| When your hair is wet, it's structure is | | | | is easy to work with. It responds well to |
| altered, causing it to become thicker and | | | | wet-roller sets, curling irons, etc. Hair |
| longer. It gets longer because it absorbs | | | | with low elasticity is more difficult to work |
| water and stretches. Your hair's elasticity | | | | with because it can be hard to curl or lose |
| is the measure of how much it will stretch | | | | its quickly. |
| (and then return to its normal length). | | | | |
| | | | Testing Elasticity |
| Elasticity | | | | |
| | | | You can determine the elasticity of your or |
| The elasticity of your hair depends on a | | | | your client's hair with this simple test. |
| couple of factors - whether it is wet or not | | | | Take at least 4 strands of hair from |
| and whether it is healthy or unhealthy. | | | | different areas of the hair. Make the hair |
| Healthy hair stretches up to 35% of its | | | | wet. Hold one end of one strand in each hand |
| length before snapping off whereas unhealthy | | | | and pull the hair taut to stretch it. If the |
| hair breaks more quickly because it does not | | | | strand stretches and then returns to normal |
| have much elasticity. Healthy dry hair | | | | after you release it, you have good |
| stretches up to 20% of its normal length and | | | | elasticity. If the hair snaps or does not |
| healthy wet hair can stretch up to 50% of its | | | | return to its former length, you have low |
| usual length and then return to its former | | | | elasticity. Test each of the 4 strands |
| length without breaking. Wet hair has more | | | | separately. Make your decision based on the |
| elasticity than dry hair. Elasticity is often | | | | average result of your "stretch tests". |
| described as being lonw, normal, or high. | | | | |
| | | | If you have low elasticity, the bad news is |
| Effects of Elasticity | | | | that your hair is very susceptible to |
| | | | breakage, it will be hard to curl, and it |
| How does this effect you? It can help you | | | | will not perm well. Therefore, you should |
| decide what hairstyle is best for you or your | | | | treat your hair with tender loving care and |
| client. Hair with normal or high elasticity | | | | opt for a straighter hairstyle. |