As we approach the New Year, many women want to make positive changes in our lives. It is a time when we strive to become healthy inside and out. Why not start with your hair? At Healthy Hair Salon, we specialize in solving distressed hair problems, which are very common given today’s popular styling habits.

It is good to tackle hair distress early. The best way to identify the seriousness of the damage is to consult with a professional Trichologist.

However, there are early signs of distressed hair that you can detect by observing your own hair.

Some warning signs of hair distress include: 1) “Popping” when combing hair, 2) Dry scalp, 3) Dry dull hair, 4) Excess shedding after relaxer, and 5) Notice of chemical odor.

When I examine a client that experiences one or more of these symptoms, I suggest a chemical re-balancing treatment restore  the pH balance of the hair. Chemical or mechanical hair distress can actually change the pH balance of the hair causing it to swell. A pH level between 4.5 and 5.5 is considered balanced. Hair ends that appear lighter can be a tell-tale sign of swelling.

Close up of hair distress restore the pH balance of the hair.

The chemicals in relaxers, gels, shampoos and other regular hair styling products can affect the pH balance of the hair. In addition, the sun’s ultraviolet rays and the use of curling irons can cause hair swelling.

In order to maintain healthy hair, I recommend a chemical re-balancing treatment to be done quarterly, especially if the hair shows signs of distress. At Healthy Hair Salon, we have found that it typically takes 2-6 of our chemical balancing treatments (or up to a year) to restore hair to a healthy state, depending on the damage.  I have seen both my natural hair and relaxed clients achieve stronger hair by rebalancing the pH of the hair.

Once the hair is healthy, it is important to remember the following tips:

• Lengthen the amount of time between relaxer touch-ups.  6-10 weeks is suggested, 12 weeks for very fine hair.
• Consider getting a scalp detox or scalp refresh every 3 months to remove bacteria and build-up (from medications, sweat, dirt or various styling products). Washing your hair alone does not remove this build-up that can change the pH of your hair. You will need to seek out a Trichologist or scalp specialist for this kind of treatment.
•  Avoid wearing a weave cap. Weave caps can cause hair loss, breakage and even fungus by becoming a breeding ground for bacteria and toxins released from the scalp.
• Wear a satin scarf instead of cotton at night to lessen or prevent breakage.

Following these simple hair care do’s and don’ts will keep your hair on a healthy trend and start your year off right. Truly, New Year, New Hair, New You!

Need to work on your hair distress? We are extending our 12 Days of Treatments special until Dec 31.

Give the gift of healthier hair to a loved one or yourself, help women and girls in need

Starting Dec 6, participate in our 12 Days of Treatments giving campaign. Take advantage of our specials on conditioning treatments (including our refresh hair and scalp detox treatment to promote hair growth) and support women and girls in need with us.

We have partnered with Glamour Gone Good, a non-profit organization, to raise monies for Dress For Success, Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS), and Sister to Sister: The Women’s Heart Health Foundation.

Regular conditioning treatments should be part of your healthy hair regimen. At Healthy Hair Salon, we use our own exclusive line of Healthy Hair Distress treatments that can rescue you from dull, brittle, or damaged hair. Add one to your regular styling services and nurture your hair against signs of hair distress.

Healthy Hair Distress treatment Special:

10% off any one Healthy Hair Salon Treatment

(use code: girlsglam2011 )

or

25% off when you buy a 3- pack of Treatments

(use code: girlsgood2011)

(Regular pricing: $25-55)

Available Treatments:

Revitalize Chemical Treatment – For chemically-treated, damaged hair. This treatment is use during or after a chemical service. Designed to remove chemical residue,  strengthen the hair shaft from the inside out, while adding body and shine.

Intense Revitalizing Moisture Treatment – For natural hair.  Designed to soften brittle dry hair while adding body and shine.  Will help to control breakage and split ends to natural hair.  Treatment is great for lackluster hair due to severe dryness or damage. Designed to replenish your hair with moisture, eliminate dullness, and nourish thirsty locks.

Modifier Thermal Treatment– For damaged hair due to chemical processing or harsh styling practices. Designed to control breakage, frizziness and mend split ends before cutting and fights damaged ends that show signs of abuse.

Protein Enhancer Treatment– For very coarse hair. Get more manageable hair that is more humidity-resistant. Designed to nourish thirsty hair and add natural shine.

