My Recommended Makeup & Skin Care Products for Dark Skin Women in Japan | What Makeup do I Use as a Black Woman in Japan

I have been asked to make a video in regards to what makeup I have been using seemingly ever since I came to Japan. I swear I get asked this question at least once a day (if not every few days) and sometimes even more. I have read all of your private messages and emails. I can assure you that I am not running out of video ideas. I had planned to make this video long before anyone had ever asked me to do so, but I never expected so many women to be interested in what I was wearing considering that I have mediocre makeup skills at best. You can read about the makeup that I use and recommend here or you can watch my video on YouTube to see what it looks like in store as well as hear me talk about it.

Watch The Video Here!

About Me

I am actually wearing Maybelline (purchased in Japan) in shade 330 Toffee for this picture. It is too dark for me but it matches great when I have a tan like in this photo.

I am an African-American (black) woman. I am mixed race but predominantly of African descent. Don't let my videos and pictures fool you! I have very dry skin ( I never get oily), but I breakout easily if any chemicals touch my face (such as if I have curly hair the oils form the products cause me to breakout) which has led my doctor to believe that I have oily skin although I personally disagree especially after seeing other women on YouTube show how nasty their face looks after a full day of wearing makeup. My skin is so dry that I actually add oils and lotions to make my face look shiny as you can see in some of my videos.

My skin is actually so dry that it tends to crack and peels around my eyebrows and nose on a daily basis if I don't apply a good moisturizer.

KATE Foundation 

KATE Foundation

Revlon Color Stay

KATE 

I have a caramel complexion. I normally wear Makeup Forever Ultra HD foundation in shade Y405-Y415 if that helps you determine how well the makeup I use will match you. I recently purchased MAC and Shu Uemura for this video and I honestly love both of them after about a month or so I plan to make a new video and post in which I will review the two products in more depth. Because you asked me what makeup do I wear and not what do I recommend for black women I will stick to talking about what I actually wear mostly BUT since I have been wearing these two new products recently I will add them to my list and hopefully they will become staples in the near future for me,

Please keep in mind that I am not a makeup artists nor am I a beauty guru. I am not good at doing makeup and I am not the best at finding the right shade either. I am a blogger and vlogger. I am not into the latest makeup trends. I prefer to wear natural looking makeup. My extent of unnatural is red lipgloss, darkening my eyebrows and black winged liner. I don't use translucent powders, eyeshadow, blush, eyebrow kits, setting sprays or contour kits on a regular basis (I do sometimes but it's rare).  This blog is just my own personal advice and opinions aren't facts. I am simply sharing what I personally use as well as giving you ladies some insight on the beauty industry here.

As always you may or may not agree with what I have to say and that's okay too! A lot of people get so wrapped up in their idea of what they want Japan to be like that they are no longer being

My Options Are Limited

Before I came to Japan I did a ton of research on everything from sex and dating, to housing and language. I did so much research on Japan that I made myself afraid to even come here in the first place. I overpacked and I wasted a lot of time and money brining unnecessary things. I was convinced that my shade wouldn't be available  because no one was talking about it seemly anywhere on the internet so I stocked up on my favorite Makeup Forever foundation, concealer and even mascara only to later discover that Japan does indeed sell makeup for women with dark skin (some black women (just not all of them).
As always when your options are limited in store you can always shop online from within Japan or you can simply have items shipped from overseas/imported and delivered to your front door. Since makeup lasts for at least 1-3 months or more it's just a small investment to buy it online if you really just can't find anything that matches you.

Cultural Differences

Japanese women prefer natural looking makeup ad thats pretty much all they tend to wear. Japanese employers and men also tend to only find the natural look acceptable. While you may not care about what men think feminism and western concepts haven't really taken off here. Women may admire your bravery to try and look like a magazine or runway model but they'd never dare to try your sharpie eyebrows, glow in the dark highlighter, giraffe lashes, spider acrylic nails, bronzed cheekbones and forehead, crazy statue contour, rainbow eyeshadow, or smokey eye.
Despite all of the "kawaii" makeup videos that you see on YouTube and in Japanese magazines I can assure you that Japanese women don't wear any of these ridiculous looks even although these are natural and toned down in comparison to what us Americans tend to wear  it's too much and over the top to most Japanese women.
You can of course find all o these products here but the overwhelming majority of women don'r wear them. I personally just wear winged eyeliner and a shiny lipgloss or lipstick and I still stand out like a sore thumb. this is partially because I am a black women with fillips and people think that it's sexy BUT it's also because it looks a bit clown like since pretty much no other girl is wearing such a look out in public.
As always feel free to do what you want to and in this sense choosing to wear full face glamour girl makeup isn't insulting to Japanese culture like dressing immodestly is so by all means go for it!

