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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Finding Clothes and Shopping Online in Japan For Foreigners

If you are interested in going to Japan to live or work long-term and happen to not be slim or short, then you've probably wondered how you will find clothing. Well it is possible but it will be challenging.

It's much easier to buy clothing from American stores here if you're a foreigner. SO the sport is mainly focused on those options.
You will also begin shopping online more often than usual especially if you don't speak Japanese it will be much easier to find what you're looking for. Plus since the shipping is so fast it would only make sense to buy everything you need from your phone or computer.

Of course you can say or think whatever you'd like but in my honest opinion online shopping will become your new best friend for several different reasons. There are pros and cons to shopping online of course but it is your safest bet and for some of you, your only hope of being able to purchase new clothing.

However I don't want to limit this post to just clothing. I recommend that you buy furniture and home goods online as well (even groceries). This way you don't have to carry large items on the train, hail a taxi home or attempt to arrange delivery with a store which can be very difficult if you lack the appropriate and much needed Japanese language skills (you could have a friends or boyfriend/girlfriend help you with this though).


A Few (A Lot Of) Points...

Japanese people are very fashion conscious. There's an exception to every rule but people here care about fashion trends and their outward appearance including makeup and hair a lot! Even men take fashion and hair very seriously.

Because Japanese people care so much about fashion you will find yourself caring more about your appearance too.

Personally I began wearing dresses skirts and more "fashionable" clothing". Ironically I get soo many compliments from natives and foreigners alike even although 90% of my wardrobe is Hot Topic, Forever21, H&M, Target and Walmart brand clothing!

Most Japanese clothing stores are run and designed like high end or vintage fashion boutiques. There are usually 2-4 staff members in a tiny store dressed professionally (sometimes even wearing gloves). They will typically only display one of each item and the clothing is spaced on the racks. The staff in these store are a bit more vocal (often times more annoying) and will offer their help and opinions similarly to American retailers around Christmas.


If you wear anything above an XL whether you are a man or a woman you can't find clothing in even an American store. You might find a few odd items that you can squeeze yourself into but it won't be easy.

If you already wear an Extra Small, Small, or even a Medium you can shop at most Japanese stores for you clothing. However a medium in Japan is viewed as a large so occasionally you may also have trouble finding clothing that fits you properly particularly if you're a woman.


Men generally won't have a hard time finding clothing as mens clothing is usually loosely fitted to some degree (even slim fit clothing). However if you're a tall man or have a gut you may find that the length is an issue thus specialty store and once again online shopping are your 2 options. Also you might as well give upon finding shoes if your an average sized man in the United States you're a giant here. Japanese men aren't just shorter but they have smaller hands and feet than MOST Americans. If you wear above a size 10 as a man you may have trouble finding shoes.

Yes losing some of that blubber will most certainly help you fit into the clothing here especially if you're a dude however if you are a woman this may not be the case for you when it comes to certain pieces such as dresses, skirts, and jeans. Asian women are generally very slim and lack curves. Most Japanese girls have a slim rectangular shape. So even if you do find clothing that fits or that is even too big for you it will never get past your hips and even the largest of bras might not be able to clasp around your ribcage/back.

Unless you're a total freak you will lose weight once you come here. I lost about 25 lbs. in 7 months (without any effort) since I came in December. I did this without changing my diet or exercising purposefully. You will find yourself walking so much and because the food here is not high in calories, sugar, or salt you will not be very interested in eating or even drinking as much as you were once used to.
Not that the food here isn't delicious but not all of it is very enticing or addictive either. Eating rice for every meal gets old real fast...

Wanna lose a little weight? Drink mostly water or unsweetened hot tea, Take the stairs and avoid the escalators, go for a late evening or early morning walk/run, join a gym. If you have a car don't use it ride your bike or walk.


