Hair & Skin Tests

Carrying out Elasticity test

Prior to any chemical treatment or part of the consultation process, take a single strand of damp hair and gently stretch to test the internal structure.

To test the internal structure (Cortex) of the hair

When the hair is in good condition the hair should stretch to its normal length. If the does not return, the inner structure is damaged and will need to repair.
Hair with poor elasticity could be further damaged further or break off if a colour is applied.

Carrying out a Skin test

Prior to  carrying out a colour service a skin test must be carried out 48 hours before (unless they have had a colour within the last 3 months) To carry this out, place a small amount of colour behind the ear.

Incompatibility test

Hair that has had previous chemical treatments may be incompatible with professional products. Some products contain a substance called metallic salts. These can be found in colour products or the compound ‘henna’ and react to professional colouring products.
If we take a hair cutting and place it in 20 parts of 6% hydrogen peroxide and one part of perm lotion we can test for the presence of such incompatible chemicals. Signs of bubbling, heating or discolouration are a sign that we should not carry out the service.  

Carrying out a Porosity test

Prior to any chemical treatment or part of the consultation process:
On dry hair, take a small section of hair and using the thumb and first finger stroke hair from points to roots. This is to test the external structure (the cuticle) of the hair and the absorption. The hair should feel smooth, rough hair will indicate very porous hair. Porous Hair could be damaged further by chemical services or may result in chemical process being uneven and fading quickly.

 


Porosity Test

Porosity Test