Index Salon Rebonding Experience

I was so lucky to have my birthday on a weekend. I felt I don't need to file a leave plus I can get away with my officemates sa mga pang aasar nila hahaha! I am sure you know what I mean. =)

As I have mentioned multiple times, I am the person who's not use in celebrating my birthday in the bongga way diba? It's either eat out or a simple salu-salo at home lang. I was just really excited this time kasi Daryl made me choose kung anong gift daw ang gusto ko on my birthday. =)

Well, originally, I wanted an iphone or a new camera (DSLR) hahahaha! Mejo ambitious frog lang eh wala naman trabaho yung jowa ko. Days before my birthday, he made me choose again ng hindi naman sobrang expensive. I asked him for shopping money since I am meaning to buy new jeans for office wear. Whenever I go to work, I am on dress. Mas madami kasi akong dress over jeans or tops. I want to buy at least 2 jeans and tops. There have been sale mall wide in SM Southmall and Robinson's Place Las Pinas but the shopping money he gave was allocated in paying for the bills na lang.. hayyy... =(

Anyhoo, he made me choose either of the two - shopping money for 2 jeans or a salon treatment.

Pinag - isipan ko ng ilang araw. I have been putting off the jeans for quite a while now same as the salon trip. My hair have grown really long (waist long) that I have not been able to have a haircut since last year! Imagine that??? What I want kasi is to have my hair treated na when I get a haircut para isang puntahan na lang. Besides, ookrayin na naman sa salon ang buhok ko because it's so makapal. As in bonggang kapal. It's like one strand is equivalent to 3 of a normal hair, mga ganyang levelz. At the same time, it's wavy at buhaghag kaya okray talaga inaabot ko sa salon. Endless comment na "Ang kapal ng buhok mo Ma'am" "Magpa rebond ka na" etc etc.. Parang gusto kong sumagot na, "Yah, I know.. since birth yan kaya wag ng paulit-ulit, okay?!" In fairness naman, some people love my hair kasi nga makapal. Ganun talaga no?! People are not contented. Kapag payat ka, gusto mo tumaba. Pag tabain ka naman, gusto mo pumayat.. and the likes.

Well, at the end of the day, I have chosen the salon treatment na lang. I thought to myself that SM will have their sale soon enough. Madami naman malls jan na nagse -sale. Besides, I can buy a pair of jeans on a normal payday naman, hindi nga lang mga Lee Pipes or Jag jeans levelz. Hehehe! Naisip ko din na I have been so kuripot to myself since the start of the year and I have been so chaka all along after I gave birth to Jami. Bonggang hair fall ang inaabot ko everyday. When you see my hair, ang daming small hairs because nalalagas nga and they are trying their best to grow back. =(

Daryl can't believe that I am choosing salon over jeans since alam na alam nyang gustong - gusto kong nasa mall, window shopping kapag walang moolah (money).

I woke up a little late that day. I was planning pa naman to cook lunch since I know I'll spend hours in the salon for my treatment. When I took a bath, Daryl said na sya na daw bahala so I said "Hokay! Gotta go!"

I went back to my favorite salon in terms of Rebonding Services. The only treatment that I have undergone in my entire life is Rebond lang. I don't have the courage to do curls kasi nga ang kapal ng hair ko sa cancel sakin yung idea na yun dahil baka magmuka akong buhok na tinubuan ng tao. Hahaha! This is the same salon where I had my first ever Rebond service (I had 3 in total now). Index Salon was just along Pilar road at the back of Jollibee Pilar in Almanza, Las Pinas. We lived in that part of the city for almost 4-5 years so I was quite familiar. I don't have an appointment with them so I went there around lunch time to make sure na hindi pa sobrang dami ng tao. Mejo maliit lang kasi ang salon so it can get a little crowded in the afternoon to evening.

True enough, I arrived as if I am their first customer. I think they just opened not too long ago. I was really happy to be the first kasi I don't have to wait for my turn to be assisted. =)

I inquired about their package for rebonding although I already know and have set a budget for it. I was told of three packages they offer (1) Rebond with Keratin (2) Rebond with permanent cellophane and (3) Regular rebond. Every package includes free haircut already.