My Shade Varies

Japanese people are still Asian and Asians just like black people come in a variety of complexions. Most of the really white pale complexions that we see aren't natural at all but rather the result of skin that has been manipulated and altered from photo editing, skin bleaching and whitening. Most beauty products here from soaps to lotions have whitening agents. Women commonly take whitening peels and apply whitening creams and masks before bed and in the morning before applying their makeup. You might notice that the Japanese women here tend to be much lighter than their male counterparts on average. Asians such s this win India, Thailand, some parts of China, and the Philippines can have very dark complexions comparable to those of Africans (if not even darker) but as for most East Asians (Japanese people included) this is EXTREMELY rare and unlikely especially for a Japanese woman who i snot mixed (FYI there aren't a lot of half-black and half-Japanese people in Japan).
   I personally don't believe that the dark shades that are available in Japan are really marketed towards foreigners, but rather they're for Japanese women who have naturally tanned complexions, that are mixed race, or that have gotten a tan over the summer which is hard not to do considering how hot and humid Japan is during the summertime and how much walking and bicycling everyone does. Living in Japan you are constantly being exposed to harsh UV rays. I have personally tanned "harder" than I ever have in my entire life.  Beyond just getting very dark I experienced heat exhaustion and felt as though the sun was burning my back like an ant under a magnifying glass.
Because I spend a lot of time out in the sun I tan quite often here even although I'd rather avoid doing so. Because tanning is inevitable (that is unless you choose to walk around with an unnecessary bulky umbrella all day).

 Here's an old embarrassing picture of me when I was really fat and living at Sakura House. You probably don't even think that this is me do ya?! Look at how long my REAL hair used to be😢. I promise I never bleached myself but this is what I looked like in the Summer of 2017 thanks to working out outside and walking to and from school. At this shade nothing matches if you watch some of my old videos or look at some old photos you can see me looking ashy and gray because of that. 

This picture was taken during the winter but I still managed to get a tan thanks to being out in the sun. As you can see I am clearly much lighter than the above picture in this one but I am still dark.

My Honest Opinion

People rave about how great Japanese skincare and makeup products are, but as someone who isn't even a cosmetics snob I was extremely disappointed with just about everything that Japan had to offer in their beauty departments. Like most things in Japan I wanted to love it and be able to brag about how amazing all of their beauty products are because I love Japan as a country and I enjoy shopping here, but I have honestly never come across a single Japanese brand that had a foundation or concealer that was my perfect match. I have only found products that were great because they were cheap or convenient.I love the lipgloss and lotions here, but even simple items like makeup remover wipes are pretty crappy which is why I don't use them much. 
The final verdict for me is that as a woman with dark skin I will never be able to buy just any brand of makeup here. I will always have to purchase from a higher end store like Shiseido or MAC otherwise Maybelline & Revlon offer the best color match foundations and concealers for under $30.

