Hair is made up of keratin, the same protein that makes up finger and toenails. Just like nails can crack, split and become dry and brittle, so can hair. Hot hair dryers, scalding curling and flat irons, and constant brushing damage hair, as does ultra-violet sun rays and chemicals in perms and relaxers. Fortifying hair with products that increase strength and durability helps prevent damage and improves dry, damaged hair.
Shampoo
The detergents in shampoo strip hair of natural oils and because hair is at its most vulnerable when wet, shampoo can further damage weak hair. Use dry shampoo with detergents that clean damaged hair and cornstarch to absorb the natural oils produced by the scalp. Dry shampoo comes in a spray or powder.
Most people with damaged hair only need to shampoo their hair two or three times a week. Shampoos that say volumizing, clarifying, balancing, oil control, or thickening remove oily buildup and clean dry and damaged hair gently.
Conditioner
If you choose to forgo shampooing daily, you still need to condition most days to keep hair moisturized. Conditioners function like shampoo because they contain some cleaning detergents, but they add moisture to hair that shampoo doesn't.
Conditioning also protects the hair follicle. Because conditioner is partially washed away in the shower, applying a leave-in conditioner when hair is dry will give damaged hair added protection from ultraviolet rays and damaging tools.
Leave-In Conditioner
Split ends occur when hair follicles become weak and the cuticle--the membrane that coats the hair--wears away. Applying a leave-in conditioner to dry hair will coat the follicles making them more durable. Those with straight, thin hair need to be cautious, however, since many leave-in conditioners can weigh hair down and make it look oily. The cosmetic scientists at TheBeautyBrains.com recommend leave-in conditioner for thick, coarse and colored hair. People with thin hair aiming for shine should try a weightless aerosol. A product like Aquage Beyond Shine offers thermal protection (similar to leave-in conditioner but less oily). It also helps prevent frizz.
Coconut Oil
Dry hair is often the product of chemicals, like those found in dyes, relaxers, perms and sprays. One surefire way to repair dry hair is to cut it. But that's not often an option. TheBeautyBrains.com editors suggest using a product with palm or coconut oil---both of which work the same because coconut oil adds chemical-free moisturizer for hair. It penetrates into the cortex of the hair.
Another product for dry, damaged hair is Tresemmé Heat Tamer Spray, which contains ingredients (glycerin and propylene glycol) that slow water evaporation.
Member Comments