NEW BOOK · NURY SALGADO
Miremos el cabello con otros ojos
The science of hair through my eyes
A fresh perspective on hair that goes beyond appearances to explore what really happens in the follicle, hair fiber, and scalp. Hair science explained clearly and accessibly, drawing on real experiences, scientific evidence, and a practical approach.
For stylists, cosmetologists, students, hair professionals, and anyone seeking to understand their hair and make informed care decisions.
LETTER TO THE READER
“I am a hairdresser who wanted to learn biology to better understand the hair of the people who trusted me with it.”
— Nury Salgado
Perhaps you came to this book because your hair is changing
Perhaps your hair is shedding, thinning, breaking, or no longer responding as it once did. Perhaps you are a stylist who finds that what you learned in school cannot answer all your clients’ questions. I have been there too.
For years I learned about hair by touching, washing, and observing it. Then I studied its biology, not to replace a doctor but to help responsibly without inventing answers.
This book grew out of that search. I do not want to speak from a pedestal or make you feel that science is a language reserved for a select few.
I want to share what I learned, observed, and got wrong, and the questions that keep me studying.
Here, science is accessible and professional boundaries are clear. We distinguish cosmetic and clinical results, breakage and shedding, growth and length retention, and observation and medical diagnosis.
My invitation is simple: let us look at hair with fresh eyes—not just as an aesthetic feature, but as an extraordinary fiber originating in a living structure, a part of our identity, and a witness to the stages of our lives. Thank you for looking with me.
MY COMMITMENT TO YOU
It begins in my hands, but rests on more than my experience
Each explanation has been researched, compared, and checked to distinguish three areas.
What I have observed
Years of practice in front of the mirror and under the microcamera, always noting when a conclusion comes from my experience.
What science tells us
Recent research, mainly from 2021 to 2026: original studies, scientific reviews, work with human follicles, cells, or fibers, and official documents from health institutions.
What is still being studied
When research involves animals or laboratory conditions, I say so, because those results cannot always be applied directly to people.
The chapter on cancer and hair will be developed with Dr. Louis William Velásquez Rodríguez, a specialist in internal medicine and epidemiology. His medical knowledge will complement my professional experience, without confusing hair care with the diagnosis or treatment of disease.
INTRODUCTION
Healthy hair is about much more than a product
I wrote this book so the discoveries I have made over years of observing, touching, studying, and treating hair will not be lost. It offers a roadmap for those who work with hair and an honest explanation for those who want to understand it.
For a long time, hair care conversations have focused on products: which shampoo to buy, which mask to apply, or which treatment promises the fastest transformation. Products matter, but they are only part of the story. Hair and scalp health also relate to genetics, age, hormones, nutrition, stress, environment, cosmetic practices, and health conditions.
This does not mean hair alone can diagnose what is happening inside the body. It means we should observe it in context. The same sign can have different explanations, so we must avoid hasty conclusions and absolute promises.
What you will explore in the book
- From fertilization and embryonic development, when the skin and hair follicles form.
- How heredity interacts with the environment and what epigenetics really contributes.
- The anatomy of the follicle, the structure of the hair fiber, and the hair cycle.
- Common forms of hair loss and trichoscopy.
- How heat and chemical processes can affect the hair fiber.
- How to evaluate a cosmetic product responsibly.
- A special section on cancer and hair, with medical input, because it requires knowledge, care, and humanity.
“Healthy hair is built with more than shampoo and treatment: it takes knowledge, habits, care, professional boundaries, and informed decisions.”
This book is not a substitute for medical consultation or a guide to diagnosing diseases outside each reader’s professional scope. It is an educational tool to strengthen observation, critical thinking, responsible cosmetic care, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
If you are a stylist
I hope these pages help you ask better questions before making recommendations.
If you are concerned about your hair
I hope you find clarity and know that we want to help.
If you are a student
I hope it sparks your curiosity to discover that behind every hair is a story much bigger than what we see.
HOW TO READ THESE PAGES
A sign is not a diagnosis
It is a reason to ask better questions, consider the context, and recognize when a medical evaluation is needed. Hair can show the effects of habits and cosmetic treatments, but also signs associated with age, hormones, nutrition, inflammation, medication, stress, or general health.
“I did not write this book to turn a stylist into a doctor. I wrote it so that an important sign is never again seen as merely a matter of appearance.”
My experience
When a conclusion comes from my experience, I will tell you.
Studies
When a conclusion is supported by studies, you will find references at the end of the chapter.
What we do not yet know
When science does not yet have a definitive answer, I will acknowledge that too.
Clear boundaries
Observe, ask questions, document, and refer when appropriate. Diagnosis and treatment belong to health professionals.
Discover the book
About the author
Nury Salgado is a hair professional, educator, and founder of Nury Salgado Institute. She trained in hair care and barbering at Escuela de Belleza Orly in Medellín and studied cosmetology at Nouvelle Institute in Miami. She expanded her knowledge of alopecia, craniofacial reflexology, and hair health, and continues her training with the International Association of Trichologists (IAT).
Because looking at hair with fresh eyes can change the way we care for it.
Branded Lives Publishing · ISBN 978-1-962388-41-2
