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Frequently Asked Questions

The answers to all of these FAQ's are provided by Avlon's licensed cosmetologists.

1.	I want my hair to grow longer. How can I best accomplish this?
2.	What is the best relaxer for my hair?
3.	Is it okay for me to color my relaxed hair?
4.	My hair is dry and brittle and tends to break off. What should I do?
5.	I like to swim. How can I keep my hair from being damaged by the chlorine in the water?
6.	My hair is shedding. What is the problem and how can I correct it?

1.	I want my hair to grow longer. How can I best accomplish this?
	The method for growing out your hair is actually quite simple. The discipline required in achieving longer tresses, however, may be a bit challenging for some. Assuming that there is no medical condition or scalp injury, hair typically grows an average of one-half inch per month. The key to gaining longer length in the least amount of time is to maintain as much of the monthly half-inch as possible. This is accomplished by keeping hair strong and healthy. Chemical damage, (overprocessing of relaxer, perm and/or coloring treatments), mechanical damage, (improper combing, brushing and styling), heat damage, (too high and too frequent heat) and sun damage can all thwart your efforts. Damage, depending upon its severity will cause split ends, breakage and even shedding. While your hair may be growing just fine from the roots, breakage removes length from the ends. Breakage or shedding will also result in thinner-looking hair.
If you are committed to growing your hair longer, follow these steps:
	Have all chemical services performed by a licensed professional. When you see someone with lengthy, healthy hair, ask her to refer you to her stylist.
	Use the KeraCare® Conditioning Hair Care System to cleanse, condition and style your hair. Moisture is a must when it comes to conditioning treatments. Deep condition and moisturize with KeraCare® Humecto®. Protection is an essential feature to look for when selecting blow-drying and thermal styling aids. KeraCare® Leave-In Conditioner and KeraCare® Silken Seal® are excellent choices.
	Go light on the heat. Use the lowest temperature that will enable you to achieve your styling goals when using dryers, curling irons and other thermal styling appliances. Avoid using heat altogether unless you've just shampooed and deep conditioned your hair.
	Minimize styling stress. Comb hair gently. Detangle with a wide-toothed comb. Don't pull hair severely when blow-drying. Do not gather hair too tightly with bands and clips. Never braid hair so tightly that you experience scalp discomfort.
	Have hair trimmed a scant 1/8 to 1/4 inch every 6 to 8 weeks. If your hair is relaxed, schedule trims on the day of your retouch. (Note that if your hair is damaged, the stylist may need to trim off more to get your hair back to a good, healthier starting point for growth.)
	When outside in intense sunlight, cover hair with a scarf or hat.
	Sleep at night on a satin pillow or cover your pillow with a silky scarf.
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2.	What is the best relaxer for my hair?
	At Avlon, we are partial to our relaxer brands because we know first-hand how they are formulated and how beautifully they work. Avlon Affirm® and Affirm® FiberGuard® Conditioning Relaxer systems have revolutionized the industry with formulas for every type of hair and scalp. Both brands are exclusively for professional use; meaning that you can only have them applied by licensed stylists. When you make your appointment, be sure to indicate whether you have dry hair, a sensitive scalp, or if your hair tends to break easily. This type of information will help your stylist select the right Affirm® formula for you. So, for the very best relaxer, always ask for Affirm® or FiberGuard®. You'll be glad you did!

*Affirm® Conditioning Creme Relaxer with Protecto®* Original Formula Conditions hair before, during and after relaxing. Leaves hair silky straight, well conditioned and healthy-looking.

*Affirm® Moisture Plus Conditioning Relaxer For Dry Hair & Sensitive Scalp with Protecto®* A no lye formula with all of the Affirm relaxer features, plus it provides maximum scalp comfort and moisturizes dry hair and scalp.

*Affirm® FiberGuard® Conditioning Creme Relaxer* An incredible innovation in hair relaxing! For the very first time, a relaxer is capable of preserving the tensile strength and elasticity of hair while creating a silky-straight texture. No other relaxer system on the market can honestly make this promise. . .only FiberGuard®.

	Conditions hair before, during and after relaxing.
	Significantly less damaging than conventional relaxers.
	Locks in conditioners within the hair fiber.
	Makes hair soft, silky and easy to comb.
	Helps protect against the affects of overlap damage.

*Affirm® FiberGuard® Sensitive Scalp Creme Relaxer* A no lye formula with all of the FiberGuard® features, plus it provides maximum scalp comfort and moisturizes dry hair and scalp.

All of these Avlon relaxer systems are available in Mild, Normal and Resistant Strengths.
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3.	Is it okay for me to color my relaxed hair?

