Come see us at our new location at 2727 Saint St., Houston, TX 77027

Hair Care Blog Archives

As Seen In
American Salon Houston Chronicle Houston Modern Luxury Vogue Allure

Should I Wash My Hair Before Going To The Salon?

 woman with wet, curly hair washes her scalp while standing under the showerIf you’re preparing for a salon visit, you might wonder whether to wash your hair beforehand. The answer isn’t always straightforward, as it depends on the service you’re getting. At Therapy Hair Studio in Houston, we want to ensure you have the best possible experience. Here are the guidelines for different salon services to help you prepare effectively for your appointment.

Should You Wash Your Hair Before a Haircut?

When it comes to haircuts, there’s generally no need to wash your hair before heading to the salon. Most salons, including Therapy Hair Studio, begin haircut services with a thorough wash. We’ll start by shampooing and conditioning your hair, then cut it while it’s still damp. This allows our stylists to see how your hair naturally falls and moves when wet, which is crucial for achieving the perfect cut.

After the cut, we’ll finish with a blow-dry. This step is essential because hair appears slightly longer when wet and loses some elasticity when dry. By blow-drying your hair, we can ensure you’re completely satisfied with the length and style before you leave our salon.

In some cases, if it’s better to cut your hair when it’s dry, we’ll still wash and blow-dry it before the cut if you wish. This way, you’ll leave with that fresh, salon-clean feeling regardless of the cutting technique used.

Should You Wash Your Hair Before a Hair Color Appointment?

Contrary to what you might have heard, it’s best to come to your color appointment with clean hair. This might surprise you, as older advice often suggests coming with dirty hair to protect your scalp from harsh chemicals. However, hair coloring products have evolved significantly over the years.

Modern hair color formulations are much gentler on your scalp and hair. In fact, having clean hair can improve your color results. Any buildup or excess oil on your hair can prevent the color from penetrating the hair strands as deeply, potentially affecting the final look you’re aiming for.

For the best results when getting highlights or all-over color at Therapy Hair Studio, we recommend washing your hair 24-48 hours before your appointment.

Should You Wash Your Hair Before a Hairstyling Appointment?

smiling woman reclines at a salon sink while a hairstylist rinses her dark hair using a handheld showerheadWhile you might have heard that second-day hair holds styles better, modern styling products have made working with freshly washed hair easier.

For a blowout, there’s no need to wash your hair before your appointment. At Therapy Hair Studio, we’ll provide the full treatment, including washing, drying, and styling your hair. This ensures you leave with that perfect, salon-fresh look.

We recommend coming in with clean, dry hair for special occasion styling, such as updos or formal styles. This gives our stylists a blank canvas to work with, allowing for better product application and longer-lasting results. If additional texture is needed, we can easily add it using professional texture sprays and other styling products.

Additional Considerations

While we’ve covered the main services, there are a few more scenarios to keep in mind when preparing for your salon visit. Here are some additional tips to ensure you get the most out of your appointment at Therapy Hair Studio:

  • New Clients: If this is your first time visiting Therapy Hair Studio, we prefer you come with clean hair. This allows us to see how you typically style your hair, where you part it, and what your preferences are. It helps us better understand your hair needs and how we can best serve you.
  • Extensions: Clean hair is a must for extension appointments, whether new installations or move-ups. This ensures the extensions are placed in a clean environment, reducing the risk of buildup and promoting better adhesion.
  • Dry Shampoo: If you’re in a pinch and don’t have time to wash your hair before your appointment, using a dry shampoo can help absorb excess oil. However, avoid using too much product, as this can create buildup that might interfere with certain services.
  • Communication: If you’re unsure whether to wash your hair before an appointment, don’t hesitate to call us. Our team at Therapy Hair Studio is always happy to provide guidance based on your specific service and hair type.

While these guidelines apply to most situations, individual hair types and specific styling techniques might call for different preparations. Your stylist at Therapy Hair Studio may have personalized recommendations based on your hair’s unique needs and the service you’re receiving.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

Unless your service includes a shampoo (like most haircuts and blowouts), the rule of thumb is to visit the salon with clean hair. This allows our stylists to work with a fresh canvas, ensuring the best possible results for your cut, color, or style.

Following these guidelines will prepare you for your next visit to Therapy Hair Studio in Houston. We look forward to helping you achieve the perfect look, whether you’re coming in for a trim, a color refresh, or a special occasion style! Contact us today.