I asked about the Keratin since it's new to me. I was told by the stylist that whenever our hair undergo treatment, it looses its keratin or the natural keme.. blah blah.. Hindi ko na narinig yung ibang sinabi kasi na distract ako sa eyebrow nya hahaha!

Anyway, I chose Package number 2 since I want my hair to be colored din and the cellophane would do that. =) This was the same package I had for the last 2 treatment that I had with them so I'm pretty sure it will go well.

My hair was washed first even though I just took a bath before going to the salon. Pero keri lang naman so they can shampoo my hair before the treatment.

Short kwento: I had my suki in treatment on this salon. They call her "Ate Kuya" because she's tomboy. She did my hair for two consecutive time and I really love the result. I usually have my hair treated every December (during 13th month pay :p) and I always look for her. I like her kasi hindi nya ako tinitipid. I always feel na my hair receives the enough amount of gamot to achieve a better result.She was also matyaga in the process, she doesn't complain din. Alam kong nakakapagod ayusin ang hair ko dahil sobrang kapal than the usual at mejo matagal talaga gawin pero sobrang sipag nya talaga. I commend her for that. I have always been a very satisfied customer of her. =)

When they were washing my hair pa, I asked if Ate Kuya was still there in the same salon and she said yes. Hayyy salamat!! They called her and I asked if she can be my stylist for the day. Payag naman sya. I overheard some of the staff teasing her.

Staff: Feeling bless ka ha. Di ka na mag oot.

I then realized na may quota siguro sila daily and mejo inalat sya the day before kaya kailangan nya pang mag overtime.

After they washed my hair, Ate Kuya dried up my hair with blower and cut my hair to the length that I want and then put on the treatment "number 1" as they call it. Ito ata yung gamot talaga to make your hair straight. I have waited for 30 minutes or so before they washed my hair.

Side Kwento:

While waiting, I received a text message from Daryl na hindi pa daw sila kumakain! Gossshh! Sabi ko na nga ba eh.. nagsabi kasi sya na sya na daw bahala tapos magte text na hindi pa daw sila kumakain ng lunch! I was praying na sana makita nya yung money sa wallet ko so he can buy lunch.

Mga lalaki nga naman oh! Hindi makadiskarte sa bahay pag walang Nanay. Haha!

Ate kuya gave instruction to the lady whose washing my hair to wash it ng maigi because it's "Number 1" nga daw. Maybe it was matapang kasi na gamot so they really have to wash it off.

My hair is soaking wet, hindi nya ako tinitipid sa treatment =)

When I got back on my seat, Ate Kuya blowered my hair to dry it up then she prepared two hair iron and ironed my hair. Ito talaga ang pinka matrabaho at matagal sa buong proseso. She has to section my hair into four parts then get a few amount of hair, iron it twice with two different (I think) hair iron. Sobrang tagal talaga nito, the boring part. I noticed that the salon is getting crowded na. Ang lakas din pala ng mga salon no?! Daming nag papagupit at nagpapa treatment. Wala pa jan yung mga nag papa mani and pedi. I also realized na sobrang daming suki ni ate kuya. A lot of people are asking for her kaya lang, she can't commit to them because of me. Hehehe! Sorry guys! =)

When she fully ironed my hair na, she put another treatment and waited again for another 30 minutes. She made me choose which color I prefer for the permanent cellophane. She suggested not to color it light or matingkad because mag da dry daw ang hair ko. I don't have plans naman na mag blonde hehe. I was looking for the same color of hair that I had on my first treatment pero I don't know the name eh so I chose the Red Copper na lang.

When I washed and blowered my hair for the third time, they put naman the cellophane to color my hair. I waited again for another 15 minutes until the color sipped thru my hair. I was contemplating kung magpapa pedicure na ba ako kasi pagod na akong mag hintay ng matagal. Hehehe! Buti na lang, the wait is shorter than the first two treatment.

