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If you’ve spent the summer lounging on the beach or at the pool, you may be experiencing the harsh effects of sun, sand, saltwater, and/or chlorine. Hair that is normally well-behaved may be dry, brittle, brassy, or just plain bad.
These effects can be reversed, but it’s going to take some effort! Here are my best tips to bring your hair back to good health:
1. Assess the damage
Before hair can be fixed, you have to determine what’s wrong with it. Is it mildly damaged or beyond repair? Most hair can be revived, but if it’s truly awful, the only solution may be a cut. This can be very traumatic, I know, but needed. Start with a trim before you ease into a major chop.
2. Turn down the heat
Do you use a blow drier, flat iron, or curling iron? All heat styling causes damage and it’s best to limit these tools to only once or twice weekly. Personally, I don’t use any of the above, except for a special occasion. My hair is naturally straight and I don’t fight the texture.
3. Use high-quality products
I love freebies and thanks to couponing, my stockpile is bursting with shampoo, conditioner, and stylers. I’ve used everything from Suave to Salon Brands, and I definitely see and feel a difference when I use the good stuff. Right now, I’ve been enjoying Nexxus. Look for products that are alcohol free and gentle.
4. Get a Good Brush
Different hair types require a different brush. Straight brush, round brush, paddle brush—try everything and see what works best for you. Some ladies swear by a boar bristle brush. For my own hair, which is medium-thick and long, I use a plastic brush with reinforced tips that don’t snag. Avoid the ones with a metal core, if you heat style. They can scorch!
5. Don’t Over Wash
It’s fine to skip washing daily, especially if your hair is fried. Try washing every other day and just rinse with water on off days. Always use conditioner daily when hair is brittle.
6. Deep Condition
If regular conditioner isn’t helping, try using a deep conditioner. I love hot oil treatments and hair masques. There are some great commercial products, or you can experiment with making some.
7. Use gentle hair color
Coloring takes a toll, but if you want to—I do!—look for gentle products that don’t contain peroxide, ammonia, resorcinol, PPDs and alcohol. I used to use Loreal freebies, but ever since I tried Madison Reed, I’ve been hooked! Their color is a salon-quality formula with naturally-derived ingredients like argan oil, keratin, and ginseng root. I’ve found it to be long-lasting, too.
How do you care for damaged hair?