How to Repair Damaged Hair Fast

Brittleness, dullness, dryness, tangles, and frizz are symptoms of hair damage. When the cuticle (i.e. the outermost layer of the hair shaft) is raised, the hair loses moisture very quickly thus making it susceptible to breakage. Hair can be damaged by:

• Too much exposure to the sun

• Swimming frequently in community swimming pools which contain high levels of chlorine

• Bathing often in seawater which contains high levels of salt

• Brushing the hair too much or too often

• Tying the hair in tight braids or ponytails

• Bleaching, highlighting, and coloring frequently which alters the physical and chemical structure of the hair

• Exposure to heat from hairstyling tools like flat irons, blow dryers, and curling irons

• Hair products containing ingredients that dehydrate the hair such as sulfates

• Rinsing the hair with hard water which leaves mineral deposits on the hair thereby blocking the absorption of moisture into the hair

• Poor diet which deprives the hair follicles of vital nutrients

The following sections will discuss ways in which damaged hair can be repaired within a few weeks.

Regimen for repairing damaged hair

To help you recover from hair damage in a matter of weeks, you might find the following regimen helpful:

1. Before bedtime, apply extra virgin coconut oil to your hair, avoiding the scalp. Leave it in for 3 hours.

2. Wash your hair with a sulfate-free shampoo or a cleansing conditioner.

3. Pat your hair dry very gently with a soft cloth or a T-shirt.

4. Apply a deep conditioner to your hair and wear a shower cap. Leave this overnight.

5. In the morning, rinse your hair well.

6. Apply a keratin-based leave-in conditioner to your hair.

7. Air-dry your hair.

For best results, this regimen should be followed like this:

• Week 1 - Frequency Every Day

• Week 2 - Frequency 4 Times

• Week 3 - Frequency Twice

• Week 4 - Frequency Once

By the fourth week, you will begin to see a remarkable difference in your hair. However, the regimen should not be stopped at this point. It should be continued once a week in the weeks that follow until your hair is restored to good health.

Recommendations for repairing damaged hair

• Avoid harsh hair products for at least a week. Stay away from shampoo, bleaching products, and coloring treatment for a while to help your hair heal from sun, heat or bleach damage. Use a cleansing conditioner instead of your regular shampoo. It will get rid of dirt, grease, and build-up while also hydrating your hair. After a couple of weeks, you can start using a shampoo again, but make sure it does not contain any sulfates such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulfate (SLES).

• Avoid hair tools that use heat such as blow dryer, curling iron, flat iron, and other heat styling tools. Even with a heat protectant, your hair will not be protected against further damage from the heat of these hair tools.

• Use generous amounts of hair oils and regular or leave-in conditioners especially when the weather is sweltering hot or freezing cold. Use these products every day if possible and choose products that are fortified with keratin.

• Use a deep conditioner once a week. This is different from a regular conditioner – it has low molecular weight ingredients that pass through the deeper layers of your strands like the cuticle and the cortex. Therefore, it conditions both the surface of your hair and what is inside.

Oil treatments for repairing damaged hair

Nothing beats a hair oil massage when it comes to treating hair damage. The table below provides details about three different oil treatments that can be used once a week:

Coconut oil - Organic

Nutrients

• Antioxidants

Benefits

• Antifungal

• Antibacterial

Method

1. Apply 1 tablespoon of this oil all over your hair focusing on the ends.

2. Wear a shower cap.

3. Leave it on for 2 hours or overnight for best results.

4. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo and keratin-based conditioner.

5. Air-dry your hair.

Olive oil - Extra virgin

Nutrients

• Keratin

• Iron

• Vitamin A

• Vitamin B1

• Vitamin B2

• Vitamin C

• Vitamin D

• Vitamin E

• Vitamin K

Benefits

• Protects the cuticle which is the most vulnerable to damage

Method

1. Warm 2 tablespoons of this oil.

2. Massage the warm oil into your hair.

3. Comb your hair with a wide-toothed comb to distribute the oil throughout your hair.

4. Wear a shower cap.

5. Leave it on for 15 minutes or overnight to allow the oil to soak in well.

6. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo and leave-in conditioner.

