What should be assessed during a strand test?

During a strand test, the primary focus is on determining the expected color outcome. This process involves taking a small section of hair and applying the product to see how the hair reacts to the formulation, including the developer strength and the dye itself. The strand test gives the stylist a preview of how the hair will actually look after the coloring service. This is essential in color treatments, as it helps to ensure that the end result aligns with the client’s desires and expectations.

By assessing the expected color outcome, professionals can account for various factors like the natural hair color, any previous color treatments, and the condition of the hair. It also helps to identify any potential issues, such as unexpected color results due to underlying tones or hair health status, ensuring a more controlled and predictable outcome during the full service.

While assessing hair porosity, elasticity, or texture is important in the overall understanding of hair health and how it may interact with products, they are not the primary focus of a strand test, which is explicitly concerned with the immediate visual result of color application.