I took a phone call yesterday from a frantic mother. Her daughter is 8 years old and has a huge snarly knot in the back of her head and she doesn't know what to do any more to get it out. Any suggestions? Yes. Bring her in so someone can look at it and go from there. It's kind of hard to do say anything over the phone. She agreed and brought her in later in the day.
The little girl's hair was pulled back in a loose braid. At first glance, things didn't seem all that bad. And then....I sat her in my chair, took the braid out, and immediately said "Why would you do this to your hair?? If this doesn't come out, I may have to use the clippers on your hair." I grabbed a pick and started working on her dry hair.
Some of the knots started coming out. On the sides of her head wasn't too bad, compared to the HUGE knot (bigger than her actual head) I had yet to tackle. This poor kid wound up in tears because my pulling on her knots was causing serious pain, so I took her to the sink to see what I can wash out and loosen up.
I washer her hair (as best as I could) 3 times to try to loosen things up. I held the sprayer on the actual root of the knot for a good minute, seeing if the pressure would loosen things up. Then, I worked some conditioner into her hair. I bring her back to my chair and dig in again. This time, things go much easier.
Over all, it took me an hour and 15 minutes to deal with that knot. I had to cut out two spots...one of them a smaller area, however the knotting went all the way to the top of her head. The other one I (Literally) chopped at was the jumbo knot in the back. "THWAP" went the chunk I cut out when I tossed it to the floor. Dad came in and took that clump of hair and kept it, to remind daughter of what happens when you don't take care of your hair. Once I got her hair all combed out, there were parts that WEREN'T EVEN WET. That's how bad that knot was.
After I cut the basic shape of her hair, I took her back to the sink and proceeded to wash her hair, AGAIN. This time, I was able to get it CLEAN. Back to my chair to finish the hair cut.
The entire time I was dealing with her hair, I found out that mom is a ding bat....and has no clue what to do with her child. Dad was incredibly frustrated with the both of them, and took what I said to heart. I also think that the daughter will NOT be doing this again, any time too soon, since it was such a painful experience. The kicker?? Mom & Dad had just pulled all those knots out just two weeks ago. Daughter was using a soft bristle hair brush to deal with her hair, which it wasn't able to do. This child has enough hair for 4 people. It's fine (which is why it knotted so badly) and it's slightly wavy. It was also 3/4 of the way down her back, all one length, with a little bit of bang.
Were these people dirty?? Absolutely not. All were very clean, reasonably well educated. However, they were trusting the 8 year old to do a very daunting, intimidating job. Even better was the fact that Mom washes the kid's hair for her, so she knew what was happening, and did nothing to fix the situation until they brought her in to me.
The end result: Her hair was cut to the bottom of her neck (her choice) in a cute, fun hair cut, making it 5 bazillion times easier for her to take care of her hair, which made everyone happy. And, for the first time in a long time, her hair was CLEAN. To the scalp clean. One thing I've learned from this: I need to charge WAY more for dealing with that mess than what I did. Let's hope I only see her for hair cuts and not to get that knot out again.
Lesson learned.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Things I've read today
Whilst scanning through a renowned color guru's Facebook page, I came across these comments, pertaining to permanent color. And, I thought I'd share them and my reaction to them.
"Permanent color that faded in two weeks". Apparently, this person still hasn't learned what's permanent about permanent hair color. It's not the dye load, it's the lifting action that's permanent. That being said, how you care for your newly colored hair is just as important as what you color it with. If you're using the wrong shampoo and screaming hot water to wash your hair with, of course the color won't last. However, if you're using sulfate-free shampoos, an acidic conditioner to close the cuticle, and moderate temperature water to wash & rinse with, you should have better success in maintaining your color between appointments.
"Organic" hair color: Unless you are using good, old fashioned HENNA (the kind that turns hair orange and is used to tattoo your hands during sacred ceremonies of the Hindu faith), there isn't a hair color out there that is "organic"...which, by the way, is a non-regulated word used by manufacturers of various products to get you to purchase whatever it is. It's a "buzz word". Oh, and the other "by the way"?? If you look at things this way: Things are either organic or inorganic. Something that is "organic" is living matter, animal, or vegetable, carbon based. Something that is "Inorganic" is non-living or mineral based. Which means, basically, that all hair color is both organic and inorganic, depending upon it's ingredients.
"Lift and deposit in the same application" This comment was said in wonder, like they've never heard of it before. What planet are you from?? ALL permanent color, whether it's the "non-ammonia" or ammonia based color, lifts first, to create a base for the color to adhere to, then deposits the artificial color after. Please get some education.