7. Air-dry your hair.

Avocado oil - Extra virgin

Nutrients

• Vitamin E

• Magnesium

• Folic acid

• Copper

• Amino acid

Benefits

• Moisturizes hair

• Detangles knots

• Reduces split ends

• Removes dandruff

Method

1. Combine 1 tablespoon of this oil with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

2. Warm this mixture.

3. Massage the warm mixture into your hair in circular motions for 15 minutes.

4. Wrap your head tightly with a warm, damp towel for 10 minutes.

5. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo and leave-in conditioner.

6. Air-dry your hair.

Significance of keratin-based products for damaged hair

Damaged hair needs proteins more than anything. Therefore, incorporating protein into your hair treatment is highly recommended. Keratin-based hair products are becoming increasingly popular for their ability to fix hair damage at the molecular level.

Keratin is a naturally occurring protein in your hair. It plays a double role of protecting the outer layer of your hair known as the cuticle and maintaining the structure of the cortex which forms the core of your hair. When your hair is exposed to physical, chemical, and environmental damage, it loses keratin. This depletion of keratin exposes the cortex thereby making your hair vulnerable to further damage.

To restore the lost keratin, it is advisable to use keratin-based shampoo and conditioner. By replenishing the depleted keratin, these products help to:

• Make the surface of your hair smooth

• Make your hair stronger

• Make your hair more elastic

• Guard your hair against frizz by preventing humidity from penetrating your hair

For those who wish to color their hair, incorporating keratin technology into the hair coloring process will help to make their hair smoother and stronger. However, the keratin treatment used must be free from formaldehyde because this chemical can cause cancer in the long run. Pregnant women are advised not to use keratin treatment due to possible side effects to the unborn child.

Keratin treatments are available at hair salons and cost between 200 and 500 USD. The benefits can last up to 6 months. Keratin treatments can be done at home as well, but the results last only a few weeks which makes it an expensive option. Before starting a keratin treatment for your damaged hair, it is recommended that you get a medical assessment done to rule out the possibility of an underlying medical condition such as psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis.

How to Style Dry Damaged Hair

Dry damaged hair is recognizable from the visible signs of dehydration, dullness, frizz, split ends, and general wear and tear. Anyone with damaged hair will understand the frustration of caring for damaged hair as well as styling it.

How does hair become damaged? Can the damage be reversed? How should damaged hair be cared for? Is it possible to style damaged hair without causing any further damage? These questions and more will be answered in the sections below.

What causes hair damage?

When the cuticle around each hair follicle is damaged, the hair loses its ability to retain moisture. This causes the hair to become very dry and brittle. This can be caused by:

• Spending too much time in the sun

• Living in humid conditions

• Exposing the hair to excessive heat

• Allowing the build-up of product and perspiration on the scalp

• Swimming often in chlorinated pools

• Coloring, dyeing, and bleaching the hair frequently

• Washing the hair with shampoo more often than is necessary

• Rubbing wet hair with a towel

• Using hot water to wash your hair regularly

• Brushing wet hair

Is it possible to style damaged hair?

Yes, it is possible to style damaged hair. However, there are several precautions you must take to protect your hair from further damage.

Hairstyles for damaged hair

The chignon and the braid are two popular hairstyles for women with damaged hair. The table below takes a closer look at both hairstyles:

Chignon hairstyles

Advantages:

• Versatile – can be styled in many different ways

• Flexible placement – can be placed anywhere on the head, including the crown

• Tidy – hair stays inside the chignon

• Looks very feminine

• Enhances volume when shaped as hair donuts

• Can be decorated with hair jewelry to give a festive look

• Gentle on the hair and scalp

Directions:

1. Pull your hair gently into a ponytail.

2. Secure the ponytail with the help of a hair band.

3. Wrap the ponytail around the band to form a bun.

4. Secure the bun with the help of bobby pins.

5. Spray a little hair mist for shine.

6. Decorate with hair jewelry if desired.

Braid hairstyles

Advantages:

• Does not require heat styling tools

• Hair is protected from the effects of sun and heat damage

• Quick and easy hairstyle

• Excellent for creating waves

• Versatile – many different types of braid such as Dutch braid, French braid, rope braid, fishtail braid, etc.

