Is your hair stressed out?

If you are mixing chemicals with hair color you need to check out the following...because your hair is Stressed Out!

If you're having trouble with all over dryness, and still feel you need to have a Perm or a Relaxer, but don't want to stop your hair color service... try these Tips to help keep the shine in your hair. These are a few different ways to keep your hair in the best condition that you can when using these chemicals together.

Fact:

Even if your hair is in the best of condition, it will still need the help of a good treatment at least each week. If you do your color at home, you should also use a good treatment at least once a week if mixing chemicals...I'll tell you how...and it won't cost a fortune.

Number One Rule:

Always have the Perm or Relaxer a few weeks before the color or at least a full 10 days. Never have the two Permanent processes on the same day other than using a milder Semi-Permanent color to refresh the fading of color after the Perm.

Trouble Spots

Permanent Waves:

During the processing time of the Perm, the "bonds" within the hair shaft are being changed into a new form...from straight to curly. The hair, as you know it, is wrapped around the perm rod to make these changes. The tension and the pressures can be great on the hair often causing damage within the hair shaft if improperly used. The desired curl is then sealed into place with a final lotion called neutralizer...which forms the new curl. At this point if the neutralizer is left on too long the hair is more damaged. The hair should only be neutralized for 5 minutes....no more. Often it is left on for 15-20 minutes causing real dryness to the over all hair shaft, especially if the hair has been previously tinted.

To rearrange the straight hair into soft wavy hair, it is often less damaging when it is not wrapped so tight around the Perm rod...the Body Wave. Then you have the 'fuzzy hair look' which has been wrapped round a tiny perm rod so many times it looks dry and frizzy. This is even worse if you have had hair color just before the perm. It also happens when the wrong solution has been used or over processed.

When you have a Body Wave, just to give a bit of overall curl to your hair, it is best to have your color service two weeks before the Perm. Also, always go to the best Chemical person, so you know they will use good judgment when choosing the Perm solution for your previously tinted hair.

Relaxers:

When using a Relaxer, always do the color two weeks before the relaxer. This chemical will remove the hair color from the hair even more than the Perm. Never do a Relaxer at home! Most professionals know how to do this service...but be sure to call and ask before booking the service. Then go in to see the person that will be doing the service. This will be a "no charge" consultation, so take advantage of it. The person doing the service will be glad you came in so they can see just what condition your hair is in. You may have to wait for a week to get the service but it's better to wait than break your hair off.

Asian Relaxers:

Are they any better than the regular Relaxer... if you do pay $700.00 and sit for 5 hours for the service? The hair is relaxed when it is finished, but the hair is still dry and often straighter than is needed. The over straight hair is very drying if be over Tinted or Highlighted hair. It often can break off, which has to grow out over the months to get back to normal. (1/2 inch a month) There's not one treatment in the present market place that will replace broken hair. Treatments only help the hair retain its moisture.

In the end Perms and Relaxers remove color from color treated hair. They dry it out and leave it dull and flat looking. The only color that will really help repair this overall lackluster is using a Semi-Permanent hair color as a regular service or as a color refresher after the service.

Semi-Permanent / Demi-Permanent Color:

If you have ultra straight hair, and must have a Perm to give softness to your hair, you might think of using a Semi-Permanent hair color every month rather than a Permanent colorant. The Semi-Permanent will penetrate less and will not react so harshly with other chemicals. You will have to do the color process more often but it will help prevent an overall dryness.

If you have very curly hair or have uneven curl in your hair that you feel you must have relaxed you must also consider the Semi-Permanent hair colorant. It will help retain the shine that will be removed with the Relaxer chemicals.

Treatment:

When using two different chemicals together, it is imperative that you use a conditioner at least once a day if you shampoo daily or at least once a week, if you shampoo your hair two or three time a week. You can buy the professional treatments in the salon or go to the beauty supply. When you buy, just get one that says "Repair" in the description of the product.

You can use this in the shower, or just rinse your hair and apply, and keep it in your hair while you do projects around your home or work out at the gym. If you don't shampoo before and you have left it on for an extended length of time, shampoo and then use a conditioner so your hair will be easy to comb through. Please don't use heat when using the treatments over color treated hair.

Always use a very large-tooth comb for combing ...don't ever use a brush over wet hair because this pulls and stretches the hair therefore, breaks it off.

Last word:

As a professional, I don't recommend using Relaxers or Perms with Permanent color treated hair, or if you have bleach Highlights. I suggest, if you need curl or need your hair straightened, you use a Semi-Permanent colorant instead of the Permanent Colorant. Also, that you switch to using High Lift tints for the highlights rather than using bleach. This change will help retain as much moisture as possible with the mixing of these two chemicals.