The Color Range

No I am not just complaining about the lack of color representation for us dark skin women but I am amazed that there's generally only 3-5 shades of every foundation and concealer. Most store sonly care 3 shades of both whereas some big brands like KATE offer 5 different shades. There is no variation for different undertones and most foundations don't use any color match technology like Loreal and Maybelline do. It looks and often feels as though the makeup is too sheer, watery, and runny and doesn't provide enough coverage  or it simply doesn't match and causes you to look gray, ashy and washed out. This goes for Japanese women too! You will often be able to see where their makeup begins and ends. It looks as though a lot of these women are wearing a "natural" looking face mask. Japanese women definitely have more than 3 different tones and complexions and considering that most women are either forced to wear makeup to work or feel socially obligated to do so I would think that there would be more of a variety of foundations NOT on the darker side necessarily but on the lighter and medium side.
Even in the biggest of makeup stores there is only a small variety of colors and shades to choose from   which is very disappointing.  Higher end brands like MAC and Shu Uemera, as well as lower end brands such as Revlon and Maybelline offer a great range of colors (based on the complexions of Asian women) and thus I have zero complaints about these four companies but the others are just being cheap because since this is all Japanese women have ever known they will simply buy 1 of the 3 available shades of foundation and convince themselves that it matches and looks great because they have never had any other readily available choice. I imagine that this must be very profitable for the makeup brands since they only need to manufacture and stock 3 different shades and concealers. While we are on the topic of colors and shades I also find that pantyhose in Japan has the same limited shades/color options.   Anyway back on subject, brands that offers a large range of colors are only found at real department stores such as SOGO (my go to store) which is the only kind of place that you'll find the higher end brands .

The Pricing

Cosmetic in Japan are very expensive. Even drug store makeup is more comparable to what you'd pay at a more high end store like Sephora or MAC Cosmetics. The average price is around $12-$17 for drugstore mascara. foundation is about $15-$25, and lipstick is about $9-$16. These prices would be fine if this was Sephora or Ulta, but it's not. It is crazy considering that these are drugstore brands (some of which are Japanese so it's not like its all imported and that's why it costs more) and that the average salary in Japan is quite low.  To add insult to injury the quality is generally poor to just okay. It is definitely not comparable to the cheap $1-$12 stuff that i can buy at Walmart and Walgreen in America. They say that you get what you pay for but I couldn't disagree more when it comes to Japanese cosmetics.

The Quality & Pigmentation

Most makeup here isn't available in a waterproof format but waterproof makeup most certainly does exist and when they say waterproof they mean it! Heroine Make has the best waterproof formula that I have ever seen and it truly curls, thickens and lengthens short lashes to create the best "falsies" look ever. However most of the makeup that I have personally tried in Japan isn't worth it's price tag and despite paying 2-3x's the amount of U.S drugstore products the color pigmentation is either poor to good and isn't anything exceptional or extraordinary like I had expected from Japan.

The Quantity

I generally feel cheated anytime I buy makeup that isn't from KATE, Heroine Make, or DAISO  because not only is it overpriced but the containers are very small. You only get a free fluid ounces and it doesn't last very long especially since you are constantly exposed to the elements switching between being hot cold and wet thanks to crazy weather that Japan experiences and the ridiculous rules for controlling the AC in stores, on train and in the office.

The Bad News

Unfortunately the darkest shade of makeup that you can find in Japan is a dark caramel brown shade. Women who have very dark and deep brown skin complexions will not be able to find makeup in Japan if if they are shopping at an American or European.While it may seem unfair I honestly can't blame Japan. Most Japanese women ale to slightly tanned complexions. There aren't a lot of black women who live in or that visit Japan for there to be a market for such products. Most of the black women (people) in Japan are serving on a U.S military base they can simply purchase their cosmetics on a base or have them shipped online or from a close friend or family member back home.
Even in America I found some difficulty finding my shade as I didn't live in a black neighborhood so there weren't always dark shades available and when there were there'd only be 1-2 bottles of my shade if not it was already sold out.Makeup doesn't last forever! It expires and companies don't want to waste money stocking products that will more than likely just collect dust and inevitably go bad.
There will sadly probably never be an increase in the amount of shades but if there were to ever be a change then Tokyo or Osaka would most certainly be the only 2 locations that those shades would be sold at since that's were most black people tend to live study and work at whether they are in the military or not.

The Good News

There is so much more to good makeup than concealers, and foundations. Sure the main purpose of makeup is to achieve flawless skin but you can still use a great variety of lipsticks and glosses as well as mascaras, eyeliners, eyeshadows, blushes, primers, moisturizers, and makeup removers. Not to mention whitening creams are great for acne and scar removal treatments just be sure to only apply it to your scars and nothing else unless you nat to look gray and patchy.

