Split ends, frizz, breakage... Your hair has been subjected to the vagaries of time, seasonal variations and the use of heating tools and is now suffering the consequences. When our hair is damaged, our first instinct is often to contact our favorite hairdresser to set up an appointment and cut everything that is damaged, right?
However, is this really the only option? Do we necessarily have to say goodbye to our lengths when they are no longer healthy? In the columns of Mind Body Green, Joel Warren, American professional hairstylist, shared his tips for taking care of dry and damaged hair.
"To begin with, it is essential to understand why the hair is damaged", emphasizes the hairdresser. Are they damaged by coloring? By the recurring use of heated tools? Are they naturally dry and delicate? These questions are crucial, because depending on the cause of the problem, the treatment will not be identical. For the hairdresser, the key step is to carry out a diagnosis in the salon before embarking on the cut.
For the expert, an essential rule: moisturize your hair as if our life depended on it. Just like skin, our hair requires hydration to stay strong and beautiful. Joel Warren advises incorporating a moisturizing mask into our hair care routine. He also recommends using a moisturizing shampoo and leave-in conditioner with the same benefits. His essential tip? A lightweight hair cream and heat protectant to apply before using a heat tool.
A question persists: when our hair is too damaged despite all our efforts, should we cut it? For the hairdresser, the answer is simple: "Hair is not like skin; it does not heal", he specifies. "When the skin is injured, the body´s natural healing process kicks in. Damaged cells are replaced by new cells and the wound gradually closes," he adds.
When it comes to hair, it´s not the same. Indeed, hair cells do not renew themselves because they are already dead once they leave the scalp. Thus, the hairdresser advises not to be tempted by supposedly miraculous products that repair damaged hair, because the only thing they accomplish is to improve the appearance of the hair, without really treating the source of the problem.
The expert therefore advises to cut the damaged parts to start again on a good basis. "This process can be long, and damaged hair will remain damaged until it is cut or falls out naturally."
Recurrent use of heated tools can cause hair damage. Appliances such as straighteners, curling irons and hair dryers subject the hair to high temperatures, which can cause the breakdown of keratin (the protein that makes up the structure of hair) and weaken the hair fiber .
Excessive or improper use of these tools can lead to problems such as dryness, breakage, split ends and loss of shine. To avoid these problems, it is important to take certain precautions:
Use a heat protectant before applying heat to your hair. These products help protect hair from excessive heat and prevent damage.
Try to limit the use of heat tools to a few times a week rather than daily.
Set heated appliances to a lower temperature, especially if you have fine or fragile hair.
Moisturize your hair regularly with masks, conditioners and moisturizers to strengthen and nourish the hair fiber.
By following these tips, you can minimize the damage caused by using heat tools and maintain the health of your hair.
In conclusion, it is essential to take care of your hair to prevent it from becoming dry and damaged. Identifying the cause of the problem, moisturizing the hair regularly and adopting appropriate practices when using heating tools are all measures to implement to maintain the health of your hair. However, if the damage is too great, it is sometimes necessary to cut the damaged parts to allow the hair to start again on a good basis. The important thing is to be attentive to the needs of your hair and to provide it with the appropriate care to preserve its beauty and vitality.