Hair damage is something that everyone wants to avoid, and with good reason. From frizzy split-ends to dull, lifeless strands that refuse to hold a style, damaged hair isn’t pretty. Sadly, it occurs far too often, thanks in large part to harsh or excessive chemical treatments and/or poor practices when it comes to heat styling. While it’s easy to point out the causes of damaged hair and ways to avoid it, the hard part is figuring out what to do after hair damage has already occurred.
It can be incredibly distressing to have to deal with hair damage, and the unfortunate truth is that there is no “magic fix” that will reverse your hair damage overnight. Thankfully, there’s a series of steps you can take to slowly but surely reverse the damage and get your hair looking more beautiful and healthier than before!
Step 1: Stop Washing Your Hair
Once you’ve diagnosed your hair damage, your first step is to not do anything. Seriously, don’t wash your hair with shampoo for at least a few days, only using water to rinse your hair out. Even the gentlest shampoo can further exacerbate damaged hair, so refraining from hair washing can help your hair build up moisture and become more manageable.
Step 2: Apply an Intensive Hair Mask
A hair mask is an incredible option for infusing your hair with rich moisture, which helps to improve hydration and smooth the cuticle layer. After showering and rinsing your hair with water, apply a moisturizing hair mask like Sutra’s Hair Mask, which features jojoba oil for deep moisturization and omega fatty acids to help boost hair health. For best results, apply the mask before bed, secure your hair with a shower cap, and allow the mask to sit in your hair overnight.
Step 3: Get More Frequent Hair Trimmings
Chances are that during this time, your ends are going to be split and incredibly frizzy. Because the hair at your ends is older than the hair closer to your scalp, it has been subjected to far more heat and brushing, making it much frizzier and more broken than your roots. Sadly, hair that has reached this stage is at a point of no return, and your best and only option is to trim it and let healthier, less damaged hair take its place.
Step 4: Address Your Diet and Stress
To get your hair back to its healthiest state, you’ll need to do everything you can to ensure that your hair grows back as healthy and effectively as possible. With improper diet and excessive stress, your body will release hormones which negatively impact hair growth and prevent the sort of thick, luscious locks you are looking to create. Make sure you eat a diet full of essential vitamins and minerals, while ensuring you keep your life as stress-free as possible to prevent the release of cortisol, which also stunts hair growth.