With the latest styling trends taking the hair world by storm, it can be easy to fall into the trap of putting your hair under immense pressure. From excessive use of heat to merely using the wrong products, there are a whole host of reasons why your hair can begin to become dry and brittle.
If you have noticed that your hair is in need of a little TLC, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve devised six top tips on how to heal damaged hair!
Top Tips On How To Heal Damaged Hair
Having worked as women’s hairdressers in Milton Keynes for many years, we’ve been lucky enough to pick up hundreds of tips on how to keep your locks in immaculate condition. Our stylists have worked with tonnes of clients who have successfully transformed their hair from severely damaged to sleek and smooth. Now it’s your turn!
Use Heated Styling Tools Sensibly
Our first top tip is something that you probably did see coming, the much-loved but ever so damaging heated styling tools. Straighteners, curlers and heated rollers are all great for making your hair look fabulous, but are an enemy of split ends. Excessive use of heat on your hair, in simple terms, “cooks” the fibres meaning that the follicles become raised, making your locks more prone to long-term damage.
In an ideal world, we’d be an advocate for banishing heated styling tools, but we all know that we simply couldn’t live without them. So, instead of instructing you to steer clear of all forms of heat, we’re going to fill you in on some super easy tricks to keep hair damage at a minimum.
First thing first, its time to invest in a high-quality heat protectant spray. Heat protectant products are designed to create a barrier over your follicles, protecting the fibres from heat damage – they’re the equivalent to sun cream but for your hair! Take a look at Cosmopolitan for a guide to the best heat protection sprays of the year!
When you do move onto your favourite styling tools, always aim to lower the temperature – remember, the higher the temperature, the more damage. If possible, try always to switch to the lowest setting on your tools; whether this may be a hairdryer or straighteners. It may mean that it’ll take a little longer to reach your desired style, but your hair will most definitely thank you for it!
Make DIY Hair Masks
If you adore experimenting with the latest beauty trends, then you’re going to love creating your very own DIY hair masks! While there are tonnes of expensive products available from your favourite retailers promising to transform your locks, you can actually achieve just as, or maybe even more, effective results from the comfort of your home. And even better, many of the ingredients used are more than likely lying about the house, making this tip super cost-effective.
When creating DIY hair masks, it’s essential to choose your ingredients wisely as each come alongside their own benefits. For example, you will notice that many recipes include the use of olive oil as it is packed with omega-3 fatty acids. These particular acids are perfect for promoting hair growth, along with strengthening the follicles and giving your locks just that extra luxurious shine.
If you’re stuck for inspiration on the best DIY hair mask recipes, take a look at Juve Trees!
Trim Hair Regularly
While it may be relatively easy to rehydrate your hair, unfortunately, there is no way of removing split ends unless you opt for taking a trip to your hairdresser. Leaving split ends because you simply cannot face cutting your hair will do nothing but cause your hair to become more and more brittle. Envision your hair as a ladder on your tights. There is no way of getting rid of the ladder, and the longer you leave it, the bigger it will get!
It is recommended to book in with your hairdresser for a trim every 10-12 weeks to avoid severe damage. This will allow you to maintain the health of your locks, preventing split ends for creeping their way up the strands. If you’re looking for a reputable hair salon in Milton Keynes, then why not give our experienced stylists a call? With a dedication to fulfiling your needs to the highest level, your hair couldn’t be in safer hands!
Use Oils To Your Advantage
Oil is your hairs best friends, and even better, they no longer cause your locks to feel overly greasy. Applying the correct products to your hair in small amounts will help to feed your follicles with all of the vital nutrients needed to stay strong, healthy and super shiny. They are also ideal for hydrating your scalp, stopping the skin from becoming dry and itchy. Healthline has put together a handy guide to the best essential oils for the hair, along with their benefits.
Applying oil to your hair and scalp couldn’t be easier; however, the method will slightly differ depending on the type of oil that you choose. For example, many products take a ‘leave-in’ approach, which means that they are applied to the ends of the hair while damp then left to dry.
If you opt for oil treatments, on the other hand, there will be a few more steps involved. The oil is first warmed up to lukewarm temperature and then applied to the hair in sections. If you also want to treat your scalp, then gently massage the oil into the skin with your fingertips in circular motions. The oil will then need to be left for up to 15 minutes before rinsing.
Take Care When Brushing
The cause of your damaged hair may be as simple as the technique you use to detangle. Hair is incredibly fragile, especially when it is damp or wet, which means that it is imperative to take extra care when brushing. Excessive tugging, even if you are faced with a birds nest filled with tangles, will cause immense damage to both the hair strands and follicles. For instance, tugging at your hair when attempting to detangle starts to remove some of the cuticle, which is the outer cell layer, meaning that the hair will become weakened and more susceptible to breakages.
As a rule to keep in mind, when brushing or combing your hair, always start at the bottom and work your way up. This will allow you to gently remove tangles in sections, as opposed to starting at the top and moving them all to the ends of the hair. You can find more tips on how to brush and comb without causing any damage on the Philip Kingsley website.
Choose Shampoo Wisely
You wouldn’t put any old skincare products on your face in the hope that you won’t wake up with a breakout, so be sure to take just as much care when selecting a shampoo.
The ideal shampoo would be those that include a sulphate-free formula. While sulphate is excellent for removing all grime and dead skin cells from the hair and skin, they also strip your natural oils. If your hair is already incredibly damaged, then it means that it’ll need as much oil as it can get, so always avoid sulphates until the condition of your hair begins to improve. If you’re hoping to start using a sulphate-free shampoo, but are unsure on the best products, we suggest taking a look at Look Fantastic for some inspiration!
Give Your Hair A New Lease Of Life!
If you feel as if your hair is in need of a little TLC, then our top tips will most definitely help to give your locks a new lease of life. It is always recommended to begin with booking in a hair cut to trim split ends, creating a fresh start for you to start hydrating. You can then begin to experiment with your DIY hair masks and oils, transforming your hair from drab to fab!