Signs of hair damage and how it is diagnosed

What are the signs that my hair needs repair?

Hair needs repair when it breaks, tangles into knots, feels rough or rubbery and no longer holds a style, even after you condition it.

• Breakage and a lot of short pieces, not only shed hairs with a root bulb.
• Split ends that climb up the strand.
• Dullness and a rough, straw-like feel.
• Hair that stretches and does not spring back when wet.
• Frizz that comes back right after styling.

How do I describe hair dryness and breakage?

Dryness is how the hair feels, dull, stiff and thirsty, and breakage is what it does: snapping at the ends or midway along the strand.

Dry hair that does not break usually needs moisture, and hair that breaks needs strengthening and often a trim. A specialist can tell the two apart by feel and by looking at the strand.

What are the signs of heat-damaged hair?

Heat damage shows as hair that stays limp or crisp after styling, ends that look fried, a loosened curl pattern in parts of the head and a rough surface that tangles.

It tends to be worst where the iron or dryer touches most, usually around the face and the ends. The dry, frizzy and heat-damaged hair guide covers the treatments.

What is trichoscopy?

Trichoscopy is a non-invasive look at the scalp and the hair strands under magnification, using a handheld camera, so details the eye cannot see become visible.

In a salon it is used to see the condition of the scalp surface, the follicle openings and the strand, and to choose a treatment. It is not a medical diagnosis.

What is a scalp analysis?

A scalp analysis is a look at the skin under your hair: how oily or dry it is, whether there is build-up or flaking, and what the follicle openings look like.

At kruLA it is part of the consultation, together with hair diagnostics, treatment selection, a personalized quote and a home care regimen.

Is it worth seeing a trichologist?

A trichologist is a specialist in the hair and scalp, and a visit is worth it when you want a close look at the hair and scalp and advice on care; it is not a route to a medical diagnosis.

In the United States trichologist is not a medical license, so a medical question, hair loss above all, belongs with a doctor first.

Is it better to see a trichologist or a dermatologist?

For hair loss, painful or inflamed skin, or anything that looks like a condition, see a dermatologist: a dermatologist is a physician who diagnoses and treats diseases of the skin, hair and nails.

For damaged, dry or frizzy hair that you want repaired, a salon consultation is the right place. The American Academy of Dermatology explains the common causes of hair loss and when to see a dermatologist: AAD: hair loss.

How much does a trichologist cost?

Fees depend on the practitioner and the city, and there is no standard price.

At kruLA the consultation, with scalp analysis via trichoscopy, is $0 and takes 20 min, and the quote for a treatment comes out of it.

Tell me about scalp irritation: what is it and what helps?

Scalp irritation is itching, tightness, redness or flaking, and common triggers are dryness, product build-up and a reaction to something applied to the head.

If it is painful, spreads, oozes or does not settle, see a doctor or a dermatologist. Tell the specialist about any irritation before a treatment, because the consultation is where scalp condition is checked.

What is the best treatment for the scalp, and is a scalp treatment worth it?

A salon scalp treatment is a cosmetic service that cleanses and soothes the scalp, and it is worth it when build-up or dryness is the problem; it is not a treatment for disease.

The kruLA price list has no stand-alone scalp treatment. The consultation ($0) looks at the scalp first, and a specialist tells you if the hair needs deep conditioning or reconstruction next.

What does a consultation cost, and what drives the price of the treatment after it?

The consultation is $0 for 20 min. The treatment that follows is priced by hair length, from the shoulder-length price to the butt-length price, and thick hair adds $30 to $90.

Every treatment and length is on the prices page, and the consultation page has the booking button.