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.