The Sound of Hair: What That 'Crunch' Means During Styling
As a stylist, you’ve likely heard it before—a faint “crunch” when brushing, straightening, or running your hands through a client’s hair. While it might seem insignificant, these sounds can reveal a lot about the hair’s health and what’s happening beneath the surface. Understanding these auditory cues gives stylists a unique diagnostic tool to identify problems and provide solutions, helping clients achieve stronger, healthier hair.
What Causes the ‘Crunch’?
The “crunch” sound often signals damage to the hair cuticle. When the cuticle—hair’s protective outer layer—is lifted or broken, the hair loses its smooth structure. Instead of strands gliding silently against one another, damaged cuticles create friction, resulting in that subtle, brittle sound.
Common causes include:
- Heat Damage: Overuse of straighteners, curling irons, and blow dryers at high temperatures depletes moisture, leaving hair brittle and prone to snapping.
- Chemical Overprocessing: Lightening, coloring, and perms weaken the hair structure, often leading to that dry, crispy texture.
- Product Buildup: Residues from hairsprays, dry shampoos, and low-quality products can create stiffness, mimicking the sound of damaged hair.
- Environmental Stress: UV rays, pollution, and hard water strip the hair of its natural softness, leaving it rough and “noisy” to the touch.
Listening for Hair Health
During a consultation, gently run your fingers or a brush through the hair and listen.
- If you hear a light crunch, the hair may be dry and in need of moisture.
- If the crunch is accompanied by visible white dots or snapping, it’s a sign of split ends and breakage.
- Hair that feels stiff and sounds crispy under heat tools likely has product buildup or severe heat damage.
Educating clients about what these sounds mean creates trust and opens the door for personalized solutions. For example, you might explain, “I’m hearing some dryness here—this tells me your hair could benefit from extra hydration and care.”
The Solutions: Silencing the Crunch
Addressing the root cause of the sound begins with a tailored approach:
- Deep Hydration Treatments: For hair that’s dry and brittle, in-salon moisture masks and leave-in treatments replenish softness and elasticity.
- Bond Repair Services: For chemically or heat-damaged hair, bond-building treatments help restore the internal structure, smoothing out cuticle damage.
- Clarifying Treatments: When product buildup is the culprit, a clarifying shampoo or scalp detox removes residue and restores natural movement to the hair.
- Heat Protection Education: Teach clients to use professional-grade heat protectants and to avoid using hot tools above 350°F (180°C) for fine or damaged hair.
Prevention and Long-Term Care
Once you’ve restored health, prevention becomes key. Recommend gentle, sulfate-free shampoos, hydration-rich products, and regular trims to maintain softness and elasticity. For clients who rely on heat tools, emphasize the importance of weekly rest days and lower heat settings.
Why It Matters
The “crunch” isn’t just a sound—it’s a warning signal. By tuning in to these subtle cues, stylists can catch hair health issues early and guide clients toward solutions that not only silence the sound but transform their hair’s look and feel.
When you train your ear and share your expertise, you’re not just styling hair—you’re protecting it. After all, healthy hair doesn’t just look good; it sounds good, too.