When your hair is dry and damaged, it can be frustrating trying to get it under control and looking good. Unfortunately, most of us have to deal with dry and damaged hair at some point as it can be hard to avoid heated styling tools, chemical processing or chlorine damage. Remember though, like so many things, it is much easier to prevent damaged hair, rather than trying to repair it.
Signs of Damaged Hair
Dry hair and damaged hair are different. However, if your hair is naturally dry, you will definitely be more prone to damaged hair. Some signs of damaged hair that may need more than just some extra conditioning and moisture include:
Causes of Damaged Hair
One big cause of damaged hair is excess heat from hair dryers, curling irons, flat irons and UV rays from both the sun and tanning beds.
Try using conditioner and styling products with a thermal protector. Thermal protectors are essential if you use blow dryers, irons or hot rollers. They are made to absorb the heat and then distribute it evenly over your hair, protecting it from heat damage. Also, make sure your hair products contain a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to help protect your hair from sun damage.
One of the best ways to prevent dry, damaged hair is to make sure it has plenty of moisture. Look for conditioners that contain humectants. Humectants are ingredients that attract moisture and hold it in your hair. You should also deep-condition your hair at least monthly, or twice as often if your hair is very dry.
You can make a deep conditioner by combining ΒΌ-cup olive oil and one egg and applying it to your hair. Cover your hair with aluminum foil, and wrap your head in a hot, wet towel that has been wrung out. Leave it on for 30 minutes, and then shampoo. Real mayonnaise also makes an excellent conditioner for your damaged hair. It works best when it is at room temperature, so take it right from a new jar, or let it stand at room temperature for an hour to warm up. Apply it to your hair, leave it on for 15 minutes and then rinse with a mixture of apple cider vinegar and cool water.
Give your hair a "heat vacation" at least once a week. Let your hair dry naturally, and avoid using any heated styling tools. Your hair needs a break from all that heat, so on your day off, give your hair a rest. If you need to curl it, try foam rollers. They are comfortable enough to sleep in, and your hair will benefit from a day off from heat.
Chlorine-Damaged Hair
Another cause of damaged hair is chlorine. Chlorine is bleach, and it weakens your hair considerably. When chlorine attaches to your hair, it causes your hair to become gummy when it is wet and just like straw when it is dry. Chlorine-damaged hair loses its shine and becomes brittle, which can lead to breakage. If you only swim occasionally, you probably don't need to worry much about chlorine damage, but if you swim regularly in a chlorinated pool, you need to protect your hair. To lessen the damage from chlorine, wear a swimming cap. For an added boost of protection, apply conditioner to your hair first, and leave it in while you swim. After leaving the pool, shampoo and condition your hair to remove any chlorine residue.
Hair Color Damage
If you are a fan of coloring your hair, it is especially important to watch for damage. Some hair colors contain ingredients like ammonia, which are drying and damaging to your hair. You may want to consider having your hair colored by a professional stylist. Going to a salon will not guarantee that you won't wind up with damaged hair, but, if you choose a stylist who is experienced with color, it lessens the chances of harm. If your hair is already damaged, you may want to limit or avoid coloring until you have done some restorative conditioning first.
Be careful with the processing time, especially if your hair is thin, dry or already damaged. Once your hair has been chemically treated, it will be more susceptible to damage, so make sure your styling products are made for chemically treated hair. Your stylist can recommend which products will work best for your individual situation, so don't be afraid to ask. Perms and chemical strengtheners work by restructuring the protein in your hair, and they can damage your hair. If you choose to buy drugstore brands rather than professional hair care products, read the labels, and look for brands that contain humectants and proteins that will attract moisture and strengthen your hair structure. Use low pH products that will acidify your hair, close the cuticle down to lock moisture in and keep environmental damage out.
What If Nothing Works?
There aren't any hair care products that can repair dry, damaged hair. However, many will help your hair look better. Keep in mind that sometimes the damage is severe enough that your best bet is to get it cut. You don't need to cut it all off, but a regular trim every six weeks will dramatically improve the appearance of your hair. Once the dry, brittle split ends are removed, the rest of your hair will appear healthier and more manageable.
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