8 Reliable Ways to Repair Heat-Damaged Hair

Hair damaged by heat is very dry, brittle, non-shiny and porous. The hair color loses its natural shade; the texture becomes frizzy and shows thinning advancements. The hair depletes too much, so if the gobbet of hair in the bathroom is more than 1 inch in diameter, alarming limits have headed close.

Hair damage generally occurs due to excessive sun bathing, UV rays, and frequent hair-straightening or hair-drying and different chemicals in various cosmetics. The protein bonds in the hair get permanently altered to a point from which the hair structure cannot return to natural curls, neither reserve moisture to make the hair look rejuvenated.

Curly hair is the most fragile because every curling point becomes a potential point of breakage if too much pressure is applied. Frequent hair straightening practices lead to the deterioration of the overall hair quality. Although straightening 3-4 times in a month does not seem like too frequent, a few times per year would be convenient.

Refraining from heat protection sprays, lotions or conditioner lead to hair damage; self applied oils, might increase the temperature of the strands to an undesirable level while any heat tools or appliances are applied.

The hair needs to be washed with a gentle shampoo which is designed especially for dry and frizzy hair. After rinsing the shampoo, a conditioner needs to be applied and untouched until 3 minutes before finally washing off.

• A leave-in conditioner would be the next step that contains silicone, vitamin E, coconut oil or silk. This retains moisture and resists possible damage to the hair.
• Beauty supply stores offer deep conditioning treatments such as hair mayonnaise which can be pretty useful if applied once a week.
• A warm thick moisture induced hair mask made out of mashed avocado and olive oil applied onto the hair, washed off after 30 minutes, can bring out the previous shine.
• An egg mixed in a small amount of shampoo, applied and rinsed well after 5 minutes of application, helps to restore the protein content of hair.
• Certain products can prepare the hair to be less affected by heat, and it is advisable to use them before planning a heat treatment on the hair.
• Trimming split ends once a month and eating protein rich foods help in the natural blossom of good hair. Chicken, nuts, and fish stand as helpful examples.

Before straightening, the hair needs to be dry and brushed well. The heat setting needs to be at the lowest and a thermal protection serum is a must later. The serum will coat the hair follicles with polymer that shields from heat damage. Spending prolonged time on one spot increases the problem. Straightening regularly is an ill practice and should be avoided as much as possible. Alternatively, a strong setting lotion or spray used with Velcro rollers becomes pretty useful without much damage caused to hair health.

A good trim to the hair on a regular basis helps to wipe out a significant amount of damage consistently. The hair tip experiences the most damage as it has completed a longer time span. However, it should always be followed with a health care regimen later including restorative shampoos and conditioners.

Equipments like blow-dryers, curling irons and straightening irons damage hair in general.

Use of chemical processing and hair colors should be avoided as bleaches present in hair colors can stress and further damage the already tangled hair. Ammonia-free formulas and the ones that are demi-permanent can help during this period.

Sulphate free shampoo and conditioners are advised to be used while washing the hair not more than twice a week. Even the ones with natural oils and herbs should fall under similar checks. Shampoos or conditioners containing sodium laurel or laureth sulphates should be avoided as they take out the natural protective oils from the hair. Shampoos having a pH of 4.5 to 5.5 show plausible results while repairing damaged hair. The detergents present in shampoos that clean the dirt out of the hair tends to damage the hair along with prolonged usage.

Hair should be washed in lukewarm or cool water, and the last attempt at rinsing off the shampoo should be done with cool water. The hair cuticle is closed by cool water and the hair shafts lie flat which ensures shinier and smoother hair.

If the hair is damaged by build up from hard water deposits or minerals, then clarifying shampoos can remove the residues. The frequency of usage would depend on the kind of build up that the hair gets affected by. Normally, this kind of shampoo is used once or twice a month. The clarifying shampoo washes the build up that stands as a cause of brittle and split ends.

