Why is it important to detangle hair from points to root?

Question: Why is it important to detangle hair from points to root?

Answer: Donna, thank you for taking the time to e-mail your questions. I have numbered the questions and will answer each one.

1. Why is it important to detangle hair from points to root?

Detangling your hair from the points (ends) up is the best way because you avoid the tangles from conglomerating in the middle of the length. If you start from the root, the tangled hair is pulled unnecessarily downward and that tends to bunch up the tangles. If you start from the ends, the tangles travel a much shorter distance to freedom.

2. What effects does water have on the hair and what is the difference of the effects of hot water versus cold water.

The hair shaft and cuticle are porous, water soaks the poly tides (a microscopic structure that holds the hair together) and weakens it much like a wet piece of paper or a bounty sheet.

Warm water tends to expand the molecules of the scalp and hair thus making it more susceptible to breakage. Cool water does the opposite, it tends to shrink and close the gaps in the scalp and hair allowing the hair to be much more resilient.

3. How does shampoo cleanse?

Everything is a molecule when you look under a microscope. The molecules that make up the shampoo have a top and bottom, a heads and tails as they call it. The head of the molecule attracts the dirt and the tail attracts water. When rinsing, the molecule is pulled down by the water thus leaving the hair free of dirt.

4. How does build up occur and how does it relate to the effectiveness of other products?

Build up occurs because many of the main line products that we use on our hair contain chemicals that bound onto the hair cuticle. Imagine painting a beautiful piece of wooden furniture over and over again. Eventually the fresh paint will lose its effectiveness and begin to peel off completely. The same thing happens with over build up of chemicals on the hair. A good clarifying shampoo will get rid of the build up and prepare the hair for any condition or chemical process.

Professional stylist should always be aware of such things and they should protect their clients from adverse reactions. It’s good business and it’s the right thing to do.