Split ends happen when the cuticle (outer layer) begins to crack in severely damaged hair. When this happens, your hair is in danger of additional harm and breaking. It will also become increasingly challenging to manage and appear dull or frizzy. 

However, there’s more to hair damage than merely having split ends.

That said, can one’s harsh and brittle hair ever return back to being glossy and silky? There are instances when there is no simple answer to this conundrum. 

It is usually impossible to repair damaged hair, as damaged hair is simply a collection of dead cells.

The best treatments are time, a pair of scissors, preventive action to stop more damage or alternative hair care treatments. 

Don’t give up, though; with proper care and a few targeted treatments, you can begin to repair the outer cuticle and improve the look and feel of your hair.

What’s causing your damaged hair?

Your locks can suffer damage if colour, bleach, and style agents are mishandled or misapplied. 
Below are three main culprits behind damaged hair and how you can minimise the damage:

1. Hair damage from hair colouring

Whether you went pastel, mermaid, or simply sought to cover a few grey hairs, if you dye your hair at home, sometimes the damaging effects of your lack of care may stay longer than the colour. Chemical dyes remove the natural moisture from your hair and can quickly change smooth hair into something rough to the touch.

How to limit further damage

• Stay out of the sun – To minimise damage; experts advise picking a dye that is no more than three shades different from your original colour and going for deeper rather than lighter tones. In addition, unnatural colours like light blue or purple require more frequent touch-ups and maintenance since they are harder to maintain.
  
• Colour your hair less often – Increased intervals between touch-ups can also lessen damage. Wait 8 to 10 weeks, or even longer, if you can, between dye jobs. You can maintain your colour for longer by washing your hair less often, using shampoo and conditioner that is formulated for coloured hair, and washing your hair with cold water (hot water causes the hair cuticle to open or lift, allowing the dye to rinse out).
  
• Get your hair coloured professionally – Salons can be pricey, but it’s usually best to leave colouring to the experts. A qualified colourist understands how to utilise the best products to reduce harm.
  
• Opt for semi or demi-permanent colour – The only way to reverse the effects of treatments that permanently affect hair is to let it grow out and start anew.
  
• Stick to one treatment at a time – It is ideal to have your hair chemically relaxed, straightened, or permed at least two weeks before your hair colour appointment. This allows you a recovery period between treatments for your hair.

2. Hair damage from bleaching

If you’ve gone from dark to light hair, you’re undoubtedly all too familiar with the harms bleaching can do to your hair.

Each strand of your natural hair colour is washed out with bleach. This is accomplished by making your hair expand, which enables the bleach to penetrate the inner portion of the strand. The melanin that gives your hair colour dissolves when it’s bleached.

This procedure may leave hair porous, brittle, fragile, and dry. Over time, your hair’s structural changes may weaken and lose some elasticity.

How to limit further damage

• Bleach less frequently, or stop bleaching for a while – There is always some hair damage from bleach. It is best to do it less frequently or to stop bleaching altogether.
  
• Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise! – Before bleaching, moisturise your hair exceptionally well and refrain from other damaging practices, including heat style, for a few weeks.
  
• Don a hat – UV radiation from the sun can damage your hair. UV deterioration is most likely to affect bleached hair. Consider donning a wide-brimmed hat or a hair wrap to safeguard your hair and scalp. You can also apply a UV protection hair spray to protect your hair further.
  
• Beware of Chlorine – Chlorine can dry out your hair, making it feel even more brittle and coarse, giving it an unappealing colour of green.

3. Hair damage from heat treatments

Heat-assisted styling can “cook” hair fibres, causing elevated cuticles, and produce porous hair. Your hair may become more vulnerable to damage if you use heat too frequently or at high temperatures.

How to limit further damage

• Blow dry sparingly or from a distance – The damage that blow dryers are known to do. The good news is that you might not need to stop using it altogether. According to one study, holding the blow dryer 15 centimetres (approximately 6 inches) away from your hair while continuously moving it can help minimise damage.
  
• Apply heat protection product – These items are designed to protect hair and shield it from split ends.
  
• Lower blowing temperature – The harm you can cause increases with temperature. Regardless of the source, excessive heat can harm your hair. Limit the amount of time hot air, an iron, or a curling iron is in contact with your hair using the product’s lowest heat setting.
  
• Air dry whenever possible – Eliminate all heat sources and let the air work for you. After taking a shower, wrap your hair lightly in a towel before letting it hang freely to dry; this will assist in removing extra water. Avoid rubbing your hair with the towel, which might damage and create needless friction.

Heat-free drying is also a good option if you style your hair with a flat or curling iron. Utilising heat tools no more than once each week is advised by experts.

Conclusion

Once hair damage has been done, it cannot be undone – unless you have a time machine. 

Basically, you can minimise damaged hair by protecting it from the sun, keeping it well moisturised and with limited heat styling.
However, you can alter your routine and shower your hair more with TLC. Such as exploring Hair Care treatments as well as the right Hair Care products to supplement and nourish the damaged hair and hair cells, as part of healing and regeneration especially in providing the healthy environment for your damaged hair to recover.

If you still encounter problems with damaged hair even after applying these measures, please don’t hesitate to contact us for an appointment.