Listen to Your Hair! It grows near your ears for a reason!
By Alfonso Gonzales, master stylist
Fried hair. Split ends. Wilting curls. Fading color. Does this describe your hair? Even in the Valley, where the winter weather is more tolerable than in other cities, high pollutants during this time can play havoc with your do. Taking a trip to the salon will revive your hair with the right conditioning treatment. One of two treatments may be the right prescription for your damaged hair.
Is your hair feeling flat or lifeless? No bounce or shine? Has it lost its elasticity? Sometimes hair is abused by color, shampooing too often, blow-drying, or ironing (flat or curling). Consider a protein treatment. Protein is a source of keratin, a major building block of hair structure. When your hair loses its stretch or movement, your hair may lack keratin, and would benefit from a protein treatment.
Does your hair crackle with static electricity? This sometimes occurs when the hair becomes too dry or is faced with unusual exposure to pollutants in the air. Dull color and lackluster shine often accompany high levels of static electricity. This conditioning treatment replenishes the moisture in the hair, and revives the color and shine that might be temporarily lost.
Conditioning treatments can be used on all types of hair—curly, long, or short. They can also be applied to hair that has been permed, straightened, or colored. The treatments are not for women only—men also are brought to recognize that conditioning treatments add shine, body, and protection to their hair.
Your scalp can also benefit from either treatment. Sometimes the scalp can get dry, causing flakes. We don’t want that! Your stylist can assess your hair and determine which treatment will add the right zip to your hair.
A good conditioning treatment can last for several weeks if you follow the treatment with good products and care at home. Always use a gentle, professional care shampoo recommended by your stylist. A regular conditioner should be used as part of your daily regimen. By doing this, the hair will continue to be protected and will retain the glow from the original treatment. Supermarket shampoos often have high levels of detergents that will strip the hair, removing the moisture and nutrients deposited on the hair from the conditioning treatments.
Most people think that having a conditioning treatment at the salon takes hours, but this is certainly not the case. Professional treatments are concentrated and work pretty quickly. It is very important to pay attention to treating and maintaining the hair and scalp. Hair is an important part of your persona. Therefore, conditioning treatments should be a crucial part of your visit to your hairdresser. If you’re not getting a conditioning treatment, you’re not listening to your hair.