. I figured I'd see how much I used it, if I could use it properly, and then, if I wanted something better or if it died quickly, upgrade. I know nothing about titanium; but when I bought mine, the stylist strongly recommended ceramic Sweeby: I just had my hair whacked from mid-back to chin-length. I had stick-straight hair before babies, but those pregnancy hormones gave me some tiny waviness at the ends. My stylist talked me into trying Curl Conscious Creme from Belle du Jour. I got it at the salon, which is Aveda-affiliated. This was just last Saturday - so I'm still experimenting - but I do see more waviness and crazyness. It's not a heavy creme, btw. Feels more like a light conditioner. Hth - Cate (can you tell I'm procrastinating today? Posts everywhere!)

I have one of those, looks like a saw blade, right? It opens up, too, so you can use it straight. Always use it outside, it makes a huge mess of hair that will fly all over. Have fun! The vet is selling a great brush/tool that I want but I'm not about to pay $40-$50 for one brush. That's just crazy.

Coming out of lurkdom due to a dire need for information. :) I have very curly hair. When pulled straight it is to the middle of my shoulder blades, but it draws up to shoulder length. Most days I wear it in a ponytail, because I run and work outside. Some days, I'd like it to look nice. I live in the South, with the humidity. I wear it long for two reasons: 1) my mother made me wear it short as a child, when all of the other girls had Marsha Brady hair. Everyone thought I was a boy. 2) If I wear it short, in the summer it looks like a Brillo pad. To those of you who referred to curl gel or other products, can you please be more specific? I want to be able to wash and go, partly because I've never figured out how to blow dry it without frizz. Also, I rarely want to take the time. I've tried a number of anti-frizz products, but have had no luck. Thanks in advance!