Color-treated Therapy Treatment – For color-treated hair. Keep more radiant color by using this treatment which helps to seal in color and repel UVA/UVB rays. Designed to protect hair from color fading and strengthen chemically-colored hair.

 Refresh Hair and Scalp Detox Treatment 3-Session Special:

 $30 off 3-Sessions Refresh Hair and Scalp Treatments

(use code: girlsgone2011)

Regular price $105

Refresh Hair and Scalp Detox treatments– Eliminate the build-up that clogs pores and hinders hair growth. Designed to remove build-up from styling products (such oils, hair spray), dirt, and hard water.

Discounts also available on the Keratin straightening treatments (both the Express 30-day and Full 90-day Treatment). Read more about our keratin treatments here.

Book an appointment online today

or

call us at 713. 988.1222

Looking for a new salon to pamper yourself in Missouri City, Houston, Stafford, Sugar Land, Katy, Fresno, Rosharon, Cypress, or Spring? Visit our Healthy Hair Salon and make an appointment with one of our trichologists.

12 Days of Treatment specials run from Dec 6 thru Dec 17 as part of the #12DaysofGGGiving campaign. Follow us on Twitter at @hhsalon to read more announcements about our participation.

Many of you may enjoy eating various recipes of okra but may not know how the plant  begins its birth. A young okra plant has very fragile roots. In addition, its stem is easily broken. If you hold it too roughly, the stem may even snap. An okra grower must nurture each plant with the proper balance of good soil and moisture until it gets strong.

New hair is very similar to a new okra plant and must be handled gently. I find that many clients expect new hair to sustain more abuse than it should in the earliest stages of growth. Often clients get anxious for new hair to grow in full and strong. Unfortunately, you can’t rush the process of growth.

Here are a few tips that should help you avoid putting too much stress on new hair as it grows, especially when you are undergoing a hair loss treatment program:

Tip 1:  Try a sulfate-free shampoo. You can find a lot of experts championing the cause of sulfate-free shampoos on the Internet right now. While I believe shampoos with sulfate (found in many bath soaps, conditioners, and shampoos) are fine for strong adult hair, sulfate-free shampoos are my preferred option when a client is focused on hair regrowth and has hair loss.  Sulfate, which serves as a strong cleansing agent to remove dirt and oils, is typically too strong for fragile hair. Often, I will use a sulfate shampoo to remove dirt and then follow up with a sulfate-free shampoo to complete. Hair that is fine or color-treated hair may also respond better to sulfate-free shampoos.

Tip 2:   Avoid using a lot of heavy products on new hair. New hair cannot take the build-up of hair product residue that stronger hair can. Using a lot of sprays and gels disrupts the natural skin shedding pattern. In addition to the heavy use of styling products, engaging in practices like a “conditioning wash” on a regular basis is no-no. Despite the fact that you may read many women posting in hair forums about it, I think that this is a bad idea as a Trichologist. Applying a conditioner without washing your hair is the equivalent of applying deodorant without taking a bath first. Yes, you may think that you smell better. However, you are not really giving the skin (or hair in this case) what it needs.

Tip 3:   Keep your scalp clean. Dead skin cells often accumulate on the scalp and make it hard for the hair to grow. By looking under a microscope, I have observed hair growing sideways under the skin of clients. So, the hair IS growing but can’t penetrate the scalp. A clean scalp really is the key to having a healthy head of hair. I recommend all my clients get their scalp “refreshed” every 3 months to eliminate the build up of product residue and unclog pores. Releasing the impurities and waste from the scalp is kind of equivalent of a facial but for the scalp.

So, for Thanksgiving, be thankful for the farmers who take the time to harvest all the delightful vegetables that you can enjoy with your family. Remember, if you tend to your hair in the same fashion, you should be on the road to a healthy head of hair.

Don’t forget about our November promotion to win a Healthy Hair Salon gift basket.

We always encourage our clients to book appointments on a regular basis so that we can ensure quality hair care and prevent hair loss.

This November, we give you an extra reason to do so. One of our loyal clients will enjoy a special gift this Thanksgiving season on us.

By booking three appointments for salon or hair restoration services, you will enter a drawing to win a special Healthy Hair gift basket. Each item in the basket has been  handpicked by Jackie Creeks, Trichologist, to pamper your hair and scalp and minimize hair distress.

