Warning: Stop using those harsh alcohol-based toners on curly hair clients

I used to reach for the regular astringent toner on everyone with curly hair. Figured it was fine. Then about 4 months ago a client named Theresa with 3C curls came in crying after I used it. Her hair was SO dry and breaking. I switched to a hydrating pH-balanced toner instead. Now my curly girls leave with soft defined curls. Has anyone else had a client react badly to alcohol toners?

2 comments

2 Comments

murphy.blair17d ago

My aunt ran a salon for 35 years and she told me alcohol toners actually make curly hair produce MORE oil over time as a defense mechanism. So you dry it out, it overcompensates, and then clients think they need even stronger products. It's a nasty cycle. I started using a rose water and glycerin spray about two years ago and the difference in curl definition is night and day.

olivia_harris1917d ago

Oh man YES, this is so real! I had the exact same problem with my curls for years, I was using those cheap drugstore gels with alcohol in them and my hair was a greasy mess by day two. My stylist finally told me to cut out anything with alcohol and switch to aloe vera based products and it was like a whole new head of hair grew in. I'm actually obsessed with this DIY flaxseed gel I make now, it's super cheap and my curls actually stay defined without getting all crunchy or oily. The whole "dry it out to fix it" thing is such a trap, your scalp is just fighting back lol.