What I appreciate with Ate kuya is that, nire -retouch nya yung hair ko when she feels na hindi enough yung amount ng treatment na nailagay nya at first. =)

When my hair was washed again and blowered, I asked if I can wash my hair pero wag daw. It's after 3 days pa. OMG... Papasok pa naman ako sa office.

I settled my bill na and gave her a tip. =)

Verdict:

1. I am really glad that Ate kuya is still there. I hope she'll be there forever. Hehehe!
2. Their salon is really small, it was just a studio type with a second floor. First floor is where the haircuts and treatment is being done while the second floor is for mani, pedi and foot spa. I just wish that they'll invest on a bigger place so the salon would be more accommodating. Pag naging crowded na kasi, parang hindi na inviting to people, at least to my standard.
3. In case that they can't invest on a bigger work place, I just hope that at least they'll renovate it. Mejo luma na kasi ang ibang part ng salon along with other furniture. I panicked a little pa kasi I heard them saying na nawalan daw ng water so hindi ma wash yung hair nung isang kuya na nag pa haircut. Hahaha! I felt panicked nga kasi my hair is being treated tapos walang water. There has been a construction outside that touched their tubo underground that caused the water to go in and out.

A little later, I realized kung bakit hindi babasain ang hair for 3 days daw. Maybe because, my hair undergone a major renovation (parang bahay) hahaha! It was ironed, blowered, treated multiple times so I guess it needs a rest. =)

Overall, I am glad that I achieved the result that I am eyeing for. Ate Kuya never failed me. In case you want to try her, her real name is Juliet. =)
 
Index Salon
Pilar Road, Almanza Las Pinas

Me Time | Mont Albo Massage And Spa Experience

This Monday that passed, My friend and I had a spa experience here in Makati that I would like to share with you guys.

I am itching to have a great massage since the last time I had an encounter in year 2012. Clearly that was before I got pregnant with James in early 2013. Since I delivered thru C-section, I opted not to get a massage for the longest time. I don't actually know what has changed but it scared me a lot to go have a massage.

In the past months, I have experienced stiff neck for 2 long months.. Imagine? 2 months kong tiniis ang stiff neck na yun. It was just one day, I woke up with a stiff neck. I thought it would just go away on its own like those I had before. It took a week before it was gone however, I never realized that is going back for days then will be gone and back again after some time. I thought it was just about my sleeping position at night. Later on, I realized that when I wake up in the morning, I had a neck that's nangangalay but not totally a stiff neck. I would feel the pain when I am at work which could be on a level 8 pain, I guess.

My officemates encouraged me a lot to go check it with the doctor which I did. I found out that it was an MPS (myofascial pain syndrome). It refers to the pain in the muscles due to poor posture or stress. I actually attended a therapy session with Dra. Ynion in Healthway, Alabang Town Center, which if I may add is a great outpatient clinic. I swear! I was asked several times if pinamassage ko na nga daw since the Physical Therapist had a quick massage on my upper back. He said, yes.. he's a man, said that I can have it massaged naman daw, just make sure na super light lang kasi neck and batok is really sensitive with all the nerves that are located there straight to the brain. I told him, I am scared to die kasi. Hahaha! I have heard stories kasi that they had they're stiff neck massaged tapos na tegi. Eh jusko pass muna ako jan at baby pa ang anak ko! Hahahaha.. Baliw lang ang peg ko.

Anyhoo.. I have decided to throw myself in a spa massage since I think I had a lot of lamig sa katawan. I have been checking discount websites for a great deal where I found about Mont Albo. My friend introduced me there but was told by another person na hindi nga daw maganda. Although I wasn't able to get the deal online due to a very hectic schedule, sabayan pa ng mahabang pila sa bank, My friend and I decided to push our plans on getting a massage on a regular rate.

