Step 3:
Notice the length of each area. Are some areas shorter than others? This indicates a need for a trim. If any areas are much shorter than the surrounding hair, this is a sign of extreme damage.
These areas should be also noted. If the hair is showing areas where extreme damage is present, the areas must be treated with an intense protein treatment to preserve the remaining hair. Most hairdressers would advise cutting the hair so that the shorter area is less noticeable.
Please note that professionals define “trim” differently from what you would consider a trim. Always ask how much they suggest that you have cut before agreeing to a salon trim!
I have heard so many horror stories some even say two inches but cut off four inches! Never assume that you and the professional are one the same page, ask him or her to show you how much prior to cutting.
If you have a lot of damage you might need to do a big chop and close monitoring and treatment of the damaged areas regularly while keeping a note of the area’s progress.
Strong hair grows! The area may not grow fast enough to catch up with the longer areas but gradually trimming the longer hair from time to time will allow the hair to even out.
Protective styles that can effectively camouflage the area are favored by clients not wanting to cut all of their hair off evenly.
Step 4:
Test the elasticity of the hair by lightly extending the hair to full length. Do you notice any breaking or strands popping? As suggested above, protein treatments can rebuild the hair’s strength with consistent use. Weak hair is very fragile and should be treated with care at all times.
Consider finger detangling or apply a detangler/ leave in to the hair prior to combing. Always use a wide tooth comb* and comb from the ends up the hairs shaft.
Low manipulation or protective styling is imperative to rebuilding the hair’s strength. When styling the hair, avoid using tension that can cause breakage at the root or along the hair shaft. Those with fine hair must use considerable care when doing two strand twists; the tension used to make a uniform twist can cause breakage.
Consider evaluating your hair frequently so that you can begin treating areas of concern immediately. If you prefer to routinely visit a salon, evaluating your hair between salon visits will ensure your hair is getting the best care!
In the final analysis, we believe consistent evaluation is beneficial to your hair’s length and as we always say, with health comes length.
T-anne Fal says
Ive done this but ive used my camera with flash on my hair n scalp….it helps me to keep notes day to day Of how hair/scalp health.
Carla says
I recommend watching for changes in your hair to detect if there are any issues.
Step 2 questions regarding thinner areas and whether the hair is thicker at the root than at the ends are common and do not indicate that there is a problem except when there’s a change to where you notice that the density is less than what it used to be or your ends are much thinner than they usually are.
I say that because most people will have thin areas (whether they’re the sides, crown, edges…) and there’s rarely a person whose ends are as thick as their roots (just normal wear and tear and growth cycle of the hair will yield thinner ends than the roots).
A hair dresser who is not familiar with your hair can make bad judgement calls because they don’t know your hair or it’s history. Your hair may be improving, but in that moment in time, the hair dresser may only see the current status and not really be aware that it has made major progress. Communication is key there and simply knowing your hair will help you on the path to understanding what’s needed to remedy problems as they come about.
MELINDA MCCLAIN-MAGEE says
Thinning of the ends is an early indication of damage, whether it is from split ends or harsh manipulation. It is a good idea to begin or beef up conditioning if this is noted. I absolutely agree about communication, the sad thing is that many complain that their stylist do not ask many questions but instead “tell them what they need.” Ideally the hairdresser and the client continue to track the changes! Great comment Carla! Thank you for sharing!