• Keeps hair tangle-free and healthy

Directions:

1. Apply a generous quantity of mousse to your hair when it is 80% dry.

2. Part your hair down the center.

3. Begin at the hairline.

4. Make a three-strand braid on either side. (Remember to cross the hair under instead of over.)

5. Apply a conditioning spray to braids and ends to tame flyaways.

6. Leave the braid on overnight and unbraid in the morning for elegant waves.

Blow-drying advice for damaged hair

It is not recommended to blow-dry damaged hair, but if it is absolutely essential, then the following advice must not go unheeded:

• Use a heat protectant prior to blow-drying to protect your hair against possible heat damage.

• Use a ceramic blow dryer with built-in ionic technology to control static and also give your hair a smooth and glossy look.

• Use a pomade, serum or conditioning hair mist to texturize damaged hair.

• Make sure your hair is 80-90% dry before blow-drying to reduce the risk of overheating.

• Use the blow dryer at the lowest heat and speed setting to prevent further damage.

• Move the blow dryer around to prevent overheating any portion of your hair.

• Hold the blow dryer at least 7 inches from your hair to prevent heat damage.

• Use a diffuser attachment to create curls or waves without damaging your hair further.

Styling products/accessories for damaged hair

Depending on the hairstyle you desire, there are different hairstyling products and accessories to choose from as shown in the table below:

• Sleek and shiny: Apply a pea-sized amount of serum or oil to the ends of your hair.

• Curls/Waves: Apply a styling mousse or conditioning gel to maintain hold and structure. Use foam or plastic rollers to achieve perfect curls without further damage to your hair.

• Updos/Plaits: Apply a blow-drying cream before blow-drying and a little hair spray to manage flyaways.

How do conditioning treatments help damaged hair?

The table below shows two types of hair conditioning treatments that are especially beneficial for women with damaged hair:

Deep Conditioner

• Recommended once a week

• Must match hair type

• Product is rinsed off a few minutes after application

• Ideal for color- and chemically treated hair

• Restores moisture to damaged hair

• Helps color on damaged hair last longer

• Makes damaged hair soft and supple

Leave-in Conditioner

• Penetrates the hair shaft

• Excellent solution for severely damaged hair

• Product is left on overnight and rinsed off next morning

• Makes damaged hair healthier, shinier, and stronger

General recommendations for damaged hair

• Identify the root of the problem – What is causing the hair to lose its moisture so rapidly? Is it the UV rays from the sun, excessive amounts of chlorine in the community swimming pool, humidity, or poor hair care habits? The solution should be tailored to your specific problem.

• Use hair products specially formulated for damaged hair - Products that contain keratin, collagen, silicone derivatives, or glucose proteins will revitalize your hair. Deep conditioners and anti-frizz serum also help to replenish the lost moisture.

• Wash your hair less often – The rule of thumb is to wash your hair 2 to 3 times a week. A frequency lower than this will lead to product build-up on the scalp and a frequency higher than this will deplete your hair’s natural oils.

• Rinse your hair with cold water at the end of the shower – This will tone down the effects of damaged hair.

• Comb wet hair with a wide-toothed comb – Your hair is more susceptible to damage when it is wet. Avoid brushing wet hair and only use a wide-toothed comb to negotiate difficult knots prior to blow-drying your hair. You might consider using an anti-frizz serum to smooth out stubborn knots.

• Avoid straighteners and curling irons on wet hair – The heat from these hair tools can cause breakage.

• Air-dry your hair – Doing this at least once a week will save whatever is left of your hair.

• Wear a shower cap – On non-wash days, wear a shower cap before stepping inside the shower. In this way, your hair will be protected from the heat of the shower which will open up your hair’s cuticle and allow your hair’s natural moisture to escape.

• Trim your hair – Every 4-6 weeks for short hair, and every 6-8 weeks for long hair. This helps to keep split ends under control.