With many options available when it comes to heat styling tools, it’s sometimes hard to know where to begin. Maybe you recently purchased a new styling wand or received that straightener you've been eying - but how high do you set it? What is the best technique and is it going to cause damage to your hair?

These are all very common questions when it comes to using heat tools, and in this article we’ll cover the different types of heat styling and how to protect your hair from damage while using them.

IONIC VS CERAMIC

You’ve probably heard these terms tossed around or advertised when it comes to the different types of styling tools, but what do they actually mean?

Ionic Tools

In simplest terms, ionic technology uses negatively charged ions to break down the positively charged ions that are present in water. This prevents them from soaking into the hair shaft and causing additional frizz, also drying hair faster. There are even tourmaline dryers (aka lined with semi-precious minerals) that throw off millions of negatively charged ions to prevent frizz and dry hair.

Ionic hair dryers are ideal for those with curly hair as it does not compromise the shape of the hair, or those with thick hair that is prone to frizz.

The chemicals & minerals in our water can have varying effects on your hair and skin, so we’ve pulled together an overview on what you need to know and how to combat different water problems.

HARD WATER VS SOFT WATER

The “hardness” of water is determined by measuring the mineral content in your water. Hard water is defined as water with high amounts of calcium and magnesium, while soft water is higher in de-ionized sodium.

HARD WATER EFFECTS

While hard water is completely safe for cooking and drinking, the calcium and magnesium can have negative effects on your hair and skin. When you shower in hard water, the calcium and magnesium can cause build up which can lead to:

• Dry, brittle hair

• Unwanted damage from color or highlights

• Inconsistent results when coloring or highlighting

• Excess Frizz

• An itchy scalp due to inflammation

• Dandruff

• Hair loss due to calcium build up on the scalp

• Dry skin

Hard water also strips the natural oils from our hair and skin, removing all moisture and compromising hair bonds. While public records report on water quality, a few indicators that your water is hard are cloudy spots on your dishes after washing, an excess buildup of soap scum and low water pressure due to build up. You can also have your water tested to understand the specific components of your water as well.

When it comes to lightening your hair, we do so with the goal of preserving the integrity of each strand and keeping hair healthy and hydrated. This is why we often have to have the conversation with clients as to why you can’t go from brunette to blonde in just one visit. In this article, we’ll dive deeper into the science behind going blonde and why it takes time to go from Belle brown to Barbie blonde.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND LIGHTENING YOUR HAIR

When you lighten your hair, you’re essentially dissolving the natural melanin within the hair shaft that creates the natural color in your hair. Depending on the darkness and unique composition of your hair strands, your stylist may choose to use a lifting color to lighten your hair, or a dissolvent like bleach.

The lightening agent penetrates the hair shaft and then reacts with the pigment molecules, dissolving the color and ultimately lightening the hair. While the lightening technique is great to help you achieve your desired color, the use of these lightening agents also causes the natural fatty acids of your hair to break down, weakening the hair. In addition to this, lightening your hair will also affect the texture, making hair more porous or open- making it difficult for hair to maintain moisture and ultimately more brittle. That’s why it’s important to understand your hair texture, thickness, and history before making any lightening alterations.

We’ve all heard different information on whether you should wash your hair or not before visiting the salon to refresh your locks. A common question, there is a lot of misinformation out there but the short-answer is that it really depends on the service you’re getting. In this article we’ll dive into the different types of salon services available at H&F Salon and whether you should come to the salon with clean - or not so clean - hair.

DEFINING DIRTY

Before we dive in, let’s quickly touch on how we define clean and dirty hair. While it may seem pretty straightforward, depending on your scalp health, hair texture, and other environmental factors - you may wash your hair daily or even weekly.

So how do we define clean hair? Simple really; your hair has been shampooed and conditioned within the past 24 - 48 hours, depending on your hair type.

Then there’s dirty. We all have our own definitions of dirty, but from a H&F Salon perspective this is considered hair that is overly oily and often contains a lot of product build up. If your service starts with a wash then dirty hair is fine, but it’s important to note the differences due to personal preferences.

When it comes to hair care, we all wish we could wake up with that “just stepped out of the salon” look everyday. Unfortunately for most of us, a day or two later our hair begins to feel oily and we’re forced to wash it. While there are obvious benefits to washing your hair, washing too often can cause scalp dryness and more breakage since hair is most fragile when it’s wet, as well as an increased production of natural oils called sebum from the scalp.

To combat the overproduction of sebum, H&F recommends oil training your scalp by slowly decreasing the frequency of hair washes.

Things to consider:

The level of sebum produced by the scalp differs per person based on factors like hormones, hair type, environment, diet, and more. When done correctly, oil training your scalp can have many benefits like less time spent washing, less heat damage, less oil production and less breakage. However, if the scalp is not cleansed often enough, it can cause bacteria growth and hair loss due to clogged follicles. Oil training your scalp is definitely a fine balance and should be done slowly over time!

Add an extra day in-between washes, every month or two:

Even those who take excellent care of their hair sometimes need a boost. Stress, styling and environmental factors can weaken the hair gradually, causing it to look dry and dull, behaving in strange, unruly ways. When hair begins to exhibit signs of stress, there is a quick, easy fix—our signature Fusio-Dose custom hair treatment. It is a system of concentrated care formulas and boosters that your stylist can mix for you personally, resulting in hair that is soft, shiny and incredibly healthy. With this treatment your hair quickly transforms and restores to its full potential.

Right now, there are up to 36 different combinations to address everything including:

• Dullness
• Breakage
• Adding Volume
• Enhance Curl
• Weakened Hair
• Brassy Tones
• Dryness

Your stylist will diagnose your hair and create a freshly-mixed formula that specifically targets your current hair concerns with a customized blend of concentrated actives that is just right for your hair type, hair concerns and hair needs.

It replaces your conditioner, but it isn’t the same. Fusio-Dose molecules are up to 100 times smaller than a traditional haircare product. Its unique technology enables hair to be transformed immediately with a lightweight finish. Fusio-Dose transforms your hair in less than 5 minutes, with a custom-blended mix that addresses 2 hair needs in 1 application!

Spring is on its way, and if you are like us - you are really looking forward to a change this year. One of the best ways to change up your hair color is to invest in highlights. Think about it: you don’t have to deal with the commitment that comes with a full head of new, permanent color; and the maintenance can be so much easier. There is no better way to get a lived-in, sun-kissed look!

Of course, highlights can be executed in a myriad of ways, and if you’ve done any research or scanned Instagram looking for inspiration pictures, you’ve probably seen the phrases “foil highlights, balayage, foilayage, ombré and hand painted." With so many types of highlights out there - its impossible to figure them out on your own.

Enter the professionals at Hudson & Fouquet and our new "Balayage Package." We want to take the guesswork out of your next highlight appointment, while customizing a look that may require several different techniques. Custom highlights are our specialty here at H&F, and instead of having a confusing, extensive color menu with varying prices that frankly don't make any sense, we offer a beautiful experience that will allow you and your stylist to collaborate on the perfect look!