Salon Products worth Every Cent

If you want the best treatment for your hair, do you go for salon products? Are they really worth the cost? Well in short, yes. The hair products that you will find in a salon might be more costly but the benefits far outweigh the price. Salon products tend to have a slightly different make up of ingredients than those you will typically find in your local store.

One of the ingredients that you will find inside a salon product will be a sulfate. Typically Ammonium Laurel Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate or Sodium Laurel Sulfate. These are surfactants. They help the cleaning agents lather and they will be gentler than the ones in store bought shampoo. The conditioners in a salon product also contain a much higher quality protein which enables the conditioner to penetrate deeper into the hair shaft and locks in moisture.

The rest of the ingredients contribute towards color and aroma. Two common ingredients you are also likely to find are aloe and honey. Although honey can be beneficial for your hair, it is highly unlikely that you will notice a difference with the quantity you find in a bottle. As for aloe, it is not really significant unless it is stabilized aloe. The rest of the ingredients are made up of stabilizers and preservatives. Once again, keep your eyes on the surfactants. They are very gentle but lather very little, which is why most shampoo brands won’t use it. Consumers believe that your hair isn’t getting clean unless you get a lot of lather. Completely untrue!

So you are probably wondering what the best product line out there is. Again, look at the ingredients. The rest is pretty much a choice of aroma, color and packaging. Chances are that salon products will be more expensive than store bought ones, and rightfully so. I would rather spend bit more and get a salon product – it’s worth every cent.

Get your stylist involved in making product decisions. I’m available, if you’d like to come in for a consult – call first to make sure I’m there. Or just call me to make an appointment, and we’ll get to work transforming your hair in a way that puts all questions to rest.

Caring for Your Scalp

Maintaining a great looking head of hair starts with a healthy scalp. So here are a few tips to ensure yours stays in good shape.

Get a scalp massage. It promotes good blood flow and also relaxes the muscles. It can be done by using your fingertips and applying firm pressure in a circular motion. Doing this for a few minutes once a week will be sufficient. It is extremely relaxing and can help relieve headaches and migraines. Try not to wear tight fitting hats and caps as they cause poor circulation and deprive your hair of proper nutrition. The buildup of sweat and dirt inhibits follicle health.

Avoid a dry scalp. One reason people suffer from a dry scalp is by using water that is too hot. You strip your scalp from essential oils which leads to dryness. Too much blow drying can also cause dryness to your scalp. Try washing your hair in lukewarm water and use a leave in conditioner when you notice excessive dryness. Also try to wash your hair after a swim to remove chlorine residue which is extremely damaging to your hair and scalp. You can get a shampoo and conditioner from your salon. They contain a much higher quality protein which enables the conditioner to penetrate deeper into the hair shaft and locks in moisture.

Exfoliate. Remove dead skin cells and dirt from the scalp once a week with an exfoliating scrub. A scrub that is made for your face is gentle enough to be used on your scalp. There are various products available from a salon that you can use to exfoliate your scalp. Essential oils help nourish it and improve hair’s strength and appearance. Think of oils as the food of your hair. It works the same way as a moisturizer works for your skin.

Last but not least, wash daily. Keeping your scalp clean minimizes clogged pores and other problems. Wash once a day, using a gentle shampoo and conditioner if needed. As I mentioned before, try using salon products as they are gentle on your hair and scalp and contains quality ingredients.

Always remember that stress, a poor diet and lack of nutrition can negatively affect the health of your hair and scalp. These tips together with a healthy, balanced lifestyle will ensure your hair looks its best.

Get your stylist involved with questions about your scalp care. Don’t be shy – he or she is probably hoping you’ll ask. I’m available, if you’d like to come in for a cut and a consult – call first to make sure I’m there. Or just call me to make an appointment, and we’ll get to work creating a much healthier scalp and head of hair.

Deep Conditioning Right for You?

Your hair is under constant stress. From regular hair product usage to just wearing a hat, your hair is always losing moisture and body that it cannot regenerate on its own.

If your hair is flat, dry, brittle, or frizzy, then you might need a deep conditioning treatment to give your hair the moisture it desperately needs.

Salon deep conditioning treatments replenish the moisture in your hair and give it fresh new luster and body. Deep conditioning treatments are often confused with protein treatments, because they both renew your hair, but what they do is very different. Protein treatments implant and replenish the basic protein your hair is made of – something that is lost naturally or with using hair care products. Deep conditioning treatments work on the surface of your hair and give it back the moisture it has lost from even staying out in the sun.

Regular conditioners, even regular salon products, give you a temporary moisture boost, but they do not repair your hair. Conditioning your hair on a daily basis is a given, but it simply cannot give the long-lasting benefits that deep conditioning treatments offer.

If you have black hair, it is especially important to get regular deep conditioning treatments from your stylist. Damage and dryness is much more visible in black hair than in any other hair color and un-moisturized hair is unsightly.

If your hair is frizzy or brittle, and nothing you try seems to work, call I’m happy to help. Make an appointment, and I’ll give you a professional opinion on whether a protein or deep conditioning treatment is what your hair needs.