Should you shampoo before you come have your hair colored? Almost daily, someone will ask if they should wash their hair before tinting or highlighting.

The idea of not washing before a color service goes back to the old days, when color products were very harsh compared to the gentle colors we have today. A bit of natural oil on the scalp kept the tingling and staining to a minimum. This was especially important with bleaching services, which could be quite irritating to the scalp.

Fast forward to now, and many clients have been led to believe that the dirtier the hair, the better the color.

​Here are some guidelines to prep your hair for a perfect color service.
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1. Wash your hair 12 to 24 hours before your color. This will assure the hair is clean, but allow the oil in your scalp to create a protective barrier against irritation and staining.
2. Wash the hair, but don’t aggressively scratch the scalp. broken skin or scratches will definitely burn or tingle with color or bleach.
3. If you work out hard before a color service, wash your hair. Excessively oily hair lifts poorly, processes slowly, and doesn’t color well.
4. Make sure any cover up products you use to disguise your roots between services are out before you get to the salon, or arrange to come earlier to have it pre-shampooed. Otherwise you may not get coverage where you want it most.
5. Ditto for dry shampoo. It can create a barrier that color doesn’t penetrate well.
6. Shampoo especially well if you use oil in your hair such as coconut oil or olive oil. Heavy oil products make the color ineffective, and make highlights bleed all over the place.
7. Styling products are generally OK, unless you use loads of them. Hairspray can be brushed out before the service, and most non oily products are fine.
8. Come with dry hair, or arrive early to have it dried under a dryer, While color takes fine on damp hair, damp hair pulls a lot when your sectioning and you will be much more comfortable starting with a dry head of hair.

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This section is for the "Follically Challenged".  There are so many conversations and articles on the topic and I want make sure you are getting good information. ​

Hair Transplantation is a procedure that helps people who experience hair loss and baldness problems that occurs due to various reasons: genetic factors, stress, and hormone disorder.  FUE Hair Transplant method is a process of relocating hair follicles under local anesthesia with special medical devices from the donor area to the balding areas. In this application, hair is extracted one by one and transplanted to the balding area. Hair should be shortened to 1mm prior to the operation. The surgery is conducted under local anesthetics, so the patient will not feel any pain. Micromotor is used to extract hair grafts; the tip of the motor simply pulls the hair root; therefore, the follicle is cut in a cylindrical way along with microscopic tissue. ​

What to consider before the operation?

Hair Transplantation is a serious practice that should be done by professionals specializing in that field as the output of the operation will be seen throughout your life. Hair transplant procedures should take place at a hospital or clinic with surgeons specialized in their field.

What are the advantages?

FUE method is the most commonly used and reliable method for hair transplant. Advantages of FUE hair transplantation are as follows:

• No incision and suture marks at the site of the operation.
• The process is completed in a short time thanks to thin-tipped devices.
• Natural and aesthetic appearance.
• Short healing duration and opportunity to return to normal life instantly.

Who can get a hair transplant?

Hair transplantation surgery can be conducted for the male and female types of hair loss. Male-type hair loss affects the upper part of the head and the temple area; firstly, hair becomes skinny, and then fall out. Over time, this spill may stretch back to the temples.

Female-type hair loss works in a different way; it involves hair weakening, rarity, thinning and loss in the peak and anterior areas of the scalp.

Who can’t get a hair transplant?

Not everyone is eligible for a hair transplant; for example, it is technically impossible for people who do not have any hair in the back of the head - which is also called the donor area. Also, some diseases such as severe heart problems may be dangerous during transplant surgery.

Cases that hair transplantation is recommended

Another criterion necessary for hair transplantation is the type of hair loss. For example, people at the adolescence age are not recommended to have the operation as their hair loss may continue. However, if permanent hair loss occurs in certain areas of the head as a result of accidental damage to the scalp such as severe burns, these people can undergo a hair transplant under a supervision of a doctor. Furthermore, hair transplantation should not be performed for those with certain diseases due to vital risks such as hemophilia (A blood clotting problem), blood pressure, diabetes, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.


Where to have the operation?

Getting a good haircut makes us feel confident and empowered. Things can be easy when you have already found the salon and hairstylist you can entrust your tresses to. However, if you are not satisfied with your do or contemplate change, you might be asking yourself lots of questions.
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• How should I cut my hair?
• How do I find a good hairstylist for a cut?
• What hair length will suit me best?
• How to get a haircut consultation and what questions to ask?