Related Posts:


How to Protect Your Hair From Sun and UV Damage

How to Protect Your Hair From Sun and UV Damage Image

As summer beckons us outdoors, we often focus on shielding our skin from harmful UV rays, but our hair deserves equal attention and care. Knowing how to protect your hair from sun damage is essential, as sun exposure can wreak havoc on your locks, causing dryness, brittleness, and color fading. At Therapy Hair Studio, we understand the importance of maintaining healthy, vibrant hair year-round.

Understanding Sun Damage to Hair

UV rays penetrate the hair’s cuticle, breaking down the proteins that give it strength and elasticity. This process leads to weakened strands, split ends, and a dull appearance. The sun’s heat can also strip away natural oils, leaving hair dehydrated and prone to breakage. For those with color-treated hair, sun exposure accelerates fading, diminishing the vibrancy of your carefully chosen hue.

Preventive Measures for Sun Protection

Protective headgear serves as your first line of defense against sun damage. Wide-brimmed hats, scarves, and caps protect your hair and shield your scalp and face from harmful rays. Opt for breathable materials to keep cool while providing maximum coverage.

Limit sun exposure during peak hours, typically between 10 am and 4 pm. If you must venture out, seek shade under trees or umbrellas to minimize your hair’s exposure to intense UV rays.

Apply a leave-in conditioner or serum with UV filters before heading outdoors. These products create a protective barrier, shielding your hair from sun damage while providing extra moisture.

Consider embracing protective hairstyles like braids, buns, or updos when spending extended periods in the sun. These styles minimize exposure and reduce the risk of damage to your hair’s length and ends.

Regular trims help maintain overall hair health. Schedule appointments to remove split ends and damaged portions of your hair. This practice prevents further damage from spreading up the hair shaft.

Nourishing and Repairing Sun-Exposed Hair

Even with preventive measures, some sun exposure remains inevitable. Incorporate these strategies to nourish and repair your hair after sun exposure:

  • Treat your hair to weekly deep conditioning masks to replenish lost moisture and restore shine. Look for products rich in natural oils and proteins to strengthen sun-weakened strands.
  • After swimming or sweating, rinse your hair with cool water to remove chlorine, salt, or sweat. This practice prevents these substances from drying out your hair further.
  • Before bed, apply a leave-in conditioner or hair oil to nourish your hair overnight. This routine helps repair damage and prepares your hair for the next day’s sun exposure.
  • Consume foods rich in vitamins A, C, and E and omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients support hair health from the inside out, promoting strength and shine.

Therapy Hair Studio’s Sun Protection Arsenal

Therapy Hair Studio offers a curated selection of products to protect and nourish your hair from sun damage. Our expert stylists recommend the following:

  • Kerastase Bain Après Soleil Shampoo targets sun-exposed hair, providing essential nourishment and protection. Its formula helps remove chlorine, salt, and sand while replenishing moisture. Regular use keeps your hair soft, manageable, and resilient against UV rays.
  • Hydrate Me Wash, infused with Kakadu Plum, delivers intense hydration and antioxidant protection. It shields your hair from environmental stressors while leaving it soft and shiny.
  • Angel Wash, perfect for stressed or color-treated hair, provides gentle cleansing and nourishment. Its formula helps maintain color vibrancy while protecting against sun-induced fading.
  • Plumping Rinse, a hydrating conditioner, strengthens and fortifies your hair, creating an additional barrier against sun damage. It leaves your locks fuller, softer, and more manageable.

Creating a Sun-Safe Hair Care Routine

 close-up of a woman applying hair product to her hair

Incorporate these steps into your daily routine for optimal sun protection:

In the morning, apply a leave-in conditioner with UV filters. If you spend time outdoors, style your hair in a protective updo. Wear a wide-brimmed hat for additional protection.

During midday, reapply leave-in protectant if needed. Seek shade during peak sun hours. Rinse hair with cool water after swimming or excessive sweating.

In the evening, wash your hair with a protective shampoo like Kerastase Bain Après Soleil. Apply a deep conditioning mask once a week. Use a silk pillowcase to reduce friction and maintain moisture overnight.

Remember, consistency remains vital in protecting your hair from sun damage. By incorporating these practices and products into your routine, you’ll maintain healthy, vibrant locks throughout the sun-soaked months.

Embracing Sun-Safe Hair Care

At Therapy Hair Studio, we remain committed to helping you achieve and maintain your hair goals, regardless of season. Our carefully curated product selection and expert advice empower you to protect your locks from the sun’s harmful effects while enhancing their natural beauty.

To learn more about protecting your hair from sun and UV damage or to schedule a consultation with our expert stylists, contact Therapy Hair Studio at (713) 355-HAIR (4247). Your journey to sun-safe, beautiful hair starts here!

