DAMAGED HAIR/HAIR CONDITIONS
ABRADED(BROKEN) HAIR
The common causes of breakage include: over stretching (as in over brushing, tight ponytails) or traction (as in the use of uncovered rubber bands), as well as overprocessing with chemicals. Hair is surprisingly strong and incredibly elastic, but it can only take so much before the cuticle breaks. It is important to be careful when hair is wet, as it is more fragile.
SPLIT ENDS
Split ends begin as a small split in the cuticle at the end of the hair shaft, that moves into a split in the cortex and eventually will split all the way up the hair shaft, resulting in fly-aways. There are many products on the market to seal split ends, but this is only a temporary fix, as the only solution to split ends is to cut them off. This is why it is recommended that you have your hair trimmed every 6 weeks. Split ends result in more tangles and hair being harder to brush. Often the cuticle near the end of the hair shaft is incredibly damaged or completely missing, resulting in an exposed cortex.
MATTING
Matting is extreme tangling of the hair to the point that it cannot be combed out. The cause is normally over bleaching/lightening to the point that the cuticle is extremely damaged or completely gone. Often, when hair is over lightened, it will have a mushy feeling when it is wet and be nearly impossible to comb through. Matting can also occur near the nape in people with thick hair who do not brush it thoroughly. In some cases the matting can be combed out with lots of conditioning and time, but often the only solution is to cut it out.
BUBBLE HAIR
This condition is caused by excessive heat (blow dryers, curling irons, straightening irons) being used on the hair. The shaft of the hair will form tiny white beads (visible to the eye). The condition often arises when hot irons are used on damp hair. Since hair absorbs water into the cortex when wet, when you use heat tools on damp hair, the cortex literally boils. There is no solution for this condition and the hair will break off wherever the bead is located.
SCALP CONDITIONS
PSORIASIS
Symptoms: Thin, scaly or thick, crusty patches of red scalp. Powdery, not greasy in appearance.
Treatment: Consult a physician.
SEBORRHEIC DERMITITIS
Symptoms: Similar in appearance to psoriasis, but appears yellowish and greasy.
Treatment: Consult a physician.
DANDRUFF
Symptoms: Excessive flaking of the scalp, which can be dry and translucent or oily and yellowish, accompanied with irritation, itchiness and tightness of the scalp.
Treatmen: Use of an anti-dandruff shampoo which contains pyrithione zinc, selenium disulfide or ketoconazole.
RINGWORM **CONTAGIOUS**
Symptoms: Despite the name, ringworm is not a worm, but a rash that forms a ring. It can appear anywhere on the body, and begins with a small, itchy, raised pink or red patch, which expands, forming a jagged red ring shape, with the skin inside the ring returning to its normal colour. Ringworm is passed through skin to skin contact and can be passed person to person or from animals to people. When ringworm occurs on the scalp, often the hair inside the ring will fall out.
Treatment: Consult a physician for treatment.
HONEYCOMB RINGWORM **CONTAGIOUS**
Symptoms: Patches that are dry, crusty and yellow in appearance.
Treatment: Consult a physician for treatment.
HEAD LICE **CONTAGIOUS**