Healthy Hair Today!

As we approach the New Year, many women want to make positive changes in our lives. It is a time when we strive to become healthy inside and out. Why not start with your hair? At Healthy Hair Salon, we specialize in solving distressed hair problems, which are very common given today’s popular styling habits.

It is good to tackle hair distress early. The best way to identify the seriousness of the damage is to consult with a professional Trichologist.

However, there are early signs of distressed hair that you can detect by observing your own hair.

Some warning signs of hair distress include: 1) “Popping” when combing hair, 2) Dry scalp, 3) Dry dull hair, 4) Excess shedding after relaxer, and 5) Notice of chemical odor.

When I examine a client that experiences one or more of these symptoms, I suggest a chemical re-balancing treatment restore  the pH balance of the hair. Chemical or mechanical hair distress can actually change the pH balance of the hair causing it to swell. A pH level between 4.5 and 5.5 is considered balanced. Hair ends that appear lighter can be a tell-tale sign of swelling.

Close up of hair distress restore the pH balance of the hair.

The chemicals in relaxers, gels, shampoos and other regular hair styling products can affect the pH balance of the hair. In addition, the sun’s ultraviolet rays and the use of curling irons can cause hair swelling.

In order to maintain healthy hair, I recommend a chemical re-balancing treatment to be done quarterly, especially if the hair shows signs of distress. At Healthy Hair Salon, we have found that it typically takes 2-6 of our chemical balancing treatments (or up to a year) to restore hair to a healthy state, depending on the damage.  I have seen both my natural hair and relaxed clients achieve stronger hair by rebalancing the pH of the hair.

Once the hair is healthy, it is important to remember the following tips:

• Lengthen the amount of time between relaxer touch-ups.  6-10 weeks is suggested, 12 weeks for very fine hair.
• Consider getting a scalp detox or scalp refresh every 3 months to remove bacteria and build-up (from medications, sweat, dirt or various styling products). Washing your hair alone does not remove this build-up that can change the pH of your hair. You will need to seek out a Trichologist or scalp specialist for this kind of treatment.
•  Avoid wearing a weave cap. Weave caps can cause hair loss, breakage and even fungus by becoming a breeding ground for bacteria and toxins released from the scalp.
• Wear a satin scarf instead of cotton at night to lessen or prevent breakage.

Following these simple hair care do’s and don’ts will keep your hair on a healthy trend and start your year off right. Truly, New Year, New Hair, New You!

Need to work on your hair distress? We are extending our 12 Days of Treatments special until Dec 31.