In the beauty industry, hair textures are often correlated with fabrics. For example, coarse strong hair is associated with denim, medium strength hair is associated with a cotton shirt and fine hair is associated with silk. Fabric correlations make understanding how to care for hair easier.
By LADOSHA WRIGHT
Contributing Hair Columnist
In the beauty industry, hair textures are often correlated with fabrics. For example, coarse strong hair is associated with denim, medium strength hair is associated with a cotton shirt and fine hair is associated with silk. Fabric correlations make understanding how to care for hair easier. However, correlating salon services with products used to clean fabrics confuses and devalues the salon service.
One of my jobs as a cosmetologist is to perform various chemical services. In order for me to provide top notch services with money back guarantee, I need to be well versed in chemistry, math, formulations, timing, application and how to care for one’s hair afterwards. Most women fear all forms of chemical services; from relaxers, to hair coloring, to perms, to highlighting, to combining these services and more. Of all the chemical services women fear, hair coloring ranks number one.
In an effort to ease the fear and cost associated with coloring services, hair coloring manufacturers have produced 6 different ways to chemically alter the color of one’s natural hair. The first is “Henna” or plant based hair color. This hair color is derived from plants or may contain a combination of plants, teas and herbs to artificially color hair. While the name and its ingredients sound safe and easy, Henna or herb/tea based hair color produces permanent results on hair. The second is “Temporary” color, which comes in the form of a mousse or conditioner. This type of color is great to re-fresh natural or artificial hair color. The third is “Semi-Permanent.” Semi-permanent hair color only deposits color and washes out as the hair is shampooed. While, the word “semi” lends itself to temporary results; permanent is actually the result for most. Depending on the porosity (ability to absorb) and if the hair is relaxed or permed, the results are typically permanent. The fourth is, Demi-Permanent color is similar to semi-permanent color except it may contain a very small percentage of peroxide (not the kind in your medicine cabinet) to help the color enter the hair so it will not shampoo away as fast as a semi-permanent color. Demi-Permanent colors do not lift either; yet the results are typically permanent on very porous, relaxed or permed hair. The fifth type of hair color is “Permanent.” Some permanent hair colors have ammonia in them and some do not. Permanent color is great for lifting natural hair color lighter, it is excellent for gray coverage and is very safe when mixed and applied properly. The last type of hair color is “Lightener or Bleaching.” Lightening or Bleaching produces permanent blonding results on natural hair color. Like “Permanent” color, most contain ammonia to ensure optimal lifting results. It is also safe and offers many creative coloring options when used professional with care.
While ingredients like ammonia peroxide, bleach, lye, stainer and rinses all sound familiar in the world of cleaning around the house and washing clothes; leave the “Rinse” to follow the spin cycle on your washing machine. Do not play hairstylist at home with any form of hair color until you have a clear understanding of the responsibility and price associated with the service to keep your hair intact and on your head.
A part of Stephano & Co. Salon and The Reverence Design Team on Lee Road in Shaker, Ladosha Wright is the Manager and Instructor of Cosmetology at Reverence Salon. She specializes in Trichology (the study of scalp and hair properties). This area of expertise allows her to teach clients how to care for their hair in between salon visits thus maximizing the use of their time and dollars.
