| HAIR
FACTS |
Shampoos
Some people feel anxious about possible side-effects
of the shampoo formulations that they use.
A group of experts took their concerns seriously,
and pooled their experiences. As a result of their
discussions, these experts concluded:
- Shampoos
do not interfere with hair growth.
- The ingredients in these formulations do not
harm the hair or the scalp.
- Shampoos do not alter the physical properties
of hair, such as its elasticity and strength.
- There is no evidence that modern shampoos
cause matting or tangling of hair.
- There is no evidence that shampoo causes bubble
hair.
- There is no evidence that shampoo causes dandruff.
- There is no evidence that silicone conditioning
agents like those in '2-in-1' formulations interfere
with procedures like perming and dyeing.
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Styling
products
These products are used to give the finishing touches to the
chosen hair style, in order to get the final effect the user
is looking for. Most are synthetic products, designed to make
the hair thicker and firmer.
Setting lotions
These protect the hair from heat. Liquid lotions are designed
to be used on wet hair. They give extra volume to the finished
style.
Styling mousses
These can be used on either dry or wet hair, and are especially
suitable for curly styles.
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Gels
'Wet gels' give a glossy appearance to the hair. They
work best with black hair.
Hair
sprays
Hair sprays are generally used on dry hair, to hold and
fix a style. A hair spray is a solution of a polymer (plastic)
in a liquid.
The hair spray solution in the canister reaches
the hair
in the form of a fog of tiny droplets. When these strike the
hair they join up, coating the hair thinly with the polymer.
The spray dries very quickly, since the liquid evaporates almost
at the instant it touches the hair. As it dries the
polymer forms light welds or bonds between the strands
of hair. It is these bonds that hold the newly created style
in place.
Different types of hair spray are sold,
for use on
different types of hair. They differ in the formulation of
the holding polymer used, and also in the way the spray
is produced. Polymer sprayed on the hair in the form of
large droplets gives more hold; it takes longer to dry, however,
which leaves the hair feeling sticky for a while.
It may also seem stiffer and rougher when it is dry. Smaller
droplets give better feel, but a less firm hold. It is important
to choose the right balance between hold and feel.
The more heavily the spray is applied, the stronger
is
the hold. But there is a definite trade-off: the build-up of
polymer on the hair both looks and feels unpleasant. Some sprays
feel sticky after even a fairly light application. A
good spray will give both good 'hold' and good 'feel'
without heavy or repeated application, and will be
completely removed by shampooing.
Most hair sprays bond the hair strands
into long, linear bundles - that is, they 'seam weld' the hair.
But this
structure is broken down as soon as a comb or fingers
are run through it, or even in damp or windy conditions.
A new innovation produces 'spot welds' rather than seam welds see
. This reduces the volume of product
on the hair. It also gives a softer hold and less damage to
the cuticles when the hair is groomed.
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