Do you ever feel like your life is just one bad hair day after another? Are you sick and tired of dealing with dry hair and split ends?
We spend almost $90 billion on hair care products every year, but are those products really good for our hair? There are so many styling products in stores that it’s easy to pick the wrong ones.
If you desperately need to repair damaged hair, this article’s for you. We’ll get to the root of your hair problems and help you get your hair shiny and healthy again.
Skip the Blow Dryer
Wondering how to repair damaged hair? You might have to start by changing your morning routine.
If you blow dry your hair, you could be heating it past its breaking point. Flat ironing is also a no-no if you want healthy hair.
Even blow drying a few times per week can irreparably damage your hair’s cuticle, resulting in scaly, dull hair.
If you could take a microscope and examine your hair, you would see your cuticle. That’s the outer layer of your hair, made up of cells that overlap like roofing tiles.
When you repeatedly hot iron or blow dry your hair, you’re degrading the cuticle. Without that protection, the inside of your hair is completely exposed.
Ditch That Hair Dye
We all know it, but it’s oh-so-hard to give it up. A common cause of damaged hair is hair dye. There are no two ways about it: repeated use of bleach-based hair dye is detrimental to your locks.
If you must dye your hair, try to stay in the same color family as your natural hair color. Going a few shades darker is one way to save your hair from damage.
Another way to help your hair stay healthy is to let your roots grow in a bit longer. The temptation to dye is constant, but you should really wait about two months before you touch up your roots.
The good news is that there are semi-permanent dyes that are gentler on your hair. You should also look for shampoos that are sulfate-free to extend the life of your hair color.
Time for a Trim?
It’s hard to say this, but one of the best remedies for dry hair is a haircut. Once you develop split ends, no amount of conditioning can restore them.
The more often you get your hair trimmed, the less likely you are to develop split ends. If you’ve gone for six months or longer without a snip, you need to run to your stylist.
You don’t have to go short just to make your hair healthy again, but you do need to have your stylist remove all of your split ends. If your hair has years of styling damage, however, you may have to make a major change.
Once you get your hair cut, you’ll have to condition it regularly. Look for deep penetrating oil treatments or hair conditioning masks.
Surprisingly, you may not have to shampoo your hair as often as you think. If your hair and scalp tend to be dry, just wash your hair once or twice per week.
People with oily scalps, however, should wash their hair every other day.
Upgrade Your Diet
So you’ve cut back on blow drying, found a gentler way to dye your hair, and got a cute new hairdo. How can you ensure that your hair won’t develop split ends again?
To truly transform damaged hair, you might have to change up your diet. You may not be getting enough healthy fat in your diet.
Avocados, fish, and turkey are great foods for adding vitality and luster to your hair. Olive oil, fruits and vegetables, and whole grains will also improve your hair, skin, and nails.
If you struggle with dry skin and dull hair, try adding some nuts to your diet. You can also add some dairy products like sour cream and cottage cheese.
Even soy milk or almond milk can help you stay on the right track with your new, healthy hair.
If you’re dealing with hair loss, you should increase your protein intake and talk to your doctor.
Lower Your Stress Levels
After you get the right hair treatment products and change up your diet, your hair should be noticeably healthier.
But what should you do if your hair is still fragile and unhealthy? You might want to take a minute to write down all of the things that stress you out.
Surprisingly, stress can contribute to hair loss. It may not cause the breakage, but it can cause groups of hair follicles to hibernate and then fall out.
If you suspect that stress is causing your hair problems, you can relax your scalp with daily massages. You don’t need any special tools, and it only takes about five minutes. Just use your fingertips to massage your scalp and face every day.
If you’ve got a chronically dry scalp, you may want to massage it with a hair treatment oil. If your scalp is oily, you can use some dry shampoo to bring your hair to a normal level of shine.
How to Quickly Repair Damaged Hair
If you need to repair damaged hair quickly, you should start with a haircut. That’s the only way that you’re going to get your hair back to a normal state.
If you don’t have time for a haircut, you can apply a hair conditioning treatment. It won’t reverse your hair’s damage, but it will get it looking better for a few days.
In fact, conditioning your hair is a good idea before you get it cut. You’ll feel more confident when you go to your hairdresser with your hair in good condition.
No matter what kind of hair you have, your stylist will be able to recommend the right styling products.
Looking for more hair and lifestyle tips? We have tons of articles on everything from taming curly hair to chic wedding hairstyles. Come check us out!