Just in front of our building was the Mont Albo. When we went inside, there's no other customers waiting which I found great because I don't have to wait for a masseus to become available. We were greeted by a small receiving area with a friendly receptionist. As usual, I have asked questions regarding their massage while holding their flyers where it explains the different massages they offer. On my past experiences, I always have the Swedish and Shiatsu combination which was not indicated on their flyer. It was their Mont Albo Massage pala. I am familiar with that kind of massage so I chose that when I asked if I want to add Ventosa for additional 80pesos. Mejo nag isip lang ako ng slight when my friend said na ipush na nga daw so we agreed.

We were then sent to our massage bed and we were immediately asked to take off our clothes except underwear which we did. Shortly after, the two masseus arrived and started the massage. I am new to Ventossa and was quite surprise about the feeling. I felt really cold kasi napakalamig ng room. My friend told me na mainit daw yung small cups used for ventosa. I thought it was cold kasi everytime na ilalagay, napapaigtad ako. Hahaha. Anyway, ventosa experience was great. Although it will leave a mark on your back, it was fine for me naman. =)

Over all, here's what I have noticed on Mont Albo, Jaka Building Branch:

Good Points:

1. Friendly Masseus. Most of the masseus naman talaga talk less because you're there for relaxation, not for a friendly chat. I appreciate the masseus when she asked me if I want a soft, moderate or hard pressure, I replied moderate lang, she did it moderately. Just like how I wanted it to be. =)

2. I was offered a hot tea and a hot towel after the massage. Although I turned down the offer, I was given a hot towel that I liked anyway. Sobrang lamig na kasi ng hands ko nun.

Needs Improvement :

1. Privacy is usually number one in massage place. You will take your clothes off so basically, you should feel a little more secured na hindi makikita ng taong bayan yung katawan mo diba? This was the first time that I have encountered a spa that doesn't have a room "literally". Para lang syang space na nilagyan ng kurtina like sa hospital na from time to time, pag may bumbangga sa curtain while walking sa hallway, pwede ka ng makita inside while wearing only your undies. I appreciate that they had the kubo style ambiance, mejo hindi lang achieve kasi they should have put at least a pawid na pader man lang that would separate each room from each other.

2. It was dark. I mean, literally dark. Hahah! They turned off the light kasi mejo dumadami na ata yung customers. My friend had trouble getting her things back like wearing her clothes kasi medyo malabo na yung eyesight nya. Going back to the room, kung may room lang then you have the option to turn on and off the lights diba?

3. It wasn't a "Full" body massage. I had my very first massage before which set the standard sa massage preference ko. I experienced kasi dun na kahit yung buto mo sa pwet eh na touch nila. As in it was a full body massage. From head to neck, to my back, even my chest was included, my butt, legs and foot. We did stretching din. Yung binuhat pa ako para lang ma stretch ung certain part ng body ko. Here kasi, back, legs, foot, head and a little sa neck area. Yun lang. So for me, it was kind of bitin.

4. Additional 50pesos for shower. I was like, what?! Heheh. With other spas kasi diba? Shower and Sauna is included in what you pay for so you could clean up before your massage.

5. The ambiance is too cold. I don't know kung ginaw na ginaw lang ako that day pero I felt really cold. While having my massage, I can't feel my hands anymore. Manhid na kasi sa lamig. Mejo exposed kasi yung hands ko, hindi nakumutan. heheh!

All in all, kung hindi naman kayo maselan sa massage and you want affordable but great masseus then you should consider Mont Albo. Their Mont Albo massage (Combination of Swedish and Shiatsu) costs 330pesos. Additional 80pesos for Ventosa.

For me kasi, hinahanap hanap ko yung massage na I had a long time ago. Take note ha?! It has been years pero I can still remember clearly kung paano ako na massage dun. Unfortunately, yung spa na nag set ng standard na yun is no longer operational, I think. I can't find them na kasi in Bluewave Macapagal in Pasay eh. Even their website hindi ko na mahanap. =(

Mont Albo Massage And Spa Academy (MASA)
Training Center and Spa
Ground Floor Jaka Center,
Pasong Tamo corner Buendia, Makati City
(02) 409-2075
Website : http://site.montalbomassage.com