My Personal Reccomeded Brands 

There is an endless list of Japanese makeup brands and products. Its would be nearly impossible for me to tryout all of them. I am sure that better products that were made in or for Japan do exist here even for a girl with brown skin, but these are the beauty products that I personally use on a daily to monthly basis and the purpose in this blog is to tell you ladies what I wear (isn't it?). 
There are of course better options and products here in Japan as makeup is extremely subjective. What works for (and looks great on) me might not work for you. Why? Because we all not only have different shades and complexions but we all have different skin types and flaws that we'd like to cover up. 
These are my own personal favorites that I wear and would recommend to other women of color that have dark complexions like me. 

Quick & Makeup Basic Advice

If your skin complexion is darker than a light brown caramel complexion then you will not be able to find a foundation or concealer here and you will either be extremely limited or unable to find a good primer as they tend to look cake and have a thick ashy white residue (even the ones that claim that they will match all skin tones).

If you want a more precise match, if you have very light or very dark skin (by Japanese standards), or if you simply have the money to splurge  then I'd had recommend purchasing MAC or Shu Uemura for your foundation, concealer, and setting powders and sprays.

Heroine Make & INTEGRATE make the best eyeliners and mascaras,

DAISO & Cando have the best and most affordable lip glosses, lip tints, and budget friendly concealers.

Japanese makeup remover wipes (that are affordable) are horrible. Stick to cleaning oils like Bifesta. I recommend using a cleansing oil with soap, water, a loofah, and an acne exfoliant as needed.

If you must use wipes then I'd suggest using Biore makeup remover wipes.

My Favorite Products

Japan is always coming out with new products and new trends are always being made so over time I will find new products that I like more than the ones listed in this blog but for now these are my go to items that I use on a daily to monthly basis.

KATE

Affordable long lasting, HD, lightweight foundation.

https://www.nomorerules.net/pickup/secret_skinmaker_zero/

Shu Uemura

HD Foundation that matches your complexion.

Revlon

Long lasting foundation that doesn't transfer.

https://www.revlon-japan.com/pickup/revlon_csmu_cspp/

Can Do 

Affordable concealers and contour sticks.

https://www.cando-web.co.jp/e/index.html

Kancore & Espoleur (DAISO)

The best budget friendly lipgloss, concealers, lip tints, and mascaras.

Maybelline 

Lightweight color match foundation & concealer.

https://www.maybelline.co.jp/face/foundation/fitme-liquid-foundation/6902395646891

INTEGRATE (Shiseido)

Precise liquid eyeliner that lasts all day.

http://www.shiseido.co.jp/ie/items/0076/

MAQUILLAGE

Light colored metallic two toned mix match lipsticks. 

https://maquillage.shiseido.co.jp/rougemini/

Heroine Make

All in 1 mascara that provides you with length, volume a dramatic curl and lasts all day.

https://www.isehan.co.jp/heroine/product/mascara/volumecurlmascarasuperwp/

MAC

HD liquid foundation for a more precise match.

https://www.maccosmetics.jp/studio-fix-fluid

MAQUILLAGE

 Neutral color matching primer.

Dew (Kanebo)

Lightweight moisturizer for your face.

https://www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/dew/products/dew/

Bifesta

Makeup remover and skin cleansing oil.

https://www.bifesta.jp/lineup/cleansing-oil.html

Thank you so much for reading!

Do you have any more tips and advice that you'd like to give to others about makeup in Japan or would you like to ask some more questions about your options here? If so please leave a comment down below or send me an email.

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How To Take Care of Your Relaxed Hair

Going from curly or wavy hair to straight hair may seem like a dream come true for us swirly & wavy headed girls, but with your new found locks come some new rules too. Now more than ever you must take exceptionally good care of your hair to avoid excessive shedding, split ends and permanent damage to your hair. In order to maintain your relaxer you will have to develop a good routine that consists of providing your hair with the proper amount of moisture, cleansing, and upkeep. 

Moisturize

If you're using a straightening perm then there is a pretty good chance that your hair is drier than most girls. Curly & wavy hair doesn't get noticeably "dirty" as fast because of the structure of the hair shafts. It takes longer for oil to get from your scalp to the lengths of your strands. While your hair can go longer in between washes and possesses a natural body and thickness, it is also more prone to damage, breakage, split ends, and overall dryness. 