Conditioners to be used should consist of aloe vera, glycerol, panthenol, mineral oils, amino acids or protein. These have high moisture retaining capabilities. Components, for example, macadamia nut oil, argan oil and shea butter coat help saturate the cuticle with enough moisture and increase the volume of the hair. Conditioners also can be applied more than using shampoos, as the hair gets cleaned without experiencing much damage due to the moisturizing elements present in conditioners, along with cleaning detergents. A leave-in conditioner also increases the ability of the hair to fight heat stresses from the sun’s rays.

Deep condition treatments help rejuvenate the healthy hair flow. After applying the deep conditioner to the hair, a hot towel wrap around for 15-20 minutes will do the trick.

Having hairstyles which do not require too many hair products can be another way to avoid further hair problems due to heat concentrated processes. A detangling spray can be applied before applying a comb to wet hair and products with high levels of alcohol or peroxide should be rejected. Leave-in fortifying sprays keep the hair protected from various environmental polluting factors. A regular trimming of the split ends, rather than dependence on cosmetics that just form a layer which gets rinsed with the next rinse, is also a suitable option while caring for one’s hair.

Humectants possess a chemical structure that attracts water from the atmosphere, thus using humectants helps the hair retain its moisture as well as nourishing it with proteins and botanicals.

If possible, the hair should be sprayed with water at fixed time spans. The main reason behind heat damage is the loss of moisture so the more damp hair, the less incidence of damage. And after going through a regular bathing procedure, the hair should be wrapped up with a soft towel that would absorb the moisture and not rubbed with it.
Hot oil treatments can be left overnight and then washed in the morning with all-natural shampoos or moisturizing conditioners.

Loose hairstyles are preferable remedies. It helps the hair deal with the sun and the wind’s damaging effects and prevents hair fall due to very tight braids or ponytails.

Hair repairing remedies made from well accessible home supplements:

1. Avocado and Avocado Oil

   Firstly, on wet hair, a ripe avocado (pit removed) can be mashed with 1 egg and applied. After remaining undisturbed for almost 20 minutes, the hair requires several washes. This can be followed once a week for damaged hair and once a month for healthy hair.

   Secondly, depending on the extent of the hair, the pulp of ½ to 1 ripe avocado should be blended with 1 to 2 teaspoons of olive oil, until a thin, smooth consistency is obtained. This has to be applied to the hair, left for an hour and then washed out.

   Thirdly, 1 ripe avocado, 1 egg yolk and enough coconut oil can be mashed together preparing a thin mush. After being applied to the scalp it should be massaged for 5 minutes in circular motions. 1 hour later, a wash with shampoo and lukewarm water would ensure its completion.
   

   Fourthly, 1 tablespoon of extra virgin avocado oil can be mixed with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and heated together on low intensity, until they become slightly warm. The mixture should be massaged onto the hair maintaining circular motion for 15 minutes. Later, a clean towel should be soaked in warm water and ringed out. The towel can be used to encircle the head tightly for about 15 minutes before the hair is washed thoroughly.

   Avocados are rich in vitamins, essential fatty acids and minerals which revive the quality of hair. Avocado coats and softens the hair to keep it hydrated and flexible. Avocado oil acts as a hair treatment reducing split ends acting as a moisturizer due to the presence of high vitamin E, copper, magnesium, amino acid and monounsaturated fat content in it.

2. Butter

   Dry, brittle hair can be treated with a small amount of butter for a glossy outlook. After the butter massage to dry hair, the hair has to be covered with a shower cap for about a half hour. A traditional shampooing process later will wash the butter off.
   

   Applying butter helps in fixing the hair that gets scorched due to the sun’s immense heat during summer.

3. Olive Oil

   Firstly, warmed up ½ cup olive oil (not boiled) can be rubbed onto the hair, then contained in a plastic bag and further wrapped with a towel. 45 minutes is the standard time before washing it off.

   Secondly, 2 teaspoons of olive oil can be heated and applied throughout the hair. After using a wide-toothed comb, a shower cap can be put on overnight. In the morning, the hair should be washed thoroughly and dried. Application of this technique once a week helps reducing split ends.
   

