Metal and hairdressing are two industries which, at first glance, might seem worlds apart, but in reality, very much overlap. Why? Because of aluminium foil.
If you’ve ever had your hair coloured or bleached, you would have experienced having some shiny metal sheets in your hair for a substantial amount of time. These are aluminium foils. If you’re wondering what the technical reasons are for why hairdressers use foils, keep reading and we’ll tell you!
But, first… How is aluminium foil made?
You need to start with the idea that pure aluminium is extracted from bauxite. This entails two processes. The first of which, being that the ore is refined to eliminate impurities like iron oxide, silica, titania and water. The second is that the resultant aluminium oxide is smelted into pure aluminium. To produce foil, the molten alloy is rolled thin and solidified between huge, water-cooled chill rollers, and during the final rolling, two layers of foil are pushed through the rolling mill simultaneously. Essentially, aluminium foil is made from an alloy that contains between 92 and 99% of aluminium.
So, why is it used in hairdressing?
- Precision and Control – Due to the aluminium being so lightweight and durable, this allows hairdressers to successfully wrap and isolate specific sections of hair, meaning that the colour or bleach can be restricted to only the intended areas. This level of precision ultimately allows hairdressers to create customised look for their clients that meets each of their individual requests.
- Heat Conduction – You’ll likely be aware that metal is a good heat conductor. However, when it comes to applying heat products on hair, it’s something that people can get quite concerned about due to the possibility of hair damage. But this is where foils come in. When applying heat to hair, such as during a foil highlighting process or a thermal styling procedure, the foil helps to distribute the heat evenly, ensuring the client gets both consistent and controlled results.
- Protection and Damage Minimisation – If not applied correctly, the chemicals from colour or bleach could cause damage to the hair. Therefore, aluminium foils means that hairdressers are able to isolate the treated strands, while preventing the colour or bleach from touching the rest of the hair. This ultimately not only prevents overlapping, but it reduces the risk of damaging any untreated hair. Additionally, the foil’s reflective surface can help enhance the lightening process by reflecting heat back onto the hair.
- Versatility and Adaptability – Aluminium foil can be cut, folded, and shaped to fit various hair lengths and sizes. This means that it’s a versatile material for hairdressers to use to complete their jobs effectively. Whether working on long, short, straight or curly hair, aluminium foil can be customised to meet the individual needs of each client. Meaning that hairdressers are able to experiment with different techniques like balayage, ombre, or foiling itself.
- Cost Effectiveness – Aluminium foil is also cheaper than other materials, making it a cost-effective choice for hairdressers. Foil rolls are usually available to bulk buy, therefore reducing the total cost per use. Also, with aluminium being 100% recyclable, this makes foil reusable, meaning that hairdressers can increase their sustainability by maximising the lifespan of the foil while minimising waste.
So, these are the key reasons why hairdressers use aluminium foils. If you are interested in finding out more, the Aluminium Federation (ALFED) are hosting a webinar on Tuesday 16th April 2024, led by Technical Manager, Jan Lukaszewski, exploring the hairdressing industry with regards to the use of aluminium foils. Webinar themes will include:
- Properties of aluminium
- How hairdressing foil is produced, recycled and stored
- Global growth in aluminium means that it is currently the primary used metal, so why are hairdressing foils not currently using recycled aluminium?
- Will hairdressing foils be recycled in the future?
- Green washing warning
- Third-party certification of production
- Suggested recycling scheme
The webinar will be free of charge for ALFED members, and a cost of £25 + VAT for non-members. To register your place, please click here.
For more information about upcoming events or industry news, or to find out more about how to become a member, please visit www.alfed.org.uk.
