DON’T RUIN YOUR HAIR AVOID HAIR DAMAGE! Before you can be assured of healthy, growing hair, you should be aware of what to do to avoid and what can limit the growth rate and health of your hair. WHAT IS DAMAGED HAIR? Dry, frizzy hair, excessive breaking or falling and hair that can’t hold a curl are the common signs of damaged hair. WHAT CAUSES HAIR DAMAGE? Hair damage can be caused by any of the following: Not moisturizing and conditioning regularly. Not having your split ends trimmed before they run up each hair shaft. Improper application of chemicals, such as over processing. Overlapping chemicals when you touch up a color or a perm. Using too much heat from a blow dryer, pressing comb or curling iron. Sleeping in tight rollers. Pulling braids too tightly from the scalp. Wearing rubber bands in your hair. Not protecting hair from the sun. Some medications. Illnesses. IF YOUR HAIR HAS BEEN DAMAGED, WHAT CAN YOU DO? If the damage to your hair is severe, a good haircut might be the beginning of a cure. Deep condition your hair often. Use a daily moisturizing treatment. Comb gently and keep your hair clean and styled for your best appearance. Figure out what caused your hair damage so that you can avoid repeating the mistake. If a perm or a perm touch-up was the cause for your hair damage, discontinue all chemical treatments to your hair until the damaged hair grows out. The press and curl method is a good alternative to styling during this time. It’s a good idea to give your hair a rest from chemical processing every once in a while. Wait until you need a touch-up and then either press and curl, roller set or wear a wig, weave or hairpiece until a good amount of growth appears. Switch to a NATURAL HAIR RELAXER. When you wear a wig, always wear a wig cap to protect your hair from friction. A cap-less stretch wig has the best structure to avoid an improper fit and hair damage. A light application of a scalp treatment to the scalp, combed through your hair before putting on a wig cap, is a good all day conditioning and moisturizing treatment. THE CURLING IRON what can be more convenient than to get up in the morning, plug in your curling iron and make a few curls. But, direct heat to your hair is quite damaging. Save your hair from heat damage by using the iron less frequently. When you do use the iron, protect your hair with a thermal heat shield spray. A liquid thermal heat shield not only protects your hair from the heat, but it gives hair shine and body, helps to hold the style, and keeps your hair in generally better condition. Don’t use the iron while the spray is still wet, and don’t allow the iron to touch your scalp. Use the iron at as low a heat setting as possible. WHAT IS A PERM? When your hair undergoes a chemical process to permanently change the hair’s natural structure to either straight or to a curl the process is called a perm. The word “perm” is short for permanent. When new hair grows out from your root, it will grow in naturally and will require a “touch up” to match the perm pattern on the rest of your head. WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCE DAMAGE WHEN THEY HAVE PERMED HAIR? All chemicals present a potential danger because they can cause hair to break, fall out, or become damaged. If you apply a chemical perm or dye to your hair you must be aware of the precautions necessary to avoid the problems that can arise. For a home perm, be sure to follow directions on the package. Remember that you are applying restructuring chemicals to your hair. Follow the directions given to reduce potential damage. Retouching new growth is the time most likely for your hair to suffer damage. This damage occurs when chemicals are applied repeatedly to already permed hair. The line between your new growth and the permed hair is the area most vulnerable. HELP TO AVOID DAMAGE BY DOING THE FOLLOWING: 1. Apply CONDITIONER after every shampoo. This replaces the protein the hair loses in the chemical process and will strengthen as well as mend your hair. 2. DO NOT OVERLAP already permed hair. Because you must cover all of the new growth, the chemicals will touch some of the already permed hair again. You can minimize this overlap as much as possible by touching up at the root without applying the chemicals on more of the hair than necessary. 3. Don’t touch up too frequently! Hair grows at the rate of ½ to ¾ of an inch each month. For relaxed hair a new growth touch up is required every 6 to 8 weeks while a curly perm needs one less frequently about every 8 to 10 weeks. When you perm, mark the date on your calendar so you can easily keep track of the time span. Try to wait as long as possible for the next time to touch up. Never apply more chemicals before 6 weeks have passed. Shampoo frequently. Dirt and perspiration can ruin permed hair. Never use chemicals on hair that has undergone a cold wave curling process. Never repeat a chemical treatment because you did not get the results you expected the first time. Reapplying chemicals can cause you to lose your hair or badly damage it.

Want a free copy of this report? Fill out the request form, and we will E-mail it to you!