Curly Hair Solutions™ Frizz Control – Curly or Straight

Whether you wear your hair curly or straight, frizzy hair control is always a priority and will determine whether you have a great style or a style mess. Curly Hair Solutions™ takes pride in solving individual curl scenarios and promises to provide all curly heads with frizz control in all weather conditions whether your hair style is curly or straight. For total frizz control have the confidence to use as much Curly Hair Solutions™ products as necessary to achieve maximum results. Using a generous amount of product will help you combat high humidity and help you deal with fly-away hair. Our water based formulas ensure that there is no build-up or stickiness.  

When styling your hair curly, Curl Keeper™ gives you the ability to eliminate and control frizz while maintaining the curls in all situations, especially humidity. Curl Keeper™ reactivates with water which means your style will last for several days, with just one application. Your hair will dry leaving your curls feeling soft and clean with no product build-up. Curl Keeper™ can be used on all types of curls, from the smallest wave to the tightest African hair. 

 

When transforming your curly hair into a straight style, you can be sure that ReMane Straight™ will protect your hair from all high heated appliances such as blow dryers and flat irons. It is important to protect your hair from breakage due to overheating and stretching. Using ReMane Straight™ will ensure that your style and hair colour will last longer and be kept brighter.  Most importantly, ReMane Straight™ eliminates frizz for all straight hair styles. To finish off your straight hair style use Tweek™, a hairspray in cream form. Tweek™ will instantly control fly-away hair, hat head and even bed head hair.

Nobody wants a frizzy hair mess. So whether you decide to wear your hair curly or straight be sure to control the frizz and enjoy your gorgeous frizz free style that will last for days!

What To Expect When Visiting A Trichologist

If you were to visit a trichologist complaining of thinning hair, you could expect the following type of examination:

First, the trichologist would gather some personal information including your health history. She would pay particular attention to any health issues you had experienced within the last two to three months including: illnesses, beginning or ending medications, childbirth, breastfeeding, diet, stress, and regular menstrual cycles. She would also ask about your family’s health history and whether your relatives experienced any significant hair loss.

Next, the trichologist would ask how you care for her hair: what types of products you use and how often, whether you chemically process your hair, swim regularly, or wear your hair in any tight hairstyles.

The trichologist would then physically examine your hair and scalp to look for any signs of patchy hair loss, scaling, swelling or redness. Once she had ruled out those symptoms, she would begin to examine you for a condition called diffuse hair loss – thinning caused by hair loss from all over your head.

 The trichologist would run her hands over your hair to check for signs of thinning. She would then gently pull on your hair in several different areas to see if it indeed came out easily and in quantity. At the same time, she would ask when you last washed or brushed your hair and explain that it’s perfectly normal to lose up to 150 hairs a day, many of them while shampooing or grooming.

The trichologist would save the hairs she gathered in an envelope marked with the your name while explaining that she would examine them under a microscope after the appointment. She would then take several digital photos of your hair to upload to her computer.

At the end of the initial appointment, the trichologist would explain that she suspected diffuse hair loss (telogen effluvium). She would set you at ease by explaining that you would not go bald with the problem and that she may be able to correct the cause and restore your hair’s thickness. She would schedule a follow-up appointment at which time she would report her findings.

When examining the hairs under a microscope, the trichologist would look to see if there were white bulbs at the ends, indicating telogen hairs (hairs in the “fall out” phase). She would also check for small anagen bulbs (hair in the active growth phase) without root sheaths, which would indicate a condition called loose anagen syndrome. Lastly, she would look for signs of breakage, which could indicate anagen effluvium, or chemical or mechanical damage to the hair.

If the trichologist determined that you were suffering from breakage and appeared to have no outstanding health or nutritional problems, she would recommend gentle care of your hair at home and in the salon, as well as protecting it from UVA/UVB rays.

Breakage due to signs of fungal infection or inherited defects would require further investigation and a gentle explanation that there is no treatment.

If the hairs appeared to have fallen out in the active growth stage (anagen) and you had undergone cancer treatment (radiation and chemotherapy), or may have been exposed to toxins, the trichologist would tell you that the hair loss should stop two to three months after either the treatments stopped or your doctor treated you for toxicity.

