Styling Guide

We are happy to report that Verifen Complex hair products are receiving overwhelmingly favorable responses from women who desire vibrant, healthy hair. In order to further accommodate our customers, we have developed this instruction guide. This pamphlet not only discusses the proper use of Verifen Complex products, but also includes tips about hair care and answers to frequently asked customer questions. We hope you will review this material and that you will find it helpful. Healthy hair does take time, but this effort coupled with Verifen Complex products will certainly produce rewarding results.

SHAMPOOING

A lot goes into wash day when you have textured hair. With a large volume of hair, always allow a leisurely two to three hours to do all the work which includes conditioning, drying and straightening.
Wash hair at least once a week.

To begin, bend forward and bring all the hair forward, detangling it with a long-toothed detangling comb or pick. Then using a brush with rigid bristles that will reach the scalp, brush for a minute or two. This stimulates the scalp and loosens particles and old hairs; making for a more thorough cleaning.

* quick tip - If your hair is thick, longer teeth on your detangling comb are more effective. Since the hair frizzes and puffs up when wet, it is easier for the longer teeth to penetrate the thickness of the beginning section that you are working on. Combs and picks with shorter teeth do not penetrate the thicket of hair as well and may cause unnecessary pulling. The end of the teeth should also be tapered or rounded, rather than blunt.

Next, shampoo and rinse with warm water. To make sure the hair is completely clean, re-apply shampoo, lather up and rinse again. Verifen Complex shampoos are rich both with conditioners and should be worked well into the hair. After rinsing well, the hair has a soft coated feel to it. The light conditioning action remains on the strand after all soap and residue has been rinsed.

* quick tip - When you shampoo your hair, do not move your hair around to work up the lather. Use your fingertips in a massaging motion through the hair (adding water as you need it to build lather). You only want to loosen the dirt, which the shampoo and water are helping you do. You do not want to scrub the hair around and around because you comb-out will be much more difficult once your hair is tangled from shampooing. Just think of it as a thorough but gentle massage for your scalp and hair; where your fingers do the moving, not your hair.

After rinsing, slightly dowel dry hair by wrapping a towel around your hair and letting the towel do all of the work. It soaks up enough moisture without any vigorous rubbing. Simply press the towel together against the hair for a minute and you are ready to condition.

CONDITIONING

There are a few ways to condition with our Verifen Complex system. To deep condition after shampooing, use the Advanced Conditioning Treatment followed by the Detangle Spray Conditioner. To lightly condition after shampooing, spritz Detangling Spray Conditioner. We suggest this combination for finer, softer hair (with a deep conditioning treatment every four to six weeks).

Deep conditioning is a must for textured hair. Coarser afro-textured hair needs it done no less than twice per month. If your hair is in need of repair, it should be deep conditioned every week until it is restored to a healthy state. For a special combination that adds moisture and resilience while smoothing the strand surface, use Moisture Emphasis Shampoo and Moisture Emphasis Conditioner, followed by the Detangle Spray Conditioner. This combination is a real treat. Both Advanced Conditioning Treatment and Moisture Emphasis Conditioner deep condition the hair.
Verifen Complex conditioners are very special. While many products feel good on wet hair, it is how the hair sets up after it is dry that counts. After the hair is lightly dried and the heat from a hot iron or a straightening comb blends with the conditioners, it's as if a silken miracle takes place. Hair feels moistened, soft and supple. Dry hair becomes easy to brush and comb. A good comb-out on wet hair is important; but since hair is dry most of the time, a good dry comb-out is even better.

Apply an ample amount of conditioner (making sure that all hair is coated) and gently begin working it into the scalp. Add extra to the ends. Then pin hair up loosely and put on a plastic cap for up to half an hour. If you don't have half an hour to let the heat from the head warm the product inside the plastic cap, use a heating cap (low setting) for about 10 minutes. Afterwards, rinse well with warm water for up to two minutes, wrap the hair with a towel again and softly press out the excess moisture. Don't try to get the hair completely dry with the towel, because a little moisture keep the hair softer for comp-out.

* quick tip - Rinsing with warm water removes the conditioner more thoroughly. However rinsing with cooler water allows more conditioner to remain within the strand. Rinse the Moisture Emphasis Conditioner with cooler water so that slightly more of the conditioning effect remains in the hair.

