CHI - Winter 2007 - (Page 24) HAIRDRESSER Q & A ask the hairdressers Farouk pros tend to your hair affairs. Q My hair is dry with lots of flyaways, but my conditioner leaves my fine strands flat and limp. What are my options? Jen R., Mankato, MN Ask your hairdresser to select a conditioner that’s specifically formulated for your hair type. A conditioner for fine hair, such as BioSilk®Volumizing Conditioner, will beef up each strand, making your hair look fuller and thicker. At the same time, it will provide weightless moisture to rehydrate your thirsty strands and control flyaways. Apply conditioner on midlengths and ends only—avoid the root area. And if your hair is chemically processed it will be porous, so use just a small amount of conditioner; otherwise, it will weigh your hair down. A Guard before styling with heat tools. And, if the damage is already done, dab a bit of styling crème or pomade along your part to tame the flyaways, and treat broken hair with a deepmoisturizing treatment like CHI®Nourish Intense Silk Masque. I’ve just completed a course of chemotherapy and now I’m cancer-free. Almost as exciting is the fact that my hair is beginning to grow back! I had a lot of gray before it fell out and now I’m wondering how long I should wait before it’s safe to make an appointment to have it colored. Sylvia H., San José, CA Q Lately I’ve noticed a lot of fine, broken hairs around the front of my face and along my part. What does this mean and what can I do about it? Laurie P., Albany, NY Q A Well, the good news is that the baby bits around your face probably aren’t broken or damaged. It’s actually typical of the texture of hair in that area— some people have more than others. Because it’s fine, though, it can be more susceptible to damage than the strands elsewhere on your head. The hair that pops up along your part, however, actually is a sign of damage. Excessive chemical services and use of thermal tools, plus exposure to sun and extreme temperatures, can all weaken strands and lead to breakage. Prevent damage before it gets out of control by choosing CHI®thermal tools, which use far infrared heat technology to warm strands from the inside out, thus keeping the cuticle (which is the exterior of the hair strand) healthy and intact. Another important strategy is to prep hair with a thermal protection formula like CHI®44 Iron A First of all, our very best wishes to you—your recovery is excellent news! Professional stylists have a great deal of experience working with clients who have successfully completed chemotherapy treatments, so you are wise to leave this in a pro’s hands. Most stylists will prefer to wait until your hair is about one to one-and-a-half inches before applying color. And, most conscientious professionals will require a written note of clearance from your attending physician before proceeding with the service. Then, your stylist will most likely want to perform a patch test—applying a small amount of color to the inside of your wrist or elbow— 48 hours prior to your service—to make sure you do not react adversely. Once you’re in the chair, your stylist will also want to perform a strand test—coloring a small section of your hair at the nape of your neck before proceeding with the entire head. This is important because after chemotherapy, hair may be quite different in texture— growing back straighter, curlier, coarser or finer—and require a different formulation than the one that you used prior to your treatment. Once all of these precautionary measures have been completed, it should be safe to proceed with your beautiful new color! n 24 Volume IV, Issue 13
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