Is My Hair Damaged?
With hair coloring being at an all time high, most people are facing damage to some degree. In fact, 70% of women have reported that they feel their hair is damaged. Lots of people would blame it on hair color, but there’s a whole world of factors! There’s even two different kinds of damage: dry hair and damaged hair. Plus it can come from thermal damage, chemical damage, environmental damage, and physical damage!
Here are the main characteristics of each.
Damaged:
-Color fades or goes darker with less reflective qualities.
-Breaks easily
-Very tangly when wet
Dry:
-Dull
-Frizzy
-Struggle with Static
It’s not uncommon to be a mix of dry and damaged. It’s important to understand what you are trying to fix. Damaged hair needs protein, while dry hair needs moisture. Adding lots of protein to dry hair actually hinders, while adding moisture to damaged hair will still help but will never fix the problem.
Why is my hair damaged and/or dry? Hair MELTS at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, you need thermal protection always and you need to reapply that protection every time you use heat on your hair. Use hair ties that wont break your hair(scrunchies/the phone cord looking elastics), especially when you sleep; friction with your pillowcase can cause damage and ruin your style. Shower less, and use WARM not HOT water. I strongly recommend switching to a Wet brush, they have softer bristles so you’ll never accidentally rip your hair and they come in at a low price point! Finally, use products that make your hair smile. Using a good shampoo, conditioner, masque, and leave in product makes a night and day difference.
I would also like to remind everyone to focus on shampooing directly at the scalp to keep your follicles happy, and to put your masque and conditioner on your ends then brush it up towards the scalp. Brushing knots out of your hair while conditioning helps prevent tangles when your hair is dry!
Comment below with what kind of damage you think you have! I can give you suggestions on products and answer your questions. Thank you for reading!
