TBC Magazine chatted with Jade Gonzalez from Jade Salon of Atlanta on her favorite straightening tips for coarse hair
By Crysta Jones
Jade Salon of Atlanta exemplifies beauty through diversity. The Atlanta-based beauty salon specializes in treating various hair types from coarse to fine hair. Co-Owner Jade Gonzalez is Hair Colorist and a Master Cosmetologist with over 20 years’ experience with a specialty in Japanese Thermal Hair Straightening.
What do you do to treat coarse hair?
We have varying conditioning products. We have a product line that we have imported from the Dominican Republic. The product is called Dominican Hair Shield, and it has great moisturizing shampoos, masks, conditioners and leave-in creams that keep the hair nice and smooth. That is what we use on coarser hair commonly.
What look or technique have you perfected, and can you give any tips for our readers?
We are known for a process called Japanese Thermal Hair Straightening. It is a hair straightening service for coarse or curly hair — it actually works on all hair textures. It gets the hair completely bone-straight with a little bit of blow dryer heat, and clients do not need to come in for another six months.
The process takes about 4 hours, but it has little to no maintenance.
It gets the hair completely bone-straight with a little bit of blow dryer heat, and clients do not need to come in for another six months.
Is the Japanese Thermal Hair Straightening Service chemicals or heat?
It’s a thyl-based relaxer, so it’s really like a light perm. We have seen a decrease in sodium-hydroxide relaxers, but the process we perform [Japanese Thermal Hair Straightening] is very different from other forms of relaxers.
Let’s say a client has natural hair, and they want their hair straightened, but not with the Japanese Thermal Hair Straightening service, what would you give them?
We could do the Dominican round-wrist blow-dry style that would be heat and flatiron. If they something semi-permanent, we offer Keratin treatments. It keeps the hair straighter for three months; it is not entirely organic nor is it technically considered a chemical. It doesn’t permanently alter the hair. The hair should go back to its original texture.
What tips can you give to rising hair professionals on styling all types of hair?
Learn how to do all types of hair. A lot of people want to cater to one hair texture. Specifically, we have to be diverse. A lot of African-American clients who do not have coarse hair complain that African-American stylists often use to much heat. We need to address everyone individually.
Would you say that using a lot of heat on hair is not optimal?
Some hair requires a lot of heat, or it won’t straighten. However, this can damage hair over time if heat is used too often. I think the healthiest thing for your hair is to leave it in a more natural state.
What would you suggest to clients who want their hair at its healthiest state for coarse hair?
Do not use a lot of heat. A lot of our clients put their flatiron at the wrong temperature or use the wrong type of flat iron like a titanium or iron flatiron without heat protection products. Use ceramic flatiron instead. Also, get haircuts! Don’t be afraid to cut your hair.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. Image courtesy of Jade Salon of Atlanta.
