I can’t count the number of times I have dyed or bleached my hair. It started in my early teens and has continued since. When I started dying my hair I didn’t realize there would be consequences like split ends and damaged hair. At one point you could squeeze my hair and hear a loud crunch like you were squeezing a handful of hay. That’s so not sexy.
That’s so not sexy.
I still dye my hair, just not as often and I’m super selective about what types of dye I use. Thanks to some tricks I’ve picked up along the way, my hair has regained most of its healthy attributes.
If you are looking for help repairing your damaged hair then read on. I’m going to share what has worked best for me. If you have a suggestion please leave a comment below.
Avoid heat whenever possible
This means letting your damaged hair air-dry more than you use the blow dryer. If you must use the hair dryer, follow these guidelines:
- Let your hair air-dry as much as possible before blow drying
- Always use a diffuser
- Choose a blow dryer that has a cool setting to offset some of the heat
- Use a product that protects your hair from heat
This also means forgoing the flat-iron, curling iron, and crimper (do people still use those?!). If you want some no-heat texture/waves, braid your hair immediately after washing it and sleep with the braids. Do several small braids for a more dramatic look and less for a more subtle look.
If you’d rather have your hair completely straight try one of these (6) natural, no heat methods.
Choose products for damaged hair
It’s tempting to grab the cheapest hair products you can find but it could do more harm than good. Many drugstore brand hair products have ingredients that can actually worsen your damaged hair. Common ingredients to look out for and avoid are Isopropyl Alcohol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Parabens, and synthetic fragrances .
A good way to determine the best hair care products for you is to ask your local salon. They often have samples of products available and the difference between salon brands and drugstore brands is incredible.
Shielo sent me their Intensive Hair Mask to try (for review purposes), and it has made a huge difference in the quality of my hair. With the exception of a couple of things (namely ‘fragrance‘), the ingredients list is on the up-and-up. I have been using it twice a week for about a month now and my hair is much softer and more manageable. It also doesn’t frizz up nearly as much as it did which is a huge bonus.
The Intensive Hair Mask is color safe, which is important for anyone who colors their hair. You don’t want that color to go down the drain anytime soon, right? It actually seals your hair to protect the color! Did I mention they use certified organic extracts?!
The best thing about the Intensive Hair Mask is you see and feel instant improvements. It’s like a hair voodoo witch doctor worked their mojo on your tresses. It’s not permanent though, so if you only use it once don’t expect to see perma results. Like with most things, you have to use it a while; the longer you use it the more it heals your hair.
You can get the hair mask (and other Shielo products) directly from the Shielo website.
Most salons recommend washing your hair no more than every other day, and if possible only twice a week.
Choose the right hair care tools for your damaged hair
Brushes and combs come in all shapes and sizes. There’s a reason for that – different hair types need different hair tools, especially if you have damaged hair. Here are the basics of what you need for your hair type.
- Curly hair? Try a wide tooth comb (ditch the brush).
- Straight hair? Try a wide paddle brush.
- Wavy hair? Try an ion brush to reduce frizz & static
- Thin hair? Try a brush with soft natural bristles with a rubber cushion.
- Thick hair? Try a brush with wide-spaced nylon bristles and balls on the end.
- Dry hair? Try a boar bristle brush to distribute your natural oils down the length of your hair.
- Oily hair? Try a wide spaced detangling brush, or wide tooth comb.
Trim, trim, trim
