Overview
Hair is one of the first things people notice about you. Chemical treatments, excessive brushing, over-styling, coloring and exposure to the environment all damage hair over time. Damaged and broken hair appears discolored, is difficult to manage, tangles easily and has split ends, according to the Hair Foundation. Repairing this damage requires daily attention, frequent moisturizing and avoidance of those things that contribute to damage and breakage.
Step 1
Leave a conditioner specifically designed for broken, damaged or dry hair on your hair for a minimum of five minutes after shampooing. Condition your hair every time you shower, even if you do not wash your hair first. Concentrate on saturating the tips of your hair, as they are typically the most damaged.
Step 2
Allow your hair to air-dry instead of reaching for the blow dryer after showering. Heat from hair dryers, curling irons and other sources is a common cause of broken and damaged hair, according to Salonweb. If you must use a blow dryer, remove as much moisture from your hair first by gently towel drying it.
Step 3
Eat a diet rich in protein and essential fatty acids, both of which are necessary for healthy hair. Hair is composed almost entirely of hard, fibrous proteins called keratin, and your body requires protein from dietary sources to produce keratin. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also recommends eating a variety of fruits and vegetables and drinking plenty of water. Essential fatty acids are available over the counter in supplement form.
Step 4
Stay out of the sun and use conditioners and hair products that contain UV protection. The Hair Foundation states that the sun’s ultraviolet radiation breaks the chemical bonds that give hair its strength and bulk, and recommends wearing a hat whenever you go outside.
Step 5
Apply a deep conditioning treatment to your hair once each week to treat damage. Whole Living suggests using an oil-based conditioning treatment and allowing it to sit on your hair for 45 minutes. Very damaged hair may benefit from an overnight conditioning treatment. Protect your pillows by sleeping with a towel beneath your head.
Step 6
Use moisturizing oil on partially dry hair to increase its moisture level to a healthy 10 percent and to improve your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture from the environment. Salonweb recommends placing a few drops of safflower oil on your palms, and then running your hands through your hair to coat the hair strands. Do not wash out. If your hair feels greasy after applying the oil, it means you have used too much.
Step 7
Wait as long as possible between perms and colorings, and opt for low or no ammonia products to prevent additional drying and breaking of your hair. Whenever possible, wait at least eight weeks between processing to give your hair time to recover from the chemical damage inflicted during perming or coloring.
Step 8
Comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb instead of brushing your hair when it is wet. This prevents hair breakage. Brushing too frequently or vigorously will also damage your hair and cause it to break.
Step 9
Rinse your hair in clean, fresh water after swimming in chlorinated pools or saltwater. Chlorine is very drying to the hair and saltwater alters your hair’s natural pH, making it more alkaline and damaging your hair’s keratin, according to the Hair Foundation.
