When the hair has sustained a severe amount of damage, you must take action to improve the texture and appearance of your mane. According to the Teens Health website from the Nemours Foundation, the scales on the cuticles can separate and cause the hair to feel dry and brittle. Besides looking dull, severe damage increases your chance of suffering from hair breakage. Breakage prevents the hair from growing properly. Severely damaged hair often occurs as a result of overprocessing the hair, overuse of thermal styling tools and excessive brushing or pulling at the hair. Prevent future damage by avoiding these practices.
Step 1
Cut off as much of the damaged hair as possible. Choose a length you are comfortable with and advise your stylist to cut it to there. At the very least, trim off the ends to remove split ends.
Step 2
Shampoo the hair every other day. Allow the oils from the scalp to add moisture into the hair and protect the cuticle. After shampooing, always use a conditioner. On the days that you don't shampoo the hair, apply a conditioner. Choose shampoos and conditioners made specifically for dry and damaged hair. Rinse the products out with a cool rinse, suggests Good Housekeeping, to avoid stripping away the conditioning agents.
Step 3
Brush the hair with soft and smooth bristle. Style hair only when it is dry to prevent further damage and breakage.
Step 4
Apply a deep conditioning treatment once a week. A hair mask that contains either stearyl or cetyl alcohol can add moisture back into severely damaged hair. The hair mask is applied from the roots to the ends in an even layer and then rinsed off after setting for several minutes.
Step 5
Add mineral oil to the hair. Salon Web recommends working one to three drops of mineral oil through the hair to help fix damage.
Tips and Warnings
- According to the Teens Health website, severe hair damage can also occur from a medical condition, such as thyroid disease or an eating disorder. If you suspect this is the cause, speak to your doctor about treatments for the underlying condition.
Things You'll Need
- Shampoo/Conditioner
- Soft hairbrush
- Deep conditioning hair mask
- Mineral oil
Member Comments