Many women tend to confuse dry hair with damaged hair. Meanwhile, hair dehydration is just a drop in the bucket of what damaged hair may look like. Today, I’ll tell you how to determine damaged hair, what is harmful and the best ways to regenerate it. 

Damaged hair – what does it look and feel like?

It’s not juz the problem of dry hair that can be regenerated by thorough and regular moisturizing. Damaged hair can be distinguished if its:

• it is dull and dry (sometimes just the ends, sometimes from the mid-length)
• the scalp is irritated (or gets irritated easily)
• the hair breaks easily and it’s difficult in styling
• it has split ends and uneven color (the ends may be lighter)
• it gets static often
• it falls out in excess
• it does not tolerate temperature changes and humidity, it gets frizzy and uneasy to style
• it’s not sleek but rough
• extremely damaged hair is … hm, I do not know how to name it… ductile? The hair’s structure is destroyed and each strand stretches like rubber, because the sulfide bonds inside are torn apart
• it is difficult to nourish because it has high porosity and “give back” water and nutrients from the interior
• it gets tangled while brushing and styling

 

What damages the hair – anti-handbook of a hair maniac 

• badly selected cosmetics
• products full of comedogenic ingredients (SLS, SLES, parabens)
• lack of scalp care
• stretching and tugging (uncomfortable combing and hair rubbing in a towel)
• too high and too low temperatures
• stress, smoking cigarettes
• an inappropriate, low-vitamin diet
• frequent hair dyeing and bleaching
• too many styling products
• cosmetics that do not match the hair porosity
• too frequent straightening with a flat iron and drying with a hot blow-dryer
• wearing the hair too tight (it weakens the bulbs)

Homemade methods for damaged hair – DIY recipes 

Why are home treatments with ingredients available in almost every kitchen recommended for damaged hair care? First of, all because you control the process of cosmetic production: you know what is included in the mask and that every ingredient has been used there for a reason. Such masks are safe, natural, free of parabens, silicones, drying alcohols and substances of the SLS, SLES type. Their composition has to help and regenerate hair from roots to ends. If you do not have time to create your own masks: try to look for a drugstore product that is the safest, deprived of synthetics – the one that can also be applied to the scalp. Mixtures of natural oils will be ideal for this purpose. They are really great because they strengthen not only hair but also bulbs and scalp. In addition, they increase shine and improve the condition of the hair.

Protein mask for damaged hair 

Just mix one egg yolk with lemon juice and a few drops of natural oil. I recommend avocado oil because it is a real vitamin bomb. Very damaged hair will be fond of the following oils: black seed oil, cottonseed oil, evening primrose oil, sunflower oil. Such a mask for damaged hair must “lie down” on your hair a bit longer, ideally if you leave it in for about 30 minutes. After this time, it should be rinsed and the hair washed with a delicate shampoo.

Banana and avocado for very damaged hair

Mash a banana and an avocado, mix with each other to a smooth mass. Add 3 tablespoons of milk or 3 tablespoons of yogurt. Of course, I always add a few drops of essential oil. Keep the mask on your hair for about 30 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water and wash your hair.

A mask for damaged hair that doesn’t grow

Fresh yeast as a component of hair masks that has already been known and valued by our grandmothers. It’s enough if you crush it and combine with kefir or natural yogurt. Add a tablespoon of evening primrose oil, castor oil or macerate from the Amalia fruit to the mixture. Hold the mask on the hair and scalp for an hour. Next, rinse and wash the strands thoroughly.

Vegetables and fruit for hair? Why not!

It’s such a healthy hair salad;) Blend together a small apple, spinach (2-3 tablespoons) and 2-3 cabbage leaves. Rub your hair and rinse after 30-40 minutes.

If you notice that your hair needs more than just a homemade mask, I present you the most popular hair treatments you can find in beauty salons.

Professional treatment for damaged hair 

1. Hair reconstruction – it sounds serious and this is supposed to have a purpose: to rebuild the structure of damaged hair. Such a procedure has 4 phases: first, the hair scales are opened in order to absorb all the nutrients (amino acids). After lifting the scales, the hair is acidified, then reconstructed and smoothed in the last, fourth stage. Contrary to appearances, the procedure does not last long- it’s only 30 minutes.
2. Keratin hair treatment – the hair is made of keratin, so the keratin treatment for the hair will be most beneficial, complementing the level of keratin and strengthening damaged, dull hair. Keratin hair straightening takes about 2 hours and is carried out with the use of high temperatures.
3. Hair Botox – it consists in using the salutary power of hyaluronic acid. Botox also opens up the scales of hair and cleanses the strands, and then introduces nutritional ingredients inside (they are applied to the hair using a syringe, hence an analogy to Botox). The treatment lasts about 40 minutes.
4. LED Laser– red light therapy is widely used in medicine, but its regenerative properties are also used in the problem of hair loss. The red LED light improves the blood supply to the skin and nourishes the cells, which also strengthens the hair roots.

That’s all … what do you think? Can regular hair masks compete with professional hair treatments? Do you know any nice hair mask for hair, or a good hair oil? Please, let me know in the comments! <3