Sometimes, an exciting new change is just what you need to breathe new life into your look. Changing your hair is an effective way to make those changes, but it can be hard to decide what exactly you want to do and how drastic you want those changes to be. Among the most common changes you can make to your hair include bleaching, coloring, perming and altering the way you style your hair. There are some things you’ll want to keep in mind about each potential change to your hair while you are considering your options.

Hair Bleaching

First, a bleaching agent (typically consisting of hydrogen peroxide) is applied to your hair. Alkaline agents like these agitate and open the cuticles of your hair and cause hair to swell. After the cuticles have been opened, the bleaching agents are absorbed and oxidize the melanin (color) out of your hair. This has a lightening effect on the color of your hair that is intensified the longer the chemicals are left in your hair. There are some things to remember when bleaching your hair:

• It takes different amounts of time to bleach hair depending on how dark and thick your hair is. Leaving hair to bleach for too long can cause serious and lasting damage, while cutting your bleaching time short might not give you the desired color or effect you are going for. Hair bleach timing is a balancing act that is best performed by a trained professional.
• Repeated bleaching can lead to fried hair. Any amount of bleaching will damage your hair to some degree and can lead to minor manageable effects such as split ends. The more often you repeat this process, the more likely you will end up with brittle hair that breaks and falls apart. Having your hair lightened to the perfect shade is pointless if you have damaged hair.
• Make sure that you revitalize your hair with an appropriate moisture treatment once your full bleaching and/or coloring is completed and set. There are conditioning products and moisture serums for your hair that are specifically formulated for color treated hair. Your hairstylist should be able to give you a good recommendation based on the specifications of your hair type and the amount of bleaching needed to arrive at your gorgeous new look.

Hair Coloring

Hair coloring refers to the process of applying a specific combination of dyes to your hair to transform it from its natural pigmentation to your desired color or color combinations. This happens when the dye and tone combinations are absorbed into your hair cortex. Depending on the dye composition and your hair history the result can be a subtle tint change or a full reset to the color of your mane. Things to remember when coloring your hair:

• Bleaching can sometimes be required before coloring your hair. While most dyes have some kind of oxidizing agent to help open cuticles and remove some of your hair color, naturally darker shades of hair may need a full bleaching before you can begin coloring your hair. Putting dyes on top of saturated color may change it, but most people want hair dye to replace their hair color, not slightly alter it.
• Coloring your hair is going to be a lengthy process. It takes time for the dyes to fully absorbed into your hair. Even the application of the dyes can be time consuming, depending on the looking you’re going for. Rushing this process can lead to disappointing results and needlessly damaged hair. It would be wise to make your coloring appointment on a free day, if possible. This will give you plenty of time to communicate what you want with your hair stylist and will keep you from feeling rushed during the color dyeing. Patience will make all the difference.
• Be realistic about your hair’s limitations. If you have hair that is already damaged, you may want to think twice about letting it soak in harsh chemicals that could make that damage worse. If your hair is dark and thick, it will take more concentrated chemicals and a longer amount of time to transform it to a lighter color scheme. Learning the specifics of your own hair will help you assess your coloring options and pick one that will work with what your hair needs. Repairing your hair before you dye it will allow it to show off that incredible new color in a healthy way.

Hairstyling

While this term can include things like cutting and coloring hair, hairstyling refers to things like curling, twisting, tying, straightening and drying hair. The success of various hairstyling techniques depends a great deal on hair strength, length, volume and texture. It also relies on the personal taste and abilities of the hairstylist in question. Things to remember when styling your hair:

• Heated hairstyling tools such as curling rods, blow dryers and flat irons can burn and damage hair if used incorrectly or too often. They are y helpful when you’re looking to apply a certain effect to your hair. However, that kind of direct heat can zap the moisture right out of your gorgeous locks if you aren’t careful. Moisture balance is crucial if heated tools are a regular part of your hairstyling routine.
• Hair styles like twists, knots and braids can be head turners, but they can also break off your hair if it isn’t strong enough to handle such tight style. Sometimes nutrition can be a factor in the strength and resilience of your hair. If you are wanting intense precision in your hairstyle but worried the stress and pull might break your hair, you might want to talk to your hairstylist about nutritional supplements. They will advise you in the direction of a reliable and effective supplement to restore nutrients to your hair. There are even some that are formulated specifically with hair and nail health in mind.
• Style is all about you. Feel free to experiment with new looks and hair style techniques as much or as little as you want. Just be sure that you keep the health of your hair prioritized while you explore. Damage to hair is easy and can be hard to reverse. Consider the natural, resting state of your hair along with environmental factors such as humidity when brainstorming and planning your next look. Being aware of your hair will give you greater chances of success with any new hairstyles you feel adventurous and comfortable enough try.

Perm Application

The purpose of a perm is adding permanent or semi-permanent curl to hair that would otherwise be straighter. This is done by breaking down the bonds that shape your hair then reshaping them around curlers. Breaking these bonds requires the use of chemicals, usually a reducing agent such as ammonium thioglycolate. Once the new, curlier shape of the hair is set then the curlers are removed, allowing the hair to hold their shape. Things to remember when adding a perm application to your hair:

• Even if your hair takes to curling, your curly ringlets will relax over time. Gravity and the impacts of styling, brushing and washing will eventually take their toll on your perm. If you have stubbornly straight hair it may mean more maintenance and perm resets. Make sure your hair can handle the amount of chemicals your new look will need to stay bouncy and beautiful.
• Adding curl to your hair will change the length of it. The tightness of the curls will have a lot to do with how much length is lost. This can have a dramatic effect on your entire look if you aren’t prepared for it. In the even that your current cut doesn’t curl up quite the way you want it to, it might be a good idea to have a cute cut for your new curls in your back pocket.
• It is important to remember when getting a perm that the tighter the curl, the longer they usually last. So, if you want straight or wavy hair to have large, rolling curls on a regular basis, it may be better for you to opt for hot rollers or curling irons over the damaging and ineffective results of perm chemicals. Talking things over with your hairstylist will help you get a better idea of what will help you get the results you want with the least amount of damage to your hair.

Deciding on a change to your hair can be intimidating and liberating. Make exciting new changes to your look, just be sure you’re smart about the changes you make. And if you are unsure or concerned about a certain decision, you can always get your hairstylist’s opinion.

Ready to help others with their hair styling, hair coloring, perm applications and hair bleaching? Interested in earning your diploma in Cosmetology? Meridian College offers a Cosmetology training program in Florida that prepares you to deliver high–quality beauty and hair services to both men and women. Their hands–on Cosmetology training program gives you the skills you need to start an exciting career and become a leader in the beauty industry.

Contact Meridian College today to learn more about becoming a cosmetologist.