There are lots of factors that can lead to damaged hair, from heat to chemical damage, so your clients need to be prepared to dedicate time to repairing their damaged locks.
Hair is fragile and needs to be handled with care, so the first port of call with a client who is suffering from damaged hair is to spend time to find out why their hair is in its current state. "I ask as many open questions as possible from what they use to their whole routine from wash day to wash day," says Lisa Carter, freelance Hairstylist and Educator adding that figuring out where the problem began is key to their journey, "I give them a fully bespoke routine and work out a way for them to purchase new and necessary products if they're on a budget." Being realistic is also important, Lisa advises that clients will begin to notice difference in the feel of their hair within six months. Marina Hodgins, owner at Fringe Benefits Gloucester, agrees that clients will be looking at six to twelve months for their damaged hair to grow out, "It is advisable to use a professional hair care routine to nourish the hair and scalp which will speed up the growing out process. Taking supplements that contain biotin will help too but a professional consultation is the best way to start your client's hair recovery journey."
In more serious cases clients should not be expecting instant results and may even need to consider a shorter style. "The truth is once the hair goes past a certain point, nothing can truly save it. If the damage is on the ends, it must come off if it’s past the point of no return. When damage is closer to the roots, it’s a different story because not everyone will take the advice and crop the hair off, in this case we will try and manage with bond building products like K18 which can repair hair with continued use until the client is ready to cut it out," explains Michelle Brace, Blonde and Colour Specialist. "The reality of severely damaged hair is if it’s chemically burnt, clients need to care for their scalp first - hoping they haven’t disrupted the hair follicle," says Valerie Kelly, Salon Manager at VK Hairdressing, "Ask your stylist to provide regular scalp treatments such as Kemon Bellesseres for sensitive scalp, helping to restore the acid mantle and ph levels will give your hair the best form of recovery. We would then work on the hair with regular trims every 5/6 weeks." Valerie also recommends regular weekly salon blow-dry’s for clients with a bigger budget, telling us "Those amazing blow-drys will be closing and smoothing the hair shaft - remember your client will still need heat protection to guard from the free radicals lurking environmentally."
Making sure your client understands their journey back to good hair health is key when beginning to repair their damaged hair, it's not a quick fix but with regular trims and tailored routines their hair will find it's way back to full health once again.