	We can only provide general information on this website. It is always best to consult a professional stylist when considering any chemical hair treatment. He or she can assess your hair type and its condition. These are the factors that must be considered before any color is applied. Generally, semi-permanent colors, (that wash out completely in about six weeks), can be applied to relaxed hair. Usually professionals will apply this type of color on the day of the relaxer because it penetrates best at that time. Note that semi-permanents will only enrich your own color or deepen it. This type of color will not lighten hair or allow you to go from a dark brown natural color to a brilliant red or blonde. Ask your stylist for Affirm® MoisturColor®, for vibrant, long lasting hydrating semi-permanent hair color. You'll experience rich color and a soft, silky texture that you must feel to believe! Demi permanent and permanent colors contain a blend of ammonia-based tints and hydrogen peroxide-based developer. (There are some permanent colors that do not contain ammonia, however, they will not produce lighter hair colors.) Demi and permanent colors have the potential to damage hair with improper or ill-advised use. Your stylist should conduct a strand test and avoid permanently coloring hair that is not in good condition. Permanent coloring is advisable after at least two weeks have passed since your relaxer treatment. Bleaching, the initial step in double color processing, removes significant pigment from your natural hair. It should be approached with extreme caution, especially for those with relaxed hair. Only an experienced professional stylist should attempt this coloring service and only if she considers that there is minimal risk of damage to your hair.
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4.	My hair is dry and brittle and tends to break off. What should I do?

	Hair dryness may be a result of overprocessing during chemical treatments, too much and too frequent heat styling, using the wrong shampoo, improper use of styling products such as hairsprays, spritz and gels, or extreme mechanical damage due to improper combing, brushing and styling. Once hair is damaged, the only thing you can do (except cutting it off), is to avoid the cause of damage and use products that moisturize the hair. Select a shampoo that is pH-balanced and formulated with effective detanglers (KeraCare® Hydrating Detangling Shampoo) Give your hair an intensive treatment after every shampoo with a high quality moisturizing conditioner (KeraCare® Humecto® Creme Conditioner). Apply a dab of a light, creamy leave-in conditioner or oil moisturizer before blow-drying, thermal curling or setting your hair (KeraCare® Leave-In Conditioner and KeraCare® Oil Moisturizer with Jojoba Oil). Avoid products that contain high levels of alcohol and those that make your hair stiff. Try air-drying your hair rather than using hair dryers. If you must style with heat, use only moderate temperatures. If your hair is extremely damaged, consult your stylist. Ask for a series of KeraCare® Super Reconstructor conditioning treatments. This product is for professional use only, so you must have it applied by a licensed stylist.
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5.	I like to swim. How can I keep my hair from being damaged by the chlorine in the water?

	Prevention is better than cure. In other words, do everything you can to keep your hair away from chlorinated water by wearing a good swim cap. If hair is likely to get wet while swimming, rub a light leave-in moisturizer throughout hair - especially on ends - before getting into the pool. Select one formulated with UV protectants if swimming in an outdoor pool (KeraCare® Leave-In Conditioner). Once out of the water, immediately rinse your hair, shampoo with a clarifying shampoo, (KeraCare® 1st Lather® Shampoo), and condition well, (KeraCare® Humecto® Creme Conditioner).
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6.	My hair is shedding. What is the problem and how can I correct it?

	First rule out any medical condition. See your family doctor and perhaps a dermatologist, too. If all is well, extreme hair damage may be the culprit. Check to see whether the shedding hair has a root bulb (indicating that the entire strand is falling out), or if it is breaking off mid-strand. If shedding is primarily of the entire strand, chemical overprocessing may be the reason. Leaving relaxers, perms, colorings in too long, overlapping chemicals onto previously processed hair, and chemically treating damaged hair, are just some of the improper usages and procedures. Also, whole-strand shedding can result if ends of hair become severely damaged and split. Left unchecked and untrimmed for an extended period of time, split ends can travel all of the way up the hair shaft and cause the hair to fall out near the scalp. (Please note that experts say normal shedding is anywhere from 80 to 100 strands per day. Reference: American Academy of Dermatology). If you are experiencing mostly mid-strand breakage, the problem may be due to chemical damage as discussed in the preceding paragraph. The shedding could also be a result of: 1) mechanical damage (i.e., improper combing, brushing and styling); 2) *heat damage* (i.e. too high and too frequent heat); 3) *sun damage* (i.e., extended exposure to UV rays emitted in intense sunlight); or 4) product damage (i.e., harsh shampoos, sprays and spritzes that contain high levels of alcohol, concentrated gels that make your hair stiff, etc.). To stop the shedding you must first remove the source of the damage. Once hair is damaged, it cannot be totally restored. There are things you can do, however, to help stop the shedding, make hair manageable and look healthier. First and foremost, you must refrain from doing that which caused the damage in the first place. Then, see a professional stylist immediately. She can give you a series of deep conditioning and reconstructive treatments to help strengthen and fortify your hair; (Ask for KeraCare® Super Reconstructor). Take a rest from chemical processing, and when you must, let only a licensed stylist perform chemical services. Have frequent trims to help restore the health of your hair. When you cleanse, condition and style between salon visits, use products that are designed to repair and moisturize. Select a shampoo that is pH-balanced and formulated with effective detanglers (KeraCare® Hydrating Detangling Shampoo). Give your hair an intensive treatment after every shampoo with a high quality conditioner designed to repair damage and moisturize (KeraCare® Humecto® Creme Conditioner). Apply a dab of a light creamy leave-in conditioner or oil moisturizer right before styling (KeraCare® Leave-In Conditioner and KeraCare® Oil Moisturizer with Jojoba Oil) and do the same every day as you refresh your style. Avoid products that contain high levels of alcohol and those that make your hair stiff. Try air-drying your hair rather than using hair dryers. If you must style with heat, use only moderate temperatures.
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