Damaged hair is a problem for a lot of people. Heat, chemicals, hair products, and improper brushing techniques all contribute to the damage. If you are like most people, your hair gets abused regularly. So what do you do when your hair gets fried, dyed, and laid to the side?
The first line of defense for split ends, for example, is to get a trim. Split ends only get worse if you allow them to keep splitting. When that happens, the success rate for restoring your hair is minimal. Of course, the best way to not create damage is to prevent it in the first place.
There are many tips for damaged hair that you can use to treat it. The following tips are a great place to start and are the crème de la crème to promote good hair health and manageability.
If you want to create hair success, there are a whole lot of things you can do that won’t break the budget. You can have healthy beautiful hair, if you use your noggin and think about how you treat your hair.
Tips for Damaged Hair
- Avoid over-brushing your hair. Brushing your hair a lot creates friction and can cause damaged hair. Do brush your hair before shampooing but gently comb out afterwards when your hair is wet with a wide toothed comb.
- Avoid washing your hair everyday. If you have long hair, this is vitally important! Shampoos can be drying if used a lot. Washing your hair everyday strips the natural oils that create shine and reduce frizz. If you have shorter hair, it's ok to wash more often however, if you have damaged short hair, don't wash too often for the same reasons. Protein shampoos are a must have if you wash it a lot.
- Use hydrating and moisturizing conditioners after you shampoo, especially if your hair is chemically treated. Do not completely rinse conditioners out of your hair if you have long hair. A little conditioner will help you comb out snarls and rats afterwards.
- Try not to use heat. Heat only damages your hair more. Avoid blow drying and allow hair to dry naturally as often as possible.
- Summer sun is especially drying to your hair. Limit the exposure time. If you are going for a boat ride or are going out in the sun all day, use a leave in conditioner. I always take one with me to the beach when I know I'm going into the salt water!
- Limit chemicals. If you need a root touch up, then touch up only your roots. Do not overlap as that can cause breakage over time. Limit other chemicals too, especially harsh perms and bleaches.
- Try shine products to lay down the hairs cuticle. This will cut down on the amount of frizz you have too.
- Use deep conditioning treatments for damaged hair. There are so many that really rock and are good to use! Find one you like!
- Be careful what hair ties you use. Opt for wide banded hair ties or cloth hair ties.
- Remember heat damages your hair, so don't wash your hair with extremely hot water. Hot water will also strip away natural oils on your scalp which improve damaged hair.
- Take hair vitamins. I swear by Super Biotin. If you don't like to take extra vitamins, at least eat healthy foods.
Best Results for Damaged Hair
Try Something New - Instead of just getting a trim, when you have damaged hair, it might be a good time to think about a new haircut. When you choose your cut, be sure to look around first. Don’t settle for the first one you find. Take a little bit of extra time, especially if you are considering a short style. Your facial shape is very important too. You should choose a haircut for your face shape. You can always choose a new style by using free online tools.
Use Vinegar - Vinegar is almost a wonder cure when it comes to damaged hair. It can help prevent split ends annoying frizzies when your hair is dry. It is also very good at getting rid of dandruff. There are many ways to use vinegar. Simply mix a tablespoon of vinegar with water and use as a final rinse, massage it into your hair before you shampoo to help with the dandruff. Vinegar helps remove product buildup and dullness and can make revive your hair. When you get rid of ‘gunk’ on your hair, it reflects light better which really makes it shine!
When you shampoo, be gentle when you lather your hair and don’t shampoo too often. Shorter hairstyles can be shampooed more often while longer hairstyles should not be washed but once or twice a week. When you don’t wash your hair as much, you allow natural oils to build up and coat your hair, which helps promote strength and builds shine in your hair. If you need deep conditioning treatments, use products like Rescue Conditioner with Protein or leave in conditioners like Infusium Leave In Conditioner and Joico Leave In Detangler.
Read Labels - Far too many people don't pay attention to the ingredients in their shampoos and conditioners. Look for products that have little or no alcohol. If your conditioner is extremely fragrant then it probably has more alcohol in it.
Some Foods Heal - Open up your refrigerator and you will probably find a few things that can help you invigorate your hair. Use mayonnaise like a conditioner - massage it into your hair and leave in for about 30 minutes before you rinse it out or lather a mixture of egg and warm water into your hair and then rinse it out. The proteins found in eggs and mayonnaise help build up your hair and help prevent breakage. You can always just use your hands too! Oils found on your palms can help add oils back to your hair. During the day, run you fingertips through your hair for added moisture. The more moisture you have on your hair, the healthier it looks, the more it behaves, and the more it will shine.
There is no way to cure extremely damaged hair. The trick is to prevent it in the first place. The Bible states that a woman's true beauty lies in her hair. Be smart! and take good care of it!
