Digital Perm at Das Raum (Beauty Brick)

I have already curled my hair a lot using traditional perm in the past but it's my first time to try digital perm. Why? Because it's too expensive!!!

A traditional perm only costs around PHP400 - PHP800 at local salons (yung sa tabi tabi lang). While digiperm costs around PHP3000-PHP8000.

I stick to traditional perm in the past because I feel like they last longer than digiperm though I'm not really sure..yet. Anyway I had this spur of the moment urge to curl my hair (after watching Barcelona) so yeah I ended up trying a digiperm.

Beauty Brick is located at Jupiter St. Makati. My friend has already tried their digiperm service (she made her research on different salons offering digiperm) saving me from having to research myself and end up not actually doing it. In short, Beautybrick is known for good digiperm results at a more affordable price than it's counterparts. So here are 3 simple steps to get that curl you've long wanted.

Step 1: Secure a reservation.

You can call or text 09175200044 to schedule an appointment with Mr. Shin. They reply promptly and and they were very accommodating with my questions.

Q: How much for a digiperm?

A: Depends on hair length and condition. Ranges from PHP3300 to PHP4300.

Q: Do you accept credit cards?

A: Cash only basis

Q: Can I color my hair beforehand

A: Depends on your hair condition we will check first.

Step 2: Getting there

From MRT Buendia southbound, ride a jeepney with "Washington" signboard beside McDonalds.

Get off at Petron Gas Station (right side) then walk to the street behind Petron (Jupiter St.)

Walk to the left until you see Anytime Fitness. Beauty Brick is located inside Doña Consolacion Building.

You wouldn't see any sign board of a salon or beauty brick outside (even inside).

Step 3: Show up for your appointment

When you enter, you'll instantly be reminded of a Japanese restaurant because the staff will greet you upon entering. Makes sense because Mr. Shin is a Japanese.

The salon is just simple. White walls, mirrors and chairs. Unlike other salons which stink of chemicals, I can actually breathe normally inside. The only downside I guess is the comfort room which is located at the second floor of the building (outside the salon).

Mr. Shin (the one with the hat) seems to only speak Japanese (and very little English) so he always has his translator by his side. Sometimes it's very confusing because my mind is trying to process what Mr. Shin is saying (which is in Japanese) at the same time, I need to listen to the translator for well.. translations.

What amazes me is how a nameless salon (literally) became so popular. When you check on google, there are only a handful information about the place. By the wall hangs some magazine clippings about Mr. Shin so I guess he really is famous.

Before Shot (Saturday)

We had our appointment for 10:00AM. We arrived 10minutes before 10 and was shortly called for shampoo afterward. The salon was already full this early Saturday morning.

Then Mr. Shin (through his translator) will ask you what type of curls you want (small, medium, big, combination). I showed him some pictures but unfortunately he told me the curl I wanted was created by setting and using curling irons and not digiperm. He advised using medium curls because I have short hair so that it would last longer. Then he trimmed my hair and the translator gave me a quote of PHP3400 all in (haircut, treatment and digiperm)

After trimming my hair, they put on the treatment. They will walk you through the steps one by one and introduce what product is being used clearly.

Then they shampooed my hair again and put on collagen and then blow dried.

Next is the winding and setting (with heat).

After removing the curlers, they will set it again and put another chemical. Then they'll give you a head and back massage.

Last is blow drying and styling.

Result

It was not the type of curl I imagined but Mr.Shin didn't really give me any false hopes. He said that curls turn out differently for everyone depending on your hair so there isn't really a pattern.

Can't manage to smile because I was sooo sleepy not because I didn't like the result. Mr. Shin will also teach you how to maintain your curls. I know it wouldn't actually look like this when I wash it so I'm quite nervous about what it would actually look like

Mr. Shin is very hands on on each of his clients. Their process is very organized. I didn't notice it at first but my friend pointed out they were using a kanban. With post its to keep track of the status of each phase and timers. It's a bit noisy though with Mr. Shin giving out orders from time to time and all the staff answering in unison "Yes Sir, Yes Manager" (really like in a Japanese restaurant).

The service is superb! and I'm not even exaggerating. I felt like a princess with the service they were giving. Always checking if you're comfortable and what not and making you feel your money was well spent even if it's a little expensive.

