Hair Loss Treatment|Hair Care Products|Hair Restoration

Each woman who wears a partial human hair system brings a unique challenge to the table. For example, my biggest challenge is the fact that my growing hair is super curly and can be tough to blend under a straight or wavy hair replacement system. It is also a major feat to match a permed hairpiece to my natural curl. My friend Charlie had a unique challenge getting her hair system to stand up to her first love, surfing.

Charlie's biggest fear: Could the bond really withstand the crashing, pulling, smacking waves of the southern California surf? She didn't want to give up her favorite pastime, or any part of her lifestyle for that matter, so she needed the bond to be iron-clad for sure.

Running a close second was how the donor hair would hold up to the harshness of the sun, sand and salt water that would pound down on her several times a week at the beach.

As Charlie experienced, cool or cold water (in the ocean or elsewhere) does not compromise the bond in the way that heat, steam or hot water does. Just like elevated body heat will cause the bond to temporarily loosen a bit, so will hot water or steam. Of course, the bond will re-cure back to its initial state once you cool down, so no need to worry, just be mindful of your body temperature.

Summer Hair Replacement Bonding and Hair Care Tips:

? If you're heading to the beach, lake or pool this summer, be sure to use a leave-in conditioner that has a UV filter built right in. This will help protect your hair from oxidizing towards a reddish color and also help keep the hair from drying out from exposure to the sun.

? Wait at least 24 hours after bonding for the bond to cure completely before exposing yourself to water of any kind and/or excessive sweating. This is VERY important.

? If you are spending any length of time outside for any kind of activity, it's recommended that you wear a hat or head scarf to protect your hair as well.

During my conversations with Charlie I was more concerned about how the donor hair in her hair system would fare in the surf and recommended to Charlie that she wear a bathing cap to protect her hair. The rush of the wet, salty, sandy surf would, at the very least, cause the hair to tangle like crazy, and the heavy sun exposure could dry out and oxidize the hair, shortening it's already limited life span.

I love an industrious woman. Charlie wasn't feeling the bathing cap-look so she set out to find something that suited her personal style better. She took a common neck scarf and turned into a surf-proof head scarf that leaves her feeling much more stylish and contemporary than a bathing cap and protects her hair perfectly every time. I just had to share her ingenuity with my readers.

Here's the four main things Charlie looks for in a scarf to protect her hair and bond:

Long - so you can wrap it around your head twice and have enough left over to secure it with a knot.

Lightweight - so it doesn't absorb much water.

Soft and smooth - so its gentle on the hair and your skin. Thin polyester and jersey cotton are comfy, inexpensive and easily replaced. Don't bother with expensive silk or satin because the salt and sun will ruin them anyway.

Stretchy - so that you can tie it tight. The stretch allows the scarf to hug your head, holds the hair in nice and snug.

To prepare her hair prior to surfing, Charlie completes the following steps:

? First, she combs her dry hair and hair system with a wide tooth comb.

? Then, she liberally sprays a leave-in conditioner with a UV filter, and finger combs it through.

? The ties her hair into pigtails or a ponytail, and uses hair ties (the kind with no metal for the hair to get caught on) to secure them.

? Then, she wraps the scarf around her head twice and ties it in the back in the nape area. Make sure the scarf is tight so that ocean water can't sneak under it.

? After tying on the scarf, she saturates her hair with filtered water. If you saturate the hair with filtered water and a great leave-in conditioner then it won't get saturated with ugly stuff like salt or chlorine.

? Then, she hits the waves!

One last tip--be careful combing wet hair! Hair of any kind is most vulnerable and easy to damage when it's wet. Treat your investment kindly--be patient with tangles. Always comb out tangles from the ends on up. Treat yourself to a bone comb for extra protection.

By following these best practices, you can enjoy the beach, pool and sun while still protecting your hair system.

Susan Falcone
Founder, Crowned Beautiful
Certified Personal Development Coach
crownedbeautiful.com crownedbeautiful.com

The Basics of Hair Replacement for Women? Training Program is a comprehensive educational series that teaches women with hair loss how to independently order, maintain and wear partial or three-quarter bonded hairpieces. The program's 5-week teleclass series is supported by a private online forum, monthly Q&A calls, personal consultations, an exhaustive manual, and more. The instructor is a hair wearer who empowers women struggling with permanent hair loss by giving them the tools, tips and techniques they need to transition into wearing hair with great confidence, while preparing them emotionally and logistically to be successful right from the start.

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