Asian Cut and Dye Problems

• Asian hairdresser Seon-Ha Kim explains the nature of an Eastern Asian strand: "Asian hair is usually so straight and heavy that every mistake will show, so you must be extra careful when cutting it. The strands are rounder ... thicker and ... coarse[r]...[than] the hair of Caucasian[s]." Kim said that this hair is hard to dye or highlight at home because of its dark, rich ebony color. Even though Asian hair is straight, its thicker strands keep it from lying flat against the scalp.
  
  

Korean and Japanese Hair Issues

• The most popular Asian salon request is to straighten hair. Hair stylists apply a Japanese straightening ionic perm--called "Magic Straight" by Koreans--which permanently straightens hair perfectly. It takes five hours of working 1-inch strands individually and, as of March, 2011, can cost more than $700 at better salons. A 2009 International Journal of Dermatology article states that Korean women have multiple scalp areas with hair loss--particularly, South Korean women have changing hair density and thickness patterns.
  
  

Scientific Differences in Hair Cuticle

• While Caucasian hair has five cuticle layers, Asian hair has 10. A cuticle is the protective shingle that guards hair protein and make-up. Asian hair lies at a steeper angle, whereas Caucasian hair has flatter cuticles. Compared to Caucasian hair, Asian hair has a narrower cuticle cell distance. When stretched and pulled, Asian hair cuticles break in large pieces while retaining their original shape, but Caucasian hair breaks in smaller fragments and falls off.
  
  

Traditional and Trendy Asian Hairstyles

• Modern Asian brides like pinning big, puffy hair curls to their heads. Versatile tastes include both tight and loose curls, gentle waves or pin-straight locks. Many Asian brides like the princess up-do. Korean brides prefer a low bun resting just above the nape. The bun can either be centered or off to one side. Delicate, loose wisps frame the face. The half-up look pulls hair halfway up by securing the top half of the hair around the crown into a bun, braid or knot. Hair can also be worn down or tied back into an intricate braid. The all-down hairdo circles the face and frees the eyes, while longer locks gently cascade in waves and curls down the bride's back. Bangs can be swept to the side, while curly tendrils envelop the face. Popular geisha hairstyles include the split peach hairdo where the bun is split in the middle to show a red cloth woven into the bun. A taka shimada geisha hairdo describes a chignon-wrapped knot, wrapped with a strip of fabric. Trendy Asian brides like short, chin-length hair such as an Asian schoolgirl look. Pop-culture styles include loose, wild ponytails and the emo or punk look.
  
  

Products for Asian Hair Problems

• Asian hair becomes tangled and dry in climates that don't have enough moisture. Because Asian hair is so straight and heavy, texture spray or scrunching does nothing: After five minutes, hair totally droops. To keep hair from getting too bushy, use an anti-frizz serum after shampooing. A volume mousse applied at the hair roots and shine serum at the ends helps a hairstyle survive a long, tiring wedding day. If hair is too short for a particular hairdo, consider Asian hair extensions.