Identify the Problem
Damaged hair can result from a variety of causes including over-styling, heat damage, and chemical exposure. Understanding the root cause of the hair damage is the key to finding the right solution. Identifying the exact cause of the problem can help you identify the best home remedies to get rid of it. This article will help you identify the problem by walking you through the common causes of damaged hair and how to determine which one is the source of your damaged hair.
The common causes of damaged hair are:
- Over-styling
- Heat damage
- Chemical exposure
Check for split ends
Split ends can be very damaging to hair, causing it to look dry and brittle. To get rid of split ends, start by checking for them in the mirror or running your fingers through your damp hair. Avoid heat styling whenever possible and invest in a quality thermal protectant spray. Additionally, trim your split ends every 6-8 weeks, as this will help prevent further damage to the strands.
Regular conditioning treatments will also help protect your hair from the environment and restore natural oils. Deep conditioning masks are especially effective at replenishing lost moisture, promoting shine, and providing essential nutrients needed for healthy hair growth. Nourishing oils such as coconut oil, jojoba oil or almond oil can also be used as a hydrating home treatment to reduce split ends and improve the health of your locks overall.
Look for signs of breakage
It is important to identify the problem before you can begin to repair your hair. Damaged hair can occur for a variety of reasons such as chemical treatments, heat damage from styling tools, over-washing or environmental pollutants. Visible signs of damage include split ends, dryness, frizziness, brittleness and excessive shedding.
You should look out for any signs that may be a symptom of damaged hair. Start by feeling the texture of your hair and looking closely at the individual strands – are there differences in texture between normal and damaged hairs? Is your scalp dehydrated or flaky? Can you see split ends throughout your hair? In some cases, it’s best to visit a stylist or trichologist who can provide an accurate diagnosis.
Once you have identified the issue you can begin to look into different home remedies that may nourish and repair any damage. Home remedies can help to hydrate scalp conditions, protect against chemical treatments and strengthen brittle hair shafts in order to reduce breakage. Natural ingredients like coconut oil, honey and avocado oil provide deep conditioning that helps revive dull tresses while restorative treatments like hot oil masks prevent future damage by providing essential vitamins that nourish fragile strands.
Determine if you have dry or oily hair
Identifying the specific type of damaged hair you have is the first step in finding a solution. Most hair types fall into one of two categories—dry or oily. If your hair is dry, the ends may look and feel brittle and split, and may lack shine. Your scalp may flake or become irritated due to dryness. On the other hand, if you have oily hair, your scalp may look greasy, and your hairstyle will become flat quickly since oil tends to weigh down hair. Additionally, clumpy buildup can form along your scalp due to product buildup over time.
If you’re not sure what type of damage you have, it’s a good idea to consult a hairstylist or specialist who can offer advice on how to remedy the issue.
Hydration
Hydration is key for healthy hair, especially for those with damaged hair. It is important to keep your hair hydrated by drinking plenty of water and also using hydrating hair products like hydrating shampoos and conditioners.
Hydrating homemade masks can also help add moisture to your hair and help to restore it from damage.
Use a deep conditioner
Using a deep conditioner is one of the best ways to restore hydration to your hair. Deep conditioning treatments need to be used weekly in order to get maximum hydration benefits. A general rule is to choose a deep conditioner that contains natural ingredients like argan oil and shea butter. These ingredients can help repair damaged strands, add shine, and provide essential hydration to your hair.
For an extra boost, use a heat cap or heated wrap after treating your hair with a deep conditioner – this will help penetrate the nourishing ingredients further into the hair follicle for longer-lasting moisture.
Use a leave-in conditioner
Leave-in conditioners are conditioning agents used to help revitalize and nourish damaged hair. These products are applied to the hair after bathing, and help reimpose the healthy oils lost during the cleaning process or other forms of chemical treatments. Additionally, they can help fortify weak strands while creating a protective layer over them due to their resilience against various external aggressors like sun and wind exposure.
In this way, leave-in conditioners can make your hair stronger, shinier and silky soft. Your locks will be also more capable of holding its style for a longer period of time without losing any shine or luster.
