Specialist Haircare Products Overview

The process of changing the color of hair using chemical agents.

The natural pigments found within the hair shaft that determine its natural color. These pigments are produced during the hair growth cycle.

Hair coloring techniques that aim to lighten the hair, which is a necessary step for many permanent hair colors.

The active ingredient in most hair bleaching products, it oxidizes the natural hair pigment.

A chemical agent used in hair bleaching to swell the hair cuticle, allowing hydrogen peroxide to penetrate and lighten the hair.

The protective layer that surrounds the hair shaft, it plays a crucial role in protecting the hair during bleaching.

Products used to help maintain the pH balance of the hair after bleaching, reducing protein damage and preventing further damage.

The stage of hair growth where the hair shaft is actively growing and pigment is deposited.

A type of hair colorant that uses a two-component system, mixing an alkaline medium with hydrogen peroxide just before use.

The alkaline component in permanent hair colorants, typically ammonia, which creates an environment for the dye precursors to react.

Small, colorless molecules in permanent hair colorants that react with hydrogen peroxide to create larger, colored dye molecules.

A type of hair colorant that uses a similar two-component system as permanent hair colorant but with a significantly lower concentration of hydrogen peroxide.

Small, intensely colored molecules that penetrate the hair cortex, providing temporary color change.

Large, intensely colored molecules that only coat the surface of the hair, providing temporary color change.

A hair colorant that gradually builds up color over repeated applications by depositing metal-sulphides into the hair.

The process of using chemicals to change the color of hair, where colorless dye precursors penetrate the hair shaft and are oxidized to colorful polymers that get trapped inside.

A chemical compound that oxidizes primary dye intermediates to form the final colored dye molecules.

Dye precursors that are colorless until oxidized, allowing them to penetrate the hair shaft before forming the final colored dye.

Dye precursors that combine with oxidized primary intermediates to form a wide variety of hair colors.

The process of removing natural melanin pigments from the hair shaft, causing lighter shades, often a necessary step before dyeing.

The main pigment found in hair, responsible for shades from brown to black.

A pigment found in hair responsible for red and blonde shades.

Hair dyes that contain color molecules that directly attach to the hair shaft, providing temporary color that washes out over time.

A process that reshapes hair permanently using chemical treatments.

A type of hair treatment that uses chemicals to change the texture of hair, usually to create curls or waves.

The stage of hair perming where the chemical treatment is applied, causing the hair to become more pliable and receptive to shaping.

The stage of hair perming where the chemical treatment is applied, setting the desired shape and reforming new disulfide bonds.

The treatment used to break down existing disulfide bonds in the hair, allowing for reshaping.

The treatment used to reform and stabilize disulfide bonds in the hair, fixing the new shape.

A chemical compound commonly used as a reducing agent in hair perming, breaking down disulfide bonds.

Temporary hair dyes are colorants that adhere to the hair's surface, providing a temporary color change that washes out with one shampoo.

Large cationic molecules attract to the negatively charged hair surface, giving it a temporary color change. They usually come in rinse-off products for subtle color effects.

Large anionic molecules are repelled by the negatively charged hair surface, so they are only used in leave-on products, as they don't stick on easily and don't provide a strong color. They don't usually have coloring effect, instead, they can add a subtle sheen or shine to the hair.

In hair perming, a reducing agent like thioglycolic acid (TGA) breaks the disulfide bonds within the hair structure. This allows for hair reshaping. It's a two-step process involving a reducing and an oxidation stage.

In hair perming, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is used in the oxidation stage. This helps reform the disulfide bonds in a new shape, resulting in the permanent curl.

Asian hair tends to have a thicker diameter and rounder shape, making it more difficult to style temporarily and more resistant to permanent waving. This is why hair strengthening and waving is a popular choice in Asia.

Hair perming is less effective on bleached hair because the bleaching process alters the hair's structure, making it more fragile and less capable of holding a curl.

Hair perming and hair relaxing share similarities in the use of reducing agents to break disulfide bonds and restructuring hair. The key difference lies in the direction of reshaping: perming creates curls while relaxing straightens the hair.

A chemical process that straightens curly hair by breaking disulfide bonds in the hair protein, using strong alkaline agents like sodium hydroxide (NaOH).

Sulfhydryl groups (-SH) in hair protein are linked by disulfide bonds (-S-S-). These bonds give hair its shape and structure.

Strong alkaline agents like sodium hydroxide (NaOH) disrupt these bonds, causing the hair to become straight.

A chemical formed as a result of the reaction between proteins and hydroxide ions (OH-) during hair relaxing. It's a permanent bond that contributes to the straightening effect.

The process of neutralizing the alkali used in hair relaxing, restoring the pH balance of the hair and preventing further damage. It usually involves rinsing with a specialized shampoo.

A hair smoothing technique that involves applying a protective cream to the scalp and then applying relaxing cream to the hair, strand by strand, avoiding reapplication over already straightened hair.

Damages the hair's protein structure, leading to weakening and potential breakage if not performed correctly or if the process is repeated too frequently.

Protect the scalp and prevent the chemicals from spilling or coming into contact with unwanted areas during the relaxing process.