Rainy springs and hot, humid summers drive hair to expand and frizz up. Frizzy and unmanageable hair from the humidity can drive you crazy. I believe that hair reflects your persona, and hair can make you or break you. We can be the most positive and enthusiastic people in the world, but when we have a bad hair day we pretty much want everyone out of our way. Right?

There are a lot of ways to control and make hair work in our favor. One of them could be a clean ponytail, right? Well, that is not always practical!

Expensive deep moisturizers and anti-frizz styling products can control some percentage, but even the most expensive ones will not do it all. I have been using Moroccan Oil and the Essential Oils from Alfa-Parf. They do help a lot, but still for those real humid or hot days they are not the panacea.

You may see different types of permanent or temporary anti-frizz relaxers and straightener products that will claim to eliminate up to 90% of the frizz everywhere. Out of so many choices, which one is good for your hair? It depends on various things:

• hair texture
• goals
• how often you get your hair done
• regrowth or lack of regrowth
• days before washing
• after treatment conditioners
• after treatment care
• budget

I have worked with:

• Free-formaldehyde
• Keratin Straightening
• Keratin Straightening with 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.03% formaldehyde
• Caribbean Dream Relaxer (a permanent anti-frizz straightener, relaxer, and soft wave relaxer without harsh and toxic chemicals and smells)

I am adding to my services the organic free-formaldehyde, Keratin. Every product in the market will achieve different results. It all depends on your needs and expectations and who is performing the work on your hair. As a client, you have to learn not just what the products do but also the different factors that affect the outcome and how long the treatment will last.

Let me explain what happened last year in this industry and to clients’ expectations, thanks to a huge factor that a lot people don’t know about. Products like Keratin Straightening were well-tested and even endured maximum capacity in the hottest summer in history, where temperatures reached 105% last year. Even products like the Japanese Straightener, permanent relaxers and Caribbean Straightener were all tested at full capacity.

We have to recognize that each person’s hair is different and responds uniquely, and a person’s response to a particular product is based upon his or her own personal experience and preferences.

Let me give a clear example. Let’s say:

• Client A has light, fine, virgin and wavy hair.
• Client B has heavy, fine, virgin and wavy hair.
• Client C has thick, single process colored and wavy hair.
• Client D has thick, high-lighted and wavy hair.
• Client E has thick, virgin and curly hair.
• Client F has thick, virgin and very curly-kinky hair.
• Client G has thick, single-process colored and very curly-kinky hair.

Well, you get the concept. Do you think that everyone is going to have the same results with the same product, for example, the Keratin? Of course not! And let’s also imagine for a moment that they all received the exact results requested. Their response will also depend on how they perceive the results. You got that right! Everyone’s hair is totally different, so the results will be different.

Now, on top of all those different factors, let’s add the WEATHER! Let’s also factor in which products were used and who treated your hair.

Since the Keratin and other products have been put in the professional beauty market, they were not put in at their maximum capacity and tested for frizz-control. The summer of 2010 was the “test” year.

2010 was one of the hottest summers in history.

Now, if we take every single type of client and put them through every hot summer since 1980, do you think that the results of humidity and frizz control will be the same each summer year and for each client? You got that right! Absolutely NOT!

Now, what do you think this summer is going to be? After having a harsh and long winter, I predict that it will be another humid, rainy and hot summer. Maybe an Indian Summer. It is just the way Yin-Yang works. The planet will need to ultimately balance out the weather. Let’s see how it goes. I hope that we have a splendid summer because I don’t have air conditioner in my house!

OK, so now you’ve gotten the point. What can you do to get the best out of the keratin or other services? If you get the Keratin Straightening without formaldehyde, I suggest getting it done every 10 weeks to build the keratin in your hair. Remember no formaldehyde in the product is like giving a super great keratin treatment to your hair without any side effects. One of the new options that I am providing to my clients is an organic formaldehyde-free keratin. So far the feedback has been great. I have yet to test it on a hot day. I will update you with the results.

If you get the Keratin with formaldehyde, get it done every 12 to 16 weeks. I suggest not waiting any longer than that time interval. You will be grateful when that super hot, humid day and stream rolls around. Remember, you need to build keratin in your hair to endure the heat and humid conditions.

If you want to be clever, get your keratin services in the spring, once during summer and depending on your hair, a final time in the fall. If you do that, your hair will stand great on those “bad hair days” for others. And you will have vibrant hair that endures, saving you time and money.

If you get the Caribbean, Japanese or any other chemical straightening, do it in the spring and summer. Also, with some services like regular relaxers or Japanese straightening, you will need to get a deep intense treatment every 3 weeks because of the harsh chemicals they use for those services.

The Caribbean straightening is great. The hair still looks and feel alive after the services are done, in comparison with other services.

Summer 2011 is on the way and let’s make sure YOU are ready for it!

If you have any question you can request a free consultation for any of my services.