If you are addicted to your straightener and bleaching your hair, you might have noticed the extreme damage that has occurred. When you are faced with dry, lifeless, and brittle hair, you might feel like your only option is to cut it all off and start anew. However, before you do anything drastic, you should know there are steps you can take to not only protect your locks from future damage but also revive your hair to its former glory.
But first, here are a few things you should avoid to keep your hair from becoming damaged.
- Hair Coloring
While most women dye their hair, what they might not realize is the damage that they are doing to their hair. The chemicals in the dye make your hair shaft more porous. Even if you are taking proper care of your hair, this damage can last for up to two months.
- Bleaching
Bleaching your hair causes your cuticles to be forced open so the pigment can be removed from your hair. This can cause your cuticle to become extremely weak and more likely to split or break. Because your hair can no longer seal in moisture, it might become dry and lifeless.
- Chemical Treatments
Both perms and relaxers change the structure of your hair using chemicals. Both of these procedures can severely damage the cuticles, causing dry, brittle hair.
- Using Heat to Style
Heat can have many adverse effects on your locks because when it opens up the cuticles, drying up any moisture that is in your hair. Even using a curling iron or flat iron on low heat can negatively impact your locks.
- Hairstyle Choices
Anything that is putting additional strain on your hair can cause damage. Tight ponytails, braids, or heavy extensions can be the culprits. You might even see hair loss if you are sporting these styles consistently. Even tying your hair when it is wet can inflict permanent damage.
- Brushing Too Much
It might not seem like brushing could be bad for your hair, but it can actually cause friction when you tug at knots. Especially if you are using cheap brushes, you will find that the levels of damage are increased and you will see more split ends.
How To Care for Your Dry, Damaged Hair
- Trim Split Ends Often
If the ends of your hair have clear splits in it or feel like straw, it is time to get a trim. This is the first step to restoring your hair. You don’t even have to have a drastic chop; instead, consider a trim with a few layers in it to help get rid of the damage at the ends of your hair.
In addition, you should be wary of a stylist who is using scissors that are not very sharp, which can do your hair more harm than good. To test the scissors, have your stylist cut a wet tissue with them. If you see that the cut isn’t clean, then you should consider finding a new stylist.
- Keep Your Natural Hair Color and Texture
By not changing your hair with chemicals, you can stop the damage from occurring. You should avoid going for chemical treatments until your hair has fully recovered. Once it has, use something like Rene Fris’ Hair Cleanser to give you a polished style without ruining your look.
- Style Without Heat
For those who can’t live without their straightener, it might be time to back away slowly from it. Using heat all the time to style your hair, especially when it is damaged, can make the problem even worse. The simple act of eliminating heat from your morning hair routine can really help your hair recover. If you can’t let go of your hair dryer, use it on low heat or cool setting to reduce the damage.
- Use Only Sulfate- and Parabens-Free Products
Before buying your shampoos and conditioners, make sure to by products that don’t contain any sulfates or parabens. Even though these products are effective at cleaning your hair, the chemicals strip away moistures and can be harsh on already damaged hair. Using a product like Rene Fris’ Cleanser and Conditioner, which contains no sulfates or parabens, will give you silky and glossy hair that keeps the frizz away no matter the weather.
Do you struggle with damaged hair? Let us know how you treated your hair in the comments below.