* How well does your hair move, and how? Some people have hair that just naturally behaves; others need an especially good cut and more detail before their hair will do the same thing.

* Will your hair look better with some streaks added for extra shine (you can go with semi-permanent colour if you’re not sure)? Or, do you need deep conditioning or a scalp treatment to alleviate problems?

* Is your hair fine? Oily? Dry? Over-treated? We solve problems at the root, not on the surface – for example we treat over-active sebum (the cause of oily hair) gently, until we gradually create a more normal environment and discourage the over-production of oil.

We take hair health seriously at Strands. There are products now that are effective and good for your hair. More and more hair care products, including colors and perms, contain natural ingredients and are enhanced by aromatherapy. Don’t go for the ‘quick fix’ or mask hair or skin problems, get down to the root of it. Our salon has been the choice for several Vancouver naturopaths for a good reason: our products and services are good for your hair and skin – they’re not just cosmetic.

Remember: Beautiful hair is healthy hair.

If your hair needs a perm (or, on the contrary, needs relaxing because it’s too curly), we have no choice but to use chemicals. Contrary to what some people think, it’s simply not possible to restructure hair using botanic products only. But it is possible to use safer, gentler products and add extra conditioning steps to the process and minimize the damage. For example, at Strands we add chamomile to the perm solution to help maintain the hair’s natural balance and keep hair at optimum health.

What if your hair’s already been over-processed or "burned’? Well, it takes time to reverse damage and return hair to full health. We’ll need to deep condition and pamper your hair for a while before it regains its bounce and shine. Then we’ll work with you to find long-term solutions. We don’t perm or colour before its time.