"Ammonia is effective because it's incredibly corrosive and extrordinarily destructive to the cuticle and sacrafices the hair's health and structural intregity". This one is a double-edged sword. With multiple applications, YES, ammonia is corrosive and destructive and will definitely sacrafice the hair health and structural integrity. Ammonia continues to swell the hair shaft, therefore pushing the cuticle open even further, making your hair feel dry. Because this cuticle is open, it also allows the dyeload to "pile up" in the hair shaft, making the strand darker with each application. That's why you'll see people with lighter colored hair at the top of the head and nearly BLACK hair at the ends. This is NOT the trendy "Ombre" look, my friends. THIS is damanged hair.
Something that also happens with color build up (and this even happens with demi and semi permanent colors) is that the hair will break off after a period of time. Hair can only take so much of a "beating" before it just gives up. And, this can happen both at home and with a professional. It's a bit hard to avoid. Careful formulation goes a long way to keeping the intregity of the hair intact. Careful application of color goes a long way, also. Don't overlap the product. Don't "run" the permanent color through the ends of the hair beyond a virgin application of color to hair that's never been colored before. And educate your clients on how to properly take care of their hair.
"Permanent color that faded in two weeks". Apparently, this person still hasn't learned what's permanent about permanent hair color. It's not the dye load, it's the lifting action that's permanent. That being said, how you care for your newly colored hair is just as important as what you color it with. If you're using the wrong shampoo and screaming hot water to wash your hair with, of course the color won't last. However, if you're using sulfate-free shampoos, an acidic conditioner to close the cuticle, and moderate temperature water to wash & rinse with, you should have better success in maintaining your color between appointments.
"Organic" hair color: Unless you are using good, old fashioned HENNA (the kind that turns hair orange and is used to tattoo your hands during sacred ceremonies of the Hindu faith), there isn't a hair color out there that is "organic"...which, by the way, is a non-regulated word used by manufacturers of various products to get you to purchase whatever it is. It's a "buzz word". Oh, and the other "by the way"?? If you look at things this way: Things are either organic or inorganic. Something that is "organic" is living matter, animal, or vegetable, carbon based. Something that is "Inorganic" is non-living or mineral based. Which means, basically, that all hair color is both organic and inorganic, depending upon it's ingredients.
"Lift and deposit in the same application" This comment was said in wonder, like they've never heard of it before. What planet are you from?? ALL permanent color, whether it's the "non-ammonia" or ammonia based color, lifts first, to create a base for the color to adhere to, then deposits the artificial color after. Please get some education.
"Ammonia is effective because it's incredibly corrosive and extrordinarily destructive to the cuticle and sacrafices the hair's health and structural intregity". This one is a double-edged sword. With multiple applications, YES, ammonia is corrosive and destructive and will definitely sacrafice the hair health and structural integrity. Ammonia continues to swell the hair shaft, therefore pushing the cuticle open even further, making your hair feel dry. Because this cuticle is open, it also allows the dyeload to "pile up" in the hair shaft, making the strand darker with each application. That's why you'll see people with lighter colored hair at the top of the head and nearly BLACK hair at the ends. This is NOT the trendy "Ombre" look, my friends. THIS is damanged hair.
Something that also happens with color build up (and this even happens with demi and semi permanent colors) is that the hair will break off after a period of time. Hair can only take so much of a "beating" before it just gives up. And, this can happen both at home and with a professional. It's a bit hard to avoid. Careful formulation goes a long way to keeping the intregity of the hair intact. Careful application of color goes a long way, also. Don't overlap the product. Don't "run" the permanent color through the ends of the hair beyond a virgin application of color to hair that's never been colored before. And educate your clients on how to properly take care of their hair.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
My own color disaster....
My regrowth needed to be done. We NEVER have time at work, due to the fact that we're ridiculously busy most of the time. So, it's up to me to get it done. So, I went to the local professional product distributor and picked up what I needed. I also talked Katie into doing most of my color work for me (she's seriously toying with going to cosmetology school after high school, so, here's some practice!)
Step one: A color balancing. This is a mixture of shampoo, lightener, & developer, mixed in a bowl. Katie sectioned my hair (4 quadrants), then sub sectioned it to apply the product, omitting my regrowth, to lighten my hair. (repeated applications of demi permanent color eventually causes the hair to get progressively darker, thus making my hair look brownish). This sat on my hair, capped, for 30 minutes. Which, as it turned out, was about 10 minutes too long. My hair turned apricot colored.
