Steve Tcherkezian, Please Help Me!

First of all I am very sorry for the late response. I don’t frequent this site as often as I did in the past. Also, I was out of town and just got back.

In the near future I am hoping to have my own forum on permanent hair straightening and TR, which will have a direct link from my website http://www.verticalsinhair.com

With proper care most people should be able to chemically straighten their hair and have sleek looking hair. The problem is finding the right TR technologist/stylist.

Yes, the straightening product and the external products used in TR are important, but what’s more important is the technologist doing the TR process. If you can’t find this special person, it is really not worth doing it.

It is true that most people getting the TR service are ecstatic and cannot believe how great TR is, nevertheless, I don’t think most are getting it done correctly. I find that most are NOT getting the full benefit of TR. Also, there are many horror stories.

How do I describe someone’s hair that has breakage? I describe it as hair that does not have enough elasticity and resilience.

For example, take a single dry hair and hold it between the thumb and forefinger of the other hand. Slowly stretch it between them. The further it can be stretched without breaking, the more elastic is the hair. If elasticity is good, the hair slowly contracts after stretching. Hair with poor elasticity will break quickly and easily when stretched. (Note: DO NOT wet or shampoo the hair for at least 12 hours before running this test).

SIGNS OF POOR ELASTICITY: When the hair is wet it feels spongy, limp, tangles easily and stretches excessively without returning to its normal position. The most common cause of this serious condition is chemical services such as color, highlight, permanent straightening/TR either given improperly or too often, or both. Elasticity damage can also be caused by brushing wet hair—stretching the hair beyond its limit. The elasticity qualities of hair will determine the rate of success in permanent hair straightening/TR.

How would I treat hair breakage! This depends on the extent of the breakage. The best way to treat hair that breaks easily is to cut those parts and then make sure you are using a good protein, moisturizing hair care treatments. Hair that’s over-porous should NOT receive a chemical straightening/TR treatment until the hair has been reconditioned, or removed by cutting.

Also, a TR technologist would do a STRUCTURAL TEST to determine the condition of your hair. For example:

Select a strand of hair without stretching it from the side of your head above the ears (make sure it represents the general condition of your hair).

1. Hold it between the thumb and forefinger. With the thumbnail and index finger of the other hand, run the distance of hair rapidly as you would curl a ribbon with scissors. This will create a series of small curls.

2. Then gently hold the hair straight for 10 seconds and release.

If the hair completely or almost completely returns to the curl pattern, it is in good condition. If it returns only 50% or less, the hair is structurally weak and will require reconditioning. —Under NO circumstances should TR be given when the hair is in this range. It needs proper hair care and a network of protein and moisturizing treatments to build strength and flexibility into hair to give it substance and resilience.

To complete the consultation, the TR technologist/stylist will take two hairs from the head and wrap them around one finger, pulling them with the other hand to test the texture of the hair. If the hairs break, it is not strong enough for straightening service. If they don’t, the hair is durable and ready for TR service. We have to do it in different places, let’s say we have highlighted hair we have to do it here too the same way.

But that’s not all! Please read my two part series on TR Consultation. I'll post them right here on this forum , under "TR cosultation part 1 and part 2…”

Steve Tcherkezian
www.verticalsinhair.com

Thank You! It is SOOO good of you to post a reply. I am very happy to know that I was able to help.

Steve Tcherkezian
www.verticalsinhair.com