Related Posts:

How to Keep Your Salon Hair Color From Fading

Hair Care Basics: How Often You Should Shampoo and Condition Your Hair

How to Make Your Brazilian Blowout Last Longer


Brazilian Blowout vs Keratin Treatment: Key Differences

Brazilian Blowout vs Keratin Treatment_ Key Differences image

Are you dreaming of silky, manageable hair that defies humidity and styling woes? Then you might have heard of Brazilian Blowouts and Keratin Treatments, two of the hottest salon services for achieving that dream. But what exactly are they, and which one is right for you: Brazilian Blowout vs. Keratin Treatment? Let’s dive in!

Brazilian Blowout

This famous hair smoothing treatment is your go-to for a quick fix to frizz and unruly curls. It creates a protective protein layer around the hair shaft, which helps smooth the cuticle and eliminate frizz, resulting in a glossy, smooth finish. The entire process can take just 90 minutes, making it perfect for busy bees who want fabulous hair on the fly.

Keratin Treatment

On the other hand, keratin treatments are all about penetrating deep into the hair shaft to infuse natural keratin and rebuild damaged areas. It’s a bit more time-consuming than a Brazilian Blowout, often taking a few hours, but the results can last much longer—up to several months!

Key Differences

What should you choose: Brazilian Blowout vs. Keratin Treatment? When deciding between a Brazilian Blowout and a Keratin Treatment, there are several factors to consider: duration, convenience, ingredients, versatility, results, and maintenance. Here’s how each stacks up:

Duration and Convenience

Time is money; if you’re always on the go, you’ll want to consider how much you’re willing to spend on a salon chair. Brazilian Blowouts are the clear winner for convenience. They require about 90 minutes in the salon, and the effects can last up to 12 weeks. In contrast, Keratin Treatments can take up to three hours, but the payoff is the longevity of the results, which can last up to six months with proper care.

Ingredients

Suppose you’re concerned about what active ingredients your stylist is putting into your hair. In that case, both treatments have evolved significantly in terms of health and safety. Brazilian Blowouts have improved their formula to be as health-conscious as possible. However, they still release a small amount of formaldehyde when heated. Keratin Treatments are often touted as being “formaldehyde-free,” although it’s crucial to consult with your stylist about the specific formula they use.

Versatility

Both treatments are pretty flexible, but the Brazilian Blowout has a slight edge if you love to customize. It allows you to wash your hair immediately after the treatment and doesn’t limit you from tying it up or styling it however you like after leaving the salon. This means you can leave the chair and continue your daily routine without any restrictions.

While less flexible immediately after application, these treatments offer a range of formulas. Whether your hair is fine, thick, curly, or colored, there’s a tailored formula for your specific hair type, which means you can achieve personalized results that cater directly to your needs. Heat styling is hard to do on both as it can affect the smoothening and damage-repairing treatment. 

Results

Are you looking for instant gratification? The Brazilian Blowout delivers immediate results with a noticeable reduction in frizz and enhanced shine as soon as you leave the salon. Keratin treatments might require more patience before you can fully appreciate the smoother, sleeker appearance, as the ingredients take a little time to integrate fully into your hair structure. After both, you don’t need a flat iron or extra blow-dry time for frizz control. 

Maintenance

Both treatments require specific sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners to maintain the results. However, since some keratin treatments are more intensive, your hair care demands less frequent washes and minimal styling products to maintain its new sleek appearance. Deep conditioning treatments can help in both, especially if you have color-treated hair and you want to tame frizz. Protect your hair with leave-in conditioners and dry shampoos to prevent hair damage. Avoid damaged hair and use heat protection products as they add shine to straight hair and healthy hair. 

Cost of Brazilian Blowout/Keratin Treatment

Budget is always a consideration. Generally, a Brazilian Blowout will cost less because of the swiftness of the application and widespread availability. Still, the cost will largely depend on the length and thickness of your hair and how long you want the treatment to last. Always consider this an investment in your hair’s health and appearance.

Brazilian Blowout vs Keratin Treatment_ Key Differences image 2

Choose Therapy Hair Studio

Brazilian Blowout vs. Keratin Treatment? Now that you know a bit more about these fantastic treatments, bring your questions and your hair to Therapy Hair Studio in Houston. Our skilled stylists are experts in Brazilian Blowouts and Keratin Treatments and can help guide you to the perfect solution for your fine hair type and lifestyle. Don’t hesitate; transforming your hair could be just an appointment away. Give us a call at (713) 355-4247, schedule an appointment online, or drop by; we’d love to make your hair dreams a reality!

Related Posts:

Five Ways to Ruin Your Brazilian Blowout 

How to Tell If You Need a Brazilian Blowout or a Keratin Treatment