Split ends are only one aspect of hair damage. In severely damaged hair, the outer layer starts to crack (cuticle). Your hair is in danger of additional harm and breaking after the cuticle lifts (opens). It may also be challenging to manage and appear dull or frizzy.
So, is it possible to transform from coarse, brittle hair to lustrous, silky hair? Sometimes there is no clear-cut solution. Because hair is essentially a collection of dead cells, it is generally impossible to cure hair damage. Time, a pair of shears, and taking action to stop more damage are the only real treatments.
Nevertheless, don’t lose hope; with good hair maintenance and a few focused treatments, you can start to rebuild the outer cuticle and enhance the appearance and feel of your hair.
Read also: Things To Avoid If You Are Experiencing Hair Thinning
If you are aware of your mistake
Sometimes it’s painfully obvious how you got damaged hair. Your locks can suffer if colour, bleach, and style agents are handled incorrectly.
Read on to find out how to stop more harm from occurring while masking your symptoms until you can cut the damaged hair. To satisfy all of your requirements, you might have to “double dip.”
The cause is dye
If you dye your hair at home, the effects may stay longer than the hue, whether you went pastel, mermaid, or simply sought to conceal a few grey hairs. Chemical dyes can quickly turn smooth hair harsh to the touch by removing the natural moisture in your hair.
You could have also had to bleach your hair before using the dye unless it was already light in colour (for additional information, see “It’s from bleach” below).
How to prevent more harm
Keep to the shade. To minimize damage, experts advise choosing a dye that is no more than three shades different from your original hue and going for deeper rather than lighter shades. Unnatural colours require more frequent touch-ups and maintenance since they are harder to maintain.
dye fewer times. Increased intervals between touch-ups can also lessen the damage. If at all possible, wait for at least 8 to 10 weeks between colour sessions.
Making this more realistic
- Don’t wash your hair as often.
- Use only shampoos designed for coloured hair.
- Use cool water to rinse your shampoo and conditioner. The cuticle may lift or open as a result of hot water, letting the dye rinse off.
Go to a specialist
Salons can be expensive, but it’s usually best to leave the colouring to the experts. A qualified colourist understands how to utilize the best materials to reduce harm.
Choose a demi- or semi-permanent option
The only way to reverse the effects of treatments that permanently affect hair is to let it grow out and start anew.
Maintain a single service at a time. It is ideal to have your hair chemically relaxed, straightened, or permed at least two weeks before your hair colour appointment. This allows you a recovery period between treatments for your hair.
How to minimize current harm
Employ olive oil. This basic cooking oil is quite well-liked for hair care as well. It has been demonstrated that oils can smooth the cuticle and rehydrate the hair. Particularly olive oil is thought to aid in softening hair and replenishing moisture that has been lost.
Additionally, it’s simple to use and reasonably priced. Just remember to hold off on an olive oil treatment for a few days after colouring.
Use shampoo and conditioner that are colour-safe. The right pH was used in the formulation of these products to minimize swelling of the hair shaft and colour leakage. Your hair will feel and look better, and your colour will last longer.
It’s from bleach
If you’ve gone from having dark hair to having light hair, you’re undoubtedly all too familiar with the harm bleach can do to your hair.
Each strand of your natural hair colour is washed out with bleach. This is accomplished by making your hair swell, which enables the bleach to penetrate the inner portion of the strand. The melanin that gives your hair colour dissolves here.
This procedure may leave hair porous, brittle, fragile, dry, and porous. Your hair’s structural changes over time may also weaken and lose some of its elasticity.
How to prevent more harm
Less frequently or never, bleach. There is no avoiding it. There is always some hair damage from bleach. It is best to do it less frequently.
include moisture
Prior to bleaching, moisturize your hair especially well and refrain from other harmful practices, including heat style, for a couple of weeks.
Put on sunscreen
UV radiation from the sun can damage your hair. UV deterioration is most likely to affect bleached hair.
To safeguard your hair and scalp, consider donning a wide-brimmed hat or a hair wrap. To protect hair that peeks out, you can also use a UV protection hair spray.
Look for products that also contain conditioners to reap additional benefits.
With chlorine, exercise extreme caution
Chlorine can dry out your hair, making it feel even more brittle and coarse in addition to giving it an unappealing colour of green.
To prevent this:
- Prior to diving into the pool, rinse your hair with fresh water. The chlorine may not be able to dry out your hair strands and change the color as a result of this wetness.
- As soon as you exit the pool, wash your hair well as well.
- You can use a specifically made swim shampoo and conditioner in addition to any moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.
How to minimize current harm
Employ almond oil. This oil with a lovely scent will smooth and strengthen your hair.
Before blow-drying, add a dime-sized amount to the ends of your hair to rehydrate the strands and reduce frizz.
Try rinsing with rice water
As strange as it may seem, the study reveals that the water you use to rinse rice down the drain may benefit your hair. It has been demonstrated that the rice water element inositol can penetrate damaged hair and heal hair from the inside out.
It results from the use of heat-generating equipment
Heat-assisted styling can “cook” hair fibres, cause elevated cuticles, and result in porous hair. Your hair may become more vulnerable to damage if you use heat too frequently or at high temperatures.
How to prevent more harm
blow dry while standing back. The damage that blows dryers is known to do. The good news is that you might not need to stop using it altogether. According to one source, holding the blow dryer 15 cm (about six inches) away from your hair while continuously moving it will help lessen the damage.
Invest in some heat protective gear. These items are designed to protect hair and shield it from split ends.
Bring down the heat
The amount of harm you can cause increases with temperature. Regardless of the source, excessive heat can harm your hair. Limit the amount of time hot air, an iron, or a curling iron is in contact with your hair by using the product’s lowest heat setting.
Air dry
Eliminate all heat sources and let the air do the work for you.
After taking a shower, wrap your hair lightly in a towel to achieve this. Before letting it hang freely to dry, this will assist in removing extra water. Avoid rubbing your hair with the towel as this might damage it and create needless friction.
If you intend to style your hair with a flat iron or curling iron, heat-free drying might also be a good option. Utilizing heat tools no more than once each week is advised by experts.
Go organic
Accept heat-free hairstyles like beach waves splashed with salt. or let the natural texture and style of your hair stand out.
How to minimize current harm
Employ coconut oil. This tropical oil is just stunning. A major advantage? The molecules of the oil are thin enough to pass through the cuticle and moisturise the skin from the inside out.
The protecting oils on the outside of your hair may also be replenished. These lubricants provide protection from heat-related breakage and damage.
Read also: Why Women Experience Hair Lose At The back Of Their Hair