You will find the answers to these questions below, as we are sharing 10 commandments of getting a perfect haircut.

If you have not found a good stylist yet, it is high time to do it. It’s always a significant risk to entrust your hair to a new hairdresser, especially if you need a consultation, want to change your style, or contemplate cutting your long hair short.

Here are a few ways to find a good specialist for a hair job:
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• First of all, search for a hair salon with some excellent reviews. A great hair salon will most often showcase their work on Instagram or Facebook, so this is where you should go to see the samples of the salon hair cutting and know what kind of hair treatments they specialize in. Good salons carefully select experts they employ and will definitely recommend a professional to cut your hair.
• Mind that if you like a salon, you will be visiting it for a long time for regular trims. This is why a good idea is to start with the places to get a haircut near you. See if they have already earned a good reputation online or ask your neighbors if they have ever had a cut at that place.
• Ask neighbors, relatives, friends, or coworkers, whose cut your like, where they get their hair done. You can even ask a stranger with a lovely salon hairstyle where she gets her hair cut. Still, do not forget that people have different kinds of hair, so it’s better to refer to women whose hair type is similar to yours.

As you are researching the salons’ profiles or asking for a referral, pay attention to whether professionals give haircare and haircut advice and if they pay attention to long-term health of your locks. Needless to say, choose the ones that do.

Thinking about a new haircut, you would definitely like to know what hairstyle suits you. Experts believe that the shape of your face is a crucial point here. To understand what shape your face is, look at the mirror and outline your face’s contour on it with a piece of soap or lipstick. Take your hair off your face and make sure you do not contour it too. Eventually, you should be able to see whether your face is round, prolonged, square, or heart-shaped and thus focus on how to choose a haircut for your face shape.
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The overarching rule is to go for a cut that will make it look more oval. For example, you might want to go for edgy side bands to elongate your round face and get rid of its excessive softness. Or, get a shaggy layered bob recommended for square faces.

The right haircut can change the impression you make, as the way our haircut looks, how it is set and its overall condition can tell a lot about us. Would you like to look serious, a bit edgy, or maybe 10 years younger? You should take into account that every haircut has its own character that will influence your image for sure. If you are a low-key kind of girl, the daring super-short pixie cut is not your style; you won’t feel comfortable with it.
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When choosing a haircut, it’s also essential to find the one that fits your lifestyle. The best haircut for you will differ depending on whether you are a mom on maternity leave, a bank officer that has to follow a strict dress code or a creative designer people look up to for style inspiration. Be sure to tell your stylist more about yourself before getting a trim.

If you don’t know what haircut to get, start by browsing the best haircuts for women of your age, hair type or face shape. This is what The Right Hairstyles can really help you with. Pin all the styles that click for you to compare the variants or show them to your stylist to know if this cut will look the right way on you.
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Another idea is to try one of the free online questionnaires. All you will have to do is to upload your photo and fill out the online form, answering simple questions about your face shape, complexion, eye color, hair color, texture, density, current and desired length, and other points. After the questionnaire is done, you will be suggested several female haircuts that suit you best. You might be able to choose the hairstyle you like from among the suggested options.

Sometimes, the ability to communicate well is the best way to get a haircut you want. Unfortunately, many women don’t know how to describe hairstyles they like to their stylists. So, before you go to cut hair in a salon, learn some important haircut terms that will help you “speak one language” with your hairdresser and get ready to show images of the cuts that you like.
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Mind that your hairdo can turn ugly not because it was cut the wrong way, but because you do not style it right. This is why it is imperative to ask your stylist what to do with your hair at home. A new haircut may leave you at a loss, so better make a list of what you want to ask when getting a haircut. Also, don’t take product advice as the way to sell you something: the impact of using the right hair products on your hairstyle cannot be overestimated.

Cutting hair off isn’t enough to look beautiful. A good hairstylist cut demands correct styling. Professional stylists can do sleek-looking strands, blowouts, bouncy curls, and other sophisticated dos. But you don’t have a personal home hairdresser to style hair for you every day, do you?
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Then, before choosing a definite haircut, make sure that you will be able to style your hair and you are ok with making it your daily routine. Consider how much maintenance a haircut requires and be frank about how long you style your hair now. Usually, we don’t have much time to wash and dry hair or create complicated hairdos in the mornings. If you do not use heat tools to set your hair, you’d better choose a haircut that doesn’t demand it.

