There’s nothing quite as satisfying as having a good hair day. However, thanks to all the heat styling, chemical treatments and neglect, these ones are far and few. If you’ve also gone a bit overboard and your tresses have faced the wrath of it, we’re happy to announce that hair damage can actually be reversed. Yes, it’ll take some time and some due diligence on your part but it isn’t impossible. To tell you how we’ve got dermatologist and Founder of Sarin Skin Solutions, Dr Jushya Sarin with us. So, let’s see what she has to say.
What’s The Impact Of Heat Styling & Chemical Treatments On The Strands?
“Styling is one thing but over-styling is another. If you are styling your hair every other day, then it makes your strands prone to breakage, eventually leading to hair loss. Dehydration post the use of heat styling makes the hair brittle and adding styling products worsens the situation. Even over-brushing your hair makes it prone to split ends,” says Dr Sarin.
She further explains that hair colour treatments, even with the so-called organic or herbal dyes, can weaken the hair shaft because of penetrating agents in the hair dyes. Lightening or bleaching your hair causes the most damage because if you want to go more than three shades lighter than your natural hair colour, higher volumes of peroxide are used, which causes more hair damage.
Tips To Repair Hair Damage
Gentle Handling
“There are certain dos and don’ts with hair care and so simple changes in your routine will do the trick. Dry your hair with a towel before blow-drying so that you need less heat to get it completely dry; keep brushing to a minimum, and make use of the medium heat setting for flat irons or curling rods so that your hair sustains lesser damage,” says Dr Sarin.
Not forgetting to use a serum or other heat protectant product before any kind of hair styling is also absolutely important.
Conditional Behaviour
Pre-conditioning is highly recommended to treat damaged hair. Dr Sarin recommends indulging in a hot oil hair massage with coconut oil before a hair wash to pre-condition damaged strands.
“Opting for regular hair spas at the salon is also one good way to go about conditioning your hair. You can even apply a hair mask at home to repair your hair, thirty minutes before going in for a shower,” she adds.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Dr Sarin goes on to explain that the struggle to repair damaged hair is real and so it is better to prevent damage rather than trying to reverse it. Simple grooming habits such as daily hair washing and combing can damage the hair so staying away from these is ideal.
It is best to invest in sulphate-free shampoos and conditioners for your hair wash routine and opt for wide-tooth combs, boar bristles brushes or wet detangling brushes to ensure your hair secures less damage from daily grooming. Applying serum before brushing or combing hair is also vital and beginning combing strokes from the tips, working your way up to the roots will ensure minimal hair breakage suggests Dr Sarin.
Poolside Protection
If you plan on going for a swim at the beach or in a pool, Dr Sarin urges you to slather your hair shafts with hair oil. Applying oil even before shampooing for that matter is a good idea. It will protect hair from the chlorine water in the pool, salt water, and even hard water or harsh cleansing agents in shampoos.
Oil Therapy
Dr Sarin is an advocate for the humble coconut oil champi treatment. She says that coconut-based hair oil can be a great thing to either condition with or leave in to help repair the damage that occurs to your hair shafts from colouring, heat, and the sun. It penetrates inside the hair and not only fills the ‘hair cavities’ but also strengthens the adjoining hair lipids. This dual-action helps reverse the damage caused to hair from various assaults. Recent publications indicate that coconut-based hair oil may also be useful in preventing hair damage due to protein loss during grooming processes, hard water exposure and heat treatments.
To help deal with hair damage caused by excessive styling, we recommend:
With these expert tips, hair styling and care go hand in hand.
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