Split ends aren’t the only indication of hair damage. If the hair cuticles open, your hair is at risk of further breaking. It can also be difficult to keep because it appears dull or frizzy.
So, can you truly go from brittle, dry hair to silky, lustrous locks? The solution isn’t always clear-cut. Hair damage is almost often permanent since hair is essentially a collection of dead cells that cannot be repaired.
Time, a pair of clippers, and taking efforts to avoid further damage are the only genuine cures.
But don’t worry; with appropriate hair care and a few targeted treatments, you can help repair the outer cuticle and start growing your hair again.
How to prevent further damage and treat your hair from dye damage?
To start, reducing the amount of dye you use by prolonging the time between touch-ups can aid in damage reduction. Wait at least 8 to 10 weeks between dye jobs.
Experts recommend choosing a colour that is three shades darker than your natural tone and opting for deeper shades rather than lighter shades to avoid damage. Colours that aren’t natural are more difficult to keep up with and require more regular touch-ups.
To make this more practical, consider the following:
1. Reduce the number of times you wash your hair.
2. Only use shampoos intended for coloured hair.
3. Cool water should be used to rinse shampoo and conditioner. The cuticle may open or lift as a result of the hot water, enabling the dye to rinse off.
Use extra virgin olive oil. This widely used cooking oil is also widely used in hair care. Oils have been shown to help moisturize and smooth the cuticle of the hair. Olive oil, in particular, is known to soften hair while also replenishing moisture.
Colour-safe shampoo and conditioner should be used for coloured hair. These treatments are pH-balanced to prevent the hair shaft from expanding and allowing the colour to leak out. Your hair will look and feel better, and your colour will last longer.
Seek the advice of a professional. Although salons might be costly, it is frequently best to leave colouring to the specialists. To minimize damage, a skilled colourist knows how to apply the right products.
If you wish to straighten, or perm your hair chemically, you should do it at least two weeks before your hair colouring session. This allows your hair to recuperate in between treatments.
How to prevent further damage or treat your hair from bleach damage?
If you’ve ever gone from dark to light hair, you’re probably well aware of the damage that bleach may cause.
Each strand of hair is bleached to eliminate the original colour. This is accomplished by causing your hair to swell, allowing the bleach to reach the inner strand. It dissolves the melanin in your hair, which gives it colour. Hair might become dry, porous, brittle, and fragile as a result of this procedure. Permanent changes in the structure of your hair can make it less strong and elastic.
Protect yourself from the sun. UV radiation from the sun can damage your hair. Hair that has been bleached is particularly vulnerable to UV damage. To protect your hair and scalp, wear a wide-brimmed hat or a hair wrap. Hair that peeks out can also be protected with a UV protection hair spray.
When it comes to chlorine, be particularly cautious. Chlorine may take moisture from your hair and make it feel even more dry and coarse, in addition to turning it an unappealing colour of green.
To avoid this, take the following steps:
1.Before entering the pool, give your hair a good rinse. This moisture could help keep the chlorine from bleaching your hair and drying out your strands.
2.You should also properly wash your hair as soon as you exit the pool.
3. You can use any moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.
Almond oil can be used. This fragrant oil can smooth and strengthen your tresses. To rehydrate the strands and reduce frizz, apply a dime-sized amount to the ends of your hair before drying.
Try rinsing with rice water. According to studies, the water you pour down the drain while rinsing rice can actually benefit your hair. Rice water contains inositol, which has been demonstrated to penetrate damaged hair and restore it from the inside out.
How to treat hair damage from heat tools?
Heat styling can cause hair fibers to “cook,” resulting in elevated cuticles and porous hair. Using heat too frequently or at high temps might cause damage to your hair.
Prevent further damage by blow drying from afar. Blow dryers have a bad reputation for causing hair damage. The good news is that you might not have to completely abandon it. Holding the blow drier 15 cm (about six inches) away from your hair and moving it consistently, will help decrease damage.
Make use of a heat-resistant product. These items are designed to protect hair and prevent split ends.
The more heat you expose your hair to, the more damage it will sustain. Excessive heat, no matter where it comes from, might harm your hair. Use the lowest heat setting on any product and keep the hot air, iron, or curler on your hair for as little time as possible.
Allow the air to do all of the job for you and avoid using heat.
After showering, carefully wrap your hair in a towel to achieve this. This will aid in the removal of excess water before allowing it to air dry. Avoid rubbing your hair with the towel because this might cause excessive friction and damage.
