How do you know if your hair is damaged? Take a look in the mirror and search for signs of dryness or weakening of the strands. These can include one or more of the following characteristics:

• Frizz
• Flyaways
• Split Ends
• Dull Color
• Limp Appearance
• Coarse Texture
• Broken Strands
• Loss or Recession

Damaged hair can also be difficult to style, as it can become unruly or may not retain heat styling effectively. Even worse, it can age you and impair your overall appearance.

There are numerous reasons you might be experiencing some negative changes in your hair. It can be something as simple as the wrong product choice or as complex as your genetic predispositions and overall health. However, when you combine one or more of these risks, it can be a recipe for hair disaster.

Heat Styling

Hair dryers, straighteners and curling irons or wands may do wonders for achieving the perfect style, but using them too often can wreak havoc on your hair. High heat can lead to serious damage over time.

When you’re using a hair dryer, you could be harming your hair without the proper drying technique. Constantly using the highest heat setting while brushing and pulling on the strands can cause your hair to stretch and break.

Another major problem is using any type of heat styling tool on hair that isn’t clean and prepped. Using these tools on dirty hair or without applying a protective product to clean strands can result in even more damage.

Color Treatments

If you color your hair, you’re at a much higher risk for serious hair damage. The chemicals and ingredients used in this process can be incredibly harmful, especially when applied too frequently. People who choose colors that are much lighter than their natural hue or who color too often are likely to experience dry, coarse, damaged hair.

Overexposure to Harsh Chemicals

Coloring your hair isn’t the only way your strands can suffer from overexposure to harmful ingredients. Perms and relaxers also use harsh chemicals that can be tough on hair, especially if it’s already dry or brittle.

If you’re a swimmer, all of that chlorine can do a number on your tresses. When your hair absorbs this ingredient, it becomes brittle, dull and prone to breakage and split ends.

Improper Brushing Technique

Brushing and combing your hair is certainly important, especially when it comes to reducing tangles and improving shine. However, the wrong tool and method can actually lead to more tangles, broken hair shafts and stretched strands.

Poor Diet

When your diet is lacking in essential nutrients, your hair will most certainly suffer. Your scalp relies on natural oil production to keep your hair moisturized and strong. You need plenty of healthy fats and vitamin D to make this happen.

Hair also needs protein to maintain balance and strength, which can be found in beans and lean meats. Vegans and vegetarians may need to take extra steps to include enough protein in their diets.

Over-washing

There’s nothing like the satisfying feeling of clean, freshly washed hair. But if you’re shampooing too frequently, you’ll likely experience some unpleasant side effects. When you wash every day or use shampoos with harsh clarifying ingredients, your hair can become dry and damaged quickly.

Dehydration

Water is essential to good health in every area of your life, especially hair and skin. If you struggle to drink enough water, you’ll find yourself consistently battling dry hair that’s prone to serious issues.

Bad Styling Habits

How you choose to style your hair may be causing more problems than you realized. Any style that’s tight and pulls at the scalp can be harmful for your hair and may even lead to hair loss over time.

While tight pony tails and braids can be super cute, wearing these styles day after day can cause the hair to break over time. This is especially true if you use elastics that aren’t coated in cloth materials to allow the hair to slide through after use.

Do you wrap your hair in a towel once you get out of the shower? This common practice is actually terrible for your hair, as it can pull at your hair line. The rough fibers of the terry cloth material can also damage the shaft and lead to extra frizz.

The beautiful thing about hair is that it keeps on growing! Even extreme damage isn’t a permanent sentence with the right approach and a little time. Fortunately, you don’t have to wait for your hair to grow out before things can improve.

Immediate Repair

When you notice an issue, take these steps to reverse the signs and symptoms of damage as soon as possible. The faster you take action, the faster you may see results.

Products

Damaged hair demands a high-quality repair product. Single use options can certainly improve your hair, but for a deeper effect and lasting results, consider a multiple treatment regimen, like Kerastase Fusio-Dose Pro Calcium Packs. This approach gives your hair more chances to absorb and retain the much-needed nutrients with multiple uses.

Professional Treatments

It’s time to give your hairstylist a call! Schedule an assessment and trim to help reduce those troublesome split ends. Your stylist can help you determine if you need a professional level treatment as well.

Long-Term Recovery

Once you’ve determined how to repair damaged hair, it’s important to start a new hair care regimen that will prevent these types of problems from happening again in the future. By taking proactive measures, you can maintain healthy, more beautiful hair.

Products

Talk to your hairstylist about the right types of shampoos, conditioners and styling products for your individual hair type and style. If you already struggle with dry hair, finding the right mix of moisturizers can make a big difference.

