Let’s start by identifying the damage. Here, we break down three common causes of damaged hair, how to mitigate the harm, and reparative steps to take to make your lengths as healthy as possible.
How to Tell Your Hair Is Damaged
According to Neera Nathan, MD, board-certified dermatologist and chief dermatological advisor at Vegamour, hair damage shows up in three main ways: breakage, hair loss, and dryness. Breakage is when there is damage to the hair shaft that causes it to weaken and snap off. Hair loss is self-explanatory and dryness is caused by damage to the outer layer of the cuticle and results in moisture loss and coarse, dull hair.
Hair damage can vary based on hair type or texture. Nathan says breakage, for example, is more obvious in curlier hair because broken strands may stick out more. While hair loss might be more obvious in those with thinner hair. Keeping that in mind as well as the causes of the damage will help you figure out to best treat it.
1. Mechanical Damage
How Does Mechanical Damage Occur?
Mechanical damage is caused by hair wear-and-tear. Dragging combs and brushes through your lengths, tying styles with taut ties and ribbons, and even exposing hair to the elements all take their toll over time. All of these externals can lead to the breakage of individual strands, weathering (and even eradicating) protective cuticles and any potential for lustrousness and leading instead to a frazzled and frizzy mane.
How to Repair Damaged Hair
While certain products exist to address damage caused by chemicals (read on for more) our experts insist that you cannot restore split ends or breakage in severely damaged hair. The solution here is a trim or perhaps a full-on chop, the better to part ways with split ends before the breakage travels upward.
To minimize the signs of mechanical damage, take a break from even the most basic of tools and embrace your natural texture with the help of products like Vernon François Nourishing Water or Ceremonia’s Guava Beach Waves. Additionally, oils like JVN Complete Nourishing Hair Oil Shine Drops and No Frizz Vanishing Oil from Living Proof can quell frizz and ramp up radiance as your hair starts to heal.
How to Prevent Further Damage
“Wet hair is very fragile; handle with care,” says celebrity hairstylist Bridget Brager, who urges the use of a wide-tooth comb or wet brush. Her advice is to work from the ends of the hair up and let the hair air dry as much as possible before styling. This same kind of hair is necessary when you’re blowdrying. “Choose a boar bristle brush or one that has a mix of plastic and boar’s hair bristles,” says Hill. “The idea is to stay away from metal brushes, which can abrasive to hair fiber and scalps.” Try Christophe Robin Special Blow Dry Hair Brush or Crown Affair’s The Brush No. 001 for safer styling.
Another way to extend your style? Protect it while you sleep with satin or silk pillowcases, scarves, and bonnets. “Create a signature sleep style that allows oxygen to flow through the hair to the scalp, to prevent tangling and matting in the occipital point of the head while you sleep,” explains Hill, citing twists, pin curls, large braids, or the pineapple method as excellent sleep styles.
2. Chemical Damage
How Does Chemical Damage Occur?
Fans of hair color and retexturizing treatments, take note: chemical damage is an insidious sort. While occasional chemical processing—accompanied by a strategic and regimented hair care routine—is no cause for concern, treatments that are too frequent, too harsh, or not accompanied by proper tending can lead to progressive deterioration of hair cuticles.
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