How to repair damaged hair

What causes damaged hair? 

1. Bleaching or colouring hair 

When you lighten your hair more than three shades, it requires higher volumes of peroxide or bleach, which causes more hair damage. 

Bleach removes moisture from the hair, leading to dryness, and continuous bleaching can lead to breakage and split ends. 

Permanent hair colour can also dry out your hair strands, so it’s advisable to leave time between hair colour sessions – usually around six to eight weeks. 

It’s also advised to go for a darker shade than your current colour because this avoids bleach and it’s less damaging to your hair. 

2. Hot styling tools 

Hairdryers, straighteners and curlers are great for achieving trendy hairstyles but they aren’t best for healthy hair, especially when frequently used. 

Most hot styling tools also reach temperatures that are higher than those we choose to cook our food, so they can seriously fry your hair strands. 

Using them in moderation at a low temperature is best, and a heat protectant should be applied beforehand. 

How to repair damaged hair 

Ditch the heat 

L’Oreal said: “Heat protectant is important, but if your hair is significantly damaged, you should avoid applying heat to your hair altogether.”

Either embrace your natural hair texture or opt for heatless hairstyles – and many clever styling accessories can be used on damp hair overnight, creating bouncy curls the next morning with no styling tools used. 

If you do want to style your hair, there are several heatless tools now available that use Coanda airflow to dry and style hair. 

Express.co.uk tried and tested Dyson’s Airwrap versus Shark’s FlexStyle for a review. 

Swap your hairbrush 

Tangles and aggressive tugging motions of a hairbrush can lead to hair breakage. Wet hair is also the most fragile and therefore most prone to damage. 

So use a wide tooth comb on wet hair because the wide spaces between the teeth can smooth your hair with less friction.

Wash your hair less and in lukewarm water 

L’Oreal said: “Limit how often you wash your hair – it’s best to wash your damaged hair no more than two times a week because overwashing can lead to dryness, thus further damaging your hair.”

Hot water strips hair of essential oils and can make it feel drier whilst also prematurely fading your hair colour. Instead, “rinse your hair in lukewarm water the next time you wash it”. 

Add nourishing products to your routine 

The experts added: “It’s also important that you incorporate a protein treatment into your haircare routine. Use it in place of conditioner or as a leave-in treatment to coat weak hair fibres.”

Protein concentrates like L’Oreal’s 8-second Wonder Water are “good for damaged hair because it strengthens the hair while leaving it silky and healthy-looking”. 

Weekly, consider adding a deep conditioner or hair mask that strengthens hair and protects against future damage. 

L’Oréal’s Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm Rinse-Out Mask is said to be “formulated with caring ingredients, including hydrating almond oil and a repair concentrate with proteins to condition and revive damaged hair in just three to five minutes”.  

Ditch the towel to dry your hair 

Regardless of how healthy your hair is, aggressively rubbing your hair dry with a traditional towel creates harsh tugging that can lead to breakage.   

Cotton T-shirts work well because they’re absorbent and much gentler on the hair than towels, purchase an organic jersey cotton hair towel from Good Wash Day because they quickly absorb water, reduce frizz and dry hair without pulling on it.

Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase

If you’re a rough sleeper, “friction between your hair and your cotton pillowcase can also lead to breakage”, the beauty experts said. 

Swap your pillowcase for a silk or satin one, as it has a “slinky finish that’s gentler on the hair, resulting in fewer tangles and less frizz when you wake up”. 

L’Oreal noted: “It also helps with moisture retention, whereas cotton can draw out the necessary oils that moisture the hair.”