Why you shouldn't dye your hair at home?

DIY hair colours can lead to uneven results, damage, and unpredictable outcomes, as they often contain harsher chemicals not suited for your unique hair type, compromising both colour and hair health. At HAYATO LONDON, we tailor each colour service to your hair's unique needs to ensure long-lasting, healthy results.

How do I protect my hair from hard water?

To protect your hair from hard water at home, use a water softener showerhead or rinse your hair with filtered or bottled water. Try using a chelating or clarifying shampoo once a week to remove mineral build-up. An acidic rinse, like apple cider vinegar, can also help balance pH and reduce damage. At HAYATO LONDON, we offer amino acid-based shampoos and deep conditioning treatments to protect and hydrate your hair, keeping it healthy despite hard water exposure.

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2025年04月17日 Hair Care

Understanding hair texture differences: Asian vs Western Hair and impact on colouring and perming

Hair texture varies widely between individuals from different ethnic backgrounds, with notable differences between Asian and Western hair. These differences play a crucial role in how hair colouring and perming techniques are applied and how the results turn out.

In this article, we will explore the key differences in hair texture between Asians and Westerners, and explain how these variations influence hair colouring and perming processes.

Asian Hair Texture: Key Characteristics

Asian hair tends to have the following features:

Colour: Typically black or dark brown, due to a higher concentration of eumelanin (the black-brown pigment) and a notable presence of pheomelanin (the yellow-red pigment).
Strand Thickness: Individual strands are generally thick and strong, contributing to a denser appearance.
Hair Strength: Known for its elasticity and resilience, Asian hair tends to be robust overall.
Curl Formation: Asian hair may develop natural curls or waves, though they are often less uniform than those found in other hair types.
Cuticle Thickness: The cuticle layer is relatively thin, which makes Asian hair more susceptible to damage, particularly during chemical treatments such as colouring and perming.

Western Hair Texture: Key Characteristics

Western hair is often described by these characteristics:

Colour: Varied shades, from blonde to brown and red. Lower eumelanin levels result in blonde hair, while higher pheomelanin levels lead to red hair.
Strand Thickness: Typically finer, giving Western hair a lighter, airier feel.
Hair Texture: Soft, smooth, and often "fluffy", due to the finer strands.
Curl Formation: Western hair is generally less likely to form natural curls but may develop waves.
Cuticle Thickness: The cuticle layer is thicker, offering more protection against damage, compared to Asian hair.

Impact of Asian Hair on Colouring:

Colouring Ease and Dye Absorption:
- Strand Thickness: The thicker strands of Asian hair can make it more difficult for dye to penetrate fully. However, the thinner cuticle layer allows for better colour absorption overall, which means Asian hair responds well to darker shades and warm tones. Lightening Asian hair or achieving cooler shades (like blonde) requires more effort, including multiple sessions of bleaching or lightening.
- Higher Pheomelanin Content: With more pheomelanin in Asian hair, warm colours such as red and orange are absorbed more readily. This can make achieving neutral or cool-toned colours (like platinum blonde) more challenging, often requiring extra steps like colour correction.
Colour Results:
- Warm Undertones: The higher pheomelanin content tends to bring out warm undertones (like orange or red) when colouring, especially during lightening. Achieving cooler tones can be difficult without advanced techniques.
- Intensity of Colour: The thick strands of Asian hair can make the colour appear more intense. However, it might fade more quickly if proper aftercare is not followed.
Hair Damage:
- Damage Susceptibility: Despite its strength, Asian hair's thinner cuticle layer makes it more vulnerable to damage during the colouring process. To avoid over-processing, a skilled colourist must use the right balance of chemical strength to prevent breakage or excessive dryness.

Impact of Western Hair on Colouring:

Colouring Ease and Dye Absorption:
- Strand Thickness: Finer Western hair tends to absorb colour more quickly. While this can speed up the colouring process, it can also make the hair more prone to uneven absorption or over-processing. Additionally, Western hair tends to fade faster, particularly in lighter shades, if not cared for properly.
- Lower Pheomelanin Content: Western hair has less pheomelanin, meaning it’s easier to achieve cooler tones like ash blonde or platinum blonde, with fewer warm undertones emerging during lightening.
Colour Results:
- Cool Undertones: Western hair typically results in cooler tones more easily, making it a perfect candidate for shades like ash blonde or silver. These colours tend to hold better in Western hair compared to Asian hair.
- Colour Longevity: Western hair absorbs colour well but may lose vibrancy quicker, especially with finer strands. Proper care is essential to prevent premature fading.
Hair Damage:
- Thicker Cuticle Layer: The thicker cuticle in Western hair generally offers more protection against damage, allowing it to endure the colouring process better than Asian hair. However, because of its finer nature, Western hair may require stronger formulations to achieve the desired result.
- Porosity Considerations: Finer hair can be more porous, leading to uneven colour absorption. This is particularly noticeable when lightening, where certain sections may absorb more product than others, requiring more precision and skill from the colourist.

Impact of Asian Hair on Perming:

Hair Strength and Elasticity: Asian hair’s natural strength and elasticity make it resilient during the perming process. However, the thicker strands may make it harder for the perm solution to fully penetrate, meaning more care is required to ensure even curl formation.
Curl Formation: While Asian hair can develop natural curls or waves, these are often softer and less defined. Perming Asian hair results in looser, more voluminous curls or waves, which is ideal for a natural, effortless look.
Cuticle Thickness: With a thinner cuticle layer, Asian hair is more prone to damage during the perming process. Milder perming solutions and thorough conditioning treatments are necessary to avoid over-processing.
Volume and Hold: Asian hair can hold a perm well due to its thickness, but the curls may loosen gradually. Stronger perming solutions may be needed for longer-lasting results, and more maintenance might be required as the curls relax.

Impact of Western Hair on Perming:

Hair Strength and Elasticity: Western hair is finer, so it responds quickly to perming solutions. However, the finer texture means it is more susceptible to damage from chemicals, so gentler formulations and shorter processing times are essential.
Curl Formation: Western hair is less likely to form natural curls, so a perm will usually result in tighter, more defined curls. However, because the texture is finer, the curls may need frequent touch-ups to maintain their shape.
Cuticle Thickness: The thicker cuticle layer in Western hair offers better protection against damage during the perming process, making it less prone to breakage. Still, Western hair requires good aftercare to maintain softness and prevent brittleness.
Volume and Hold: Perming Western hair can give it more volume and fullness, but due to its finer strands, the curls may fall out faster. Proper aftercare and the right perming solutions are essential to ensuring the curls last and maintain their volume.

Hair Colouring and Perming Services at HAYATO LONDON

At HAYATO LONDON, we offer a wide range of products and services designed for different hair textures. Our team is highly skilled in handling both Asian and Western hair, with expertise in custom hair colouring and perming techniques.

We approach every treatment with precision and care to achieve the best possible results while prioritising the health and condition of your hair. Whether you have thick, resilient Asian hair or fine, voluminous Western hair, we will tailor our services to suit your individual hair type and desired outcome.

Visit us at HAYATO LONDON to experience expert hair care, whether you're looking for vibrant colour or long-lasting curls.