Ask A Scientist General Science Archive

name         Janet B.
status       other
age          40s

Question -   I have a friend who perms her hair about every three to
four months.  Her hair is fine but thick.  Its shoulder length.  She has
received several perms at several different salons that are breaking off
her hair at the scalp.  After her perms, about 3 days later...she can
feel stubble down by the scalp.  And when using a pick on her
hair...(very slightly) or simply running her fingers through her hair,
it breaks off.  What is happening?  Are these salons using cheap products
and if so what is a good hair perm for fine hair?  She is almost to the
point of pulling her hair out because she cannot seem to find a good
salon or hairdresser.  Could you please shed some light on this? The
only medications she is taking is thyroid medication and high cholesterol
medication.  But she has been taking these for years, so why all of a
sudden are these perms damaging her hair so badly?  Thank you so much
for your help.  Janet
--------------------------
Janet,

I have no answer to your question because I am a chemist, not a physician.
However, it is safe to say that perms are among the most damaging tortures
to be inflicted on the hair. Hair is dead keratin (protein) tissue; it has
no restorative capacity in and of itself. Once damaged, it cannot fix
itself -- and (contrary to what advertisers may say) no topical application
of any hair care product can ever undo the damage. Heat and chemicals used
in perming are ruinous to the structural integrity of the hair shaft. That
being said, it is not likely that the cosmetic assault on hair will ever
abate -- fascinated as we are in being "attractive."

Regards,
ProfHoff 476
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