List of Common Damaged Hair Causes and How to Fix them
Nobody wants damaged hair. But before you can come up with solutions on how to fix damaged hair, you need to understand damaged hair causes. Damaged hair can be a result of different factors such as subjecting your tresses to mistreatment over a prolonged period of time. To get to the root of the problem, we’ve listed some of the usual hair damage causes and the steps on how to repair damaged hair.
A list of common damaged hair causes
Chemical treatments
Changing up your look like your favorite K-pop girl group with constant dye jobs and salon treatments can be fun, but they can also be pretty damaging to your hair. Perming, relaxing, and straightening use chemical agents to change the hair’s structure and appearance by breaking down its disulphide bonds. Hair coloring can damage the hair’s cortex the core of human hair—penetrating the cuticle and the F-layer, the fatty acid layer that gives the hair its naturally silky-smooth texture.
Exposure to the sun
Vitamin D is great but too much of anything can be bad. Constant exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays can cause hair damage. Direct sunlight can affect your locks the way bleach breaks down the keratin protein in your locks. You’ll notice that when your hair is exposed to the sun, it can lighten the color and make it dry and brittle. When your hair is dry, this can also cause split ends.
Wear and tear
Even if you’re careful about your hair, normal, everyday styling such as combing and heat styling can also damage it over time. Overbrushing (yes, it’s possible!) and even combing through just-shampooed hair can cause breakage, split ends, and damage to your hair cuticle. Subjecting your tresses to daily blow-drying can also strip it of moisture.
This is how you repair damaged hair
Time for damage control
Prevention is definitely better than cure. Once your hair’s cuticle has been significantly damaged, there’s no chance to repair it and bring it back to 100%. So, before you do significant damage, here are a few things to keep in mind on how to fix damaged hair.
Be gentle
Whether it’s combing or brushing, don’t be too aggressive. Split ends can happen especially when your hair is wet and tangled, so be sure to use a wide-toothed comb. Use a heat protectant when using styling tools to keep your hair soft and manageable. Fixing damaged hair starts with being gentle with it and not making it worse than it already is.
Condition your locks
The weapon against hair damage, including split ends? Conditioner! Your hair’s cortex is dependent on strong sulfur bonds and weaker hydrogen bonds. When you condition your hair, it helps re-establish the hydrogen bonds and improves your hair’s moisture content. This results in weatherproofing your hair’s cuticle.
Improving your hair’s moisture is also a good treatment for split ends and it prevents them from happening in the future.
Using the right products to repair damaged hair
A good rule of thumb is to condition your hair every time you wash it. Pantene’s Total Damage Shampoo and Conditioner is a great place to start. The star ingredient is a positively-charged dimethicone, a silicone compound that gives hair slip and shine, making it look smooth and silky. Finish off with Pantene’s Total Damage Care 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner for even further reduction of protein loss to prevent future hair damage.
When you understand your hair, you can make better choices when it comes to treating it and choosing the right products for healthier hair.