By booking 3 appointments, you can win a gift basket (total value $200) will include:

• Therapy Shampoo (for daily use)
• Therapeutic Plus Conditioner (for damaged hair, therapeutic hair treatment)
•  Therapy Leave-in Conditioner (hair treatment)
•  Extra Light Therapy Oil (for dry scalp, stimulates growth)
• Gloss & Shine (hair treatment)
• Steam Cap (to treat the hair and scalp)

Special Offer: Purchase a 3 Session Pack of Refresh Hair and Scalp Treatments for $30 off

Buy a 3 Session package at $75 (normally $105) and qualify for the drawing. You can purchase for yourself or also as a gift for someone else.

The Refresh Hair and Scalp Detox treatments are designed to remove build-up from styling products (such oils, hair spray), dirt, and  hard water. The treatment helps to eliminate the build-up that clogs pores and hinders hair growth.

This treatment is good for color-treated hair, relaxed hair, coarse hair. 

Try this treatment to promote healthier hair and scalp or support new hair growth for those managing thinning hair or hair loss. Styling services are not included in this package. To book, use discount code: newscalp2011

Drawing winner will be selected on November 30.

All appointments booked from November 1 are eligible.

Book an appointment online today

or

call us at 713. 988.1222 

Many breast cancer survivors fight hair loss along with cancer. According to the American Cancer Institute over 3 million women have survived or are living in with breast cancer in the United States. I wanted to use Breast Cancer Awareness Month as an opportunity to discuss options for women managing hair loss.

Between chemotherapy and other medications, it is common for survivors to deal with thinning hair or complete hair loss. Hair salons that specialize in hair loss or hair restoration services can be a great resource for women braving cancer treatment regimens.

As a hair loss specialist, I have been working with clients battling cancer since 1992. For some women, suffering the loss of their hair can be quite devastating. I enjoy helping them in even a small way to regain some self-esteem.
I counsel clients who are concerned about their appearance to take some control over their hair loss. One way to do so is to plan in advance about how to handle any dramatic changes in appearance. Clients can schedule a consultation with me before they start experiencing hair loss. If a client would like to keep her current hairstyle, I take a “before” picture so that I can match the style and color. This enables me to create a custom hair unit (or system) that makes each person feel more like their old self.

Client with medical prosthesis solution with hair loss

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I chose to highlight Sisters Network, a group that supports African American women to fight breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, African American women are more likely to deal with a more aggressive form of tumors than their counterparts of other races.

A medical reason, such as breast cancer, is only one cause of hair loss. Many women who suffer from hair loss notice a gradual change in their hair over 6-8 years before taking action.

Here are some questions that you should ask yourself to determine whether you should see a hair loss professional:

• Does your hair appear to be thinning without evidence of fallout?
• Are there bumps and/or soreness on your scalp?
• Is your hair lifeless and dull?
• Do you have other family remembers that have hair loss?
• Are you having itchy, redness and dry scalp?

Have questions about your own personal hair loss? Contact us for a consultation.

This year, we will support

Sisters Network

(good for all in-salon services, including consultations)

To book an appointment, call 713.988.1222

or click here to book your appointment online.

Please leave a comment below to share a personal breast cancer story.

Hair color junkies on a budget often turn to at-home color. Some clients believe that because you can buy it box at Walgreens that there are no risks. Others may feel more relaxed when they get advice from the beauty supply store. As a salon professional, I recommend that you leave the chemicals to professionals.

Many clients get frustrated when at-home color efforts come out not quite as great as expected. You wonder why Rihanna’s color looks so luxurious and brilliant. Well, she most likely visited a professional stylist that is an expert in color. Realistically, you should not expect the same results with non-professional products.

Besides mediocre results, here are a few other reasons why you may want to go to a salon for your colortreatment.

1) You want to apply a permanent color. As the name suggests, once you apply permanent hair color, you have chemically altered your hair. You risk causing serious hair distress by trying to over-process to correct a mistake or to achieve the true color results that you expected.

2) Past attempts have left your hair dull. Depending on the brand of your hair color and/or your ability to follow the directions, you may leave residue on your hair after your application.

3). Your hair seems drier than usual. If your hair is always dry after an at-home treatment, your hair may need more conditioning prior to applying color.

Highlights and lowlights with red

If you go to a good stylist, she should do a complete consultation to understand your color goals as well as inspect the condition of your hair before starting your service. As a Trichologist, I often will take an extra step to examine the hair under a microscope to reveal more, especially if I have any doubt about the condition of a client’s hair.