Hair grows, and your perfect cut may soon look messy and disorderly. Before choosing a haircut, think about how it grows out and how frequently you will have to refresh it.
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Whatever haircut you choose, you should keep in mind that your new look will demand long-term maintenance. Are you planning to get a bang cut and color your hair? We love the idea, but you should be ready for frequent visits to the salon for touch-ups. And if one day you decide to change your hairstyle, it will take your time and patience.

Are you still shilly shallying over which haircut to choose or not sure it will match your appearance? Then don’t make radical changes and opt for longer haircuts. If you don’t like the result, you can easily change your haircut, and the stress won’t be so painful.
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Regrowing or styling your bangs is also easier if you opt for elongated feathered fringes. If you haven’t had any bangs before, better start with this one to be satisfied with your cut. You can always go shorter when you get used to it.

Another thing that will help you get a good haircut is having a professional haircut consultation first. You can ask for one or just order a hair dry to communicate with a stylist and see if you feel comfortable. Bring some photos with a desirable hairstyle to help the hairdresser understand your preferences. But don’t be disappointed if a trendy haircut you have chosen from Pinterest or Instagram will be rejected. Not every trend is suitable for your appearance and some may be already criminally outdated.
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A good stylist will take into account all peculiarities of your appearance and individuality: the shape of your face, age, character, and even job and offer several haircut suggestions.

Don’t be afraid of cutting your hair off. If you feel stressed, your stylist may feel uncomfortable and won’t be able to do his best job. The same thing will happen if you are too assertive. Thus, the main piece of advice for you is to stay positive. You perfectly know that your hair grows back. So, even if something goes wrong, this experiment will help you find your best hairstyle.
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Use these tips to choose the haircut that would suit you the best. We do hope that you find the right hairstyle that will become an essential part of your image, will help you express your inner world, and will favorably emphasize your features.

“If it ends in ‘cone,’ leave it alone.” This and similar “advice” is common with regard to silicones in hair care products, and shampoo & conditioner in particular. Silicone-based ingredients have gotten a bad rap in the hair care industry, said to be harmful because they can:
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• Build up on your hair
• Weigh it down
• Make it look flat
• Lock out moisture

While some of these can be true, a blanket statement that silicones in hair care products are “bad for your hair” simply isn’t accurate. In this article I’ll dive into the science behind these claims and get to the bottom of whether silicones in hair care products are actually bad for your hair. Let’s get into it.
 
What Are Silicones & Their Purpose?

Silicones can be found in shampoos, conditioners, leave-in conditioners, hair serums and masks because of their effectiveness at getting rid of frizz. Silicones are a stronger, organic/inorganic version of hair oil, though much more effective.

They function as powerful emollients and occlusives. Emollients soften and add shine, while occlusives are used to seal and lock in moisture and lock out humidity and frizz. Silicones do both of these really well.

Furthermore, silicones help provide slip so you can run your fingers and brushes through your hair with minimal tangling. All this sounds really good, right? So what’s the problem?

Before we can address the claims outlined above we need a better understanding of silicones.

Silicones 101

The claim “all silicones cause buildup” is false. The more accurate claim should be, some silicones cause build up, while some are water-soluble, and some actually evaporate on their own. It all comes down to chemistry, and with most things in chemistry, it’s never black & white.
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There are many different types of silicones but for simplicity we’ll divide silicone ingredients into three categories: water-soluble, water-insoluble, & evaporating. In the graphic below you’ll see many of the most common silicones.

In the first column we have what’s commonly referred to as PEG silicones. Since water is polar and oils are non-polar, they don’t mix or dissolve in each other, thus the potential for buildup. However by adding a polar substance like polyethylene glycol, you can make it water-soluble.

This doesn’t mean they will rinse out completely, but the PEG attached to it will significantly reduce buildup while still allowing the silicone to perform its job. These silicones will partially rinse out and partially stay on your hair to perform their occlusive magic.

One thing to pay attention to is the number next to the PEG or PPG. The higher the number, the more soluble it is. Anything under PEG-8 is not very soluble, while PEG-12 is more soluble, and PEG-16 even more soluble, and so on.

