Hair Care

Hair care covers hygiene, maintenance, and styling practices that protect the scalp and hair fibre while achieving desired looks.

Core practices

Cleansing: choose frequency by sebum level, activity, and style; clarify buildup as needed.
Conditioning: reduce friction, improve slip, and replenish moisture/protein balance.
Protection: limit heat; use heat protectants; shield from UV/chlorine; avoid sustained tight traction.
Handling: detangle gently from ends upward; avoid vigorous brushing when wet.

Bonding & reconstruction

Modern salon treatments (often marketed as "bond builders") aim to reconnect or protect disulphide bonds disrupted by bleaching or thermal/chemical styling. They can improve tensile strength and reduce breakage but are adjuncts to, not replacements for, good processing practice.

Bleaching aftercare & safety: after lightening, use toning products (purple shampoos) to manage brassiness, and rotate protein and moisture treatments to rebalance the shaft. Avoid high‑temperature styling and allow recovery time between chemical services. For safety, strand tests, consultation and professional application reduce scalp‑burn and allergy risk; see Hair Bleaching for developer volumes and risk guidance.

Writing tip: For scene prompts and short examples about salon rituals and aftercare, see the Writing Tips section in Hair Bleaching.

UV, swimming and colour safety

Chlorine and salt water can accelerate fading and mechanical roughening; rinse hair after swimming and use clarifying care occasionally.
UV filters in leave‑ins or hats reduce photodegradation of melanin and synthetic pigments; for bleached or red hair, extra sun protection helps preserve tone.

Products (examples)

Shampoos (including dandruff formulas), conditioners, leave‑ins, oils, silicones, heat protectants, hairsprays, gels, and mousses.

Colour-Specific Care

Black and Brown Hair: Use hydrating products to maintain shine and prevent dryness.
Blond Hair: Protect from UV damage to prevent brassiness; use purple shampoos to maintain tone.
Red Hair: Use color-safe shampoos to prevent fading; avoid excessive heat styling.
Grey/White Hair: Use clarifying shampoos to prevent yellowing; incorporate nourishing treatments to maintain softness.

Red hair (practical tips)

Use low‑sulphate, colour‑safe cleansers and gentle conditioners to reduce colour stripping.
Apply leave‑in UV protectants or wear a hat in strong sun; UV exposure accelerates pheomelanin fading.
Limit high‑heat styling and use heat protectants; repeated bleaching or strong oxidative colour lifts can damage pheomelanin and leave brassy tones.
For long‑lasting red tones consider semi‑permanent dyes, glosses, or plant dyes (henna) which bind differently to keratin.
Regular trims and protein/moisture treatments help preserve shine and reduce breakage caused by increased porosity from colouring.

Writing Tips

Use routines to reveal personality, constraints, or culture: wash‑day rituals, protective styles, salon visits.
Show consequences: scent after the pool, brittle ends after bleach, relief after loosening a bun.

Example