If you plan on styling with a flat iron or curling iron, heat-free drying is also a smart option. Heat tools should only be used once a week, according to experts.
Take advantage of hairstyles that don’t require heat, such as salt-sprayed beach waves. Alternatively, you can let your hair’s natural texture and style shine through.
To treat damaged hair use coconut oil.This tropical oil is a total charmer. The oil molecules are small enough to penetrate the outer cuticle and hydrate from the inside out.
It can also aid in the replenishment of your hair’s protecting oils on the outside. These oils protect your hair from heat damage and breakage.
Look for products that contain coconut oil, or use the warmed oil as a deep moisturizing mask once a week.
Do regular haircuts enhance hair quality?
Simple answer is, yes. Regular haircuts can help keep your hair looking healthy and well-maintained. Dry split ends might result from waiting too long between cuts. You can’t put separated ends back together, just like the rest of your strand.
How to prevent further damage?
1. Reduce the heat on your tools.
When styling hair with heat, one of the most common mistakes is to set the temperature too high. Unless you have really thick or coarse hair, a mid-range temperature setting on your tools will suffice. When possible, avoid using heat to style your hair. Look for air-dry treatments that assist shape and hold your hair without the need of heat. When you do use heat, make sure to use a heat protection product to safeguard your hair from thermal damage.
2. Use leave-in conditioners on your hair.
Leave-in conditioners and treatments are like 24-hour bodyguards for your hair. Because you don’t rinse them out, they continue to serve and protect from shampoo to shampoo. Leave-in conditioners, like other hair treatments, can be tailored to your specific hair type.
A leave-in conditioner for brightly coloured hair, for example, will provide UV hair protection to keep the colour from fading. A leave-in conditioner for frizzy, unruly hair will add moisture and make your hair smoother and easier to maintain. Apply leave-in conditioners to damp, not soaking wet, hair and comb through with a wide-tooth comb for uniform distribution.
3. Spoil your hair with hair masks and treatments
Hair masks are conditioning treatments. They have significant concentrations of reparative and moisturizing components, such as vitamins, oils, and natural minerals. They’re also thicker than ordinary conditioners, so they stay in place when applied to damp hair. This allows these solutions to go deeper into the hair surface and fill in the gaps and nicks that occur on the surface of damaged hair. Masks continue to operate even after you rinse them.
Choose a mask that is appropriate for your hair type, such as color-treated or exceptionally coarse and unruly. Use your hair treatment mask at least twice a week. And don’t rush—the longer you keep it on, the more effective it will be.
4. Take caution when handling wet hair
When your hair is wet, it is most fragile. And the risk of damage increases if your damp hair is fine, curly, or delicate. Handle with caution.
To detangle, most professionals recommend using a wide-tooth comb. When getting out of the shower, avoid forceful rubbing. Instead, blot your hair gently with a fluffy towel, or even better, a microfiber cloth or soft t-shirt. This reduces friction, which can cause damage to sensitive hair. When your hair is wet, avoid using an elastic band to bind it—this might cause breaking.
5. Cut the Split Ends
To avoid split ends in the first place, use fortifying shampoos, conditioners, and leave-in treatments to maintain your hair supple and strong. Visit your hairstylist on a frequent basis to keep split ends under control. You don’t have to lose a lot of length—your hairdresser can merely “dust” the ends to keep your hair healthy, strong, and un-frayed.
6. Practice outdoor hair safety
Put on a hat! You can even go the additional mile by applying a hair mask before leaving the house—this will treat and protect your hair while you’re out. After swimming or sunbathing, immediately rinse and condition your hair with gentle, nourishing solutions.
7. Keep your hair moisturized
Dry hair is the leading cause of hair damage and breakage because hair, like skin, becomes brittle and fragile when it lacks the optimum level of moisture. If you have dry hair, try a moisturizing programme that includes a hydrating shampoo, conditioner, mask, and leave-in conditioner. It’s the simplest technique to keep your strands from drying out.
The Bottom Line
You can’t undo hair damage once it’s been done unless you had a time machine. You can, however, adjust your habits and give your hair some extra attention.
If you haven’t seen any improvement after a few weeks, make an appointment with Hairmasters Hair Salon. We would be glad to access your hair and suggest the more suitable hair treatment for you to get your healthy hair back.