Next, in column two, we have the water-insoluble silicones which are the original version of the PEG-modified silicones you see in column one. These are the strong ones that will stick to your hair but do a great job of adding slip, shine, and fighting frizz.

You will see I starred amodimethicone in the middle. This one is supposed to be a special case. It’s a polymer-type silicone that binds to damaged parts of your hair and doesn’t accumulate on top of itself. However, other silicones can build up on top of it.

Finally in column three we have a special group of silicones that evaporate on their own. You commonly see these evaporating silicones mixed into products to help spread other ingredients throughout your hair. You might see an evaporating silicone added to a coconut oil serum to help spread it through your hair and then evaporate.
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You will find these in hair serums and leave-in conditioners. They temporarily provide the detangling and slip so you can spread the product through your hair, and then evaporate. Any remaining residue can be removed with any shampoo.

​How Much Silicone Buildup is Bad?
 
How much silicone usage actually causes buildup? Because if silicones are the 15th ingredient vs. the 5th ingredient in a conditioner, is it really causing buildup?

In a 1994 article in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology by Rushton, there were some interesting findings on silicones.

First, silicones from a 2-in-1 shampoo accumulated on the surface of the hair for the first five uses, but after that, there was no more accumulation. There is only so much surface on the hair for silicone to bond to, it does not accumulate indefinitely (1).

Second, 90% of silicone residue was removed with one shampooing with a silicone-free shampoo. The detergents sodium lauryl or sodium laureth sulfate, ammonium lauryl or laureth sulfate and cocamidopropyl betaine (possible coco betaine) are most effective in removing silicone residue (1).

Also, I’d say most buildup happens with styling products like hair serums, curl creams, and leave-in conditioners. Many of these products are very silicone-heavy (i.e. silicones are the first or second ingredient). If your shampoo & conditioner have silicones and you combine these with leave-ins with more silicones, you’re likely to see some buildup relatively quickly.

How Do You Get Rid Of Silicone Buildup?

Let’s say you do use silicones or notice silicones in your hair products. How do you get rid of the buildup? There is a common belief that only sulfates are strong enough to get rid of silicone build-up. As the journal said, sulfates are the quickest way to get rid of silicone build-up, but not the only way.
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You can also use milder anionic surfactants that are combined with each other. If you don’t know what that means, here is a chart showing you the ingredients.

In the first column you have the strongest anionic surfactants, which are sulfates. In the third column are sulfonates, which are not as strong as a sulfate, but still strong. Any of these will do the job on their own.

But let’s say you want to get rid of silicones while staying sulfate-free. Then you can look at any of the ingredients from the middle column of mild anionic surfactants combined with each other or with the amphoteric surfactants in column three.

The good news is, most shampoos that are sulfate-free will combine 1-2 surfactants in them to still cleanse, meaning you can remove silicone buildup without sulfates.

The Verdict On Silicones in Hair Care Products

First of all, I think we can put to rest the idea that “if it ends in ‘cone,’ leave it alone.” In my opinion, silicones only become a problem with excessive buildup. One layer of silicones can be really helpful in your weekly hair regimen.

With that said, individuals with certain hair and scalp types or specific preferences might be better off avoiding silicones.

For example, if you have curly hair and follow the curly girl method to a T (which calls for not using any shampoo at all), or if you’re someone who subscribes to, “never use shampoo ever” (“no-poo”), and you only do conditioner washes (“co-wash”), then silicones will be hard to remove and should be avoided.

If you have super fine and thin hair, silicones could weigh your hair down with buildup. And if silicones make your hair look too shiny and you don’t like that, you might be better off without them.

For everyone else, I wouldn’t worry about it. Silicones are amazing at fighting humidity and frizz, they prevent breakage by adding slip, and they will come out easily with almost any silicone-free shampoo.
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Silicone usage is less about harm and more about personal preference. They’re safe! It’s not something to freak out about and they can have tons of benefits.

Here’s What Experts Say About Salon Safety

• Hair salons are beginning to open after being closed for several weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic.
• Connecticut recently banned the use of blowf dryers in hair salons due to safety concerns. The ban has since been reversed.
• We spoke with an infectious disease expert and salon owners about how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during hair appointments.

Salons have been closed for months due to the coronavirus pandemic, but as states slowly start reopening, businesses are grappling with the safest way to open their doors. After all, a stylist and client can’t stand six feet away from each other and salons are often small, enclosed spaces. A new concern that’s also recently popped up: Can services like blow drying spread germs?

