All hair textures and types experience breakage, some more than others, but every guest can benefit from knowing how to reduce the factors that lead to compromising hair health. With fall and winter dryer air approaching, Ashley Brown (@ash_hairbarbie), Sam Villa ambassador and Mizani artist, dives deep into how to identify breakage, what to do to prevent it and the various ways to wrap hair for ultimate protection.
How to Help Clients Identify Hair Breakage:
- Tell clients that if when brushing their hair many short to medium pieces fall in the sink or counter, it’s a clear sign of hair coming apart/breaking off.
- If there are multiple strands clumped in concentrated areas randomly throughout the head that stick straight up and/or straight out, and are considerably shorter than the overall length, it's a sign of breakage.
Tips for Clients to Prevent Breakage:
- Stop using heat. Overusing heat, using too high of a temperature, and/or not using the proper heat protection products leads to breakage.
- Invest in professional products and tools. Products such as the Mizani Press Agent System provide the moisture and protein hair needs to thrive, as well as protect it from heat damage, UV rays, and free radicals that lead to breakage. Technology in tools that utilize ceramic/tourmaline ion generation technology can help reduce frizz and static, resulting in a smoother shinier cuticle, which creates a healthier finish to hair. And pay attention to heat settings!
- Wrapping hair is the best practice for being proactive in keeping strands as healthy as possible. See two versions here.
Classic Wrap: Wrap hair around head shape the opposite way it usually lays, secure with toothless clips, fold a silk scarf in half (a triangle), tie it at back and then remove clips.
Bun Wrap: Brush hair up into a bun and use a silk scrunchie to gently hold the bun very loosely and very close to the front of the hairline. Fold a silk scarf in half and place the long edge over the front of the bun. Crisscross the longest ends behind the head and tie in a knot at the front by the bun. - Get regular trims. This keeps the ends as healthy and intact as possible. The average recommended time between trims is six to eight weeks.
- Use a silk pillowcase. It reduces friction which leads to breakage.
For more from Brown, click here.