Shampoos

While your hair definitely needs plenty of moisture, it’s important that your everyday shampoo is still removing buildup and gently cleansing each strand. Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo is a great option for getting your hair squeaky clean without stripping it of its natural oils.

The right shampoo should help you strike the perfect balance for optimum results. In addition, you may want to add a good clarifying shampoo to use once a week for a deeper clean.

Conditioners

If your hair is dry, you’ll need a good conditioner to pump up the hydration on every wash day. UNITE Re:Unite Conditioner is an excellent choice thanks to its abundance of important proteins and antioxidants that help strengthen, repair and protect your hair.

Conditioning Treatments

Talk to your stylist about how often you may need to use a deep conditioning mask or treatment on your hair. If you’re looking for something lightweight that still packs a serious punch, try It’s a 10 Miracle Deep Conditioner Plus Keratin. The formula is designed to sooth and protect hair while making it easier to style.

It’s important not to apply intense leave-in moisturizers too frequently, as they can lead to buildup that weighs hair down. Every two weeks is a good rule of thumb for most hair types, with additional treatments as issues arise.

Natural Oils

Numerous natural oils are great for repairing damage and maintaining health and shine. You can choose from a variety of options, including:

• Argan
• Jojoba
• Coconut
• Almond
• Olive

Search for products that include these beneficial oils, or create your own hair treatment by purchasing them individually.

Heat Protection Products

Whether you’re straightening or curling your hair, make sure you start with the right protection to prevent serious damage. For straight hair, start with a spray like Kenra Thermal Styling Spray, which can help reduce frizz and flyaways while creating a sleek and shiny style.

If you’re using a curling iron, try Matix Biolage Styling Thermal Active Setting Spray. It adds more texture and volume while protecting against high heat for curls that are more likely to retain their shape for the day.

Practices

Since you’re prone to damaged hair, you’ll want to be mindful of not only what you put in it but also how you care for it. Follow these tips for a holistic approach to healthier hair. 

Washing

Avoid washing your hair every day at all costs! Ideally, you should shampoo every two to four days, depending on your scalp condition and style choices. Avoid heavy sulfates and clarifying ingredients for routine use and save these products for occasional use.

De-tangling

If you allow your hair to become too dry and brittle, tangles and knots can become a serious issue in no time. De-tangle gently on wet hair using moisturizing products every time you wash.

Styling Tips

When it comes to heat styling, limit this practice as much as you can, as high temps will only continue to make matters worse. Air dry whenever possible, and when you do use your hair dryer, position it further away from your scalp and strands to reduce damage.

If your hair is prone to breakage, avoid using hair elastics or choosing styles that pull hair tight at the scalp. Opt for a length and style that allows you to keep your hair down and free as much as possible.

Brushing

For curly hair, make sure you’re using a brush or comb that’s designed for curls, and only use it when your hair is wet and coated with a conditioner or de-tangling product. Many experts recommend only finger combing on wash day and allowing the downward motion of the water to do most of the work for you.

For straight hair, dry brushing is perfectly acceptable. In fact, you should not brush wet hair to avoid stretching. A wide-toothed comb is all you need when hair is wet; just be sure to work your way from the bottom to the top if you have serious tangles.

Haircuts and Coloring

Don’t go months between haircuts if you want to control split ends and frizz. A regular trim will keep your hair looking and feeling its best.

Whenever it’s time for coloring your hair, be sure to choose products and habits that are gentler on your strands. Limit color sessions to no more than once every eight to twelve weeks.

Try to stick with shades that are close to your natural color or a few shades darker. Lightening your hair can be harder on it, making it more prone to serious damage.

Swimming Protocol

If you frequent the pool, make sure you saturate your hair with cool, fresh water before diving in. This can help keep your hair from absorbing too much of the chemically treated water.

Use products designed for removing chlorine from your hair immediately after you exit the pool. Better yet, use a swim cap to limit exposure altogether!

Lifestyle Changes

Nourishing your hair from the inside out is one of the fastest and easiest ways to both prevent and repair hair damage. First and foremost, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water, and try to sip it throughout the day instead of gulping it down at a meal.

Your hair needs plenty of nutrients to maintain moisture and strength. Limit processed foods and include plenty of healthy options that are great for your hair, such as:

• Salmon
• Avocado
• Greek Yogurt
• Spinach
• Eggs
• Sweet Potatoes

No matter what level of damage you’re facing with your hair, there is hope! LaLa Daisy is here to help you start your journey towards healthier, more beautiful hair that’s strong and protected. With options for every budget, preference and need, we’ve got you covered on repairing your damaged hair.