Porosity test This test helps to determine the condition of the cuticle or the outer layer of the hair shaft. Damaged cuticle becomes porous, as it has lost the natural protection. When the perming chemicals are used on hair that is porous, the absorption is uneven and it can result in uneven curls.

Elasticity test Take one or two hairs and mist them lightly with water, then stretch the hair a couple of times between your finger and thumb. Good elasticity means that wet hair should stretch about 30% more than its original length and return when released.

Healthy hair has a high level of elasticity, and this is what gives hair its body, bounce, and texture formation. Elasticity is what makes hair styling possible and is a telltale sign of hair health. If it stretches a bit and then returns to its natural state, you have normal elasticity.

The hair’s elasticity is the measure of how much the hair will stretch (and return to a normal state). Healthy hair, when wet, will stretch up to 50% of its original length and return to its normal shape without breaking, while dry hair will only stretch about 20%. Elasticity is rated as being low, normal, or high.

Low hair elasticity The hair does not stretch. It contains too much protein, which makes it feel straw-like and breaks quickly.

Elasticity Test. An elasticity test checks the condition of the cortex, the tensile strength of the hair. When you take an elastic band and stretch it, it will return back to its natural state. Hair in its wet state is more elastic than it is when dry.

How to treat and restore hair elasticity

1. Always follow shampoo with a conditioner.
2. Use a leave-in conditioner for styling.
3. Keep heated styling to a minimum.
4. Use a deep conditioner once a week every week to maximize moisture and combat excess damage.

A: The elasticity of the hair affects the way you handle the hair when cutting it, since when the hair is wet it is easily stretched, and will revert to its normal state when it dries again. A strand of hair can stretch as much as 2-1/2 times its length before breaking when it has good elasticity.

An incompatibility tests checks for the presence of metallic salts. If metallic salts are present and an incompatibility test is not performed, the results can be quite severe and may lead to hair disintegration. The test takes approximately 20 minutes, so the client may remain in the salon during the process.

Incompatibility Test / Metallic Salts Test

• Mix 40ml of 20 volume (6%) hydrogen peroxide with 2ml of ammonia.
• Cut a few hair samples from the client’s head (make sure this is from the suspected area) and hold them together with cotton or sticky tape.
• Place the hair samples in the solution and leave for up to 30 minutes.

Leave the dye on the strand for about 30 minutes.

1. Take care to keep the dyed strand from touching any other hair, your skin, or clothes during this time.
2. You can wrap your dyed strand in tinfoil or plastic wrap to protect it if you wish.

A test carried out before the colour service is agreed to check if the client’s skin will react to the chemicals in the colouring product. A test carried out during the processing stage to check the development of the colour or lightener.

How is a skin test carried out?

1. Arrange to pop into the salon of your choice for your skin test. It will take less than five minutes.
2. We will apply a dab of hair colour to your skin, usually behind your ear.
3. Leave the colour on for 48 hours and monitor your skin carefully to see if you have any reactions.

Quasi-permanent hair colour is a colour depositing product that’s a mixture of oxidative colour (small colour molecules) and direct dyes (large colour molecules). It’s mixed with a mild oxidant in a 1:2 ratio. The direct dyes remain on the cuticle surface and act in the same way as a semi-permanent hair colour.

While men were 1.4 times more likely than women to wish their partner had a different eye color, both genders favored the color blue. Surprisingly, green, brown, and hazel were more preferred on a partner than gray eyes – the color respondents considered the most attractive.