Curling And Straightening Of Hair:

How Do Hair Perms Work?
The chemical process of changing the shape of hair is called perming. It gives the hair a new style through several washes. It can done by a cold process or hot process.

What Can Go Wrong With A Perm?
Number of factors are responsible for a successful perm.

• Correct strength of the lotion.
• Curler size
• Degree of tension (hair is wound around the curlers with it). Development time If any one also goes wrong, the perm may spoil. Small curlers and too excess tension make the hair look frizzy. A longer development time leads to the curl becoming too tight. A short development time and larger curlers make the perm loose. Hair is often damaged due to perming, especially colored hair. Prolonged application and strong lotions cause damage to normal hair.

How Often Can You Perm Your Hair?
It depends on the condition of your hair. If your hair has been colored earlier, it is better to avoid re-perming your hair for at least 4-5 months.

Can Curly Hair Be Straightened ?
Yes. This can be done by using chemicals or heat.

Setting Of Hair:

What Are Setting Agents And Hair Sprays?
Setting Agents And Hair Sprays keep the hair set longer. They are applied to washed hair, before it is set. They have very little chemical effect on the hair proteins and contain soluble polymers in different formulations.
Blow Drying: Heat damages the hair because it leads to loss of natural oils and moisture making it more prone to damage.

Blow Drying Tips:

• a. Use the dryer when the hair is semi-dry.
• b. Be gentle
• c. Use a warm/cool setting on the dryer. Keep moving it to avoid damage to one section of hair due to prolonged heating.
• d. Don't hold it near your head.
• e. Direct warm air along the direction of hair growth. Otherwise you may blow flat on the scales of hair shaft and ruffle them.

Common Hair And Scalp Problems:

1. Itchy Scalp:
   Usually there are two causes for itching of the scalp-
   • Lice: Lice reside on the body and clothes. They suck blood from the skin, affect the scalp leading to infections and cause itching. To confirm the presence of lice, look for the eggs laid by them. They are attached to the hair and are the size of a pin head, which makes it really difficuilt to look for them. However it is easily treated with malathion or gamma benzene hexachloride. Apply both once a week for two weeks.
   • Dandruff: Shedding dead skin cells is a normal process. Dandruff is the shedding of the dead cells in larger visible aggravates due to excessive production of dead cells. It is rare in children and usually starts at adolescence. It is maximum in the early twenties and gradually decreases over the years, rarely present in the elderly.
   • Getting Rid Of Dandruff: You can treat dandruff in two ways- Remove the scales quickly as they are formed, or suppress formation of scales. Regular and effective shampooing is a good way to remove the scales. When we apply oil, the scales stick to the scalp and are less visible, temporarily improving the appearance of a scaly scalp. However oil negates the effect of shampooing to a considerable extent. It is best to avoid oiling if you are suffering from dandruff. Medicated shampoos containing selenium sulphide, zinc pyrithione or coaltar are very effective. They decrease production of scales and remove it. Corticosteroid applications are very effective for severe dandruff. But the medications should be used regularly till you outgrow the problem.

2. Greying Of Hair:
   The greying process is largely influenced by our genes. Usually by the age of 50, 50% of the population have at least 50% grey hair. Though premature greying runs in certain families, it may occur due to emotional stress. Internal diseases like Thyroid Gland problems and certain also grey hair early.