3.1.5 – Tender Scalp & Pain Tolerance

WHAT THIS LESSON CONTAINS:

• Some clients experience a tender scalp with backcombing
Everyone’s pain tolerance varies. I swear some people have a scalp made of steel, where others become incredibly sensitive.

• A solution to manage backcombing tenderness
For extra sensitive individuals, sometimes it’s best to start the back combing process to get the roots started, then have them pinch and hold the base so you can backcomb the rest of the hair. I’ve had some clients just do this without me telling them too, if that’s the case, the client obviously has a more tender scalp.

• Sensitivity often increases over the duration of the appointment
In almost every situation I’ve been in, the client’s pain tolerance wears down over time. This is to be expected. Slightly off topic, but if I have a job where I’m doing more advanced repair on a client, I always do the roots first to get the most painful part out of the way first, then I move onto everything else.

• Time of day, stress, sleep, and dehydration
In addition to appointment length, there are many other factors which may contribute to a sensitive scalp for the client. This includes the time of day, stress level, sleep quantity and quality, food intake, and dehydration levels. These elements can all play a role in the pain tolerance of a client at any given time. It’s a good idea to encourage the client to get a good night’s sleep, eat a solid breakfast, and drink plenty of water leading up to their installation appointment.