• Invest in a lightweight oil that can be applied throughout the lengths of your hair daily 

• If you have a dry scalp consider greasing it or applying a hot oil treatment directly to your scalp once a week 

• Use a deep conditioner whenever you wash your hair (once a week or twice a month)

• Apply a natural oil to the ends of your hair everyday to help reduce breakage

Cleanse

Depending on your hair texture, you may find that your hair needs to be washed less often due to the relaxer making your hair drier than usual. However your strands still need to be cleansed on a regular basis to avoid an unwanted build up of dirt, dandruff, and oils 

• Wash your hair at least twice month or every 2 weeks (depending on your hairs natural texture)

• Section and detangle your hair starting from the bottom and working your way up to the top before you wash it

• Avoid excessive use of dry shampoos and hairspray (hold sprays/gels) as these will dry out your hair and can cause a buildup of product and dirt thus making your already damaged and dry hair need to be stripped and washed more often

• Remove dandruff and product buildup by scratching your scalp with a comb before you wash and with your fingers as you shampoo and rinse your hair 

• Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner made for dry or curly hair

• Pat your hair dry with a microfiber towel or simply let it air dry

Protect

While it may be tempting to play with your hair now that it is practically bone straight, this isn't the best idea! After perming your hair it is significantly weaker than before because relaxers chemically break down and alter the bonds of each strand of your hair. In order to avoid hair loss or any further damage it is very important to be proactive with your hair.

• Use a satin pillow case and/or a satin bonnet 

• Consider low maintenance and low manipulation hairstyles such as lose buns, braids, or ponytails 

• Gently detangle your hair by sectioning and starting from the bottom and working your way up to the top of your head

• Avoid dying or bleaching your hair

• Allow your hair to air dry instead of using a blowdryer 

• If possible try to stretch your relaxers to 3-4 times a year

• Minimize how frequently you use heat tools

• Avoid playing with your hair for fun or excessively brushing and combing it

• Wear your hair natural every so often to help it heal and repair from all of the heat and chemicals its endured from the relaxer and heated tools that you've been using

Heat Control

You should minimize the amount of heat that you are applying to your hair. Avoid using a flat iron, curling iron, or a blowdryer everyday. Your hair is already somewhat damaged and drier than usual from the relaxer, so applying excessive heat can weaken and fry out your hair. 

If you absolutely must be sure to take extra precautions to keep your hair healthy.

• Start your day/week by using a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner made for dry curly hair 

• Apply a good heat protectant serum

• Set your dryer or iron to a cool or low heat setting

• Try to avoid going over sections with heated tools several times to minimize damage and breakage

• Ideally you should try to only straighten or curl your hair no more than a couple of times a week to keep it healthy 

Touch Ups

Unfortunately your hair won't stay straight forever! New growth isn't affected by the relaxer as it only alters the "dead hair" that has already extended from your scalp. Similar to the process of bleaching or coloring your hair, you will inevitably have to periodically reprocess your hair to maintain your new straight look. 

• Trim your split ends every 3 months about 1/8 of an inch of hair to avoid breakage and to maintain your length

• Relax your hair every 6-8 weeks

• Be sure to only apply the relaxer to your new growth to avoid over processing your hair

Tips: 

• Stretching out your relaxers can help you grow and maintain healthier hair

• Excessively dry hair leads to breakage so be sure to use products that don't contain harsh chemicals

• Your hair needs to be trimmed at least once every six months so that your hair can maintain its length and grow
• Once your hair starts to lose its bounce, becomes greasy to touch, or has difficulty staying straight (frizzes easily/curls up in the face of little to no sweat and humidity) then it is definitely time to thoroughly wash your hair

Enjoy your new healthy straight hair! 

Thank you so much for reading! Please be sure to leave a comment if you have any questions or advice to give to others.

Stay Tuned!