One thing that I have found helpful for many of my clients is to apply a pre-color treatment before applying color. This treatment has actually become my trademark to achieve vibrant color with my clients. Typically, I apply Healthy Hair Salon’s exclusive Revitalize Chemical Treatment before and after a color treatment. It helps my clients achieve not only fabulous color but also lots of body.

At-home color mishaps can be corrected

When you apply color, residue or deposits are often left on the hair. For healthier hair and beautiful color, this residue must be removed. When I apply my pre-treatment, I can observe this more easily Removing this residue is important, especially when using permanent color.

The treatment aids in more than just the removal of residue. By applying a treatment after the color service, I have been able to really magnify the intensity of the color and the shine for my clients.

In summary, if you want to do your own at-home color, watch out for any signs of hair distress or damage (like dullness and dryness). For the best color results, always seek the advice of a salon professional that is a expert in color.

If you want to learn more about my Revitalize Chemical Treatment, please read more here.

In a nutshell, distressed hair is weakened hair. Hair distress can show up as hair breakage, dry brittle hair, or split ends. The most common distresses are caused by chemical and mechanical stressors. Chemical distress is typically cause by over-processing. This can be caused by color or straightening treatments or other chemical treatments. The typical culprits of mechanical distress are blow-drying, thermal irons, and everyday brushing.

Tip 1: Wrap and pin curl your hair each night. Making this ritual a part of your daily routing can really save your hair. When you wrap your hair in a circle it is really like a big pin curl. Once you get your pin curling technique down, you will learn how to vary the tightness of the curls. For those of you who prefer rollers, try using the pin curl method. Many types of rollers actually cause hair breakage.

Whether your hair is relaxed, color-treated, or natural, your hair requires nourishment to ensure proper health.  Our trichologist, Jacqueline’ Creeks, developed a special line of  salon therapy treatments and products to restore your hair’s natural balance due to distress from chemicals, the environment and common styling practices.

Add one of our exclusive Healthy Hair Distress Treatments to a styling service, save 15% off the treatment.

During the month of August, you can save when you choose one of six treatments that will strengthen and protect your hair. Book appointment NOW.

Healthy Hair Distress Treatment System (current options available)

• Revitalize Chemical Treatment – For chemically-treated, damaged hair. This treatment is use during or after a chemical service. Designed to remove chemical residue,  strengthen the hair shaft from the inside out, while adding body and shine.
• Intense Revitalizing Moisture Treatment – For natural hair.  Designed to soften brittle dry hair while adding body and shine.  Will help to control breakage and split ends to natural hair.  Treatment is great for lackluster hair due to severe dryness or damage. Designed to replenish your hair with moisture, eliminate dullness, and nourish thirsty locks.
• Modifier Thermal Treatment– For damaged hair due to chemical processing or harsh styling practices. Designed to control breakage, frizziness and mend split ends before cutting and fights damaged ends that show signs of abuse.
• Protein Enhancer Treatment– For very coarse hair. Get more manageable hair that is more humidity-resistant. Designed to nourish thirsty hair and add natural shine.
• Color-treated Therapy Treatment – For color-treated hair. Keep more radiant color by using this treatment which helps to seal in color and repel UVA/UVB rays. Designed to protect hair from color fading and strengthen chemically-colored hair.

Regular pricing: $25-55

Enjoy 15% off any of the above treatments for the month of August

(with a regular wash and style service)

As an extra bonus, you can also purchase the Healthy Hair Doctor’s favorite sulfate-free shampoo with a therapeutic conditioner and hair follicle stimulator to use at home for 15% off (regularly $16.99 and $18.99 ea.).

For bookings and questions, please call 713.988.1222

Or

Special ends August 31

Offer terms:

• Mention this promotion when booking your appointment online or by phone
• Offer good for services rendered by August 31
• Cannot be combined with other salon offers
• Offers can only be redeemed for service appointments on Tuesday through Thursday

• Want to combat frizz to manage natural curl pattern. If your goal is simply to make your hair more manageable, then this may be an option for you.
• Are willing to use the recommended at-home care products.The results will vary by hair texture and also your commitment to use the appropriate post-treatment products.

• Will have trouble following the post-treatment directions. Before you leave the salon, I make sure my clients know the activities that will jeopardize the results.
• Expect the same result as a relaxer.If you have coarse 4b hair, you should not expect the same degree of straightness as a relaxer.