How To Fix Damaged Hair: 7 Expert Tips
Split ends, hair breakage, frizz, a lack of elasticity — all of these signs could point to damaged hair. Because our hair tends to get thinner and drier as we get older, aging hair is more susceptible to becoming damaged.
We may experience that sinking feeling in the pit of our stomach when we notice that our hair has become damaged — but don’t forget that you’re not alone! Damaged hair has a notorious reputation for being difficult, if not impossible, to repair. But advances in hair products have made it possible to repair your natural hair and prevent further damage.
Get ready to bid “adieu” to split ends and frizzy hair and welcome an era of aging better that involves fixing damaged hair. Let’s jump into exploring seven expert tips on how to repair hair damage and, in some cases, prevent it from happening in the first place.
How Do You Know if Your Hair Is Damaged?
Damaged hair is an issue that can have many causes. It is, of course, something to be avoided, and identifying the cause can help you correct it as soon as possible. Knowing the type of damage your hair has endured can also help direct the needed response.
Hair damage comes with a few signs that you can keep an eye out for to determine if you are experiencing damage and, if so, what to do about it.
The most common types of hair damage are:
- Breakage - hair that breaks is the result of dry hair that has lost its elasticity. Hair should have a level of give before breaking, and hair that breaks too easily is likely dry. Aging hair has a higher likelihood of breakage due to the moisture in our hair, skin, and nails that is lost as we age.
- Thinning hair or hair loss - speaking of hair loss, that is also another sign of damaged hair. When hair becomes thin as a result of damage, this is due to the hair follicles on your scalp becoming smaller. A smaller hair follicle physically changes the diameter of the hair that can grow. Some hair loss is a normal and daily event. However, an abnormal amount of loss with hair strands coming out very frequently or easily is a potential sign of damage.
- Split ends - hair that has frayed at the ends and split can be due to a few factors. Thinning can lead to split ends, as can cold, dry weather, a lack of moisture in the hair, and heat damage from heat styling tools.
- Hair that is overly porous - Too many chemical treatments or overusing hot tools like curling irons and flat irons means that hair can become porous. Porous hair means that your hair’s keratin has been stripped away.
Does Aging Hair Get Damaged More Easily?
As we get older, our hair changes along with us, even if those differences aren’t instantly visible.
Drier hair makes sense because our scalp gradually stops producing as many natural oils as it did when we were younger. The result is a drier scalp and dry hair. For many, that means being more careful with their hair and treating it more gently than they may have once been able to.
An unfortunate truth to life is that aging hair gets damaged more easily. Things like heat tools and even using a blow dryer can cause our hair to dry out and be more susceptible to damage. Certain chemical treatments, bleaching, and even coloring can lead to easier damage. But don’t worry; there are fixes!
7 Ways To Fix Damaged Hair
Damaged hair needs special treatment, especially for sensitive, aging hair. Turning our damaged hair into healthy hair isn’t unobtainable magic — it’s completely doable with the right tools and advice.
And some of these expert tips don’t even require a trip to the hairstylist! You can even take our personalized hair quiz today for recommendations on the best products to support feeling better, not younger!
1. Don’t Overwash Your Hair
You may only need to wash your hair two or three times a week or as needed depending on your hair and your body’s oil production. Washing your hair as needed prevents drying it out. The sulfates and surfactants in certain shampoos can also dry out your hair, which, as we know, leaves it an easy target for damage.
Keep your hair dry by wearing a shower cap on non-shampoo days.
2. Use Special Shampoo and Conditioner
With aging hair drier than others, you will need lightweight and hydrating shampoos and conditioners. You may also want to explore your options for hair treatments and conditioning treatments, like leave-in conditioners, hair masks, and other nourishing products.
3. Use a Heat Protectant
Heat tools can easily damage and break your hair in a matter of seconds, especially on hair that is aging with you. Using a heat protectant spray creates a safeguard from the heat and will prevent the heat tool from exceeding a barrier of heat for a short period.
4. Balance Your Diet
It is a good place to start making sure your hair is healthy because it can be a good place to start making sure that you are healthy as a whole! But for those who are aging, it can be hard to get all the nutrients we require as our bodies have a hard time absorbing what we need.
Supplements can help bridge that gap, and ones designed for hair can lessen the effects of hair damage.
5. Take Care of Your Scalp
Your scalp is where the hair begins its life, and taking care of it will, in turn, make your hair healthier. Hair health starts at the scalp — a hydrated scalp is a perfect base for healthy hair.
Scalp massages and stimulation are great ways to take care of your scalp because they stimulate blood circulation. Hair growth can be promoted by stimulating scalp massages, so if your hair is damaged and thinning, this one’s for you!
6. Dry Your Hair With Care
If you air-dry your hair, it’s smart to follow a few particular steps to avoid damage. When you have wet hair, you will want to dab your hair dry rather than tousle it.
Wringing out your hair will cause it to lose all of the hydration and moisturizing it received from your shampoo and conditioner. You can apply a serum or coconut oil to damp hair and put it in braids to prevent breakage.
7. Avoid Sun Exposure or Chlorine
You wouldn’t go out in the sun without sunscreen, so why would you subject your hair to potential damage? UV rays can dry out your hair, as well as fade your hair color.
The same can be said for chlorinated pools due to the chemicals used to keep pools clean. Wet your hair before you take a dip so that your hair doesn’t absorb as much chlorine.
Products To Repair Damaged Hair
Damaged hair is easily treated, and repairing it is possible. With specific products curated for aging hair, you can fix your damaged hair and help prevent it from recurring.
Our Second Chance Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner are great swaps for your current shampoo and conditioner. Combined, they can support strong and moisturized locks.
For a conditioner swap or every other shower approach for treatment, our Hair Redemption Restorative Butter Masque can help. It can support elasticity, shine, and smoothness when applied and left in for a minute or two.
Supplements that work specifically for hair can help those with aging and damaged hair get a boost. The Significant Other Hair, Skin & Nails Supplement, we’ve created an easy-to-take gummy that provides you with vitamins A and B, biotin, and zinc, among other essential nutrients.
Treating your scalp properly with our Superpower™ Hair & Scalp Duo can get your hair healthy and activated at the root. The scalp applicator massages the follicles to stimulate them but also physically stretches the follicle cells. Say “hello” to healthier hair from the source! And opt for our advanced formula for especially damaged and sensitive scalps. While using the applicator, our award-winning serum is applied and designed to support strong and nourished follicles.
A bonus to fixing damaged hair is prevention. With our No Remorse Heat Protection & Taming Spray, you can prevent your hair from being damaged by heat tools. By creating a fortress between your hair and excess heat with the spray, you can prevent damage while also taming any frizz or flyaways.
Conclusion
If you find that your hair has become damaged or is becoming damaged more easily as you get older, there are ways to fix and prevent this. A few simple swaps in our hair care routine and how we care for ourselves will pay off, leading us to healthy hair that can stand the test of time (and aging).
Still unsure of the best products for you? Take our personalized hair quiz today for recommendations to support your hair health today and every day.
Sources:
Hair Loss: Common Causes and Treatment | PMC
Scalp Condition Impacts Hair Growth and Retention via Oxidative Stress | PMC
A Review of Shampoo Surfactant Technology | Wiley Online Library
Standardized Scalp Massage Results in Increased Hair Thickness | PMC