But honestly I really love the service (I can't stop gushing about it). Unlike in other salons where they will tell you how horrible your hair looks like so they can push you to buy their products and avail of other services. Beauty Brick is nothing like that. If I didn't ask they wouldn't even mention that they also sell some hair products they use.

So aside from the service, I find digital perm more acceptable than traditional. The medicine they use for traditional irritates my eyes and sometimes my skin too. Not to mention the horrid smell that makes it hard to breathe. I didn't experience any discomforts during the digiperm process so definitely a lot better than traditional.

What's left really is to test the longevity. I'll update this blog in a few to see what happens.

After Shot (Monday)

It's easy..they said..You just twist and scrunch.. they said.. but boy was I so lost the first time I had to "maintain" it. 

Some people say it's easier to maintain curly hair because you don't need to comb it. But if you have straight hair and don't usually comb like me then I beg to disagree. I had to wait for it to dry a bit then put a combination of hard wax and oil to 'hold' the curls while twisting and scrunching. X_X

Tuesday

 This time I used a curl defining mousse and found that the wax and oil combination holds better

One month later and this is how our hair looks like

 Check out the link below if you want to know more on how I maintain it.
Maintenance for Digitally Permed Hair

Korean Visa Application

A few of my friends have already been to Korea and told me not fuss to much about visa application but can you blame me from being all paranoid and nervous? We already bought the tickets. We already have a place to stay and our itenerary has already been planned out from day 1. So all that's really left is applying for a visa.

So what are the requirements?

I got this leaflet from the embassy. Note that these are requirements for employees.

1. Application Form - you can get one from the embassy or you can download it from their site (click here). Use black ink and capital letters and avoid erasures. Follow the instructions on how to fill it up.

2. 1 pc. Passport size colored picture - use white back ground, no accesorries, don't smile, show your ears. You can tell the photographer its for a visa and they should know what to do. The photographer told me visa pictures are passport sized as well but the face has a different size ratio than the usual passport size picture. Paste this picture in the application form.

3. Original Passport (6mo. valid) - if you have an old passport staple it with the new one. I personally used paper clips instead of staples since I'm afraid to damage the chip in the electronic passport wherever it is located.

4. Copy of passport first page - this would be the data page of the passport, the one with your picture.

5. Original Employee Certificate - it should indicate the length of stay in the company, the compensation you receive, and the number of your hr so they can verify it.

6. Original Personal Bank Certificate - request the bank to put the date the account was opened. It should indicate the balance in your account.  I think 30-50k is a safe number. In some banks requesting to put the date it was opened will also show your average daily balance. Account should be open at least 3 months.

7. ITR or BIR Form 2316 - we submitted form 2316 for the previous year provided by our company.

Arrange the documents in the order listed above.

Where to apply? 

The Korean Embassy is located at McKinley Hill Taguig. You can take a taxi from Ayala Ave straight to the embassy for about PHP100. Or you can take the MRT to Magallanes station and board a citylink bus/fx/van to McKinley Hill near San Lorenzo Place and SM Savemore. From McKinley, you can take a free internal shuttle with the C5 route and go down at C5 and walk to the embassy. Visa Application is from 9-11 AM but gates open at 8AM. I arrived just before 9AM and they were already accepting visa applications. I hope our government agencies can learn how to do this.

When to apply?

We applied a month and a half before our expected date of departure. This is so we can prepare other documents if ever they ask for additional requirements because they sometimes do. Call me paranoid but it's better to be safe than sorry.

What to expect when applying?

Basically you just have to submit the requirements and get the claim stub. You have to log in and leave an id in the guard station. When you go inside, you have to sign up again and get a number. Wait for your number to be called. Pass the requirements in the window and get your claim stub and that's it. The claim stub indicates when you can get your passport back.

What to expect when claiming?

This is usually 5 working days after your application date. There are 3 scenarios I'm aware of.
1. You get your passport with the visa stamped on it. Of course this is what everyone prefers.
2. You get your passport with a piece of paper saying you visa application was denied.
3. You're asked for additional requirements and wait for another 5 workings days for the result.

Visa claiming is from 2-4PM but my friend arrived at 1:30PM and she was already entertained.

So after 5 days of worrying.. drum roll please.. tada! Our visas were approved!

What a relief that was. You can check the embassy's site for more details.
http://embassy_philippines.mofa.go.kr/english/as/embassy_philippines/visa/requirement/