Laois customers view 'Rolls Royce' of hair straightening products at Portlaoise salon

Frizzy unruly hair is the bane of many Laois women's lives, but a Portlaoise hairdressing salon is offering a gamechanger product that they say lasts six months.

Redmond's Hair and Beauty Salon on Portlaoise Main Street held a fun and educational customer night recently, where the audience were treated to goody bags, hot food and a raffle as they watched the entire process unfurl from frizz to sleek straight hair over four hours on a volunteer model.

Redmonds, a long established salon with a team of five led by proprietor Natalie Redmond, are the sole agents in the town for the Proaddiction hair smoothing system from the USA.

Guest speaker Olivene Bartley speaking to the audience at the ProAddiction demonstration night in Redmond's Hair and Beauty salon.

Natalie explains how it works.

“I decided to hold this demonstration night because only when you see it can you believe what it does.

“Unlike a lot of 16 or 12 week blowdrys, this is a permanent straightening, without harsh chemicals.

“Normally with a smoothing blowdry, every time you wash your hair, keratin leaves it. With Proaddiction, proteins are bonded in straight lines on the hair so it will be the same in six months time. You will only need it redone as your hair grows out,” she said.

On the day, model Aine was given the full treatment over three and half hours.
At the finish, to show how effective it is, her hair was washed again with a final treatment mask to restore pH levels, then it was easily blowdried straight.

Before the model underwent ProAddiction treatment at Redmond's hair salon.

“We welcomed a guest speaker on the night, customer Olivene Bartley who has come for the treatment many times now. She doesn't dread drying her hair any more.

“We can colour it straight after. You can go swimming in chlorine, go in the sun, and it doesn't alter. It blends better with hair extensions too.

“It is formaldehyde free so there are no excess fumes, it's kinder to customers with asthma. No patch test is needed.

“You can still get a curly blowdry too. It just leaves the hair softer, smoother so it can be dried straight easier. If it dries naturally it will still have that wave,” Natalie said.

Yanni from Proaddiction with proprietor Natalie Redmond.

She said that Proaddiction is ideal for people who find it hard to manage their hair, and have to spend hours straightening it.

“We have been offering it since after Covid. We do other smoothing services too, like an instant straightening that lasts two to three weeks.

“This is the Rolls Royce, I just cannot get it out there enough how well it works.”

The audience were treated to hot food while they waited, and the winner of the free raffle won a teeth whitening session which took place on the night.

“It lifted 12 shades to a natural white colour. It is a no bleach natural product,” explained Natalie.

The ProAddiction process costs €385 including take home bottles of shampoo, conditioner and a mask.

While the Christmas rush starting, Natalie said she is still taking salon bookings.

Both she and her staff are trained in the ProAddiction service but she personally takes on the task, to free up her staff for customers.

She is proud of her team.

“This year we won Salon Team of the Year. To me it is all a team effort. We split our tips whether you are sweeping hair or you're a pro stylist, we help each other,” she said.

Last week the entire team took a day off to fly to Manchester to celebrate one team member's 10th year at Redmonds.

“It's getting busier fast. The last two weeks before Christmas will be bedlam. We welcome customers now to book their spot,” she said.

Find the salon online on redmondshairand beauty.ie