We absolutely adore helping our clients experiment with funky new hair colours – but before we can work our magic, it’s important for you to have a solid, healthy foundation to start with.
Even natural, sulphate/ammonia/paraben free hair products & colours can sometimes cause existing hair problems to flare up, as well as make curing these issues more difficult in the long-run.
If you feel as though you’ve got ‘problem’ hair, you’re not alone.
In fact we’d hazard a guess that everyone reading this has probably experienced one or more of the following issues at some point in their life.
The following are three of the most common frustrations we encounter on a daily basis, along with a few tips on how to take care of them before you book yourself in to get that Unicorn-Mermaid-Frappuccino-Colour-Melt you’ve had your eye on.
1. DANDRUFF
The dreaded D-word.
While dandruff is often made out to be the worst thing EVER, it’s actually a pretty normal bodily process.
It’s natural for your skin to renew & have dead cells flake off so that new ones can take their place. It only becomes visible when the process of skin renewal speeds up & more dead cells are shed at a faster rate and even then, dandruff still affects almost HALF of the whole population!
It can usually be solved with using a shampoo better suited for your scalp & finding the balance between washing too much & not enough.
The important thing is not to let dandruff affect your confidence. It’s not a disease, it can be controlled… And there are almost as many people in the world with dandruff as there are with brown eyes!
2. HAIR LOSS
Hair cells are the second-fastest produced cells in the body (after bone marrow), so hair is often the first thing to suffer if the body is under stress.
Where male-pattern balding is the most common cause of hair loss for men, stress, medication, diet, hormonal changes & menopause are some of the most common causes for women.
For example, if you experience an emotionally stressful/hormonal event like giving birth to a baby, moving house, getting a divorce or coping with a death in the family, three months later you might notice you’re losing more hair than usual.
The same applies if you change your diet, e.g. You’ve decided to go vegan after being a meat eater all your life. Once again, as your body adjusts to this change, you might begin to notice you’re losing hair around the three-month mark.
Many people go through a similar experience three months after they’ve been put under anaesthesia during surgery too.
Studies have even shown that seasonal changes could play a part. The body holds on to hair to protect the scalp against the summer sun during the warmer seasons, meaning many people experience a kind of ‘malting’ season during autumn & winter (thanks a lot evolution).
If you find you’re losing hair due to one of these events or changes, try not to stress about it – it’s just your body adapting to change.
Steer clear of fad/crash diets, take it easy with the heat tools, keep an eye on any medication which might be causing side-effects, make time for some regular R&R and within a couple of months your body will recover & your hair will bounce back!
On the other hand, if you seem to be losing hair at an alarming rate & you’re not sure why, it could be worth checking with your doctor, as hair loss can often be a symptom of another underlying health issue.
3. SPLIT ENDS
If you’ve been lucky enough to side-step the first two, surely you can relate to this one!
Split ends or Trichoptilosis can actually refer to fraying anywhere along the length of the hair. Unfortunately their list of potential causes is even longer than their scientific name.
The following are some of the most common causes of the dreaded split end:
- Excessive heat styling
- Overuse of chemical treatments
- Use of inferior styling tools e.g. cheap synthetic brushes, combs, rollers etc.
- Environmental damage
- Lack of routine maintenance
- Improper detangling techniques
- Trimming with inferior scissors
- Bed clothes with harsh materials
The list goes on!
What’s more, no matter how many old wives tales & home remedies you might hear about, ultimately a proper trim will eventually be necessary to repair your split ends.
If your hair is giving you grief, drop in for a chat with one of our experts so we can find a haircare plan that works for you!
Give us a call on (02) 9907 2624 or click HERE to book yourself in this week.