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PROQUALITE Japanese Hair Relaxer /Permanent Straightener English Review

プロカリテロング

If you've lived in Japan for a full year or at least if you have endured the summer here then you know just how humid, hot and unbearable the tropical island weather its here. As a girl with super curly hair my hair is very prone to frizz, flyaway, and puffiness if I try to wear any hairstyle that isn't curly.
I spend hours blowdrying, flat ironing, combing, and moisturizing my hair with expensive oils in an attempt to tame my mane and keep all of my curls straight.
Recently I began walking slowly and moving my bangs from my face and tying my hair up into a ponytail to cut back on the frizz from my sweat. Yes this dead help out a lot but my hair wouldn't stay straight. Even after styling hair it would still have too much volume (a strange amount of thickness of you will) before I'd even leave out the house for work. I accepted the fact that the only time I could have straight hair was during the winter time.

My Natural Hair

I struggled with getting my curly hair straight in America too but usually if I just waited 3-7 days my hair would accumulate enough oils and become "dirty" enough were frizz and humidity had no affect on my strands. I finally had enough and began searching for a "PERM-anent" (get it) solution. My mother and half-sisters warned me of all of the dangers about using relaxers and so did my friends and even strangers. Every black person knows countless people with practically no hair, invisible edges, or at least some sort of horror story to tell about their use of relaxers i the past.
Ever since I was a child I envied my classmates who had relaxers. Once I went to school with all white people, this interest became even stronger. By the time I got to high school it was no longer because I wanted to look like or fit in with the crowd, but I simply agreed with the fact that straight hair made me look more attractive. It frames my face and fit my overall look better than curly hair did.
When I was 9 years old I joined a dance group at my church called "Kids Stuff". For my first performance my oldest half-sister offered to straighten my hair and put it into two long pigtails. My mom was opposed to the idea of this and protected my hair for almost 10 years but eventually caved in. I was instantly in love with how much longer my hair was. I was fascinated with how easy it was to style, manipulate and for the first time to run my fingers through my strands. At just 10 years old I began straightening and blowdrying my own hair religiously everyday. Sometimes I would do this multiple times a day. I know it wasn't healthy for my hair but I loved the way I looked with straight hair.
I tried to go natural but I didn't like the way it made me look. People are never satisfied with what they've got. As humans its natural to want whatever it is that we don't have.

Since I already spend hours a days styling my hair to make it straight or to curl it because I can't get it straight I decided to go against her advice once more and just get a relaxer, but not just any relaxer a relaxer that's not made for people like me and that's written in instructions that I honestly can't read.
I was very scared and I felt as though I were losing my hair virginity but I am glad that I took the plunge and went for it!

The Review

Proqualite does work! I am a black woman with super curly hair and I finished my hair in under 3 hours. If it worked for me it can definitely work for the Asian or European girl reading this as your hair is much easier to chemically straighten than mines.
This product was not intended for use on hair that is so far from being straight nor is it made for people with coarse or very thick hair (like me). It's a miracle and straightened my hair! I am now on day 2 as I am writing this and it didn't become stiff as some reviews said.

My boyfriend who is 100% Japanese and has naturally wavy hair told me that both and his sister attempted to use this product under the supervision of their cousin who is a hairstylist and it made both of their hair more curly instead straightening it! I myself a non-Japanese woman gave it a try and to my surprise it worked! I have nothing to compare this to so I can't say that it's better than perms in America but if you were to ask me I think its better to use a relaxer that is made for black women or curly hair styles (even if you're Asian/white with curly or wavy hair).
Being in Japan with limited options I settled for what I could find and I chose this brand as it claims to be "#1" and from food to beauty products everything else I've purchased here that has that label has yet to disappoint me (I recently got some scrumptious karaage seasoning that claims to be #1 and it mad the most delicious pork-chops the other day lol!).

NOTE: I believe the product didn't work for their hair because like most Japanese (Asian) people they wash their hair every time that they shower, thus they permed their hair after it had already been cleansed. This is NOT the right way to use a relaxer!

You should start with hair that is already dirty and preferably that has been straightened in advance and detangled. I recommend going 1-2 weeks without washing or using a dry shampoo (if you have very curly hair) or at the very least 3 days without having had a wash  (if you have slight wavy frizzy hair) before using PROQUALITE depending on your hair type.

Where Can I Buy It?

