Sample New Do With A Clip-On

Q. I would really love to try something new with my hair, but I’m terrified of changing it. Do you have any suggestions for someone who has no idea of what she wants? - Angela, Montana

A. If you have Internet access and a scanner for your computer, go to clairol.com. They have a section where you can scan in a picture of yourself and try on a whole bunch of stuff, including colors.

If you don’t have access to the Internet, go to a wig store and try on different wigs to see what you would look like with different styles and colors.

If you have short hair, get a hairpiece. They come in ponytails or clip-ons with long curls to match your own hair color. They break up the same ol’ routine. That way if you get tired of short, you can go long.

Q. I have really long hair and all I want is just a quick trim when I go to a salon. I don’t want it washed, just trimmed from the bottom. I don’t feel they should charge me full price. Don’t you think it’s unfair? - Marilyn, Florida

A. This is an issue that’s been going on for a long time in the industry. I see your side of the situation and I also see the industry’s side. It’s like a man saying his hair will only take two minutes to cut because it’s so short, so why does he get charged full price? It is one of those Catch 22 situations.

If you find someone who will do this for you, stick with them.

Q. I’m a guy who is way too young to start turning gray, but I am. If I color my hair, my friends will notice and razz me forever. I want to try it, but I’m afraid it’ll be really noticable. Can you give me some advice? - J.C., Oklahoma

A. I say do it. Don’t worry about the guys, they’ll get over it.

Go to a salon that specializes in hair color and tell them how you want to just cover the gray. Ask them to match it as close as they can to your natural color. Tell them you really are nervous and don’t want it to be that noticeable. At least the first time. Maybe discuss going with a semipermanent color the first time so if you don’t like it, it will wash out.

I say don’t hold back just because you are worried of what people may think.

Q. I am taking cosmetology and am about halfway through the course. I do not understand porosity of hair. I understand it means porous, but I need help understanding the concept when dealing with hair. Can you explain it so I can understand it? - Michelle, Oregon

A. OK, let’s see if this concept helps. Don’t think about the hair as hair. Think of it as a sponge. When you first start using a sponge it has a nice shape to it and you can wring it out and it dries fairly quickly.

But as time goes by and you use it over and over again in harsh cleaning agents, it breaks down, starts feeling gross, doesn’t dry quickly. Starts to smell. Pieces break off until it finally breaks apart and you have no choice but to throw it away.

Then you start all over again with another great new sponge.

What breaks down the sponge? Cleaning chemicals.

So we have the hair (which is our sponge) and we are perming and coloring it over and over again (like the cleaning solutions used on our sponge) and it starts to break down (like the sponge).

When the sponge has seen its days, we throw it away because we can’t make it new again. We can’t heal hair overnight after having constantly bashed it with chemicals. But we can’t throw it away like the sponge.

Now think of hair as fabric. Every time you wash clothes, they get a little more worn, and bleach adds to the breakdown. It doesn’t happen overnight; our clothes wither away gradually. One day we realize a blouse has faded and tiny holes start to appear.

So when you have chemically free hair, it has great porosity. It absorbs water evenly, doesn’t retain it, and dries evenly and quickly. But the more we treat hair with chemicals, not to mention the daily shampooing, blow-drying and curling, the more it breaks down.

I hope this concept helps. If not, contact me by e-mail or write.