Information for Hair Braiding and Extensions (2)

Continued from last post....

Hair Braiding and Extensions

If you are still hesitant about braiding your hair, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is my hair breaking or brittle?

2. Are my ends split?

3. Is my hair permed?

4. Have I undergone any of the following chemical processes in the past six months: bleaching, frosting, streaking, or highlighting? (Unprocessed henna is not a chemical process)

5. Is my skin sensitive?

If you have answered yes to at least two of the five questions, consult a professional.

It is important to understand that braiding the hair to tight is harmful to both the hair and the scalp. If the hair is braided so tight that you can see the hair pulling away from the scalp, then that is way too tight, resulting in discomfort to the patron and can result in the entire hair shaft including the root (papilla) to be pulled out of the follicle (the opening in the scalp that the hair grows out of). When this happens, it is rare that another hair shaft will grow from that follicle ever again.(tension alopecia) Another situation that can occur is the possibility of the patron's own hair being durable enough to support the weight of the added hair. This is generally caused from medical or medications that weaken the anchoring of the hair to the papilla and/or follicle resulting in the hair shaft to easily pull from the scalp. You can tell when hair is coming from the scalp instead of breaking from the middle shaft or ends. The end that came from the scalp will have a white tip. This is because hair does not get its color until it emerges from the scalp and is exposed to the air. A simple test that you can execute to determine the strength of the hair, is to take a few strands of hair at the ends between your thumb and fore finger, give a slight but quick yank. The area of breakage (if any) will determine if the hair is strong enough to with stand the service Not only for adding hair, but also for any other hair changing service that you may offer. If the breakage is on the ends, split ends cause this. You can correct this by just cutting off the split ends. If the breakage is some where along the middle shaft, this is due to weak hair usually caused by chemical treatments or excessive thermal usage.

To correct this, it will necessitate at least two (2) heat activated conditioning treatments to repair. The treatments should be spaced at least five (5) days apart, and the service done five (5) days after the last treatment. But if the hair is from the scalp, this is a medical problem that can only be addressed by a doctor or dermatologist.

VISIT OUR COZY SHOP, EBONICHAIR.COM.

This Article is transcribed from article of Dr. Edward Tony Lloneau on BNB Magazine.