One Size Fits All or Most is very commonly seen. If you ask staff about sizing or if they have a large size for the item you are pointing at or holding they will kindly tell you that they don't carry a larger size. XL is hard to find for both genders (and it's a Japanese sized Extra Large).
Sizes are not usually openly displayed like they are in America which can make shopping a bit confusing. Instead you have to examine the piece of clothing and search for the size tag usually inside the piece on the back of the inner neck (wow that was a lot to type for one point). Of course you can also use common sense usually the largest size will be in the back of the smaller ones. In my experience from shopping for men, men's clothing in anything over a U.S Large is hard to find. Most Japanese clothing for men would fit an XS-M  man in America.

7/11 has emergency clothing such as camisoles, tank tops, and T-shirts in white up to a size Large.

Women of color can find makeup such as concealer and foundation almost any pharmacy that sells drugstore makeup.  *Shades only go as dark as caramel like myself*
TIP: Purchase online from major makeup brands and you can have your correct shade sent to your front door.

Women of color can also find pantyhose at 7/11 *Shades only go as dark as caramel like myself*
TIP: Purchase online from major makeup brands and you can have your correct shade sent to your front door.


As for ladies shirts that stretch and socks are the only things you can buy without hesitation in most situations. Anything that's a bit fitted like skirts jeans and dresses you can forget about it!

Japanese women are on average shorter than MOST American women. The average height here is about 5'2 so clothing is made to fit women close to this height. I am 5'4 and haven't had any problems with the length of clothing.
HOWEVER I do notice that the sleeves are often shorter and jewelry comes in smaller sizes as Japanese women (men too) have smaller hands etc..
If you wear above a size 7 shoe then you may have trouble finding shoes.

SO be mindful of arm and leg lengths.

If you are curvy you can forget about buying a fitted dress, a skirt with a zipper or non stretch pants.
 I have very wide hips and even although I usually wear a size Large not even a 2XL here could fit over my hips. An Extra Large and Large generally fit me just fine in most clothing despite what I was told before I came here.

You should try to dress modestly but classy as a man or a woman. However many people dress immodestly but it's not as commonly done as it is in America. It's okay to show off legs and even arms  but I can count the times that I've seen cleavage here. Because you're a foreigner people will be more judgmental of your outfit choices. Maxi dresses and skirts are very fashionable and commonly worn here.

Most people especially women tend to dress like Americans did in the 70's and 80's. It is sometime hard not to laugh at their outfit choices but I'm sure they feel the same way about Americans.



Payment Options

Despite what you've read or have been told you can use credit and debit card here in Japan.Debit cards are easier to use. Most clothing stores whether they're Japanese or American will accept them.VISA & MasterCard (preferably VISA) is your safest bet. Be sure to contact your bank to update your address or for them to put a travel note on your account to avoid unapproved transactions and future embarrassment and humiliation like I experienced.


COD: I don't use this method personally but it's a great option if you'd rather use cash for your purchase should you not have a card or not have enough money on it at the moment. I recommend using exact change or smaller yen to avoid having problems as they delivery-dude may not have enough change to break a 10,000 yen for a 1,500 yen purchase! Also if you happen to not be at home they can't leave your package with anyone unless the person answering the door has the money to pay on your behalf. *Cash on Delivery! COD! That's LAW!*

Arranged Delivery Day & Time: You can arrange a specific delivery date and time of day such as before 12:00PM or between the hours of 6:00-9:00PM. This is very helpful especially if you work or are a student like me you can leave home without having to question and wonder whether or not you will be home in time to receive your packages.

LINE Pay: Similar to PayPal this is another way to skip having to enter all of your cards details. I use this method the most for smooth and easy online shopping. Its a treasure when you find stores that offer it at checkout!

Delivery: In  generally anything you but online from a Japanee store will arrive at your day in 2 days no more than 3 days from the date of your purchase. Most items ship the day you purchase them and because Japan is such a small country with less than half of the American population, most people live in Tokyo, most businesses have their factories, headquarters and warehouses in Tokyo and because you probably live in Tokyo yourself, items can be delivered much faster. Which is great!

