How To Protect And Treat Damaged Hair
Damaged hair takes many forms. It could look like frizzy hair and can often feel dry or brittle to the touch. It also frequently features split ends and looks dull in appearance—so, not at all like healthy hair. Damaged hair is the side effect of processing hair through heat styling, hair coloring, chemical treatments and excessive hair styling. The good news: It’s possible to repair your hair back to its soft, shiny state. Find out how to treat and protect hair in just in four steps.
How To Repair Damaged Hair
Trim It on a Regular Basis: Trimming your hair prevents your hair’s split ends from unraveling even more and allowing the area of damaged hair to become larger. Cut as much as you deem necessary to remove damaged hair, and try to trim your hair every two to three months to avoid damage from building up.
Avoid Heat at All Costs: Whenever it’s possible, air-dry hair or curl it using non-heat hair products such as rollers. When you do use heated hair styling tools, prep your hair with a heat-protectant like Garnier Fructis Sleek & Smooth Blow Dry Anti-Frizz Cream to minimize hair damage.
Avoid Chemical Processing: Bleaching, coloring or chemical straightening can apply significant stress to your hair. (Long story short: It breaks the bonds of your hair and reseals them to lock in whatever change you’re trying to get.) If your hair is damaged but you still want to color hair or straighten hair, discuss gentler options with your hairstylist—or consider going on a hair-treatment diet. Embracing your natural hair texture is the easiest way to prevent damaged hair.
Shampoo and Condition Correctly: Your hair care products should contain hair ingredients like natural oils and humectants—think argan oil, shea butter or coconut water can work wonders on dry hair. Opt for shampoos and conditioners specifically designed for damaged hair and add a leave-in or deep conditioning hair mask to help restore hair.
Frizzy hair and damaged hair aren’t all that different. But if you’ve checked off all the points on this list and your hair still looks frizzy, check out the best ways to help with frizz control.