Despite claims made by hair care brands, it's important to realise that there's no instant fix for repairing damaged hair. The truth is that revitalising and restoring the health of your hair takes time and a committed, consistent approach. Thankfully, though, this doesn't mean you're without options. With the right guidance and care routine, you can significantly improve the condition of your hair over time. In this guide, we are excited to show you how.
1. Use Specialised Shampoo & Conditioner
When rebuilding hair health, using products tailored to your hair type is crucial. Hair care for damaged hair should focus on rebuilding broken bonds, adding movement, and enhancing overall condition and appearance. This can be achieved by providing support and restoring your hair to health.
Brands such as Kerastase, K18, and Olaplex have specialised formulas to help repair your hair.
2. Turn Down the Temperature in the Shower
Hot water can strip your hair of essential oils, leading to brittle and dry hair. Instead, opt for lukewarm water, which is less harsh on your scalp and hair. Cold showers have loads of health benefits, and faster hair growth is one of them.
Remember to squeeze out as much water as possible from your hair before applying conditioner to help the conditioner penetrate your hair better. If the conditioner is not specifically for the scalp, apply it only to the mid-lengths and ends of your hair. After shampooing and conditioning your hair in the shower, rinse it under cooler water for a minute or two to revitalise strands and refresh your scalp.
3. Use a Deep Conditioner Treatment
Remember to treat your damaged hair with a deep conditioning treatment or hair mask at least once a week if your hair needs repair, hydration, volume, or shine. The right masks can upgrade your haircare routine by penetrating deeply into the hair shaft, providing intense moisture and healing.
For more information on hair treatments and masks, check out our guide to the best hair masks to repair damaged hair.
4. Apply Leave-in Conditioner
Hair that doesn't have natural oils tends to be rough, lacklustre, and susceptible to static and tangles. Well-moisturised hair is less prone to tangling or knotting. If regular conditioner is insufficient, consider incorporating a leave-in or detangler into your hair care regimen.
Leave-in conditioners go a step beyond your normal conditioner. They can effectively detangle and safeguard your hair and provide long-lasting hydration. For dry or damaged hair, leave-in conditioners offer the extra moisture boost that your locks crave. Massage it into wet hair after shampooing and leave it in. Then, style as normal.
5. Stop Towel Drying Your Hair
Rubbing your hair with a towel can cause friction, leading to breakage and frizz. Instead, gently pat your hair with a microfiber towel or an old t-shirt, which is softer and less damaging.
6. Switch Up Your Brushing Method
Start gently brushing and untangling your hair when using a hair brush. Begin at the tips and gradually work through tangles as you work toward the roots. Avoid pulling the brush forcefully through your hair from the top of your head, as this can cause breakage and long-term damage, as well as cause flyaways and frizz.
Using a wide-tooth comb, especially when your hair is wet, can help prevent breakage. It's less harsh than brushing and can help distribute products evenly throughout your hair.
7. Always Protect Your Hair With Heat Protectant
Always apply a heat protectant to your hair before using any heat styling tools to minimise heat damage and keep your hair healthy. Applying heat protectants won't take long but will safeguard your hair from breakage and dehydration.
Check out our range of heat protectants from professional haircare brands such as GHD, Alfaparf, Moroccanoil, and more to find the perfect match for fully protected hair.
8. Book a Trip to the Hair Dressers
Regular trims help eliminate split ends and prevent them from working their way up the strand, which can lead to more damage. A professional can also offer personalised advice and treatments for your hair type.
Signs Your Hair is Damaged
- Split ends
- Texture changes (brittle, dry)
- Dullness
- Tangles easily
- High porosity (absorbs and loses moisture quickly)
Why Does Hair Get Damaged?
Bleach
Regular bleaching weakens your hair, making it prone to breakage and split ends.
Overusing heated tools
Frequently using hairdryers, straighteners, or curling irons without protection can lead to dry, damaged hair. Certain electrical devices have heat options that reach as high as 220 degrees! The ideal temperature for a curling iron or straightener that won't cause permanent damage is 180 degrees. Adjust your heat setting to this level. GHD stylers are designed to operate at this optimal temperature for this specific reason.
Skipping the trip to the hairdresser
Avoiding regular trims can lead to split ends and more severe damage.
Hair Colour
Regular dyeing, especially with permanent colours, can damage your hair over time.
However, there are specific formulas for hair treatments to repair hair damaged by colouring.
How to Fix Damaged Hair
Start by cutting down on processes that stress your hair, like dyeing and heat styling. Incorporate intensive conditioning treatments, use hair oils to add moisture and shine, and ensure you're getting a balanced diet to nourish your hair from the inside out. Be proactive in your hair care regimen and patient as your hair recovers. Invest in a silk pillowcase and a scrunchie for night time to reduce friction from tossing and turning on your pillow. When possible, loosely tie your hair with the scrunchie low on your head to minimise damage.
At Millies, we offer a range of haircare products designed to repair damaged hair and restore it to its total health. These products work from root to tip to boost vitality and overall hair health, remedying and healing hair, strengthening ends, and curing split ends.
More on Repairing Damaged Hair
How to repair damaged curly hair?
- Kérastase - The Curl Manifesto range is designed for curly hair, offering hydration and strength.
- Moroccanoil - Their Curl Defining Cream is excellent for moisturising and defining curls.
- Olaplex - The entire range is known for its bond-repairing properties, perfect for damaged curly hair.
Best hair treatment for dry, damaged hair?
- K18 - Their Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask is known for its deep-repairing capabilities.
- Redken - The Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo is highly effective for repairing damaged hair.
- Alfaparf - The Semi Di Lino Moisture Nutritive range adds moisture and nourishes.
How can damaged hair be repaired fast at home?
To repair damaged hair quickly at home, consider these brands:
- Olaplex - The No.3 Hair Perfector is ideal for weekly treatments to repair and strengthen hair.
- Kevin Murphy - The Repair-Me. Wash and Repair-Me. Rinse duo provides immediate hydration and repair.
- Colour Wow - The Dream Coat Supernatural Spray protects and smooths hair, giving it a healthy look instantly.
How to repair bleach-damaged hair?
For bleach-damaged hair, Millies recommends:
- Olaplex - Their No.0 and No.3 system works wonders for rebuilding the hair's structure.
- Moroccanoil - The Restorative Hair Mask deeply conditions and repairs damaged hair.
- Pureology - The Strength Cure range is designed to strengthen and repair damaged, colour-treated hair.
How long does heat-damaged hair take to repair?
Repairing heat-damaged hair can take several months, depending on the extent of the damage. One thing to remember is to always use heat protectant before blow drying your hair. Cream or oil-based heat protectants can provide extra nourishment and hydration, while lightweight spray heat protectants are convenient and time-saving when you want to style already washed hair with a hot tool or electrical appliances.