I had trouble finding this at local stores here in Osaka. I went to several pharmacies, the mall, konbini shops and even grocery stores with no luck of ANY straightening products. I decided to just buy it from Amazon Japan.
You can buy it from Amazon or at your local pharmacy if you live in Japan!

Buy PROQUALITE Now!

Here Is Their website!

PROQUALITE Official Website

How Much Does It Cost?

I paid ¥1136 for this so it costs about $11 USD from within Japan. If you are purchasing this online from America it is about $9.55-$10.00 USD. Buy PROQUALITE Now!

What's in The Box?

1. A white, thick plastic, double sided tail-comb
2. 3 packets of essence hair after treatment
3. 2 bottles of relaxer solution
4. 1 packet of relaxer solution
5. 1 pair of thin one-size first all plastic gloves
6. Instructions

My Honest Opinion

The product is amazing and I will definitely purchase it again! I highly recommend it and I am a very satisfied customer. straight hair without the frizz for less than ¥2000 is a steal! No salon is necessary. It's stainless and it really worked. I sweat a lot and easily and my hair always becomes frizzy and poofy in the morning but not today! It looks like I just styled my hair for hours. I have NEVER seen my hair this straight despite how many hours I spend styling it and how much money I have spent on products for it. I am sure American brands are better as they are made fro girls with my hair but for this to be Japan and aimed at women with such fine silky straight to slightly wavy hair it worked perfect on my strands and I think you should give it a try too!

Simplified English Instructions 

Step #1 Be Prepared

1. Start with dirty (at least 3 days-2 weeks since last washed), dry, preferably straightened hair.
2. Brush and comb out your hair and clip it into 4 sections or more to make it easier to apply the solution evenly.
3. If you have sensitive skin then consider applying vaseline or cocoa butter to your edges, the nape of your neck and behind your ears to avoid chemical burns.
4. Wear a protective T-shirt and wrap a towel around your neck to avoid getting chemicals on your skin.
5. Remove and wear the provided pair of plastic protective gloves from the box attached to the instructions,

Step #2 Lather 

Squeeze the cream solution from the teal bottle labeled #1 onto your hands and distribute the product evenly into each section of hair. Use the comb to help distribute the product and try to avoid getting it directly on your scalp for now. Wait for 5-15 minutes and then rinse the product out of your hair using warm water. Wring out your hair and lightly pat it dry

This is my hair after just using the 1st bottle of hair treatment. I have never seen my hair this straight after washing it!

Step #3 The Semi-Finale

Apply the white bottle labeled #2 to the entire length of your hair including your roots and ends using the provided comb to evenly distribute the product once more.  Wait for 5-15 minutes and then rinse the product out of your hair using warm water. Wring out your hair and lightly pat it dry.

Step #4 Finishing Touches

Using your hands apply the shiny packet labeled #3 to your hair. It's a bronze/golden-orange colored packet. It looks and feels like shampoo or soap and will appear a little sudsy or bubbly (your hands might feel a strange warmth but it doesn't burn). Be sure to focus on the ends of your hair with this solution! Wait 5 minutes and rinse out the solution with warm water and dry your hair completely!

Step #5 You're All Straight 

Blow-dry your hair and use a good flatiron to lock in your new straight, non-frizzy, humidity-resistant hairstyle. Once your hair is dry and straight apply the white pack labeled #4 throughout the length of your hair. It feels like (and possibly is) a leave in conditioner. You're done and free to sweat, run, and play in the sun! No more curls no more frizz!

Tips/Advice:

• DO NOT OVER BUY! One box is all that you will need even if your hair is very long! I have thick and long hair for a black girl and to the rest of the world I have very thick medium length hair. Because my hair is so curly, thick and coarse I always buy 2-3 times the recommended amount. When I dyed my hair sandy brown years ago I always purchased 3 boxes of hair dye as long as it was in stock. Trust me, you will have more than enough relaxer solution with just the one box! It is specifically made for Asian women with long hair (hence the name PROQUALITE Long). If you are white or Asian your hair may be long, but it probably isn't as thick or coarse as mines! My hair is short in comparison but mines isn't thin (like yours)! Even Asian hair that is classified as curly and thick doesn't require as much product as mines does Trust me, I have more and thicker strands than you. My strands just aren't as long in length haha. Thick and coarse hair generally requires more product than fine or long hair both of which aren't as thick or curly in comparison to my 3B/3C Hair. Buy more boxes at your own risk. The choice is ultimately yours! I personally had more product than needed and I pretty much forced myself to use the entirety of one box's contents in my hair (I purchased 2 boxes). 1 box is all you need regardless of how long your hair is unless it's past your waist, very thick, or coarse. It's better to be safe than sorry so go ahead and buy two if you're unsure.

