Hair and Scalp Care, Shampooing, and Treatments
Analyze first
Every service begins with hair analysis: texture (fine, medium, coarse), density, porosity (how readily hair absorbs moisture - low, normal, high), elasticity (stretch and return, reflecting protein/moisture balance), growth pattern, and scalp condition. High porosity hair grabs color and chemicals fast and can overprocess; low porosity resists.
Products and procedures
Shampoos: clarifying, moisturizing, balancing, medicated, sulfate-free, and dry. Conditioners: surface (temporary smoothing), deep/penetrating cream, protein (for damaged, porous hair), and leave-in. Know that over-cleansing strips the acid mantle and that water temperature should be comfortably warm, not hot.
Scalp manipulations: effleurage (gliding), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (percussion), and vibration. Drape correctly with a shampoo cape and towel over a neck strip, keep shampoo out of eyes and ears, and support the client's neck.
Traps
- Selecting a treatment for the wrong problem: brittle snapping hair needs protein; dry dull hair needs moisture and conditioning.
- Attempting to treat dandruff with a cosmetic shampoo when scaling, redness, or oozing indicates a condition requiring referral.
- Massaging an inflamed, broken, or infected scalp.
- Forgetting that medicated shampoos are treatment products, not a substitute for medical care.
Rule of thumb
Analyze before you apply: a strand test, a porosity check, and two minutes of scalp observation will answer most exam questions about which shampoo or treatment to recommend.