I Thought She Had Low-Porosity Hair

This past week I had the pleasure of working with a gal who hadn't stepped foot in a salon in about 20 years. Neither had she had a haircut in that time. The conversation during the course of her appointment was varied and poignant. Below are some points of discussion and my take on them:

    She had grown weary of the same old curly triangle-y and unimpressive haircut. When curly hair is cut straight, there is no way to predict how that cut will turn out when worn curly. Sure, we are taught that the curls will spring up when they dry, but they don't teach us what we are supposed to do about it. Because of this, layers can leave a weight line (many people call it "The Shelf"), and a blunt cut can look like a pyramid. With results like these it is no wonder Curlies are leaving the salons.

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      How can that be? Didn't her hair grow? While performing our 10-Point Curl Analysis, I made the observations that her hair was quite fine and also thinner on the top and sides. Upon further discussion, it was discovered that her mom also has thinning hair. This is, unfortunately, something I see quite often behind the chair. Female pattern balding is a real thing and I have discussed it at length in this blog. The life cycle and subsequent shedding of her hair is not allowing her hair to grow much longer, or even past her shoulders. To date, I am not aware of any way to change the life cycle of your hair.  
    But... what can be done about genetically thinning hair? Certainly, taking supplements, like Biotin and Gelatin, and making sure that you are eating a healthy diet are the first thing. Being sure to protect your scalp while in the sun can also prevent recurring sunburns which result in a thicker, regenerated scalp. Talk to your doctor about Rogaine for Women. It has been proven to be the most effective solution for hair loss. Yes, I even use it daily for the thin area of my crown.​

    When I received the photos along with the photos she submitted of herself, I was not sure I could deliver on her desires. I was fully prepared for the "manage her expectations" talk. She didn't look like she had enough hair to pull off the big volume and shape of the models in the photos.

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Once we started talking about ingredients and the products she was using, I realized that her hair was weighed down with a lot of lesser-quality oils and creams. This chokes out the moisture in the hair and does not allow water to penetrate and truly hydrate. Just look at the difference in her curls before and after. Her curls were stringy and limp. I even wondered if she had low porosity curls, but once we detoxed and removed all the build up I could tell her hair was thirsty and it drank up so much water. She actually had normal porosity.

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I seriously was surprised and thrilled at the same time! I couldn't have asked for a better conclusion to this two-hour service.

Doesn't she look so much younger and vibrant? Have you been waiting years for the perfect cut? Or just to be listened to and understood by your hairstylist? Drop your comments below and don't forget to come see us. 

About the Author

Working exclusively with curls for the past five years, Yukiko is the owner of OlyCurl, the only salon in Washington State that caters to Curls and Waves only. When she is not knee-deep in curls at the salon, or working on the business of salon ownership, she enjoys needlecrafts, reading, and playing with her pup.