If the trichologist suspected any of the following, she would refer you to your physician for a blood test and a complete medical check-up:

• Hormonal imbalance
• Thyroid problem
• Diabetes
• Anemia
• Lupus
• Poisoning from X-rays, pesticides, lead, or mercury
• Thrush
• Kidney or liver problems.

For more information on Trichology, visit The Trichological Society's website.

Healthy Hair Tools Checklist

Water softener or filter: This is a must for people with hard water because mineral deposits can build up on your hair, making it dull and prone to damage. The Water Quality Association  is a not-for-profit organization with lots of good information on water softeners, filters and purifiers.

Shampoo: Use a mild shampoo that’s free of sulfates and soap. If you have a greasy scalp, there’s no harm in shampooing as often as you need to. Just remember that wet hair is weak and should be handled gently.

Conditioner: Look for professional quality conditioners containing Panthenol, Proteins and Dimethicone, ingredients that cling to the hair shaft, infuse it with moisture and fill in damaged cuticle gaps. You can also massage conditioner containing Panthenol into your scalp to improve the moisture content of hair as soon as it starts to grow.

Leave-in conditioner with sunscreen: A good leave-in conditioner should moisturize hair and make it manageable without weighing it down. Look for ingredients like Benzophenone-4, which protect hair and scalp from the sun, and help preserve your color.

Scalp Massage Oil: To encourage healthy growth, make a massage oil containing essential oils of Lavender, Cedarwood, Rosemary and Thyme. Use 15-30 drops per 2 tablespoons of carrier oil, such as Almond, Sesame, Grape Seed or Jojoba. (Note: be sure you’re buying real essential oils, not just “fragrance oils.” Essential Oils are tiny drops extracted from plant leaves, stems, bark, flowers, roots and fruits. They’re highly concentrated and should never be used without first mixing with a carrier oil.)

Microfiber hair towels: Microfiber hair towels, like those made by Aquis, are super-absorbant and cut down on drying time. Gently blot and squeeze your wet hair with the towel - never rub. You can also wear as a turban to help absorb excess water.

Wide-toothed comb: Look for a wide-toothed comb with smooth, rounded teeth. Any jagged edges will catch on hair and roughen the cuticle.

Cushoned boar bristle brush: Boar or natural bristle brushes are exellent for distributing sebum from your scalp to the hair ends. A rubber cushion has more “give” to it and is easier on hair.

Satin pillow case: To cut down on friction while you sleep, use a satin pillow case instead of cotton or flannel.

Humidifier: If you live in a dry climate or have trouble with static electricity in the winter, a humidifier can help by putting moisture back into the air. You can also simmer a pot of water on the stove to get the same effect.

Flexible accessories: Use accessories that are entirely made of plastic or cellulose acetate. These materials are more bendable than wood, metal, horn or bone, and are gentler on your hair.

Coated elastics: You can find these cheap at any drug store for securing ponytails and braids. Keep a few in your purse for hair emergencies.

Silk Scarves: Instead of wearing a friction-inducing hat, switch to a fancy silk scarf. Your hair will be smoother and have less static, and you’ll look extra-stylish!

Professional-grade scissors: Invest in a pair of very sharp metal scissors for at-home split end trims. You can find them at beauty supply stores and online.

Hair Facts

 

• A human head has an average of 100,000 hair follicles. Blondes have the most at around 140,000 hairs, brunettes have an average of 110,000 and redheads have about 90,000.
• Each hair follicle grows a new hair an average of 20 times.
• During a baby’s first year of life, all of the hairs on the head grow at the same rate.
• Hairs on an adult scalp have different growth cycles.
• It’s normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs each day.
• Up to 90% of the hairs on your head is actively growing at any one time.
• The number of follicles capable of growing hair declines naturally over the years.
• Hair grows approximately ½ inch per month.
• Hair is made up of about 97% protein and 3% moisture.
• Chemotherapy can cause hair to fall out because the drugs target rapidly growing cells, including cancer cells, hair cells, and cells in the bowel lining.
• Excessive shampooing doesn’t cause your hair to fall out. Hair that falls out in the shower was ready to come out on its own, and has already restarted the growth cycle.
• There are three types of hairs recognized among humans: Mongoloid (straight, black hair belonging to people with Asian ancestry), Caucasoid (wavy or straight hair ranging in color from black to blonde belonging to people with European and Indian ancestry) and Negroid (black and tightly curled hair belonging to people of African descent).

