Wondering how to know if your hair is damaged? You’re in the right place.
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Over styling, heat exposure, harsh chemicals, and other habits can strip your hair of its moisture and natural oils, which can result in damaged hair. Here we will explore what can cause damaged hair, and how to solve your problem for healthier, happier hair!
What is Damaged Hair?
To learn how to know if your hair is damaged, you first need to understand the symptoms of damaged hair. Hair damage occurs when you apply excessive friction, heat, or harsh chemical onto your hair.
This leaves cracks in its exterior, lifting up the cuticle. Here is how the hair strand is made up:
- Medulla: This is the core
- Cortex: This is where the keratin fibers and hydrogen bonds live, which gives the hair flexibility, strength, and elasticity.
- Cuticle: This is the outer layer of the hair strand that protects the cortex. Where the hair is damaged, the cuticle layer becomes cracked leading to frizz, split ends, and coarse hair. A healthy cuticle is smooth and flat, providing the hair sufficient moisture.
What can cause damaged hair?
Here are some of the causes for damages hair:
- Excessively brushing or towel drying your hair.
- Applying hear such as blow dryers, irons, or curling tongs.
- Washing your hair too much.
- Not using conditioner or heat protector spray.
- Too much sun exposure.
- Harsh chemical processing I.e colouring or bleaching.
- Product build up, or residue i.e chlorine.
- Irregular hair cut.
- Stress.
Tips for healthy hair and scalp
Here’s my top tips for healthy hair if you know how your hair is damaged:
- Don’t wash your hair too often, try using dry shampoo in between washes.
- Invest in a micro towel, this will much more gentle on your hair.
- Use products that suit your hair type and always use conditioner.
- Use a leave in conditioner and heat spray.
- Use a hair mask once a week for 15-20minutes, try using a shower cap to hold the moisture in and intensify the treatment. This mask for damaged hair is incredible!
- Don’t straighten your hair when wet.
- Wear a hat in the sun.
- Get your hair cut every 6-8 weeks.
- Eat a balanced diet, including vitamin A,E,D, keratin, biotin and zinc. All contributing to healthy, shiny hair.
- Regular exercise – meditation and yoga are widely known for their stress relieving benefits, incorporate more in your life for happier hair.
How to know if your hair is damaged – Conclusion
Now you know the signs of damaged hair, you can narrow down on what might be causing the damage. Fortunately, when you determine the cause there are a number of methods and products to restore your hair back to its natural quality.