How Do You Repair Damaged Hair?

Would the words “hot mess” come to mind if I asked you to describe your hair? If your hair reminds you of a bird’s nest or haystack, odds are it's (badly) damaged.

Ever felt tempted to completely shave your head out of frustration?

You are not alone. I’ve actually been there and done that before so I know exactly what you’re going through.

A hairstyle is only as good as the hair it’s made of. If yours isn't up to par, let’s figure out exactly why, and then get to work repairing the damage.

What Are The Signs Of Damaged Hair?

Does your hair have any of these problems?

Is It Dry and Dull?

• Does your hair have a dull parched look? Dry damaged hair tends to have a grey tinge and doesn't reflect light.

Is It Limp and Lifeless?

• Is it hard for your hair to hold a curl? If your flip 'flops' after an hour then you have limp hair. Over-processing is usually the culprit.

Is It Frizzy and Unruly?

• Do you look like a Chia Pet when you’re in humid weather? High levels of porosity make the strands absorb moisture. Your frizzy hair might be caused by over-use of heat styling tools.

Is It Weak and Brittle?

• Dry, weak, brittle hair makes breakage a big problem. When your hair doesn't have the right balance of strength and moisture it snaps under the slightest pressure.

Is It Full of Raggedy Spilt Ends?

• Look at the ends of your hair. If they have a “y” shape you have split ends.

  No matter what you’ve heard, there's no way to repair splits. You can only cut them off and prevent them from coming back.

How To Treat And Prevent Damaged Hair

Here are some tips to help you fix your hair damage and prevent more problems in the future.

Condition Your Hair Often

• Conditioning your hair with every wash is very important. Deep conditioning with moisture and protein is a must.

Use the Right Products for Your Hair

• To get the best results, look for products designed for your hair type and issues.

Eliminate Heat Styling Tools

• Don't fry your hair with hot tools. Use gentle no heat styling options like wet sets and air drying.

Stop Over Processing

• Don't let your stylist leave chemicals in your hair longer than they have to. Straighten your hair no more than 80% to maintain its strength.

Never Double Process

• Color and relaxer don't mix without damage. Choose one or the other (better yet, neither) for your healthiest hair.

Don't Pull Your Hair Tight

• Not only will this lead to weakness and breakage but you might end up with serious hair loss as well.

Never Leave Braids in Too Long

• Six to eight weeks is the longest safe time for braids to be in your hair (if you take good care of them).

  You need to take them down regularly so you can deep condition properly.

Don’t Wait Too Long Between Relaxers

• This is just as bad as not waiting long enough. If you don't moisturize, and handle your hair gently it will snap at the line of demarcation (where the natural and relaxed hair meet).

No matter what your hair looks like at the moment, it can become healthier than ever if you do the right things.

Get more tips on how to repair your damaged hair with my free beauty tips e-zine Black Beauty Buzz!

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