How to check your hair elasticity

How to check your hair elasticity

To measure your hair’s elasticity, a simple test can provide insight into its condition. Start by taking a strand of clean, damp hair and gently stretching it between your fingers. Healthy hair should have a degree of flexibility, stretching and then returning to its original length without breaking. This flexibility indicates that the hair has good elasticity, which is essential for resilience and bounce.

If the hair breaks easily or fails to stretch, it suggests a lack of elasticity. Low elasticity is often caused by dryness or protein loss, making hair more prone to breakage and frizz. Hair that doesn’t stretch well may benefit from extra moisture and conditioning, such as deep conditioning treatments or products enriched with proteins like keratin, which can help restore flexibility and strength. This added moisture helps smooth the cuticle and provides the hydration needed to support elasticity.

Essential layers and how to keep healthy hair 

Maintaining vibrant, healthy hair begins with understanding its structure. Your hair is composed of three essential layers the cuticle, cortex and medulla. Each layer has a unique role in its resilience, strength and elasticity.his guide explains how these layers function and offers tips on maintaining healthy hair, improving elasticity, and boosting shine.

The cuticle | outer protective layer

The cuticle is the hair’s protective outer layer, shielding the inner layers from damage. Use a gentle, moisturizing product to cleanse without stripping natural oils. Detangle carefully to avoid breakage and limit heat styling to prevent weakening, frizz, and breakage. A healthy cuticle keeps hair strong and resilient.

• Moisturizing Shampoo and Moisturizing Conditioner – These products are formulated with hydrating ingredients that cleanse without stripping natural oils, keeping the cuticle smooth and intact.
• Leave-in Conditioning Spray – A lightweight conditioning spray that coats and protects the cuticle, preventing frizz and enhancing shine.
• Argan Moisturizing Elixir – This elixir provides a protective layer that smooths the cuticle, adding a glossy finish and sealing in moisture.

The cortex | the heart of your hair

Beneath the cuticle lies the cortex, the thickest part of the hair strand, containing keratin—a protein essential for strength, colour, and elasticity. This layer gives hair its unique texture and resilience. Daily styling and environmental factors can deplete keratin, weakening the cortex. To restore strength, use keratin-infused products to reinforce structure, while minimizing chemical treatments helps preserve natural keratin levels, keeping hair vibrant and healthy.

• Moisturizing Repair Mask – This intensive mask is enriched with proteins like silk and keratin, which help rebuild the cortex, fortifying hair structure and reducing breakage.
• Thermal Protection Spray – This spray protects the cortex from heat styling damage, preserving the integrity and resilience of the hair’s core layer.

The medulla | the unique inner layer

The medulla, the innermost layer of the hair strand, varies in presence and thickness from person to person, contributing to each individual’s unique hair structure and density. Although it plays a minor role in everyday care, it influences overall hair texture. Standard products don’t directly target the medulla, but Balmain Hair’s nourishing and strengthening treatments support the entire hair structure, indirectly benefiting even the innermost layers by promoting overall strength and vitality.

• Revitalizing Care Set – This line focuses on intense moisture and protection.
• Revitalizing Shampoo and Revitalizing Conditioner –These products restore moisture and smoothness, reaching the deeper layers of hair and indirectly supporting the medulla by strengthening surrounding structures.
• Overnight Repair Serum –Targeted at deeply damaged hair, this serum strengthens weakened strands and is ideal for supporting all layers. It’s especially effective on fine or delicate hair, where medulla thickness varies, helping reinforce both inner and outer hair structure.

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