Most ladies will agree that healthy and vibrant hair is a source of radiance and confidence, while lifeless, dry and brittle hair often has the exact opposite effect, especially when a queen’s crown is her hair.
Some of the causes of damage to hair include bleaching, hair coloring, perming, up-dos, over-brushing, shampooing too frequently, excessive use of blow dryers, curling irons, and flat irons, as well as applying the wrong products. Shampoos containing alcohol or sulfates can do a lot of damage to hair. Alcohol causes hair to become dry and brittle. Damaged hair can be identified by its rough texture, dulled shine, split ends, lack of moisture, extreme breakage, high porosity, lack of elasticity, and too many tangles.
If you have observed most of the above mentioned signs, it’s about time you took action to revive your damaged locks and curls. With proper care, damaged hair can be nurtured back to health. You should act immediately if you notice damage as you may be left no choice than to shear your hair off if the damage spreads.
Protective styling is one sure way to help your hair recover from damage and keep it healthy. Protective styling refers to those styling methods that reduce hair manipulation and encourage growth retention, while protecting your strand ends and minimizing knots and tangles in your hair. Protective styles require minimal daily upkeep and manipulation. There are several such beautiful braids and updo's that you can wear at least 3 or 4 days a week while your hair is recovering from damage. For best results, it is advisable that you only leave your hair “out” for, at most, a week each month until your hair is healthy again.
Here are eight other tested and trusted tips to help you care for and rejuvenate your hair.
1. Trimming Damaged Hair Ends
If you notice that your hair ends have a straw-like texture, it is necessary that you get them trimmed. This is the first step to restoring your hair, and every so often, it is sufficient to take care of the damage and revitalize your hair. You don’t need an extreme chop, you just need a layered trim.
2. Avoiding Hot Styling Tools
Immediately if you notice damage, it’s time to put all your hot styling tools away. Heat is not at all good for your already damaged hair and scalp. Totally eliminating the heat will really help your hair recovery. Allow your hair to dry naturally and do styles and curls that don’t require heat.
3. Abstaining From Chemicals and Artificial Colors
Certain chemicals aren’t good for your hair. Dyeing, bleaching or perming your hair when it’s damaged is a very bad idea, because this will spread the damage beyond saving. Stay away from chemical treatments, at least until your hair has recovered. Most salon healing treatments involve chemicals, so you want to stay away from these and revitalize your hair with natural ingredients. Go for natural hair dyes such as henna, cassia and tea. These will nourish your hair while coloring it, if you have to conceal some greys or add some color.
4. Using Sulphate-Free Hair Products
In regards to your shampoos and conditioners, go for natural hair products, such as Tree Naturals products, that don’t contain any harsh chemicals such as sulphate and sodium lauryl. Exchange all your hair products for those made from natural ingredients like oils, and homemade deep conditioning masks.
5. Using Oils
Oil your hair often to nourish it and keep it healthy. Use various oils such as olive, coconut and castor oils. Tree Naturals has an amazing oil blended for this purpose. Slowly massage the oil into your scalp and leave it in for a minimum of two hours before shampooing. Oils form a defensive barrier around the cuticles and nourish the shaft.
6. Using Natural Hair Treatments
Utilize natural ingredients such as mayonnaise, eggs, avocado, oils, bananas and others, to make healthy hair masks. These will rejuvenate your hair to sound health in a short while. Choose natural remedies over chemicals, so you know what it is you’re applying and how it helps.
7. Eating Foods Rich in Protein
Eggs, yogurt, fish, and lentils are all protein-rich and can nourish your hair back to health. Hair is composed of proteins, and so you need more proteins to restore damaged hair. Find foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Bear in mind, however, that too much protein and too little moisture will cause brittleness. So while you fill in on your proteins, keep using your homemade deep conditioning masks.
8. Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle
Maintaining good overall health is key to keeping hair healthy. As has rightly been said, your hair reflects your overall well-being. Eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, drinking water and living healthy are crucial steps to take if you want your hair to grow long and strong.
Bonus tip: Moisturize and Seal those ends DAILY! We recommend using our rice flower & shea leave in conditioner or honey, fruit & flowers hair milk + Natasha’s growth butter for daily maintenance.
