Girls talked about where they had been and what they liked most. Pretty soon, the parlor became known for rebonding hair and is still creating a lot of buzz in the underground forums. Female freelancers and writers who never found any reason to flip and flaunt their hair ought to check out the place.
I was one of those convinced to have my hair rebonded at 887. My sister and 3 sisters-in-law had theirs done at the same parlor too. We were a bit appalled though that the entry which topped the search engine for "887 rebonding salon" left a negative impression.
Honestly, I'm surprised that not one of the many satisfied clients actually took time to write a decent blog post about the place. So today, I'm going to write about the salon where I spent a flat fee to give my tresses a make-over.
Nothing Digital About the Service
The full name of the parlor is 887 Rebonding Digital Beauty Chateau which is located on the same building as Sarrosa International Hotel in Cebu City, Philippines. The building is about 3 to 4 blocks away from Ayala, if my memory serves me right. Because of its location, a number of customers simply refer to the place as "887 Sarrosa."
Note that there's nothing "digital" about the services though and up to this day, the term "digital rebonding" eludes me. About 6 employees, excluding the manager Lorna Payupanin and her daughter, run the place. They appear to work in pairs and each pair does special tasks manually and under the supervision of Lorna (also called "Norma") or her daughter:
- washing, shampooing and rinsing
- applying hair color and other chemical agents
- hair ironing - the men usually do this and are very powerful at it
- towel drying and blow drying
- finishing touches such as hair trimming - no less than the owner or her daughter does this
Reservations Not Honored and Why Customers Still Flock
The salon offers pedicure and manicure as well as other hair care options, but its main selling service is hair rebonding. While you would think that 887's no-reservations policy is a major turnoff, a number of patrons and new customers eagerly line up to get their hair rebonded - as if eager to spend the next 5 hours at the salon. Interestingly, the shop is open everyday of the week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (sometimes even extending until 10 p.m.), and it's always full of people. Here's why:
- You get to pay a flat fee of P1,800. The price applies to hair lengths up to the bra level.
- You could still haggle for a discount if you ask the owner nicely.
- You pay as-is. Tipping is not mandatory.
- You could request for a trim (free of charge) when you're a hair rebonding customer.
- You enjoy a free washable cellophane treatment to go with the rebond. To "upgrade" to permanent cellophane, there's a small add-on charge of P600.
- You will have nice, naturally straight-looking hair at fraction of the cost that famous salons such as Tony and Jackie, Ricky Reyes and David's Salon charge.
- You could immediately shampoo and fasten your hair 24 hours after the treatment.
- You are covered by a 3-day warranty in case you are dissatisfied with the straightness of your hair. While you can't get your money back, you can have your hair rebonded (again) for free.
General Feedback, Praises and Caveats
The salon caters mainly to the college student and young working professional populations. Most of them are beauty-conscious and budget-conscious. While everybody loves the price and the location, the level of comfort or customer care perhaps leaves much to be desired. You won't get royal treatment but you will get the hair that you want - about 90 percent of the time.
Case in point: You're paying for results. Hair rebonded at 887 Sarrosa is so classy in fact that people can't tell that you'r such a cheapskate. In a 5-star rating system, I would personally assign the following points to the parlor:
- Price: *****
- Location: *****
- Customer Service: ***
- Success Rate with Hair Rebonding: ****
- Cleanliness of the Salon: ***
- Efficiency: ***
- Hair Care Expertise: **
- Waiting Time: **
Getting frizzy, burnt or brittle hair from chemical straightening is a possibility. These risks are escalated when you have had your tresses permed or dyed. Unless you volunteer such information and talk with the owner herself, chances are you could get your crowning glory fried from hair rebonding.
As attested to by customers, 887 does not really ask about your previous hair vanity trips. The staff assumes two things: Either you have virgin hair (hair that has never undergone perming, relaxing and other kinds of treatment) or you know already the benefits and risks associated with the treatment.
Some Words for the Wise
Is hair rebonding bad for you? Well, over the long term, yes, but if it's a one-time or two-time affair, you will probably enjoy the treatment. To avoid disappoint:
- Do not go to the salon on holidays and weekends. There are too many customers and you will likely be asked to come back another day, preferably a weekday.
- Do not opt for hair rebonding if you dyed, colored, cellophaned or had your hair relaxed within the past 6 months. Let your hair "rest and recover" for at least a year.
- Do not avail of the 3-day free rebonding warranty. Read the previous advice. Getting a repeat rebond within 24 hours can result to toasted, frizzy, dry and brittle hair.
- Do not expect treated hair to be zero maintenance. It will feel nice for a while, but you've got to do your part to keep hair moisturized. Prepare to stock up on conditioner or regular hot oil treatment.
- Do not spend too much time out in the sun. Swimming in the beach or taking a dip in the pool can make your hair very dry.
- Do not attempt chemical treatments on your rebonded hair without researching the dangers. Avoid hair sprays, relaxers and dyes at all costs.
887 Rebonding Salon Contact Information
- address: Sarrosa International Hotel, F. Cabahug Street, Mabolo, Cebu City, Philippines
(The parlor is at the ground floor, left wing of the building and fronting the side parking area.) - landline numbers: +63 (32) 516-3422 or 516-0271
- cellphone number: +63 921 386 2761
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored review. I am not connected with 887 Sarrosa.
