Brushing, combing, blow-drying and using styling products all contribute to hair damage. You know if your hair is damaged because it breaks easily, feels dry and frail, or has split ends. You can try to repair damaged hair by cutting back on washing it, conditioning it more and skipping the hair dryer or curling iron every so often. Sometimes, though, your best bet may be to cut it off.
Skip the Shampoo
Washing your hair too much can dry it out, leading to split ends and a ruined hairdo. If overly dry hair is a problem for you, you may want to cut back on washing it. If you shampoo your hair daily, try washing it every other day instead and see if that improves the look and feel of your hair. Don’t let your hair get too gross, though. If it starts to feel greasy, wash it, even if you washed it the day before. Look for a shampoo that is made for dry or damaged hair.
Cover It Up
Just as you cover up your skin when you spend a lot of time in the sun, so you should cover your hair. The sun’s ultraviolet rays can damage your hair. Wear a big, wide-brimmed (but still stylish) hat when you go to the beach or outdoor pool. If you play sports in the summertime, wear a baseball cap to keep the sun’s rays of your hair and your face. If you swim, wear a bathing cap to protect your hair from the chlorine and salt water.
Condition It
Treat your hair special once a week or so, and apply a leave-in conditioner to it. Let the conditioner soak into your hair overnight, and rinse out the next time you shampoo. You can use a natural deep conditioner such as coconut oil or buy a commercially made conditioner. Make sure you also condition your hair with a regular, rinse-out conditioner after you shampoo.
Cut It Off
The only effective way to fix split ends is to cut them off. If you are between haircuts and you notice split ends, trim about an inch off the ends of your hair. You can also pay a visit to your stylist and have her trim your hair or ask a friend to do it. Hair style expert Christina Marcaccini recommends using sharp scissors to trim your hair, as dull scissors can cause further damage.
Photo Credit
- hair image by Dubravko Grakalic from Fotolia.com
