Hair Challenges Part II
Hair Challenges Part II
Author: Jenna White | San Francisco Hairstylist
December 12th, 2021
December 12th, 2021
Dear readers,
This guide is meant to enlighten you about what is really going on with your hair. Move the hair product marketing aside and step into the mind of a hair professional by learning the science behind your strands, which are fluid and, at times, inconsistent. They can be changed with heat, weather, and chemicals, all agents that can be manipulated to achieve your desired look. As a third-generation hair professional, I'm excited to share this knowledge to give you more control over your hair challenges.
Always,
Jenna
This guide is meant to enlighten you about what is really going on with your hair. Move the hair product marketing aside and step into the mind of a hair professional by learning the science behind your strands, which are fluid and, at times, inconsistent. They can be changed with heat, weather, and chemicals, all agents that can be manipulated to achieve your desired look. As a third-generation hair professional, I'm excited to share this knowledge to give you more control over your hair challenges.
Always,
Jenna
To lay a foundation for the sections below, I want to start with the science behind your hair's structure. This can be a big step in understanding the cause of your hair challenge. Your strands are mostly made up of a keratin protein, which consists of the COHNS elements (Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Sulfur). These elements create the following bonds in your hair:
Disulfide bonds can cause permanent change in the hair structure, allowing us to perform services like perms and color. They are also responsible for the hair’s strength. Hydrogen bonds cause temporary change and adjust the hair's shape, for example, during washing and drying. We can use this knowledge to our advantage when styling - weather induced frizz can be reset simply by rinsing with water and styling in a new way. Check out this guide titled "Hair Frizz Science: Water and Hydrogen Bonds" to learn more. The big takeaway I want you to have before jumping into the sections below is this: the further we push the limits of our hair the more challenges we may face.
- hydrogen bonds
- salt bonds
- disulfide bonds
Disulfide bonds can cause permanent change in the hair structure, allowing us to perform services like perms and color. They are also responsible for the hair’s strength. Hydrogen bonds cause temporary change and adjust the hair's shape, for example, during washing and drying. We can use this knowledge to our advantage when styling - weather induced frizz can be reset simply by rinsing with water and styling in a new way. Check out this guide titled "Hair Frizz Science: Water and Hydrogen Bonds" to learn more. The big takeaway I want you to have before jumping into the sections below is this: the further we push the limits of our hair the more challenges we may face.
DESCRIPTION: Hair can easily become twisted around itself, forming knots. The longer your hair is, the more likely you are to encounter them. The processes of detangling can be time consuming and sometimes painful.
CAUSES: The following can contribute to tangles in hair:
THE FIXES:
PRODUCTS
CAUSES: The following can contribute to tangles in hair:
- Long hair
- Fine hair
- Shedding/Hair Loss
- Not brushing daily
- Chemically processes on hair (such as color, perms or relaxers)
- Hair breakage
- Split ends from waiting too long for a haircut
THE FIXES:
- Removing Build Up
- Emollients and/or conditioning products
- Brushing your hair before you shower
- Using a wet brush or wide tooth comb
- Addressing Damaged Hair or Dry Hair
- Using braids to keep the hair organized while sleeping or during activities with excessive movement
- Detangling technique, try the steps below
- On dry hair, start by spitting the hair into manageable sections. If you can't make a section, use a comb to part your hair down the middle of your head, sectioning half of the hair off to the left and half off to the right.
- Use your fingers to gently pull some of the knots that are higher up in your hair further down towards your ends.
- Using a mixed boar's bristle brush, take one section and begin brushing. Start at your ends and work your way up. If you still have tangles afterwards, try repeating step 3 with a comb.
PRODUCTS
- Products with ingredients like dimethicone are best for tangles
- Many of the Products used to treat dry hair, damage and frizz also help with tangles