From Kupang to Makassar: Sherly's Story and the Confidence to Begin a New Chapter

Moving to a new city is always a leap of faith. You leave behind the familiar—routines, friends, and even the feeling of “home”—to embark on something entirely new.

This is what Ms. Sherly experienced.

A while ago, she packed up her life in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, to accompany her husband who was continuing his studies in Makassar. A new journey, a new city, a new chapter that was both challenging and thrilling.

Amidst her adaptation to the new environment, there was one thing she brought from home: her identity. And a significant part of that identity was her crown—her distinctive curly, frizzy hair, a beautiful legacy from women in eastern Indonesia.

However, as time went by, a desire to experience something new, something fresher, began to grow.

Trust Carried by Word of Mouth

Ms. Sherly came to Salwa Salon not because of an advertisement. She came because of a much more valuable asset: trust.

“My friends who had their hair straightened here,” she told us, “they were never disappointed.”

In this new city, community recommendations were everything. She had seen our work on her friends herself. She saw hair that was well-cared for, straight, yet still healthy. And after two years of letting her natural hair grow, she decided, “This is the time.”

We at Salwa Salon understood that this wasn’t just a request for “ordinary straightening.” This was a request to be trusted with something very personal.

Understanding Character, Not Just Applying Cream

Ms. Sherly’s hair, as we analyzed it, had the distinctive texture of Kupang. The strands were medium-thick, coarse, and curly with a unique character. This was not hair that could be tamed with a single standard formula.

This hair needed expertise. This hair needed to be listened to.

The biggest challenge? Ms. Sherly’s hair was a “retouch.” More than half of her hair was new, still “virgin” (natural) hair, while the ends were remnants of a straightening treatment from two years ago.

This was our mission: to unite these two very different textures into a single, straight, soft, and smooth whole, without looking “broken” or patchy.

A Six-Hour Ritual for a New Beginning

This transformation process was a ritual. It wasn’t a sprint; it was a marathon.

For 5 to 6 hours, Ms. Sherly dedicated her time to herself. This was a moment of pause from her role as a supportive wife, as a newcomer in a new city. For these 6 hours, the focus was entirely on her.

Our team began with precision. We didn’t just apply one cream. We formulated a special mix: a blend of normal and strong creams for the resilient new hair, and a gentler treatment for the previously processed ends.

Two rounds of cream ironing, two applications of step 1, and neutralization with step 2 cream. Every strand of hair was treated with care. This was a blend of science (product chemistry) and art (manual expertise).

Inside the salon, time seemed to slow down. There was the aroma of treatment creams, the sound of hair dryers, and light conversation. This wasn’t merely a service transaction. This was a day of therapy, a day where Ms. Sherly was pampered, listened to, and understood.

The Mirror, a Smile, and Newfound Confidence

Six hours later, we turned her chair to face the mirror.

That moment was always magical.

The hair that was once coarse and unruly now fell straight, soft, and naturally shiny. As she ran her fingers through it, the strands flowed—a sensation she might not have felt for a long time.

Ms. Sherly smiled at her reflection in the mirror. Her smile was wide and genuine.

“It’s beautiful,” she said softly, almost whispering.

That feeling of “confidence.” That was the keyword. This wasn’t just straight hair. This was Sherly feeling renewed, refreshed, and ready to embrace her new chapter in Makassar. She hadn’t lost her identity; she had simply chosen to display it in a new way that made her feel better.

Beauty is the Courage to Begin

Ms. Sherly’s story reminds us that beauty is often not about perfection, but about courage.

The courage to:

• Move cities for love.
• Trust a friend’s recommendation.
• Dedicate six hours to self-care.
• And step out of the salon door with her head held high, ready to conquer a new day in a new city.

For us at Salwa Salon, being a small part of a grand journey like this—a journey of building confidence to begin a new chapter—is the greatest honor.

Do you have a story about a new chapter in your life? Or are you considering a hair transformation to refresh your look? Come and consult with us. We are ready to listen to your story.