Non-Cuticle hair means hair that has been fundamentally damaged. If you use hair care products made for normal hair, you will be doing a major disservice. Regular conditioners are formulated to condition the cuticle layer, a very durable layer that is over 30% protein. Instead, you should be using a conditioner formulated for the under-layer without cuticle. This layer is made up of only 3% protein (10 times less!) and requires a more powerful lubricating system. The lack of a protective cuticle layer has other consequences. It allows everything to be easily absorbed into the hair – and lets vital moisture out again. Cuticle and Non-Cuticle hair are different product types with different maintenance needs. Each one requires its own specialist product.
Moisture is the single most important factor in determining the way your hair looks. When moisture drops below 10-10.2% (depending on the type of hair and the level of environmental humidity), hair will look like brittle straw as opposed to supple green grass. The critical moisture level is the difference between a fresh slice of bread and one left on the counter for 3 days. In the example of the straw or the stale slice of bread, if we apply the slightest pressure, they will break.The same pressure on the fresh slice of bread or the green grass shows us how malleable these materials could be.
Likewise, any pressure put on dry human hair, asopposed to well-moisturized hair, will result in breakage. Dry hairleads to breakage, especially with repeated combing applied in alocalized area [the crown]. Moisture = StrengthAn average strengthproperties reading for Indian non-cuticle hair with a diameter of0.055mm would be 0.22 gn/m². An average result for the same type ofhair from the same bundles, but completely soaked with tap water wouldbe 0.66 gn/m². A normal value for such hair would be around 0.32 gn/m².(gn/m² stands for Giganewtons per square meter, which is a measure ofpressure. For human hair, these figures explain the fiber’s strength –the amount of pressure it can withstand before breaking.) The important lesson here is that moisture - any type of moisture -will increase the strength of the hair by up to 300%. Tests conductedhave shown that plain water is as effective as any conditioner orleave-in moisturizer. For example, try wearing your jeans after washingthem, while they are still soaking wet and feel the roughness of thefabric. This has to do with the swelling and increased strength of thefabric when wet. Until the water evaporates, the denim will besignificantly stronger. The same goes for hair. The role ofconditionersConditioner will add strength, but only temporarily, justas water will. Now we are getting to one of the major trade offsbetween conditioner and water: Water will evaporate much faster, butwill not leave deposits that will weigh down your client’s hair.Conditioner will evaporate much more slowly and contribute to thestrength of the hair for a longer time, but will leave deposits thatmay weight down the hair. In hot desert climates such as in Arizona andNevada, it is extremely important to maintain the moisture of the hair,especially if the client spends any time in the sun. Just a few minutesof ultra-violet exposure on treated hair is enough to make asignificant impact. In these conditions, a very light leave-inconditioner is highly recommended. If the client is not inclined to buymoreproducts, give or sell him a very small mist bottle (2 oz will besufficient) filled with water and have him mist his hair a few times aday. |