Styles You Should Avoid For The Sake Of Your Hair

Wearing the wrong hair style can lead to breakage and even temporary hair loss, called traction alopecia. This hair loss is caused by excessive tension on the hair and scalp and is usually first noticed around the hair line.

Although the hair loss may take years to show up, there are usually early warning signs including redness, swelling, itching, bumps and scales. Thinner, shorter vellus hairs may take the place of longer terminal hairs. Traction alopecia and excessive breakage can easily be avoided when you know which hair styles to steer clear of.

Hairstyles to avoid:

• Any style requiring excessive heat. If you straighten or curl your hair every day with heated irons, you could be setting yourself up for serious breakage. Repeatedly heating the hair shaft speeds up the cycle of hair damage: lifting and wearing of the cuticle, exposure of the cortex, splitting and fraying of the hair shaft and finally breakage.
• Hair Extensions. Hair extensions continue to grow in popularity because they offer a quick fix: long hair without the wait. They can be applied in a variety of ways - weaving, sewing, heat fusing, gluing, and clamping - all of which can cause serious damage to the scalp and hair you already have. In addition, extensions require constant conditioning since your hair’s natural oils don’t lubricate the foreign hair.  If you want long hair, it’s best to take the time to grow your own. But, if you just can’t wait, make sure the person who applies your extensions is a true professional. Don’t be afraid to ask for references - a real professional won’t be offended.
• Corn rows and other tight braids. Hair that’s tightly braided either close to, or away from the scalp, are big offenders when it comes to causing traction alopecia. If you love the look of braids, make sure your hair braider goes easy on your scalp. Also, have the braids removed every so often to give your scalp a rest, and be sure to practice massage to keep the scalp muscles loose and the blood circulating.
• Tight ponytails and buns. Many ballerinas suffer from traction alopecia because they regularly wear their hair scraped back into tight buns. The best solution is to loosen the style, wear it less often, and practice daily scalp massage to counter the tightness of the hairstyle.

Accessories to avoid:

• Metal barrettes. Metal barrettes can literally slice your hair shaft if you wear them too often and in the same spot. Try switching to barettes made completely out of plastic or celluloid acetate, which are more flexible and forgiving on the hair.
• Rigid hair sticks & forks. Hair sticks and forks made out of bone, horn, metal or wood don’t have any “give” to them and can cause spot hair loss if worn on the same part of the scalp each day. Once again, it’s best to opt for plastic sticks that bend and adjust to your head’s shape.
• Bobby pins. Professionals like nurses and waitresses who secure their hats with bobby pins close to the scalp find they begin to lose their hair in those areas. If you must use pins to secure a hat every day, try to do so loosely and remove them often to give your scalp a break.
• Uncoated elastics. Never use a regular rubber band or other uncoated elastic to secure a ponytail or braid. These will stick to the hair, causing all sorts of tangles and breakage when you try to remove them.

A Relaxed Scalp Leads To Healthier Hair

The scalp isn’t just another area of skin on the body; it has special characteristics that make it hospitable to growing hair.

• The scalp has numerous sebaceous glands that produce sebum, a natural oil that lubricates the hair.
• The scalp contains the follicles that grow long terminal hairs. At the base of each follicle is the erector pili muscle that causes the hair to “stand on end.”
• Skin on the scalp is thicker than on any other part of the body and is directly attached to the epicranius, a major muscle that covers the skull.
• Blood circulation to the scalp nourishes the hair follicle and helps it grow healthy hair.

Environmental and emotional stress can cause the scalp muscles to contract, leading to poor blood circulation and headaches. When the nourishing blood supply to the hair follicles is limited, hair may not get the nutrients it needs to grow healthfully.

The best way to keep the scalp muscles loose and the blood flowing is through regular scalp massage.

You don’t need to go to an expensive salon or hire a masseuse to give you regular scalp massages, although it sure would be nice! Instead, you can easily practice do-it-yourself massage that can noticeably improve your hair’s condition and growth.