To use leave-in conditioners as an effective home remedy for damaged hair, massage it into your damp strands from roots to ends, using circular motions to ensure that it gets evenly distributed all around. Afterwards, you can blow dry or air dry your locks depending on your preference. Make sure that you do not apply too much product since it may make your hair stiffer causing an undesirable brushed effect.
Use a hair mask
Using an intensive mask – like a hot oil treatment or a hydrating hair mask – is one of the best home remedies to add moisture and shine to lifeless, damaged hair. They are designed to replace natural oils that have been stripped away due to daily styling and environmental stresses.
When looking for a hair mask, be sure to look for ones that contain ingredients such as keratin, argan oil, castor oil, shea butter or coconut oil. Hair masks can be found in salons or at beauty supply stores. Some treatment masks require longer applications than others – some can be left on overnight while others require only five minutes of application time – so make sure you read the instructions before use.
After application, leave the mask on your hair for the specified amount of time before rinsing it out with cool water. Doing this will help lock in moisture and close up cuticles – giving you softer, shinier hair with less breakage and split ends than before!
Hair Masks
Hair masks are one of the easiest and most affordable hair care home remedies. They nourish and moisturize the hair and scalp, helping to repair and strengthen damaged hair strands. Hair masks can be tailored to the hair type, whether it is dry and brittle, fine and thinning, or thick and coarse.
In this article, we’ll explore how to make and use hair masks to restore and revive your locks:
Avocado Hair Mask
Avocado is a natural and nourishing ingredient for hair repair, as it contains high levels of essential fatty acids and proteins. Thanks to its moisturizing properties, avocado can nourish and hydrate your hair from the inside out, restoring lost moisture and shine to dull-looking locks.
To make an avocado hair mask:
- Mash one ripe avocado with a fork in a bowl;
- Add two tablespoons of olive oil;
- Mix well until it forms an even paste;
- Apply the paste to your scalp and leave it on for 30 minutes;
- Rinse with warm water;
- Finish off with a cold-water rinse.
Repeat twice per week to get instant results – smooth, shiny hair that is full of life.
Coconut Oil Hair Mask
Coconut oil is a popular oil for nourishing and protecting the hair. It can penetrate through the hair’s cuticle, helping to strengthen and repair damaged strands from within. The best part is that it can be used on all hair types, even dry or color-treated hair! Here’s how you can use coconut oil as an effective home remedy to restore your damaged hair:
- Start by warming up some coconut oil. You won’t need much (depending on the length of your hair), but make sure it’s enough to coat your entire scalp and lengths of your hair.
- Massage the warm oil into your scalp then gently spread it onto the lengths of your locks as well. Be sure to pay special attention to any dry/damaged ends, making sure they are completely covered in oil.
- Leave it in for at least 30 minutes, then rinse out with shampoo and conditioner as usual. This will help clarify the scalp and ensure all of the excess oils have been washed away.
For best results, this should be done weekly or bi-weekly for soft and healthy-looking tresses!
Honey Hair Mask
Honey is a natural humectant and emollient, meaning it can lock in moisture and smooth the hair cuticles. Additionally, it is a source of natural sugar, which that can help to gently exfoliate the scalp and keep it healthy. A honey hair mask is an easy and effective home remedy for those looking to repair damaged hair.
To make a honey hair mask, start by combining 1/2 cup of honey with one teaspoon of olive oil and two teaspoons of Greek yogurt (substitute aloe vera juice or coconut milk if you are vegan). Apply the mixture to your damp or dry hair from roots to tips using gentle but firm strokes. Make sure your scalp is also saturated with the mixture. Wrap a shower cap over your head and leave on for at least 30 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water. Follow up with your conditioner as usual. Allow yourself to experience this luxurious treatment once or twice a week for best results.
Heat Protection
One of the common home remedies for damaged hair is using heat protection. This includes using a heat protector before you use styling tools such as hair straighteners or curling irons. Heat protection will help reduce the damage caused by the high temperatures of these tools, and it will also help reduce frizz and keep your hair looking smooth and shiny.
Let’s look at some other home remedies for damaged hair:
Use a heat protectant spray
When we think about heat protection, the most common product that comes to mind is a heat protectant spray. By creating a protective layer on the hair shaft, heat protectant sprays can help reduce damage from heated styling tools and other sources of heat. They keep moisture locked in and help maintain natural protective oils in your hair that can otherwise be stripped by hot styling tools or dryers.