• DO NOT PURCHASE PROQUALITE FOR SHORT HAIR ! This is intended for girls with  BOTH (keyword both) thin and short hair that is at the neck and for men. I personally tried this one and it wasn't enough. There's significantly less product in the tubes even although the price is the same. I ended up having to run out to the store with the product in my hair and bought two additional boxes just to be safe. Since the price is the same, I see no reason for anyone to purchase the version for short hair (cut down on plastic waste maybe?) but of course you're free to make that decision for yourself.

• IT DOES NOT COME WITH ENGLISH INSTRUCTIONS! There are no manufacturer official English instructions for this perm kit. It only comes with Japanese instructions. There's a lot of Chinese resellers that are lying and claiming that it does. I assume they must mean that they themselves will provide their own instructions (just as I did) for you. I live in Japan and purchased mines here so I can't recommend a seller for you (sorry).

• I recommend leaving the products on for longer that the 2-15 minutes that it suggests if you have very wavy or curly hair but especially if you have curly hair!  However I'm not responsible for your hair if it becomes damaged! I'm just giving advice and telling you what worked for me.

         Step 1 40 minutes
         Step 2 40 minutes
         Step 3 10 minutes
         Step 4  leave in moisturizer (no time DO NOT RINSE AFTER)
        After each step rinse hair with warm water

• Be sure to focus on your roots and the back of your hair of you're a curly girls as this is probably your biggest problem area! 

• My hair wasn't "bone straight" after washing and drying my hair with a towel or even after using the blowdryer. I noticed how straight my hair was after rinsing my hair after Step 1 and after Step 2 I knew it had worked! While my hair was damp it only had a slight wavy-curly pattern which I had never seen before on my own wet hair. I simply straightened my hair with my Chi flatiron after blowdrying it with my Revlon blowdryer. I instantly noticed how fast and smooth it because straight with minimum effort. I usually run heat over my hair several times and I hold the flatiron there. Again my hair is much stronger than most people's. I know it's really bad and dangerous so yeah, yeah, yeah, tomato, tomato!

• I personally didn't wash my hair before applying the solution. I applied step 1 to hair that had been straightened and curled with a flatiron from 2 days ago, slept on, and brushed out to avoid tangles.

• The product didn't burn my hands, neck, or face and more importantly it didn't burn off any of my hair. I felt no tingling sensation and I didn't lose wads of hair 

• I recommend wearing an old protective t-shirt and a towel around your neck and back to avoid unnecessary contact with the solutions that you are placing on your hair. This can also be used for drying your hair between the steps.

• I didn't use all of step 4. A little goes a long ways! Now that my hair is thinner thanks to the relaxer (not in a bad way it just looks more flat because of how bone straight it's become) I didn't need a lot of product to cover my strands. The box tell you to use the "Essence cream" over the course of about 3 days and you are given 3 packets.This 1 pack will probably last me a week at the rate that I am using it.

Update:
I am now on day 3 of my newly relaxed hair and it's still going strong! I actually used up the first #4 pack so maybe I can't get a week out of it but there is definitely enough product for 2 days if you have thick medium length hair.
I've been getting lots of compliments stares and head turns from both Japanese and foreigners alike. Just yesterday a man ran up to me at the train station telling me that I was so beautiful that he had to try to speak to me haha.
I personally think I look so much better with straight hair and most people seem to agree as well. The product is doing as it should. It is helping my hair avoid frizz and remain straight even when I sweat which I do A LOT.




Thank you so much for reading! I hope you found this review helpful. Please feel free to share any advice that you may have whether it be good or bad in the comments below. Let other readers know how PROQUALITE worked or didn't work for you and your hair :)

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