Damage to the hair is caused by a number of factors such as overuse of heat, dryness, and over manipulation. Once you recognize your hair is damaged, you must begin immediate steps to treat and repair the damaged hair. It may take a while to get your hair back to looking natural and pretty, but the time spent is well worth it.
If you notice that your hair is dry, dull and/or lifeless, it may be lacking moisture. The first step is properly cleansing the scalp—using sulfate- free products– without over drying or stripping the hair of its natural oils.
As we get older, the cells on our body don’t reproduce quite as fast. That’s true of hair cells as well. The active cells around the follicle aren’t as strong, so over the years hair becomes finer, duller and weakened. To combat the signs of aging hair it’s important to start with proper cleansing.
The second step is to find products that will replenish vital moisture and nutrients, producing stronger, healthier hair growth.
The key to healthy hair is to nourish the scalp and hydrate the hair. Using the LOC method (Liquid, Oil, Cream) does just this. I recommend shea butter, coconut oil and/or olive oil. Incorporate moisturizing into your hair care regimen.
You must proactively rebuild and protect the hairs structural integrity.
We know how important it is to use sunscreen on our skin; well, the same applies to our hair. Due to everyday styling and manipulation the gradual wearing away of the cuticle (outer surface) starts to expose the cortex (center of the hair which holds the moisture) which in turn becomes worn down and eventually breaks. Natural oils such as olive and coconut oil penetrate the cuticle, moisture to help prevent moisture loss and eliminate breakage.
Just like skin excess sebum and product build-up on the surface of the scalp clog hair follicles. This can result in thinning, damaged hair. Improper cleansing, and conditions that irritate the scalp can occur, eventually deteriorating the hair bulb, leading to hair loss/damage. It’s important to note that harsh sulfates are one of the leading causes for most scalp problems. Again, use sulfate free shampoo and cleansers.
Choose low manipulation and protective styles.
Black hair flourishes when it is in low manipulation environments. Choosing styling options that do not require daily combing or brushing will reduce the damage your hair experiences. You can choose simple easy styles like a ponytail puff or a hair bun for a full protective style.
Start fresh with a trim.
Do you have really bad split ends? Get rid of them. There is nothing that will repair ends once they are damaged. Your best solution is to get a trim. Avoiding a trim will make your split ends get worse and cause terrible tangles in your hair.
Remember, it is important to begin treating damaged hair as soon as it is noticed. Otherwise, you risk damaging your hair even further.
Just my 2 cents worth: I think another step to take is to use protein treatments. I often read that people think that they are protein sensitive but, IMO, I think that they fail to follow up the protein treatment with a balancing moisturizer. I could be mis-categorizing my hair type (4b/c) but when I use a protein treatment and follow it with a moisturizer (my preference is the Aphogee line), my hair actually straightens out a bit. Not great for twists though. They unravel easier when after using the treatment for severe damage. I apply a strong protein treatment only once every 6 months or so because I do not use heat but regularly color my gray. I use one of the lighter reconstructors irregularly.
Hi I really enjoy this newsletter and its very helpful but I’m not sure what to buy for my hair or how to use the natural products my hair is very dry brittle and maybe damaged I’m not sure how can you tell if it is and I’m not sure what to do for routine