Dealing with damaged hair doesn’t have to be a chore. Follow our routine for damaged hair and you’ll be back to your best in no time.
Any number of factors can lead to hair damage, from your style routine to a scalp condition.
It’s no wonder, then, that it can seem hard to know where to start when you’re trying to reverse the damage.
To make things easier, we’ve put together a few tips that you can add to your routine for damaged hair to get it back on the right track.
Starting off right
The first step you’ll want to focus on is hair repair.
Hair is not alive, which means it’s unable to repair itself – so any damage that’s already occurred is there to stay.
Happily, while you can’t actually make your hair heal itself, there are things you can do to make it look and feel better while you focus on growing strong, healthy hair to replace it.
Moisture is the key in this case: look for products that use the terms ‘moisture’, ‘smooth’ or ‘repair’. Shampoos and conditioners with these terms tend to be higher in moisturizing ingredients.
And on that note, it’s important that you don’t skip the conditioner – a good conditioner will help smooth your cuticles (the outer layer of hair), and make your hair look healthier.
Because damaged hair is vulnerable to further harm, you’ll also want to take steps to protect your hair while styling.
A two-prong approach will come in handy here: avoid heat styling where you can, and use a protectant when you do.
You can also work a leave-in conditioner or finishing oil for that extra bit of moisture – paying special attention to the ends of your hair, where the most damage is likely to be.
Setting up future defense
Once you’ve fixed your immediate problem, it’s time to take your damaged hair treatment further.
Start with your scalp; the condition of your scalp dictates the health of your hair to a far greater degree than you might think.
That means you need to take care of this little-seen part of your head.
Luckily, a good scalp care shampoo and conditioner help moisturize your scalp as much as it does your hair, so you can keep them both in great shape.
From there, you’ll want to take care when you get out the shower: dry your hair as gently as possible, and avoid styling it until it’s completely dry.
This is important, because wet hair is actually far weaker than you’d expect – it can easily be stretched and broken if you’re not careful.
And really, that’s the key to treating hair damage: take care of your scalp, moisturize, and be gentle.