By 14 years old, your teen's hair may be damaged by harsh styling, chemical treatments or an active lifestyle that includes sun and chlorine. Caring for damaged hair poses some special challenges, especially for teens. Frequent washing may further dry the hair, and a 14-year-old may be reluctant to use oil-based moisturizing products, or skip hairstyling and chemical treatments altogether. Help your teen to create a hair-care regimen that is gentle on damaged hair, and adds moisture and protein to improve its condition.
Step 1
Switch to a quality shampoo and daily conditioner designed for damaged hair. Choose products that contain proteins from silk, soy or wheat and softening moisturizers like avocado oil, shea butter or cocoa butter. Encourage your 14-year-old to space out shampooing, if possible, to avoid drying out her hair.
Step 2
Once a week, use a commercial deep conditioner designed for damaged hair after shampooing, recommends Dr. Elizabeth Whitmore, assistant professor of dermatology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. Your teen should apply the conditioner and comb through the hair with a wide-tooth comb. Leave in place for three to five minutes and then rinse well.
Step 3
Liquefy coconut oil between your palms or place a container of coconut oil into a bowl of warm water to create a safe, natural treatment for damaged teen hair, suggests Candida-Cure-Recipes.com. Have your teen work the liquefied oil into her hair, focusing on the shaft and ends. Cover with a plastic shower cap or plastic wrap. Apply heat with a hot, damp towel or a hair dryer. Leave in place for 15 minutes to one hour, then wash out over the sink or bathtub. Try a small amount of coconut oil as a styling cream on dry hair, particularly if your teen has natural curls.
Step 4
Beat two whole eggs and combine with 5 tbsp. of plain, unsweetened yogurt to create a natural, homemade protein treatment for your 14-year-old's hair. Combine eggs with olive oil or honey as an alternative, suggests website Egg Sniper. Stir the eggs and yogurt together and apply to the hair. Cover with a shower cap and leave in place for 15 to 30 minutes. Wash out this protein treatment with cool water to avoid cooking the eggs.
Step 5
Purchase styling products without alcohol for your 14-year-old. Make a visit to your hair stylist for help creating a style that does not require a flat iron or curling iron, as these can aggravate damage to your teen's hair, according to Dr. Patricia Farris Walters, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans.
Tips and Warnings
- Wear a hat in the sun to prevent additional environmental damage to your hair.
Things You'll Need
- Shampoo for dry or damaged hair
- Conditioner for dry or damaged hair
- Deep-conditioning treatment
- Coconut oil
- Eggs
- Yogurt
- Wide-tooth comb
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