To use, simply spray the product onto towel-dried or dry hair before you style it with heated tools like irons, wands, curling rods or blowdryers. Maintaining proper hydration while styling will also help reduce damage – try to use the lowest temperature setting possible with your heating tool and remember to let your hair cool off after every use.
Use a lower heat setting
Heat styling tools are an essential part of any beauty routine, but the high temperature setting on these tools can be damaging to your hair if you do not use them with caution. Excessive heat will dehydrate and break down the proteins in your hair, causing split ends and breakage.
To help minimize this damage, turn down the heat setting on your heat styling tools and focus on finding ones that have built-in ceramic heater components.
Ceramic heaters act as a buffer between the hot metal and your scalp or hair roots. They also help to distribute heat evenly for faster drying times and less overall damage due to repeated use at high temperatures. Many newly released flat irons feature ceramic plates coating regular metal, which is great for reducing frizz without sacrificing too much moisture or shine.
Although opting for a lower heat setting is essential when using any type of styling tool, it’s important to remember that the amount of damage caused by excessive heat can still be reversed with proper care. Deep-conditioning treatments can restore natural oils lost from overstyling, while weekly trimming cuts away split ends before they can spread further up the shaft of your hair. Protective serums are great for sealing in moisture after showers or after blow drying so that you don’t have to use heated products every time you style your hair. In addition to protecting against future damage, these habits can also significantly improve your hair’s overall health!
Use a diffuser
Dehydration or exposure to extreme heat can cause damaged hair, leaving it looking dry and brittle. Fortunately, there are a number of home remedies that can help restore shine and bounce to your hair. One such remedy is the use of a diffuser.
A diffuser is a device that attaches to the end of your blow-dryer and disperses warm air across your scalp and through the lengths of your hair. This helps reduce the amount of direct heat being applied to each strand, resulting in less potential for damage. Additionally, using a diffuser helps keep moisture in the length of the hair which prevents it from becoming too dry or brittle from overexposure to hot air.
When using a diffuser to protect your damaged hair from further damage, follow these steps:
- Set your blow-dryer on low heat setting.
- Move the diffuser over each section at medium height.
- Hold onto each section until you feel it’s dry enough for you to move on – don’t pull too hard as this can rip apart split ends.
- Use a no-alcohol hairspray or other light holding product throughout the sectioned locks for a long-lasting frizz free look and feel.
Styling
Styling is an important part of hair care and can make all the difference in the look and feel of your hair. Unfortunately, styling can also lead to damaged and dull locks if done incorrectly or regularly. Some styling treatments can be damaging to your hair and can result in split ends and breakage.
Luckily, there are some home remedies which can help restore your hair’s health and shine. Read on to find out more about styling and how to get rid of damaged hair home remedies:
Use a wide-toothed comb
While the temptation may be to try to get rid of damaged hair quickly, the best choice is always to take your time and use a wide-toothed comb. This will help to reduce breakage, as well as allow for easier styling.
Comb your hair gently, starting at the ends and working your way up. When washing, do not vigorously rub your scalp or tug at tangles; instead use a natural oil such as coconut, olive or almond oil to help detangle knots before combing through.
Avoid tight hairstyles
Certain tight styles such as braids, cornrows, weaves and ponytails can cause traction alopecia—a type of permanent hair loss caused by a constant pulling force on the follicles.
For those who are addicted to wearing tight braids or ponytails day after day, you may want to consider letting your hair out more often or switching up your style.
Tight bands or clips can also cause friction in the curl pattern and lead to breakage over time. To avoid these issues, use soft scrunchies or fabric-covered ponytail holders which will cause less friction when styling your hair.
Use a low-tension blow dryer
For damaged hair, using a low-tension blow dryer can help keep your locks looking less frizzy and more sleek. The lower tension helps the heat be absorbed evenly throughout the hair shaft, spreading it across without burning or causing damage.
You can also set the heat to low or warm and not apply too much pressure when blow drying sections of your hair. If you have very thick or curly hair, you may benefit from using a diffuser to spread the heat out evenly to reduce frizz. As with all styling tools, make sure you don’t leave it on for too long as this can cause excessive heat damage and breakage over time.