How Can I Prevent More Scalp and Hair Damage from Rebonding?'

Name: Dr. Adiluzzaman

Question: I have adverse effects of hair rebonding. How can I make a rapid recovery? Also how can I prevent further hair loss four days after rebonding. Probably the salon used a relaxer and I am now seeking your valuable advice for further prevention of hair and scalp damage and also other complications. Thanks.

Answer: Hi, Dr. Adiluzzaman. If your scalp is currently healthy and the chemical relaxer did not cause you any burns, there is no specific action necessary for your scalp.

This would suggest it was probably not damaged during the straightening process, also sometimes known as 'rebonding' as it involves breaking the hair's bonds in order to achieve the desired sleek look.

You don't mention any specific symptoms other than 'hair and scalp damage' which we would need more details about in order to address your concerns more thoroughly. However, if you are experiencing any hair loss or notice any skin problems such as a rash or burns (a potential sign of chemical trauma), please contact a local GP or dermatologist who can examine your scalp.

They should then be able to recommend a suitable treatment for your scalp and any additional areas of your head and neck that may be affected, based on their findings.

If your hair was over-processed, you may experience hair breakage. This is where the hair has been weakened and snaps in two along the shaft; it does not affect the follicle. It can, however, make the hair look dry, thin and frazzled.

There is nothing you can do to prevent hair breakage once it has already happened; the best thing to do now would be to have the broken lengths of hair cut off and let new, healthier hair grow out without any further damage. This can be done by a hair-cutting technique known as 'dusting' if you are reluctant to lose too much length - your hairdresser should be able to advise you on the best course of action following a consultation.

If you had your hair relaxed by a professional hairdresser, it is unlikely you have experienced over-processing as they would have been trained to use the product in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If you are in any doubt as to whether the hairdresser was properly qualified to carry out this type of chemical straightening we recommend speaking to the salon directly.

Your hair may have become over-processed if the relaxer cream was left on for too long, if it was too strong for your hair type, or if your hair was already very weak and brittle before the relaxer was used. However, as mentioned previously, a professional hairdresser would be able to recognise such problems and avoid them.

If none of the above apply to you, I would advise you to keep the hair as healthy as possible from now on.

There are a number of things you can do to help your hair's health, for example avoiding strong heat such from styling tools including hair straighteners, tongs and even hairdryers. You should ideally avoid other strong forms of chemical hair processing such as perms, relaxers or bleach, particularly if you find your scalp is sensitive or the skin is broken.

We recommend using good quality moisturising haircare products such as shampoo and conditioner as well as leave-in conditioners or bond rebuilding 'plex' products to assist the hair's recovery.

Support your hair health from the inside by feeding it nutrients via a good, balanced diet, including vitamins and minerals known to benefit the scalp and maintain normal hair growth. These include zinc, biotin and selenium and can also be found - alongside a wealth of other key vitamins, minerals, amino acids and botanical extracts - in Belgravia's highly-targeted one-a-day food supplement, Hair Vitalics.

In some cases low level laser therapy (LLLT), a red-light treatment delivered via handheld devices such as the FDA-cleared HairMax LaserBand, can also help to strengthen the hair and stimulate the follicles.

As we do not know your exact concerns, it is hard to answer your question exactly but you are welcome to contact us or come in for a consultation, for personalised advice. Otherwise we recommend keeping an eye on your hair and scalp health then, if you notice any problem with either, contact your GP or a dermatologist who can examine the problem area.