5 Ways To Reverse Hair Damage
The worst thing to ever happen to a woman's hair is getting a chemical service that just KILLS it.
The after effects last, and last. Even one year later, you find yourself dealing with split ends, and breakage.
We have a few remedies, below, that we lean on when hair needs to be babied for a few months!
#1 Air-dry as much as you can.
This is a pretty big step in the healing process.
After your cuticle layer is ripped to shreds by bleach, or god-forbid something like a perm, the 'good' elasticity in your hair is basically gone.
You know what we are talking about...that bouncy, shiny stuff that make you wish you hadn't bleached your hair? Yeah, thats 'good' elasticity, and over processing your hair eats away at that.
What we recommend after it's gone is to basically air-dry your hair when you can. When hair is wet, it's in it's most fragile state: tugging and pulling on something that's about to break is akin to over-cooking spaghetti.
Air-dry your hair, follow up with a low-heat curling iron, and LOTS of product to smooth any frizz.
#2 Use a deep hair mask as your conditioner.
I can't tell you how many ladies tell me they aren't even conditioning, let alone using a DEEP mask once a week.
We need you to condition.
Like, REALLY NEED YOU TO.
Daily conditioners are meant to help your cuticle layer lay flat and closed tight- every time your hair is wet, washed, and dried. Flat, tight, and not feeling like velcro, is the state you WANT your hair to be in if you're looking for soft, shiny, healthy hair.
Deep conditioners are meant to supplement anything your hair isn't getting from your daily conditioner.
This is also where a good protein treatment could come into play.
Once a week, (or let's be real, twice a month), you should ring your hair of extra water in the shower, glob on something super yummy and expensive, then get out of the shower and watch some Netflix while the deep conditioner works it's magic.
(We recommend the Circle Chronicles from Davines)
#3 Add an oil to your wet and dry routine.
When hair is past the point of no return, the one thing that really helps prevent all that snapping and breaking is a good styling oil. The oil gives a slightly slick, yet nourished, buffer on the cuticle layer keeping the dry patches from flying right off.
A truly good oil will soak right into the hair, instead of sitting on top of it. Stop yourself RIGHT there...don't tell me that you're using It's a 9, or It's a 100, whatever it is. It's probably not helping if you're reading this.
Tell-tale signs of the oil absorbing: when you can glide your brush through the hair wet and it doesn't snag, there's no left-over oil on your hands after (unless you used way too much), and when you can still apply a little more once it's dry.
(We recommend: Oi Oil from Davines)
#4 Alternate protein and moisture treatments appropriately.
We touched on this a little with conditioners, but honestly, this one is best left to your stylist...
We mean it!
Call your favorite salon, get on a routine of once a month stopping in after work for a protein treatment, OR an intensive moisture mask.
Ask what they have to offer, and then let them alternate you and keep you pre-booked. This will really help those inches grow after a bad dye-job, and the stylists will know exactly what your hair needs by looking at it.
So grab yourself a magazine, some free wine, and again...let the product work it's magic.
#5 Get a Brazilian Blowout regularly.
This one is my favorites...
It's quick, affordable, and a great fix long-term.
A Brazilian Blowout will seal the cuticle of your hair completely for 6-8 weeks, when nothing else has helped. We like to keep our clients on these regularly, even if they don't have breakage, just to prevent it.
The treatment itself isn't permanent, and won't affect your curl, but it will help shorten the blow-dry time, AND humidity.
All of which can be complete game-changers when dealing with broken, frizzy, crazy hair.
