What Matters Most in After-Chemical Cleanse / International Hairdresser TAKA

Introduction

After a hair color, perm, or straightening treatment, chemical residues always remain on the scalp and hair.
These cannot be removed with just hot water, shampoo, or hair treatments.
If left untreated, these residues can cause the following negative effects:

• Increased gray hair
• Progressive hair thinning
• Allergic skin reactions
• Reduced longevity of color, perm, or straightening
• Hair damage such as tangling and dryness

At Hairdresser Taka, I perform a detoxifying After-Chemical Cleanse for all clients who receive coloring, perming, or straightening treatments.
Here is a simple explanation of why this step is essential and what I value most in the process.

1. Removing Hydrogen Peroxide

Among the chemical residues, hydrogen peroxide requires special attention.
It’s used in all types of color, perm, and straightening treatments, and tends to remain on the hair and scalp afterward.
At my salon, I use a specialized enzyme (catalase) to quickly break it down into water and oxygen for safe removal.
If this step is skipped and a hair treatment is applied instead, the peroxide can become trapped inside the hair, accelerating oxidation and causing serious damage.

2. Reducing the Risk of Allergic Reactions, Hair Loss, and Graying

This is the number one reason I remove chemical residues.
I deeply value a “preventive beauty” approach that starts with the health of the scalp and body.
This includes detoxifying the scalp and removing substances that can harm the body.
Keeping the scalp and hair free of unnecessary substances helps preserve their health, even a little.
Since hair is made of dead cells, it cannot heal or regenerate like skin can.
The shine or smooth texture you feel from treatments is often just temporary, caused by surface coating.
That’s why I believe in long-term care that helps maintain healthy hair and scalp as much as possible.

3. Enhancing the Longevity of Color, Perm, and Straightening

One reason these treatments may not last is due to an imbalance in pH.
To change the shape or color of hair, we must temporarily shift its pH to alkaline.
This opens the cuticle, allowing chemicals to penetrate.
Healthy hair naturally has a pH of 4.5 to 5.5, which is slightly acidic.
If the hair stays too alkaline, pigments and keratin inside the hair may leak out, reducing the treatment’s durability.
That’s why I perform an After-Chemical Cleanse while also returning the hair to its ideal, slightly acidic state.

4. Removing Chemical Odors

When chemicals remain in the hair, they can leave behind a distinct and unpleasant smell.
Some clients find this odor quite bothersome.
By removing chemical residues, I can greatly reduce these lingering smells and make the overall experience more comfortable.

In Closing

・Hair treatments that smell nice
・Hair treatments that make your hair feel soft and smooth
Sadly, these surface-level effects are often promoted in marketing.
As a result, many products may actually damage your scalp and hair.
From a business perspective, if your hair and scalp are damaged, you’ll keep buying more products—
and that means more profit.
Even many professional stylists use hair treatments without realizing the long-term harm.
The truth is, “What’s essential is never something extraordinary.”
It’s usually very simple.