1. Put your hands on either side of your head and use your thumbs and fingers to make small circles. Don’t forget to include the forehead and back of the neck. Try to move the skin around as much as you can (without rubbing your hair) to really get the blood flowing.
2. Grab your hair at the roots and gently tug, then release.
3. With your hands on either side of your head and hands over your ears, gently squeeze your skull for several seconds then release.

For added relaxation, combine your massage with aromatherapy (a candle, essential oils, incense) and soft music. With regular massage, you should begin to notice a change in your hair’s condition within three months, the time it takes for new hair growth to reach the surface.

Scalp Problems To Watch For

The skin on the scalp is susceptible to redness, scaling and swelling from a variety of conditions. If you notice any of the following symptoms, be sure to contact a dermatologist for treatment.

Psoriasis symptoms: very red skin covered by white scale. Skin bleeds easily when scratched. Treatment options: creams containing tar, salicylic acid, zinc sulphate, anthralin or corticosteroids; ultraviolet (UV) therapy.

Pityriasis Amiantacea symptoms: Thick white scale that clings to the base of the hair. Treatment options: creams containing salicylic acid and tar.

Seborrheic Dermatits (“Cradle Cap” in infants) symptoms: redness, oiliness, greasy yellow scales and itching. Treatment options: frequent shampooing; creams containing sulphur, salicylic acid or resorcinol.

Lichen Simplex symptoms: white scale on a red base, normally located near the nap of the neck. Severe itching. Treatment options: topical steroid creams and camphor.

Dandruff symptoms: non-inflammatory scaling. Treatment options: tar and salicylic acid creams, medicated shampoos.

Tip: The scalp is susceptible to sunburn because it’s the part of your body that’s closest to the sun. Before spending time outdoors, comb a sunscreen product or leave-in conditioner with Benzophenone-4 through your hair, concentrating on the scalp and ears. Better yet, wear a head covering whenever you spend time in direct sunlight.

Natural Hair Color Might Affect Chemical Processes

Believe it or not, natural redheads often have a harder time taking perms and relaxers than people with other hair colors. The reason has to do with the special hair protein, keratin.

The keratin in naturally red hair contains up to twice as much sulphur as other natural hair colors. This sulphur forms very strong chemical links called disulphide bonds that join the keratin chains together. In fact, disulphide bonds are some of the strongest bonds known to nature.

In order for a perm solution or relaxer to work, it must break the disulphide bonds and soften the keratin. The hair is forced into its new shape, usually with rollers, then a neutralizing lotion is applied to reform the bonds and harden the hair. Since redheads have more disulphide bonds to break, a regular perm solution or relaxer may not be strong enough to reshape the hair.

A stronger solution can be used but should only be applied by a knowledgeable professional. Otherwise, the disulphide bonds could be irreversibly damaged, leading to massive breakage.

What gives hair its color? Cells in the hair bulb called melanocytes produce a pigment called melanin. The melanin is carried into the cortex as the hair grows upward. Phaeomelanin is the name of the pigment found in red and blonde hair; Eumelanin is a darker pigment found in black and brown hair.

On an interesting note...

A new study shows that natural redheads need some 20% more anesthesia during surgery than blondes and brunettes.

Dr. Edwin B. Liem, an anesthesiologist at Louisville’s Outcomes Research Institute, discovered that red hair “is apparently an important element” in the decision of how much anesthesia will safely render a person unconscious while increasing pain tolerance and suppressing memory.

Although Dr. Liem says no one knows exactly why red heads need more anesthesia, he says he gueses that “it’s somehow related to the dysfunctional melanocortin 1 receptor.”

These receptors are responsible for hair color. According to the BBC, “Liem believes a dysfunction of this receptor triggers an increase of the hormone that usually stimulates the cells. This happens to be the very same hormone that stimulates a receptor in the brain that governs pain sensitivity.”

"Redheads are likely to experience more pain from most stimuli — surgery is just one example — and therefore require more anesthesia to alleviate that pain,” Liem says.

So, if you’re a natural redhead, be sure to have a long talk with your anethesiologist before going under the knife!