Hair Care II – SS1 Beauty & Cosmetology Lesson Note (Second Term)

Hair care is the set of steps used to clean, soften and style hair safely. Shampooing cleans the scalp, conditioning softens the hair, detangling removes knots with a wide-tooth comb from the ends upwards, and blow drying stretches hair using a heat protectant and a safe distance. Gentle handling prevents breakage, scalp sores and burns.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• state the steps of shampooing and explain why the fingertips, not the nails, are used on the scalp;
• explain the purpose of conditioning and say where on the hair it should be applied;
• detangle Type 4 hair correctly, using the right comb and the right direction;
• use a blow dryer safely on a client;
• name common hair-washing mistakes and say how to correct them.

What is shampooing?

Shampooing cleans the scalp, as well as making bubbles. Think of the scalp as the “soil” and the hair as a “plant”. If the soil is dirty and clogged, the plant will not grow well.

The professional steps

• Drench the hair: Use lukewarm water. Ensure the hair is soaked from the roots to the tips.
• The “Fingertip” rule: Apply shampoo and use the pads of your fingertips (not your nails) to scrub the scalp in circles. Nails can scratch the scalp and cause sores.
• Rinse thoroughly: If you leave shampoo in the hair, it will become itchy and flaky when it dries.

Note: For our Type 4 (kinky) hair, do not pile all the hair on top of the head like a nest. This causes massive tangles. Wash the hair while it is pointing downwards.

What is conditioning?

If shampoo is like “soap” for the hair, conditioner is like “body cream”. Shampoo opens the hair cuticle to clean it, and conditioner closes it back up to make it smooth.

• Apply to the ends: Your scalp produces its own oil, so focus the conditioner on the middle and the ends of the hair. These are the “oldest” parts and are usually dry.
• The waiting game: Leave the conditioner for at least 3 to 5 minutes. This gives it time to soak in.
• Deep conditioning: Once a month, apply a “steam cream” (treatment) and cover the hair with a plastic cap or sit under a steamer.

How do you detangle hair safely?

This is where most people lose their hair. If you hear a “cracking” sound while combing, you are breaking the hair.

• Wet vs. dry: Never comb dry, natural (Type 4) hair. It is too stiff and will snap. Always apply a little water or a “leave-in” conditioner first.
• The direction: Always start combing from the ends and work your way up to the roots. If you start from the roots, you push all the tangles to the bottom into one big “knot”.
• The tool: Use a wide-tooth comb. Small-tooth combs are only for parting hair or for very straight hair.

How do you use a blow dryer safely?

In Nigeria, we often use the handheld blow dryer to “stretch” hair before braiding. But heat can be a “frenemy”.

• The “heat protectant” rule: Always apply a hair oil or spray designed for heat before drying.
• Distance matters: Keep the dryer about 6 inches away from the scalp. If it is too close, you can give the client a “scalp burn”.
• The sectioning method: Divide the hair into 4 or 6 sections. Dry one section at a time. This makes the job faster and neater.

What mistakes should you avoid when washing hair?

How should you treat a client’s hair?

A good hair wash should be a relaxing experience for the client. If the client is wincing in pain while you comb, you are being too rough. Treat the hair like a delicate silk fabric.

Class practical activity

• The detangling race: I will provide two “mats” of wool or tangled hair pieces. Two students will compete to detangle them. One will start from the top (the wrong way) and the other from the bottom (the right way). We will see who finishes first and which “hair” looks better after.
• Product check: Look at the labels of the hair products you have at home. Can you find the word “sulphate” (spelt “sulfate” on many labels) or “paraben”? We will discuss what these mean next week.

Evaluation

1. Why should you use the pads of your fingertips, and not your nails, when shampooing?
2. Where on the hair should conditioner be applied, and why?
3. In which direction should you comb tangled hair, and which type of comb should you use?
4. State two safety rules for using a blow dryer.
5. Why is rubbing hair with a towel a mistake, and what should you do instead?

Assignment

Write a short guide for a client on how to wash and detangle Type 4 hair at home. Include the steps of shampooing, how to apply conditioner, and the correct way to comb the hair.