Question
Thanks, Heather...
I appreciate your tips and since you have tried Neutrogena's Triple moisture deep recovery mask and it worked for you, I will give it a try and hope it works for me as well...:)
franny


Answer
hi Dr. L,
I was wondering is their a difference between department store conditioners and salon conditioners?
I'm only asking this because I saw something on tv where they tested and stated you receive the same results with pretty much the same ingredients between the two and that the only difference is in the price...
Do you think this is true?
franny


Answer
Hi Franny,
There are some good quality conditioners in department stores but I've never tried one that worked as well as a comparable professional conditioner.
They may have the same ingredients but the difference is the form these ingredients are in. The molecules must be small enough to penetrate the hair.
There is also a difference in the quality of the ingredients. Professional products are more likely to have ingredients in a pure form. Often department store products will use cheaper ingredients because it keeps the price down.
Most department store brands that I have tested are not as concentrated as salon brands, meaning they will not last as long.
Of course there are some salon brands that don't meet the high standards that I've described but on the whole, you are safer with them.
All of the above goes for shampoo as well.




Answer
Franny, you guessed it, I'm a hairstylist.
There are basically two types of perms ACID, and ALKALINE..there is a third called BINARY wave which can be used either with or without heat but many of these have gone away.
Acid waves tend to be more gentle on the hair and give not so tight a curl where an Alkaline will stay forever almost but can be drying to the hair. (hair is naturally acidic)
It sounds as though you had been getting an Alkaline wave not using a dryer, and then either they used heat and didn't need too, or processed to long.
If there is a next perm, consult with your new stylist and tell them about your perm history and that you would prefer no heat. When a chemical reaction is happening on one's head it creates friction which is heat...adding more heat to that situation is in my humble opinion just not a good thing.
ENJOY
Christian


Answer
Hi Christian,
I've found that the difference between a healthy perm result and a dry/damaged perm result usually lies in the condition of the hair prior to the perm service. Hair can be damaged from so many sources - hair color, previous perms, sun, wind, heat styling, wear and tear. If the hairdresser does not address those needs before the perm service it doesn't matter what kind of perm is used - acid or alkaline, heat or no heat - the result will not be good.
After that, if the hairdresser does not use the perm according to directions and according to the particular needs of the individual perm (brand) there can be disaster.
Thanks for your comments in the forum. They are always interesting.




Answer
If the Redken CAT was mentioned above, I can't say it did too much for me when my hair was fried. My hair is naturally thin although very full, and naturally wavy. After my perm I looked like I had dreadlocks. I spent $500 on my hair in visits to a stylist and in hair products within the year it took me to grow out the damaged hair. For some reason, the stylist could make me look like I had normal hair again. I eventually had to get a very short flippy-do with lots of layers to get the fried hair out, and I took care of it from them on. It's a mistake we learn the hard way, just too bad there isn't any going back. Good luck!
***From Aromatherapy to Zen, we've got all of your spiritual and healing information. Also check out our FREE Love Spells section and our Bath and Body page to turn your regular tub into a day spa experience***


Answer
Hi Cheshire,
While CAT is a good product, it has never been my favorite either. There are others that I prefer to use in cases of damaged hair.
When hair is extremely damaged, the only thing any conditioner will do is help to prevent it from breaking and give it some cosmetic help. That hair has to grow out and be cut off. All you can do until it is gone is find the styling products that work to make it look the best it can look.
Thanks for posting.




Answer
Hi Dr. L,
I agree that the condition of the hair plays a big part in how your perm will turn out, but I did go for a consultation and told this hairdresser that I had coloured my hair over a month before and had highlights from the summer...I was honest about my hair and what was done to it...
I think the hairdresser who is suppose to be a professional should have recommended that I not get a perm and she should not have left it on so long and also applied heat to it...
It seems that all this could have been avoided, but instead her actions ensured that my hair got fried which she is to blame for, but I learned something from this...to be more careful about my hair and more cautious about what a hairdresser does to it...
franny


Answer
Franny, I agree with you the hairdresser - the professional - was responsible. We all make mistakes but as professionals, we have to take responsibility for what we do.
I'm glad you recognized lessons to be learned.




Answer
Dr. L,
I always recognize lessons to be learned, but I hope that hairdresser learned something as well...
I would hate for her to ruin someone elses' hair...
franny


Answer
Lets hope she did.




Answer
Has the salon given you any compensation? My Mother had this problem with a hair salon, and although they didn't give back the $100 she spent on the perm, they gave her that value amount worth of hair products that she could use to keep her hair looking less fried.
***From Aromatherapy to Zen, we've got all of your spiritual and healing information. Also check out our FREE Love Spells section and our Bath and Body page to turn your regular tub into a day spa experience***


Answer
I received all my money back, but not without some hassle...
I called the manager of the hair salon and she said there's nothing she could do?? and told me to call the district manager, which I did...He was very rude and asked me what I meant by "my hair was falling out in clumps"...I stated that my hair was FRIED and falling out and what part didn't he understand...I even offered to meet him so that he could see my hair and he said no..He told me to go see the same hairdresser that did the perm...I did and told her I was very upset and that I want all my money back $135 and she gave it to me....I would not have left had they not given me my money back...Not one person said they were sorry...There's no such thing as customer service anymore..
franny


Answer
Oh dear. A very bad experience. You can truely say that you have learned a lot from all of this. I really feel bad about it, since I wanted a perm myself. I would be very upset if it was damaged like yours is.
I hope your hair gets much better real soon!
Team Ehwaz - Team #14044 - Use the idle time of your computer to make a difference. Join now! Statistics:


Answer
Hi Dr. L,
I couldn't agree with you more, analyzing hair's condition and a thourough consultation are always the first steps in successful service. Not to mention following manufacturers directions, especially with chemicals.
ENJOY:)
Christian