101 Ways to Avoid Hair Loss: For Persons with Relaxed, Natural, and Afro-Caribbean Hair

101 Ways to Avoid Hair Loss: For Persons with Relaxed, Natural, and Afro-Caribbean Hair

In 101 WAYS TO AVOID HAIR LOSS, you will recognise the many ways in which hair loss can occur. There are so many processes which engender the loss of relaxed, permed and natural Afro-Caribbean hair, that excessive hair loss and damage is virtually ign 101 WAYS TO AVOID HAIR LOSS For Persons with Relaxed, Natural, and Afro-Caribbean Hair By Mary Juliana Brice AuthorHouse Copyright © 2012 Mary Juliana Brice All right reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4685-6656-7 Contents Introduction............................................................ix1. Hair Relaxing........................................................12. Shampooing and Conditioning..........................................93. Coloured Hair........................................................144. Hairstyling..........................................................205. Heated Appliances....................................................366. Hair Ornaments.......................................................417. Hair Weaving and Braiding............................................478. Natural Afro-Caribbean Hair..........................................529. Health and Hair......................................................56Conclusion..............................................................60Indications that Products Will Work on Damaged Hair.....................63Glossary................................................................67References..............................................................75 Chapter One Hair Relaxing Beautiful hair is a sign of healthy hair. Most persons with relaxed Afro hair usually experience quite a bit of hair loss, which in most cases can be avoided if the hair is properly cared for. There is a daily loss of hair which is the result of the hair's natural growth cycle; it is normal to lose from fifty to one hundred hair strands a day. Healthy hair is quite strong, and sometimes damage occurs over a period of time. However, during the early stages of hair loss, the contributing factors are mostly ignored. It is only when the hair becomes severely damaged and styling becomes difficult that professional advice is sought. Hair relaxing may seem uncomplicated to some non-professionals, but if this process is not carried out properly, damage to the hair may result. Many persons regard the process of relaxing almost as a magical solution for enhancing the way the hair looks. When they relax their hair they expect to bring about smoothness, shine, elasticity, and an almost-perfect styling experience. Yet they fail to care for their hair before the relaxing process. They may leave their hair wet and unattended for many days preceding the relaxing process. Many persons say, 'I know I have to relax my hair, so I did not do anything to it.' Often the hair has not been conditioned and strengthened at least a week or two before, which would have ensured optimal results. It is not unusual to experience weakening of the hair under such circumstances. So many non-professional persons unknowingly abuse their hair when they relax it at home. This should really be done by professionally trained persons, since knowledge of the restructuring and reshaping of the bonds in the hair is critical to the maintenance of healthy hair. Hair loss can, therefore, be minimized by following the correct procedures and by using hair products that will produce significant results. If you pay attention to some of the factors that contribute to hair loss, be assured that you will achieve more beauty, shine, and resilience in your relaxed Afro-Caribbean hair. Let us move on to the 101 points. 1. Have a thorough consultation before relaxing your hair. The stylist should test and examine the hair in the following areas: elasticity, porosity, texture, curl pattern, and damage. He or she should also check for scalp condition, your state of health, allergies, skin rashes, boils, and sores on the hairline and scalp. 2. You will need to give a precise history of your hair to the stylist, as well as a list of the products you are using. You should also indicate what difficulties you have experienced with your hair in the past, or what you are currently faced with. When the general condition of the hair has been determined before the application of the relaxer, all precautions can then be taken to minimize damage to the hair. 3. Choose the correct strength of relaxer, according to the following: • Hair texture (fine, medium, or coarse) • Curl pattern (wavy, curly, or excessively curly) • Hair elasticity and porosity • Hair condition (healthy or damaged) • Whether hair is colour treated or bleached • Condition and sensitivity of the scalp When all these points are considered, there will be less damage inflicted on the hair during the relaxing process. 4. The stylist should apply a protective base to the client's scalp and hairline before applying the relaxer. There is a standard method of apply