With the discovery of a new hair colouring technique every month and an experimental hair product or hairstyle to try every now and then, it’s hard to keep your hair away from the trend of over-styling. It’s balayage on Monday and a messy bun on Sunday, but beware! Over-styling, over-heating or overdoing your hair, in general, can cause your hair to become damaged, brittle and broken.
Each of your hair strands has three layers. The innermost layer is called the medulla, the middle layer is the cortex and the outermost layer is the cuticle. The cuticle is the layer that protects your hair from everyday damage. When this layer is damaged, your hair become dry and lifeless. But no worries, you can always restore the health of your hair and protect them from any further damage. Here’s how!
7 Ways To Prevent & Revive Damaged Hair
Apart from pollution and harmful UV rays, bleaching, hair colouring, chemical treatments, frequent hair styling, over-brushing, over-shampooing, heat styling and using wrong products on your hair are few of the major reasons for hair damage. However, your damaged hair can be restored by following a few steps such as:
Use your styling tools at a lower temperature
May God bless your precious curling iron, flat iron and blow dryer for being the magic wands that can transform unruly hair into a luscious mane. But with all that heat comes heat damage–dryness and brittleness. This happens because people usually set the temperature of the machine too high while styling. Unless you have coarse or super thick hair, you can effortlessly style your hair at a lower temperature.
Use the right shampoo for your hair
Opt for a shampoo that is free of parabens and other harmful chemicals. Sticking to a shampoo that has more natural ingredients like Amla, Brahmi, Jyotishmati, aloe vera extract, neem extract, green apple extract and Vitamin E will help repair the damage. We have just the one for you at our very own POPxo Shop. Have you checked out The POPxo Beauty Collection yet?
Avoid shampooing too frequently, and wash your hair with cold water instead of hot. Cold water can help damaged hair by closing the hair cuticle and causing the hair shaft to lie flat, resulting in shinier, softer and smoother hair.
Trim your split ends regularly
Split ends can lead to frizz, dullness and hair breakage, hence, you must try to keep them away. To prevent split ends, use nourishing shampoos, conditioners and leave-in hair masks for smooth and strong hair. If they get out of control, visit your hairdresser and get regular trims. You don’t have to lose the length. Just ask your stylist to simply dust the ends (a lot of salons are using trimmers for this purpose) to keep the hair healthy and un-frayed.
Handle wet hair with (extra) care
It doesn’t matter what type of hair you have–thick or thin, they are most vulnerable when wet. The breakage is even higher when your wet hair is fine, fragile and/or curly. Hence, they need to be handled with extra care. Don’t pull the brush through too hard when your hair’s wet. It is recommended that you use a wide-tooth comb to detangle them. As you step out of the shower, skip vigorous rubbing. Just gently pat dry your hair with a microfiber cloth or a soft towel. Doing so will avoid friction that puts stress on your vulnerable tresses. Also, avoid tying your hair too tight while they’re wet.
Use rich and healing hair masks
Hair masks are mostly designed to condition and nurture your hair. They have a high concentration of moisturising ingredients like vitamins, essential oils and natural elements. They are thicker than regular conditioners and can be applied on damp hair. Doing so will give the formula enough time to penetrate deeply into the hair surface and restore the health of your damaged hair. The best part is that masks work even after being rinsed. Find a mask that’s right for your hair type and use it twice a week. Don’t be in a hurry to remove it as the longer you keep it on, the better it is for your hair.
Don’t underestimate the power of conditioners
Conditioners and leave-in treatments are basically the bodyguards of your hair. Not only heat and pollution but they also protect your hair from the shampoo that you didn’t rinse out well. Much like other hair products, there’s a suitable leave-in for every type of hair. For example, a leave-in for coloured hair will provide UV protection to prevent the colour from fading. A leave-in for unruly, frizzy hair will add moisture to the hair to make them smoother and manageable. Apply leave-ins to damp hair and comb through using a wide-tooth comb for even distribution of the product. This will give you the best results.
Swim and sun protection is necessary
Regular swimming is great for your body but I wish I could say the same for your hair. Salt, chlorine and other chemicals in pool water can cause your hair to damage, become brittle and fragile. It can also ruin your hair colour. So, if you swim quite often, make sure you wear the swimming cap to shield your hair. Similarly, when you’re in the sun, protect your hair from overexposure to the UV rays. Wear a hat/cap or using a hair spray before you head out.
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