   Thirdly, olive oil can be applied combined with honey. The mixture of ¼ cup of olive oil and ½ cup of honey needs to be warmed and applied to the hair. After 30 minutes, the hair can be rinsed with lukewarm water and shampoo as usual. This can be followed 1 or 2 times a week.

   Olive oil consists of fatty acids, vitamin A, B1, B2, C, D, E, and K, keratin, iron, all that needed to protect the outer layer, i.e. the cuticle. The cuticle is prone to the highest level of damage. Extra virgin olive oil becomes the preferred ingredient as it is the least processed.

4. Tea

   Tea gives the hair a natural shine. A desirable amount of warm and unsweetened tea (freshly brewed or instant) can be used as a final rinse after a typical shampoo. It has to be kept in mind that tea enhances hair color, so while using the quality and color of tea should be kept in mind. Blondes are advised to use chamomile tea and brunettes should choose black tea to emphasize and also retain the color. While using the black tea, one has to add 2-4 bags of tea to 2 cups of boiling water and let it steep and cool along the night. Then the tea can be poured onto the hair after shampooing. A conditioner should be applied after 30 minutes. This process can be followed twice every week.
   

   The caffeine in black tea as well as polyphenols and vitamin E and C work in favor of blocking DHT – the main hormone responsible for hair loss.

5. Apple Cider Vinegar

   Firstly, 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar should be mixed with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 3 egg-whites, and rubbed onto damaged hair. The hair would require a plastic wrap or a shower cap for 15 minutes and then shampooed and rinsed.

   Secondly, 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or white vinegar can be mixed with 1 cup of water. Undiluted vinegar would harm the hair. The mixture needs to be applied to the hair after shampooing. The hair should be rinsed properly and conditioned.
   

   Apple cider vinegar restores the scalp’s natural pH level which keeps the hair soft and promotes healthy growth.

6. Eggs

   Firstly, 1 egg can be mixed with a small amount of shampoo, then applied to damaged hair and rinsed well.

   Secondly, 1 whisked egg can be massaged on the scalp and hair for few minutes. Then a shower cap can be used for 20 minutes. Later the hair can be cleaned in cool water using a usual shampoo.

   Thirdly, 2 eggs with ½ cup of yogurt, and 1-1/2 tablespoons of almond oil should be stirred into a creamy texture. Then this mixture should be massaged on the scalp and hair and left on covered by a towel for half an hour. Then it can be rinsed off with cool water and shampoo.
   

   Eggs supply nutrients and nourishment because yolks contain protein, minerals and essential fatty acids that impart a natural shine and cleanse the hair and scalp.

7. Aloe Vera

   Firstly, aloe vera juice might be directly applied onto damaged hair, left on for 10-15 minutes and then washed off with warm water.

   Secondly, 4 tablespoons of aloe vera gel, 3 tablespoons of yogurt and 2 tablespoons of coconut oil can be stirred well into a mixture and applied on damaged hair. It should be rinsed off with a mild shampoo. Any of the processes should be followed once a week.
   

   Aloe vera has humectants properties that can soothe the hair shafts. Containing enzymes, amino acids and vitamins C and E, this item turns out pretty good for hair.

8. Before the Swim or After A Swim

   To protect hair from probable deterioration due to going out into the heat on a beach or coming back from a swim under the sun, a mixture of ¼ cup apple cider and ¾ cup water can be used to rinse the hair followed with a conditioner.

   A frequent swimmer needs to use hair caps while in the pool as the sun’s rays compound the damage done by the chlorine present in the water. After a long walk in the sun, for example on a beach or a marathon, a hydrating aftermath becomes necessary to prevent hair damage.

Hair should always be rinsed everyday to disable the effects of build-ups, polluted residues, oil or dirt settling on the surface. A clarifying or moisturizing shampoo must be used before and after which there must be moisturizing protein treatment of the hair. The most promising way to dry the hair should be air drying as it causes the minimal amount of damage and is entirely a natural process. Hair must be stretched before straightening, and blow dryers should be applied on damp rather than wet hair.

Alternatives that cannot cause heat damage should always be the preference while thinking about straightening processes.

A good diet and plenty of water remains as the best way to tackle damage of hair due to heat.

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