Is The Keratin Smoothing Treatment For You?

Summer is here and it’s time to have fun in the sun!

With the summer comes the heat and the humidity. You may be looking for something to control the frizz this beautiful weather causes, especially if you like to wear your hair straight.

The Keratin Smoothing Treatment is a great option if you are interested in managing frizz and keeping your hair poof-free during these hot days and nights. However, just as for any treatment that changes the structure of your natural texture, there are pros and cons to consider before making your decision.

This smoothing treatment is great for strengthening dry, damaged and frizzy tresses. It can make your hair more manageable for styling in this hot weather and gives a healthier, glowing look that lasts about 6-8 weeks. If you are a babe that loves to wear your hair straight most of the time and wants to kick the frizz, then look no further!

As for my curly girls that love their waves, spirals and and coils, and usually rock them all year long but wanting to switch it up for a little while during the summer, lean in close. Yes, the Keratin Smoothing treatment will help make your hair more manageable, and partly the reason why is it will chemically relax and straighten your curls. There is a possibility of your curls not being their natural pattern and texture for weeks after the treatment and may need some extra love to get them back to normal. There are multiple factors that could dictate the state of your of your natural pattern once the treatment has worn off: how much you heat, color or chemically process your hair on a regular basis; if your hair is prone to breakage, how healthy your hair is before you get the treatment and how much love you give it after.

All of these details are why we always suggest coming in for a consultation prior to making your final decision. Our stylist are all about healthy, thriving hair and want to help you make the best decision for you and your luscious curls!

Introducing the Newest Addition to the Versus Hair Care Family: K18!

K18 Biometric Hairscience uses biotechnology to transform and repair your hair at a molecular level.

The K18Peptide Shampoo and leave-in molecular hair mask treatment reverse hair damage from bleach + color, chemical services, and heat while restoring strength, softness, smoothness, and bounce to hair in just 4 minutes. This treatment works on all hair types, rebuilding from the inside out and giving immediate and progressive results. Color-safe, non-stripping, vegan + cruelty-free, K18 damage repair treatment is the hottest level up in healthy hair care.

This innovative hair treatment can be added to any service we offer and ensures you walk out of here glowing with clean + healthy hair!

Hair Porosity 101

Our clients know we are all about healthy hair and one thing you’ll hear our team talk about all the time is HAIR POROSITY – but what does that even mean?

The porosity of your hair is the ability of your locks to accept and retain moisture, and this is maintained by the flexibility of the hair cuticle which easily allows oils to pass through the hair or blocks them from being accepted. 

LOW Porosity hair is typically healthy and shiny, though hard to process since chemicals and treatments don’t easily pass through the cuticle. Clients with Low Porosity will find that their hair takes forever to dry, and usually experience product buildup and dryness. We like to start with a Hydration Steam Treatment to allow your stubborn locks to soak in as much moisture as possible. We also try to avoid using too many protein products in the hair which can lead to extreme dryness.

HIGH Porosity hair is common in clients with over-processed hair or clients who frequently use heat tools. The hair shaft in this condition has lots of cracks that allow too much moisture or product into the hair cuticle and cause stress. Clients may experience problems with frizz and tangles as the hair begins to connect through the slices in the shaft, and find that they have to use large amounts of product. We will commonly recommend a demi-permanent color or Clear Shine service for these clients to help seal the cuticle and smooth the hair shaft. Leave-In Conditioners are also helpful for regular use in creating a moisturizing layer over the broken hair shaft that promotes healthier locks.

Our Top Tips for Normal Porosity + Healthy Curls:

1.    Maintain a regular schedule of steam treatments to ensure you are avoiding heat, tending to your hair’s unique needs, and maintaining good product absorption 

2.    Always use cold water when washing your hair to seal the cuticle and prevent any desirable product from escaping and sitting on the top of the hair

3.    Air dry your hair when you can and if you can’t, air dry for as long as possible before using your diffuser

4.    Use a Detangling Brush to gently detangle without pulling on your hair and causing stress

5.    Use a Leave-In Conditioner / Primer after washing to seal and protect your cuticle and encourage healthy product absorption 

Do I Really Need to See My Stylist Regularly?

In short – yes. But “regularly” is usually different for everyone based on the condition of your hair and your ultimate goals! 

With the rise of Youtube stars and Beauty Bloggers, there is an overwhelming wave of information that is currently available regarding healthy hair care and tips. We wanted to remind our readers that although these can be helpful sources of information, the advice of these influencers should not replace your regular visits to the salon for healthy hair maintenance. 

Here’s Why:

#1 : Licensed Cosmetologists are required to pass state board exams that ensure they are proficient in skills that are crucial to ensuring our clients receive quality care and service. This includes sanitization, the thorough understanding of chemical products and how to use them safely, and the anatomy of your hair/scalp. This knowledge is crucial for ensuring hair is cared for using safe techniques and products. We are not only concerned in the look and feel of your hair, but also the porosity and condition of your scalp. 

#2. Not all hair tips are created equally. What works well for one client may not work at all for another. We all have unique qualities and histories with our hair that are important in determining a Healthy Hair Plan. Your stylist is essential in offering you tips and tricks that are unique to what you need based on their professional knowledge, and are a consistent measure of your progress over time.

#3. Salon Professional Products truly are unique from most drugstore offerings. We choose products for our salon based on what we feel will offer the most benefit and health to our clientele. We go through months-long trials with product lines to ensure we are offering a level of service that looks and feels good long after your salon appointment. Lots of beauty store and drug store products available contain fillers or sulfates that dry and damage the hair over time. You truly get what you pay for with hair products! 

What Type of Treatment Should You Book?

We go to the gym, follow healthy eating plans, and schedule routine visits to maintain our physical health, but many clients don’t realize that their hair also requires routine check-ups to maintain its healthy shine and growth!

Steam Treatments are our preferred method of treatments because the gentle heat opens hair cuticles to soak in all the benefits of the treatment without risking heat damage. We offer two main types of steam treatments - protein and hydration - and typically recommend once per month visits to maintain the health and integrity of your natural tresses! How do you know which one is right for you, though?

Protein treatments focus on nourishing the hair with all of the vitamins it needs to stay shiny, while adding extra strength with protein. There is such a thing as too much protein, though! If you have too much protein in your hair, you will notice brittle strands and broken ends, as well as loosened curls. While the purpose of the treatment is to add strength, too much protein can cause stress. Protein treatments should be administered no more than four times per year unless your stylist advises otherwise, and for this reason we typically do not recommend at-home protein treatments.

Moisture treatments (or Hydration Treatments) are ideal for addressing frizz, dryness, and color-processing damage. Moisture helps to replenish thirsty hair to encourage a sleek, finished look. Moisture treatments can be performed much more frequently than protein treatments without risking over-doing it. For clients with curly hair, we recommend once-per-month moisture treatments to keep frizz at bay and encourage a consistent curl pattern. We offer several product options for keeping up with these treatments at home.

How do you know which treatment is best for your locks? If you hair is limp and stringy, protein will help add volume back into your locks. If your hair is frizzy and dry, a moisture treatment is an ideal place to start. The best solution is to come see one of our stylists and get their recommendation based on your unique hair history and goals!