Part 1. What is hair? The structure and meaning

Part 1. What is hair? The structure and meaning

Maybe you have found yourself asking these questions (If not, just humor me):

What purpose does hair actually serve? It may provide some insulation, but not much to speak of really. Scientists believe that the evolutionary function of hair was to provide:

Protection of vital parts of the body from cold.

Additional layer of protection for the skin. We have less hair today than our ancestors and future humans may eventually become hairless.

It’s ironic your hairs’ lack of function is what gives it our cultural meaning. Healthy hair is your crowning glory . . . a decoration of sorts. Hair is one of the most important defining statements about your self-identity.If your hair is in disarray and all out of order, all other attempts to create a statement of who you are will fall short.

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Hair is protein . . . the same protein that makes up your fingernails, teeth and skin. The scientific name for this protein is keratin. Soft shiny hair is an indicator of good health, like clear skin and strong fingernails. Your hair is fed by blood, which first feeds your essential organs such as your heart and brain. Whatever nutrients are left goes to the extremities. This is why dull lackluster hair sometimes indicates an illness or vitamin deficiency.

Anatomy

Let’s take a closer look:

The cuticle - The outermost layer of your hair is made up of overlapping scales, as on a fish. Healthy hair cuticles lie down smoothly and reflect light, giving hair its shine. This is the only protecting layer for your hair. A conditioner can help smooth the cuticle. Most women can tell whether they need conditioner by the way their hair feels, such as dry, brittle, broken ends. Here’s a test to find out whether your cuticle layer is damaged. Shampoo and condition your hair, then comb it out. If the comb sticks in your hair down toward the ends, your cuticle is either dry or damaged, and you will benefit from a deep-moisturizing conditioner.

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The cortex - The bulk of the healthy hair strand, makes up 90 percent of its weight. It gives the hair texture, strength, elasticity, and color because it contains melanin, or pigment. Some leave-in conditioners with protein actually penetrate the cortex and build up the hair from the inside out. (When you use permanent hair color, it needs to penetrate the cortex in order for it to take).

The medulla - The light, air-filled core. It takes care about the temperature ,volume and again- strength ,but some people with fine hair don’t have it at all. Anthropologists think that this might be a throwback to our caveman ancestors, who needed insulation to keep them warm. For the example: the indians had the strongest medulla.

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So in the conclusion,I would like to say that dry hair needs water,so use a deep care shampoo + conditioner + mask. U can use a silicon oil on the ends of damaged hair. 

For the oily hair is better to use  deep cleaning shampoo + conditioner  and you need to wash them as more as you need. I know the one teacher and she wash her hair twice a day- in the morning and in the evening. So u need to wash your hair as much as u need,and it's about all hair type by the way. 

In the next post I will tell you my personal story about my damaged hair and what I use to make them more healthy.

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xoxo,Seven Moons.

Hair Stylist Appointment Strategies That Insure a Great Experience

Hair Stylist Appointment Strategies That Insure a Great Experience

We’ve all left the salon with a haircut that we hate. Often an upcoming hair appointment can be cause for a sleepless night or two. On the top of the worry list is the process of letting go of tried a true hairstyle, and then there’s the doubt about how your new haircut is going to look and will it even match your personality! There are some ways to head off hair stylist appointment disasters. Here are some ways to make sure you and your hairdresser are on the same page.

Hair Stylist Appointment

It is my firm belief that most hair salon disappointments can be traced directly to miscommunication. The hairstyle you’re trying to describe is not what the hair stylist sees. After all, when you think of it, every woman has her own unique idea of what “short hair” is. To one it means chin length, to a stylist it may mean above the ears and to a third person it could mean a buzz cut.

Let’s face it, our language is simply not very precise, so it is vital that you learn the terms you’re likely to hear while you’re hanging around your local salon. Like any profession hair styling has its own insider lingo. To the average client hairdresser-speak can sound like Greek, so how do you get your message across when you describe the look you want? To the rescue this quick hair dictionary:

LONG LAYERS lighten the weight of the hair and add swing; achieve a textured look by shortening the top of the hair.

TAPERING is a form of layering used to take the weight out of back of hair.

SLIDE LAYERS are used mostly on curly hair to reduce bulk from the top layer allowing curls to fall evenly.

CHIPPING is also known as point cutting, is used to add texture.

TEXTURIZING is done using thinning shears. It adds movement and body by reducing weight from heavy sections, while leaving extra length in others.

RAZORING is done with a straight-edged blade to cut or texturize the hair.

SLIDE CUTTING uses a very sharp scissor blade to skim over the surface at an angle.

SINGLE PROCESS HAIR COLOR is best used for covering gray hair.

DOUBLE PROCESS HAIR COLOR is used for highlights and to bleach the hair.

HIGH LIGHTS lighten and brighten a solid background hair color.

LOWLIGHTS add depth and contrast to a light solid look.

Insist on a Consultation

At many salons, stylists allow a ten-minute chat with new clients before they start cutting. The hair stylist should ask you about your lifestyle and background, what you do for fun and, if you ever had a really bad and/or good haircut, and what they looked like. You should be prepared to discuss your history of chemical treatments.

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Bring In Photos

The pictures will give you some direction, but remember that it’s not like picking a shirt out of a catalog. A haircut is very handmade and the hair stylist needs to talk to you about how to tailor it to work for you.

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Run if you want to

Go elsewhere if You’ve Not been clicking During the Consultation

Same goes for after the cut begins. The most obvious warning sign is when too much is being cut off. You should also be concerned if the stylist is jumping around on your head as he/she cuts, especially at the beginning, which can lead to holes. If that’s happening, I’d get out while you still have some hair.

Hope,that this post will help you in the future.

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xoxo,Seven Moons.