Not necessarily a big deal, really. It will still support red hair. So, I had Katie apply my permanent color formula to my regrowth. Over all, my hair didn't look too bad...Katie's application was fine, by the way...just too light. (kind of "strawberry"-ish)
So, Wednesday morning, after I take Katie to school, I mix up the formula for my ends. I have neglected to tell you that all of this color is from Matrix, and it's all the "HD" color...."High Definition", which really means intense pigment. I apply the color, cap my hair, let it sit for 30 minutes, then wash it out. HOLY RED HAIR. And not Lucille Ball red. Not Orphan Annie red, not Rita Hayworth red. Freakin' RONALD MCDONALD RED!!! It was an intense shade of red when WET (when hair usually looks quite dark). So, I scrambled in the bin of color that I have, looking for a remedy.
I had also foiled other colors into my bangs: An RV, CR & 1 foil of lightener. Since I liked how that came out, I left my bangs out when I covered my hair with 3/4 6N & 1/4 6CG (natural & copper gold). And, because my hair is a bit trashed from the color balancing, my ends are a bit, well...crispy. (I'm also waaaay overdue for a haircut). However, my ends are now a coppery brown (not my best color, but it'll work til I can get my hair trimmed up) and my bangs have some craziness going on. Which works for me.
Lesson learned?? Don't leave the color balancing on so damn long!! And refill the color stash so I can correct the mistakes a bit better.
Oh well.
Step one: A color balancing. This is a mixture of shampoo, lightener, & developer, mixed in a bowl. Katie sectioned my hair (4 quadrants), then sub sectioned it to apply the product, omitting my regrowth, to lighten my hair. (repeated applications of demi permanent color eventually causes the hair to get progressively darker, thus making my hair look brownish). This sat on my hair, capped, for 30 minutes. Which, as it turned out, was about 10 minutes too long. My hair turned apricot colored.
Not necessarily a big deal, really. It will still support red hair. So, I had Katie apply my permanent color formula to my regrowth. Over all, my hair didn't look too bad...Katie's application was fine, by the way...just too light. (kind of "strawberry"-ish)
So, Wednesday morning, after I take Katie to school, I mix up the formula for my ends. I have neglected to tell you that all of this color is from Matrix, and it's all the "HD" color...."High Definition", which really means intense pigment. I apply the color, cap my hair, let it sit for 30 minutes, then wash it out. HOLY RED HAIR. And not Lucille Ball red. Not Orphan Annie red, not Rita Hayworth red. Freakin' RONALD MCDONALD RED!!! It was an intense shade of red when WET (when hair usually looks quite dark). So, I scrambled in the bin of color that I have, looking for a remedy.
I had also foiled other colors into my bangs: An RV, CR & 1 foil of lightener. Since I liked how that came out, I left my bangs out when I covered my hair with 3/4 6N & 1/4 6CG (natural & copper gold). And, because my hair is a bit trashed from the color balancing, my ends are a bit, well...crispy. (I'm also waaaay overdue for a haircut). However, my ends are now a coppery brown (not my best color, but it'll work til I can get my hair trimmed up) and my bangs have some craziness going on. Which works for me.
Lesson learned?? Don't leave the color balancing on so damn long!! And refill the color stash so I can correct the mistakes a bit better.
Oh well.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Why I haven't been on in, like, FOREVER....
Work has been increasingly busy. Which is a good thing. Except when you're understaffed. Then, it's an issue. On the one hand, I'm making some serious money. On the other hand, I'm seriously tired and a bit stressed out from the pace. I'm getting used to it, so it's not as bad as it was, physically.
I also struggle with the changes I've made in regard to what I blog about. I started this blog as a bitch fest and decided to change it so I wasn't complaining quite so much. Since I've done that, I've limited my outlets for complaining. Sigh.
I don't just talk to hear myself talk. I try to use the complaining constructively to sort out what is going on and just how to cope with it. It doesn't always work. My aunt will regularly inform me of her opinion, and not always in a positive light. Which is fine, I can take it. I'm sure she sees me as a complete whiner. Truly, I'm not. However, I need to get this toxic crap out of my system. I've always been one to "journal" things....this is just a more open format.
So, I'm at a loss as to what to do. Keep it positive all the time, or every once in a while, let it loose??
I also struggle with the changes I've made in regard to what I blog about. I started this blog as a bitch fest and decided to change it so I wasn't complaining quite so much. Since I've done that, I've limited my outlets for complaining. Sigh.
I don't just talk to hear myself talk. I try to use the complaining constructively to sort out what is going on and just how to cope with it. It doesn't always work. My aunt will regularly inform me of her opinion, and not always in a positive light. Which is fine, I can take it. I'm sure she sees me as a complete whiner. Truly, I'm not. However, I need to get this toxic crap out of my system. I've always been one to "journal" things....this is just a more open format.
So, I'm at a loss as to what to do. Keep it positive all the time, or every once in a while, let it loose??
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