Hair Treatment for Damaged Hair: Tips and Tricks for Repairing and Preventing Damage

We put our hair through a lot to achieve an array of good hair days, and many culprits put wear and tear on your strands. That’s why between brushing, blow drying, braiding, and more, it’s essential to take mindful steps to keep your hair as healthy as possible to hold up to your routine.

But we get it. Life either happens or it gets in the way. And one can suddenly find themselves needing good hair treatment for damaged hair. So whether you’re worried about some new-found breakage or if you might be heading down an endless frizzy road, continue reading to learn about the best ways to restore your hair’s vitality and head down a new road of continued shine and strength.

Hair Treatment for Damaged Hair: An Overview

How can you tell if your hair is damaged or slowly getting there? Here are several signs that cover both concerns.

• Hair feels dry and straw-like. Curls, which tend to be naturally a bit dry, feel more dehydrated than usual and lose their elasticity or ability to bounce back.
• Hair breaks along the hair shaft with normal handling, or there are visible split ends and forks.
• It’s difficult to style or won’t hold a style.
• A dull appearance, whether the hair is virgin or chemically treated.
• Heat-damaged hair may have tiny white dots at the end of the strands.

Don’t feel bad if any of these signs apply to you. There are so many reasons that lead to needing hair treatment for damaged hair; even the most diligent hair-obsessed individual can find themselves saying “uh-oh” at some point. Here are some of the offending parties.

• Excessive washing/not using conditioner
• Too much heat styling, especially without applying heat-protecting products
• Rough handling. For example, aggressive towel-drying, overly tight/heavy braids, or dry brushing knots
• Irresponsible chemical treatments
• Sun and environmental exposure
• Medications or medical conditions that dry out hair (talk to your doc about this one)

If you’re not protecting or replenishing your hair regularly, most behaviors have the potential to cause damage. So here’s what you can do to create the proper habits for a healthy head of hair.

Cleanse with Moisture

Hair treatment for damaged hair should start with a high-quality shampoo that replenishes moisture while cleansing your scalp. Living Proof’s Restore Shampoo does that and more, as it works to strengthen hair and reduce breakage while effectively removing excess oil and buildup. It’s also free of harsh sulfates and other ingredients, like phthalates and parabens, that aggravate the skin and strip moisture.

Another option for a silky, clean feel is Moroccanoil’s Moisture Repair Shampoo. It restores moisture with luscious argan and avocado oils, and silk and keratin proteins support weak hair during recovery. Then there are several extracts from familiar plants like lavender and chamomile to supply all the vitamins and micronutrients hair needs to flourish. The best part is that both shampoos provide a satisfying lather, allowing you to feel how well they work.

You can follow either of those shampoos with their respective conditioners, but to incorporate active hair treatment for damaged hair, follow your shampoo with the award-winning Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner. It repairs weathered hair with Olaplex’s patented bond-building molecule, and its light pH-balanced formula is gentle enough to be used daily if desired. With every use, you’ll see smoother, stronger hair with a shine that’ll remind you of the days before the damage was done.

Mask Up

A conditioning mask, that is. If you’re dealing with overly dry hair, use a nourishing mask like Kerastase’s Elixir Ultime Masque once or twice a week to get softness and shine back on track. Hair masks are made with concentrated ingredients for intense hydration and for sustaining moisture balance, whether you’re focused on repair or continued maintenance. This mask has a triple blend of nutrient-rich argan, camellia seed, and marula oils that add rich moisture without adding unnecessary heaviness. They’re also loaded with fatty acids and vitamins that hydrate strands, protect from free radical damage, and control unruly frizz.

To get hair treatment for damaged hair that’s begging for intense repair, the pros turn to Olaplex’s unique technology that rebuilds the broken bonds evident in splits and frays. All hair types can use Olaplex’s No. 8 Bond Intense Mask weekly to see smooth strands without having to go for the big chop. This concentrated conditioner is also carefully formulated with a multitude of plant oils and extracts for bonus nourishment without the use of harsh ingredients.

(Psst! Blondes and silver foxes should combine this mask with Olaplex’s No.4p Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo. It’s a sulfate-free purple shampoo that neutralizes brassy tones and keeps strands strong and healthy with their famous bond-building tech.)

Don’t have the patience for a mask? Or even a conditioner? Then K18’s Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask is an absolute must-have. It’s used on clean, towel-dried hair that hasn’t been conditioned. Yes, you read that correctly. Apply this cruelty-free, moisturizing cream throughout the length of the hair, let it rest for four minutes, comb it out, and then… just go about your business. It has K18’s patented K18PEPTIDE™ molecule that repairs damage and vegan proteins to strengthen hair. Plus, it acts as a leave-in conditioner, so once it does its thing, you can simply style and go.

Lifestyle Changes

You probably noticed that easing up on rough brushing is a good idea. Here’s another list of good ideas for additional support while undergoing your hair treatment for damaged hair.

• Brush curly types only while wet and with a conditioning application. Separate and comb out tangles in sections.
• Get regular trims to eventually remove all the damaged hair.
• Space out chemical treatments, or talk to your professional about gentler options regarding hair color or texture.
• Wear a UV-blocking hat while out in the sun.
• Before styling, always use heat protection, like leave-in conditioners and thermal sprays.

Lastly, visiting our Beauty Resource Center is always a great idea to get more information about this topic and more. There you’ll find lots of roads to take to achieve your best hair, skin, and makeup looks ahead.