DETANGLING

Comb-out! Don't dread this part of the regime. The detangling action in Verifen Complex products have made this task a completely new experience.

After towel drying, divide hair carefully down the middle with your fingers, then divide it again and again, until you have eight sections. Softly twist up each section into a loose knot. Then spray one section at a time with Verifen Complex Detangle Spray Conditioner. Detangle the section completely and twist it back up. Let down the second section, spray well, detangle and twist it back up. Repeat this procedure until all eight sections are detangled. This light leave-in spray conditions as it detangles. Detangling on section of hair at a time only takes minutes. Verifen Complex products are formulated as a system and work best when used together.

* quick tip - Always take your time detangling your hair. When you twist the hair up into a soft knot, make sure the ends are tucked underneath the knot before you pin the knot in place. If these ends stick out in the air, they will quickly become dried out and tangled, causing breakage while you're styling. Keeping them tucked away keeps them soft, smooth and supple. It's also good to use extra large hair pins or bobby pins. These larger pins are easier to insert and remove from wet hair.

To detangle, lightly stroke a few surface hairs at a time, adding in more hair to the stroke as the previous hairs become untangled. What your are actually doing is lightly tapping the surface of the hair with the tangling comb, not pulling at all. If you hit a snag, just tap it out from the bottom of the tangle upward until it is gone. Apply the same patience and gentleness that you would if you were detangling a three year olds hair. Never just stroke completely through a tangle from the roots, because the hair will surely break. As the hair stays wet with spray, it is surprising how the tangles will come out with this light tapping stroke. Never comb through from top to bottom until the hair is completely tangle free.

*quick tip - You can detangle your hair two ways. The first is to stroke through a few hairs on the surface of a section and slowly work your way right through the whole section. Add in more hairs as you lightly stroke through. The second method is to start detangling at the ends and lightly tap you way up the strand towards the roots. The first way you are working 'through' the section, and the second way you are working 'from bottom to the top' of the section. Use both methods.

DRYING

As soon as you've finished detangling your hair, you need to protect the ends. Try to let your hair air dry to eliminate too many sources of heat. But as your grows longer, you need t prevent this length from drawing up too much and tangling excessively as it air dries. Carefully use the blow dryer in a way that does not require pulling and does not weaken the strand. Use it to dry the hair without tangles. Use a different method to get the hair super-straight.

To dry the hair, work on one twisted knot at a time; letting it down and combing it through again with the detangle comb. Then gently stretch the section straight, holding the ends out with one hand while running the mouth of the blow dryer quickly up and down the length of the section with the other hand. By rapidly moving the heated air up and down the section, the heat does not singe the strand by staying on one spot too long. The air is constantly moving, keeping the impact of the air cooler, while effectively drying the hair. Make sure the ends are hidden in your hand because you don't want them to get too dry and brittle. Also stroke through occasionally with a gentle brush as the hair begins to dry, just to make sure the strands are straight and the hair dries smoothly.

When the section is almost dry, apply Oil For The Hair and continue until the hair is softly dry. Never over dry the hair. When that section is finished, twist it back up again, tucking the ends underneath the knot and start the next section. Even if your hair is too short to twist up, it is still a good idea to work in sections.

STRAIGHTENING

After each section has been gently dried and softly coated with Oil For The Hair, it is time to straighten the hair. If you use a mild relaxer, it only serves to slightly relax the natural coil of the strand so that the hair does not draw all the way up to the scalp when it dries. Hair does not get straight without using some form of heat. Some people prefer a roller set accompanied by sitting under the dryer. Others use the blow dryer itself for straightening. Straightening with irons in combination with our protective Oil For The Hair and Constant Care For Ends is the method most women prefer; even though it may require a little more effort on your part.

Heat does not have to be damaging to the hair. When used safely and correctly it can actually be beneficial. We recommend that you handle heat implements only if you have the skill to do so. If you are not well rehearsed in the using of these tools, it is best to put your hair in the care of a professional hairdresser. Irons are a more concentrated form of heat than the hairdryer, but the heat only occurs in the length of time that it takes for the iron to stroke down the length of the hair. Hairdryers, on the other hand, sometimes take hours to dry thicker hair. Because the ends usually dry first, they can become extremely dry while the rest of the damp hair on the roller dries. The scalp can also suffer from over drying. Always repeat iron strokes with a medium heat, rather than using less strokes with a high heat. Use curling irons with a ten digit heating dial so that you can monitor the amount of heat the iron is producing. Caution is always required because even a medium or low setting can collect heat very quickly. If the barrel is smoking, the iron is too hot! Sometimes it can even be too hot when the barrel is not smoking. If the iron has been sitting for a minute or two, cool the barrel with a slightly damp cloth before continuing.

