Hair care…is it worth it?

Part 3 : Styling Aids

It is now June. It seems to me that around this time of year almost every other consultation we do seems to begin with the same statement, “My hair doesn’t look as good as it usually does”. There could be two reasons for this:  either every hairstylist’s becomes completely talentless during the summer months or we are still very talented but find it difficult to compete with the excessive humidity levels that are a part of living in the south. My guess would be that it is the latter of these two statements since we seem to be quite competent during the other nine months of the year. Now I am proud to live in the south despite the soupy air and the triple digit temperatures so I choose to take comfort in the fact that EVERYONES hair suffers in June, July and August and they probably are not noticing my own personal frizzie-ness! I am not meaning to make light of the situation. There is nothing more frustrating than taking the time to blow dry, smooth, flat iron and curl only to have your hard work completely disassembled by the time you get to where you are going. Now is the time to reevaluate the products that you are using to style and to hold your hair in place. Styling aids are more important this time of year than any other time.

Since hair types vary and the products available are numerous, it would be impossible for me to recommend what everyone who reads this post should use. Your stylist should be making those recommendations to you throughout the seasons. What you use may need to change periodically to accommodate the conditions of your hair, as well as the weather. I can, however, tell you about some of the top selling items that we carry here at OH SALON.

Gels and mousses will help hold the hair into place when coupled with a good holding spray. I love Defining Gel for thick hair and Uplifting Foam for fine hair. Both made by Aquage and sold ONLY in professional salons. Finishing Spray, also by Aquage, remains our best selling holding spray. Nothing will smooth your hair better in this heat and humidity than Flowing Form by Wella. It also has silicones, sweet almond oil, and jojoba extracts which will help to prevent hair from kinking back up after it has been styled. Curl Defining Crème with keep natural curls luxurious while Ocean Spritz will create that slightly mussed “beachy” look that is so trendy right now.

Items to avoid this time of year would be heavy waxes and pomades that tend to weight hair down in the heat. The only exception to this rule is male clients that tend to have shorter heavily texturized cuts and ladies with stylish pixies.  I also find that “extreme” hold hairsprays tend to break down in this humidity and can leave the hair flattened and dull.

Next week we will discuss home colors, perms and highlighting and the risk involved. Stay tuned

 

Part 2: Cleansing and Conditioning

Shampoos and conditioners are an important part of your hair care routine but, did you know that many top selling products could be causing you more harm than good?  Shampoos are considered to be quality products based upon the ingredients that they are made up of and the percentage of alkalinity that results from the ingredients. This is what is commonly referred to as the shampoos “PH” balance. Shampoos with a higher PH level can actually strip hair color and cause highlighted and permed hair to become dry and brittle. Almost every problem that we see in the salon concerning quickly fading hair color can be traced back to the shampoo that the customer is using at home.
I think that most consumers would also be amazed at the amount of wax and alcohol that most of these products contain. I would even go so far as to say that you are mainly paying for a simple wax or paraffin with just a drop of detergent added. If you are in doubt about this, please watch the video link as Christine performs a test on several of the leading brands and then does the same test on the shampoos that we sell here at OH SALON. I think you will be amazed at what you see.

We are often asked if it is important to shampoo and condition every day and I really think this is case by case and dependent on whether or not you need to. If your hair is very oily naturally then you probably will need to shampoo every day. If your hair is naturally dry then it is perfectly fine to skip a day or maybe even two. Seasons of high pollen counts, sweaty gym workouts, and humid days spent at the lake or by the pool are all reasons to shampoo your hair.

Do I need to condition?  I would have to say that in my opinion you should be using something after shampooing. Conditioning agents help seal the cuticle layer of the hair and leave you with glossier and healthier looking locks. With the use of curling wands and flat irons that reach 450 degrees, it is vitally important for the health of your hair to be protecting it in some way.  There are many types available, and like all other hair care products your stylist should be making recommendations to you so that you will get exactly what you need for your specific hair type. We even carry lightweight leave in treatments that will not weigh your hair down. Yes, everyone can benefit from the use of some type of conditioners and they should be a normal part of your routine.

Next week we will explore styling aids…what you need and how to use them properly. Thank you for all your comments on this blog series. Information is key and we at OH SALON are pleased that we can provide it for you and that you are enjoying our postings.