Recently, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced that local hair salons could reopen on May 20, but they would not be allowed to use blow dryers. He later reversed the restriction.

So, what’s the deal? We spoke with an infectious disease expert to break down the risks of heading back to the salon, as well as stylists to find out what they’re doing to keep clients safe.

Back up: How does the novel coronavirus spread in hair salons?

COVID-19 can spread in hair salons the same way it spreads anywhere: “The number one way coronavirus spreads is through respiratory droplets from someone who is sick,” says Michael A. Ben-Aderet, M.D., infectious disease specialist and associate medical director of Hospital Epidemiology at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles.

And while viruses can’t grow on surfaces, Dr. Ben-Aderet says they can persist on certain surfaces for a particular amount of time. One study found that the novel coronavirus can survive up to three hours in the air, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard, and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.

So, touching a surface that is contaminated “with secretions or mucus membranes from a sick individual and then touching your face can make you sick,” he explains, adding that “it’s important to remember that viruses need to grow in a person.”

Still, Center for Disease Control and Detection (CDC) maintains that this isn’t thought to be the driving force of COVID-19 transmission, as viruses need hosts to replicate. After no human contact, the virus will eventually die on the surface—it’s just that experts aren’t exactly sure how long that takes.

Can blow dryers really spread coronavirus germs?

The thinking behind this makes some sense, but there isn’t any concrete data to back it up. A blow dryer does have the potential to spread contaminated air around a room, Dr. Ben-Aderet explains—but again, there needs to be an infected person around. “Unless someone coughs into a hair dryer and that spreads the droplets, it’s very unlikely,” he says.

As for the device itself? “I think it would be unlikely for a hair dryer to be contaminated with coronavirus,” he adds.

The CDC says that “it is unknown how long the air inside a room occupied by someone with confirmed COVID-19 remains potentially infectious.” However, bigger, well-ventilated rooms “will help shorten the time it takes respiratory droplets to be removed from the air.”

How can hair salons prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Safety standards for hair salons will vary according to state, but there are some precautions salons can implement to keep their clients healthy.

When possible, it’s important to ensure that people entering the salon aren’t currently sick. One way to do this is to screen clients before appointments to make sure those who are sick reschedule if they have a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, Dr. Ben-Aderet suggests.

He adds that “hair salons should minimize the amount of people in a room by having people wait outside and not come in until their scheduled appointment.” Then, hair stylists and clients should wear face masks, practice good hand hygiene, and avoid touching their faces.

How U.S. hair salons are reopening

Because small businesses like hair salons have taken financial hits, we wanted to hear from salon owners about how they planned to open back up.

For Suelyn Farel, CEO of Julien Farel Salon and Spa in New York City, it’s all about safety. “The biggest challenge will be to ensure that our customers and employees feel safe to come into our salon and spa,” she says. “It is a business where people come in close proximity to each other, so with the correct protective gear and measures, we hope everyone will be confident that we are as super-clean.”

She says “no one can enter the business without a mask and having their temperature taken. We’re taking extreme measures—like putting handbags into plastic bags and handing out individually wrapped wipes to each client for their phone/glasses.”

Crystal Witz, owner of Vintage Rose Salon and Spa in Placer County, California, plans to install a hospital-grade air purifier into her salon. Surfaces will be frequently cleaned, too. “All salon chairs, hair washing stations, hair drying chairs and styling tools will be disinfected between each client,” she says. “Hand sanitizing stations will be placed at each entrance to the salon.”

Mario Solis, owner and founder of The Hair Studio, will not allow guests of clients into the hair salon to enforce social distancing measures.

Dawn James, master stylist at Salon Concepts, says she’s had to cut back on business to compensate for social distancing. “I’ve extended my working hours, so I only work with one client at a time,” she says.

All stylists said that they would continue to provide blow outs at the end of their clients’ appointments, unless the government restricts them from doing so or the client declines.

“Although I cannot speak to the epidemiological risks in blow drying, I can speak to the happiness I see in clients’ eyes when they see their hair freshly done and styled,” James says. “I would hope that if blow dryers spreading germs caused serious alarm, there would be that kind of data out there well before the pandemic occurred.”

You can find the full article at Prevention