Q: I live in a small town in Georgia where there are few hairdressers to go to on a regular basis. I have a very long face, and every style I try doesn’t seem to go with the shape of my face. Can you give me some haircut suggestions that look good on long faces? – Debbie – Stockbridge
A: There are several different facial shapes – oval, round, square, oblong, pear, heart, and diamond – and it is very important to consider your facial structure when choosing a new haircut. With a long face, you need a hairstyle that shortens and widens to balance out your features. The best hairstyle to achieve this goal is one that is styled closely to the top of your hear head with fringe or a little curl combines with a lot of fullness on the sides. It is also very important that this style complements your profile, since everyone’s nose, forehead and lips are different. Discuss these tips with your hairdresser and email a picture of your new cut. Good luck.
Q: I am a white female student at Emory University and my hair is naturally very curly, similar to African-American hair. I have always been interested in relaxing my curl, but I don’t know what kind of hair relaxing product to use. Can you tell me about the different kinds of hair relaxers there are on the market and what is best for me to use?
A: There are two types of general types of hair relaxers – sodium hydroxide and ammonium thioglycolate – which can both be used to relax the curl in your hair. Sodium hydroxide is often referred to as a “hair straightener”. It is a stringent, caustic-type hair relaxer that does not require shampooing before applying to your hair. Ammonium thioglycolate is a very effective relaxer, but less drastic, and may require shampooing before application. Great care must be taken with sodium hydroxide because of the high alkaline content. Either product will work, but I recommend you consult a skilled hairdresser before you apply any chemical to your hair.
Q: I am a 35-year-old male with a medium-fine hair and several cowlicks. My girlfriend keeps telling me the get a perm to even it out, but I don’t think I could site in a hair salon getting a perm with so many women around. I need help! – Simon – Buckhead
A: First of all, Simon, these days, lots of men go to a salon for hair treatments, including perms. Many men need to add texture and fullness to their hair, an a perm is a great way to get it. A perm can help you overcome common hair problems and redirect cowlicks such as you have. They can also help limp or unmanageable hair become more easy to style and maintain. If you are not comfortable with others around while you get a perm, ask a stylist to book an appointment after-hours or on a day when the salon is closed. You may have to pay a little extra, but it will be well worth it to get a great hairstyle. Best of luck to you.