By using Oil For The Hair for protection as you straighten, the heat of the barrel contacts the oil and not the surface of the strand. It is like a mini hot oil treatment. Apply just a touch of Constant Care For Ends. Constant Care For Ends is more concentrated than the lighter hair oil, because the ends tend to be dryer and more difficult to straighten. It makes straightening the ends easier and protects them at the same time.

*quick tip When applying Verifen Complex hair products for th efirst time, be careful not to ovr apply them, especially the more substantial products like the Constant Care For The Ends and Hairline Essential Crème. It is always better to start with a light application of the products. From there you can increase the amount if you feel you need it, rather than over saturating your hair with too much much product on the first application. In a very short period of time you will become familiar with your products and establish your own personal way to apply them to your hair.

Use a large barreled curling iron to press out the initial frizzes, followed by a flat iron to get the hair super straight. A flat iron is like a crimping iron, but the metal plate is completely flat (a pressing comb can also be used to straighten). Each time you finish straightening a section, twist the finished section back up to keep it soft and out of the air.

When using the flat iron, make sure that your hair does not extend past the sides of the metal plates as you stroke downward. Try to keep all of the hair well within the plates, even if it means using less hair per stroke. It also helps to hold the ends together with one hand, while squeezing the iron closed and stroking down with the other hand. This prevents pulling and breaking hairs.

When you have reached the end of the stroke and the ends are approzimately in the middle of the plates, open your grip t let the ends out. Do not continue to squeeze the flat iron closed and pull down until the ends pop out, as this may snap hairs. The hair just above the iron is still very hot so always exercise caution.

Always save the hairline for last and take extra care when you are handling this delicate hair. After the hair is all dried and straightened, carefully straighten your hairline with a small barreled curling iron. Then apply a very small amount of Verifen Complex Hairline Essential Crème to your fingertips and smooth it around the hairline. Place a wide cotton spandex headband on it for 5 to 10 minutes. The crème can be applied without using the headband, but the headband holds the hair smooth and in place as the moisture in the creme dries. It controls stray hairs, making the hairline smooth, shiny, and conditioned.

*quick tip - For those whose hair is not chemically treated, moisture may cause the hair to convert. If the Hairline Essential Crème contains too much moisture for your particular hair type, a good trick is to leave the top off of the jar for a day or two. The products will loose some of the moisture, but none of its effectiveness.

STYLING

If you want curls after you've washed your hair, rather than using the curling iron and rolling it upward to curl the hair, stroke it downward once or twice with the curling iron or flat iron. Then quickly roll the hair up on a sponge roller (using end paper) while the heat from the iron is still in the hair. Leave the rollers in for as long as you need to, even overnight. The mild tension from the sponge roller, along with the heat trapped in the hair always gives a nice curl to clean hair.

If you are styling your hair into a bun, for a very sleek look. Use the hairline crème like a gel, smoothing it into the hair to the point where the ponytail holder goes. Then brush every hair into place, put the ponytail holder in and finish styling. Use the hairline crème this way just before the time you will be washing your hair. The hairline crème does not get hard of flaky like a regular gel, but it does have just a bit of a tacky feel to it (unlike the smoother hair oil). It holds the hair in place. The conditioner in it adds a beautiful shine and is preferred over regular holding gels.

When you wear your hair up in protective styles, Constant Care For Ends was designed as a conditioner to be applied to the ends before the hair is pinned up. If the ends go up dry, they are going to come down dry. After applying the Constant Care For Ends, style your hair in a bun or French Twist. Constant Care For Ends helps retard split ends. Some women even find that they like it as an overall hairdressing.

We are delighted to know that you are serious about your hair care regime and we trust that Verifen Complex products and the information that we have shared on styling will be helpful to you. We encourage you to become an expert in the knowledge of your own hair.