Q. There are so many hair products to choose from.
     How do I know which to choose?

A. To choose the right product, you must know what type of
hair you have. Is your hair virgin or do you color, perm or relax it? In describing hair we usually refer to its texture, elasticity, porosity, and density.

Q. That's interesting. Can you tell me more?

A. TEXTURE refers to type, such as course, medium, fine, or very fine. POROSITY (po ROS it te) refers to the ability of the hair to absorb moisture, ELASTICITY refers to the ability of the hair to stretch beyond its normal length and spring back. NORMAL HAIR, when wet, can be stretched to about 1.5 times its usual length. DRY hair is not so elastic. DENSITY refers to the amount of hair per square inch on the scalp. The hair is said to be thin, medium, or thick, depending upon how much hair there is.

Q. Okay, now that I know my hair type, why are salon hair products better than grocery store hair products?

A. That's a great question! In every product you have an acid-alkaline base. In most of the common, well-known hair products purchased from the grocery store, the alkaline base is 6 to 9.5. That is very high and will cause damage to the hair cuticle. When you receive a perm or color, the pH level is 6 to 9.5. Do you see the comparison? You must use an acidic base of 4.5 to 5.5.

Q. What does this mean?

A. We hear about pH all the time. One shampoo is supposed to be good for the hair because it is "pH balanced," while the other is harsh because its pH is not. In a chemical formula, pH stand for POTENTIAL HYDROGEN. It tells the amount of acid that is present in any water-based liquid.

Q. Can you tell me more?

A. Both acid and alkali are always present in anything dissolved in water because of its polarity. The scale ranges from 0.0 having the highest concentration of acid, to 14.0 having the least. The center of the scale is chemically neutral, having equal amounts of acid and alkali. PURE WATER IS NEUTRAL. The hair itself has no pH since it is a solid, but the PROTECTIVE MANTLE of the hair should always be kept at 4.5 to 5.5. This will help make your services last longer.

Q. How about thinning hair. Is it possible to stop pre-mature balding by using certain hair care systems?

A. If you begin the process of caring for your hair while your papilla is in the right stage, we can help you. At Special FX we carry the Nioxin System. Consult your stylist for more details. Hair loss is thought to be genetic, but it is possible to slow the process with good hair care.

Q. What is the best product to protect my hair this summer with the ocean, swimming pool, and sun damage?

A. I am recommending the TIGI line for the summer. Contact any of us at the Salon for specific information that will apply to your own hair's TEXTURE, POROSITY, ELASTICITY, and DENSITY. Have a great summer!

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