PayPal: This online money service is available in Japan too! Sign up for one touch to make your mobile checkout easy for future purchase but be sure to update your address and acrd information if necessary!

Your Personal Saviors...

Online Shopping

I highly recommend that you shop from these stores to have clothing and miscellaneous items shipped directly to your front door. Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, JC Penney, Forever21, H&M, AliExpress and last but definitely not least Amazon.

The American stores such as Target do charge a hefty shipping fee starting at about $50 USD however it is worth it considering it's convenience and the fact that whatever you just purchased from their websites is probably nonexistent in Japan or very hard to find in Japan. There is no Walmart or Target here, and there's no store that is even remotely close to or comparable to either of the them sadly (Amazon is as close as you can get and ehh Costco too technically). Walmart unfortunately doesn't ship to Japan.

Forever21 (Japan)

One of the few American store here that actually have a warehouse and multiple physical stores located within the country. The clothing is mostly the same as what you are used to seeing in America. Just like in America people talk crap about this store and H&M referring to it is cheap and unfashionable however I can't tell you how many time I have been complimented for wearing their clothing! Most of my clothing comes from F21 & HotTopic and I wouldn't have it any other way.
COD, arranged delivery and LINE pay/check out are all options for making purchases. I was amazed that I could use the LINE app by simply adding my credit card information and using my thumb on my iPhone 7 Plus.



Amazon 

Is amazing here! You will have to make a new account with a new email as you can't use your U.S account here in Japan. So either create or use your alternative email to sign up. You will have new fancy options that have both both never existed in America and that have disappeared due to lack of  morals and safety concerns. COD or cash on delivery as well as well as the ability to pick both a delivery date and time (yes you read that correctly) is an option when checking out. As per usually you can also use the one-click buy option and save address and credit card information for future use. The option to subscribe and save is also available.
You will soon become a bit annoyed with not being able to purchase a lot of stuff from your home country as the seller doesn't ship to Japan. You an usually find the item through another Japanese seller but the price is usually crippled for profit.

TIP: Have a Japanese friend help you sign up for the account if you can't read in Japanese OR even better download Google Chrome for your cellphone (like I did) or tablet and go to Amazon's or F21's website NOT the app and you can request that the page is translated into English automatically! Problem solved! This also works for general online shopping in Japan even for ordering food. Check out this post for more information on that subject!
Also consider purchasing items from store that don't offer international shipping to Japan and have them sent to a trusted friend or family member in your home country. You can then have them ship the items directly to you in Japan.
You can also try using a third party shipping agency that is based in America at your own risk should you want to purchase personal items or lack family and friends that can help you.


Shopping In Store 

The only exception!
If you absolutely must shop in person you will fall in love with Uniqlo (my favorite). This store is like the Old Navy of Japan. They sell trendy clothing that's reasonably price and have good sales occasionally.  It's not a "cool" clothing store amongst the Japanese natives but who cares?! Clothes are clothes and only you know where they came from!
You may have noticed a few of these stores popping up in major cities in America such as Chicago recently.

Uniqlo sales clothing for all ages babies, kids, teens, and adults. They are a huge chain retailer and often have multiple floors of fashionable clothing in both small and extended sizes. You can also try on clothing in their fitting rooms. In general you can easily find sizes up to a U.S XL equivalent and occasionally a 2X. Anything above an XL there is no guarantee. They have a wide range of fashions selling both casual and business casual clothing


Forever21 and H&M are two more options for shopping in store. However if you wear anything above a U.S Large as a man or a woman, you will have very limited to no options at these stores. Unlike in America there is NO plus size section in store or online.



There's more to it!

This post will be updated in the future, as I am sure that there are other foreign and Japanese stores to shop at here online and in person.

Please share your shopping experience or any tips that you have for other people looking for clothing in the comments below.


Stay Tuned!

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