If you’re looking for a magic formula that can repair damaged hair in one night, you’re in for a huge disappointment. The truth is, there is no such solution. All these salons can tell you anything they want but there is no way on Earth you can turn frizzy, dry and brittle hair into a silky smooth mane quickly.
It takes time because repairing the hair is a process, albeit a slow one. So if your attempt at bleaching your hair has turned into your worst nightmare, just follow the tips we’ve provided here and pretty soon you can let down your hair once again for everyone to see and appreciate.
1. First, you need to cleanse your hair of all the toxins, chemicals and gunk.
The stuff that we expose our hair to such as shampoos, hair color, water and dirt all contribute to its eventual damage. So just as we need to cleanse our body through water therapy and detox, we also need to de-gunk our hair through clarifying treatments using good ole baking soda or apple cider vinegar. Mix your regular shampoo with about a tablespoon of baking soda and then let the solution sit on your hair for 3-5 minutes.
If you have hair color on your hair, please take note that using clarifying treatments may cause fading.
2. Second, try a hot oil treatment.
Hot oil treatments in salons can be expensive but you don’t need to spend an arm and leg for it. That’s because there are DIY hot oil treatments available. Simply buy Palmer’s hot oil treatment or Alberto VO5, apply it on your hair, wrap with a hot towel and leave it there for 20 minutes. Do this at least 2x a week.
3. Avoid styling your hair.
During the recovery process, stay away from all hair chemicals and styling tools. You may also want to tie your hair loosely or simply cover it with a bandana or scarf to keep hair away from your face. As you are well aware, chemicals and heating tools can pose a problem to your hair and over time, they cause damage. So if you are trying to repair your damaged hair, it makes sense to avoid these things for now.
4. Deep-condition your hair regularly.
Regular conditioners are fine if your hair is healthy. But if you have dull, lifeless and brittle hair, you need to deep-condition it. You can try Neutrogena’s Triple Moisture Daily Deep Conditioner or Kérastase Nutridéfense Anti-Drying, Nutri-Protective Treatment which are quite popular. If you have very damaged hair, then you need deep conditioning treatments 3x a week.
Massage the cream on your hair and then leave it there overnight if possible. Otherwise, you can just rinse it after 30 minutes.
5. Trim your hair.
The answer to split ends and breakage is a hair cut. I know, I know. You don’t want to do that because it takes months to grow back your hair. Don’t worry, we’re not talking about a pixie hair cut here. Trimming your hair about 2 inches is all it takes. You may want to do this every 6 weeks though until your hair is fully repaired.
Aside from the steps provided above, you also need to keep in mind the following tips:
- Don’t expose your hair to too much sunlight. As much as possible, use an umbrella, wear a hat or cover your hair with a head scarf to protect it from the damaging effects of UV rays.
- Take vitamins. Vitamins A, D, E and K are all essential to healthy hair. Make sure you have enough of these through the foods you eat or even through multi vitamin supplements.
- Avoid applying too many products on your hair. While your hair is still in the process of restoring its luster and shine, you should stay away from hair dyes, hair sprays and chemical-laden shampoos.
It will take time before you can see significant results on your hair, depending on how damaged it is. But by consistently following the tips above for at least 6 weeks, you should be able to notice some difference within this period.
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