How to repair damaged natural hair?
Hi everyone! I hope you are well. Today, I’m going to talk about damaged hair. Do you have damaged hair and have to practically start all over again? What a nightmare! I’ve been there myself, and I already shared this bad hair experience in another article. So, believe me when I say that I feel your pain! Broken hair, different hair lengths, major split ends, curls completely damaged, hair loss or even bald spots are various symptoms that indicate that you most likely have damaged hair. If your hair encounters one or more of these problems, then you are in the right place because I will let you know how to repair damaged natural hair in 10 steps.
Identifying the reason why your hair is damaged
The first step is undoubtedly to identify the reason(s) why your hair is damaged. This will allow you to stop causing damage to your hair and be able to focus on the steps to make your hair healthy again. Your hair can be damaged for several reasons: neglect, too much manipulation, chemical treatments (hair dyes, special hair straightening, etc.), very dry hair poorly maintained, too tight protective hairstyles, products with very chemical components … the list is long. It’s therefore essential to identify the problem before proceeding to the next steps.
Cutting off all your damaged hair
If your hair is damaged, you must cut off all your damaged hair. There is no other way. Please keep in mind that you only have to cut the complete damaged parts of your hair, not all your hair. If you don’t cut the damaged parts of your hair, it will likely never be fully healthy. If a lot of your hair is damaged and the idea of cutting off a large part of your hair doesn’t sit well with you, make sure to gradually trim your hair every month until you get rid of all the damaged parts.
Deep-cleaning your scalp
After getting rid of your damaged hair, it will be necessary to prepare your scalp for a fresh start. It’s important that you deep-clean your scalp so you can remove excess sebum and hair product build up. Your scalp will then be totally cleaned and ready for your hair cares. To deep-clean your scalp, you can opt for a clarifying shampoo or an apple cider vinegar rinse. Do not forget to deep-condition your hair afterwards because these products tend to make your hair dry. You should deep-clean your scalp once every month or every 6 weeks, depending on your hair.
Using a leave-in conditioner regularly
A leave-in conditioner is a must-have product when you have damaged hair because it helps your hair in several ways. It will restore your hair, soften it, bring shine and will moisturise your hair all day long. A leave-in conditioner restores essential nutrients to the scalp, strengthens and helps repair damaged hair.
Applying protein hair treatments every other week
Hair is naturally made of proteins. However, when you have damaged hair, your hair has fewer proteins than necessary, especially if your hair is damaged because of chemical treatments. You will need extra protein. Protein treatments will strengthen and restructure your hair. It’s, therefore, recommended that you do a protein treatment every other week. until your hair regains a good protein-moisture balance.
Deep-conditioning every other week
Deep conditioner goes, as its name suggests, moisturise your hair in depth and also promotes the elasticity and flexibility of your hair. The best would be to use a bit of heat (heat cap, plastic cap + hot towel, …) so that it can adequately penetrate your hair. It’s recommended to deep-condition your hair every other week.
Protecting your hair ends
Hair ends are the oldest parts of your hair, so it’s important to give them special care. When moisturising your hair, insist on the ends and always seal the moisture. You can also opt for the baggy method, which is maybe the most popular method for maximum protection of your hair ends. I invite you to look for some YouTube videos about it if you want to know more.
Please note that to be able to follow this step correctly, you must be sure that you have cut off all the damaged parts of your hair. Otherwise, be aware that you will just be wasting your products for nothing because you can’t resurrect hair that is already dead.
Washing your hair weekly
Whether you have damaged hair or not, it’s always recommended to wash your hair once or twice a week. This helps you maintain healthy hair and good hair hygiene. Washing your hair once a week also helps to minimise product build up on your scalp. I personally advise you to avoid shampoos with super chemical components (sulphate, paraben, mineral oils) because if you have sensitive and thin hair like me, it can cause hair loss. Also, be sure to air-dry your hair. You should not use hair-dryers or flat irons when you have damaged hair.
Applying different types of hair cares
If you have damaged hair, it’s important to apply different hair cares that will help you improve the health of your hair. Favour hair cares that will stimulate hair growth and strengthen your hair. Damaged hair needs to be particularly cared for and nourished in order to be healthy again. Hair cares such as hot oil treatments, natural hair powders or homemade hair cares will do your hair good, especially as pre-poos. Try to apply one every week during wash day.
Wearing protective styles
Protective hairstyles, such as cornrows, box braids, or twists, will allow you to let your hair rest. You will just need to maintain your hair moisture daily with a spray and massage your scalp 2-3 times per week. You can ideally wear one protective style from time to time.
Know that it’s important that you focus on the health of your hair before worrying about your hair length. To get length, your hair must first be healthy. It’s therefore pointless to get sick because you feel that your hair didn’t seem to grow enough inches after a short period. Take pictures every four weeks, and I promise you that you will see a clear improvement between each photo if you follow the 10 steps I just introduced you in the article.
And you? Have you ever had damaged hair? And what did you do to get healthy hair again?
Source featured image: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/01/6d/a0/016da0a2ed771d759241cd3f6b669492.jpg
Girl yes! All facts, especially when it comes to cutting off the damaged hair. You nailed it all.
Thank you girl! I think people sometimes fail to understand that cutting off the damaged hair is really important. So, I hope this article can help some people 😊
Great tips ! Cut off damaged hair is perhaps the best advice that is also the hardest part !!
Thank you Leslie! I agree with you. I’ve been there myself but I knew I had to cut off my damaged hair if I wanted to get healthy hair again.
The biggest struggle people seem to have is cutting off the damaged hair. Especially if they believe long hair is life.
I couldn’t agree with you more. I had a lot of people contacted me asking what should they do to grow their hair. And I always have to explain them that in order to make their hair grow, they need to have healthy hair first.
These are great tips and sadly I have been here a couple of times, but I have made the final cut and now I am committed to my hair growing and getting my curls back like I like them!
Great tips! I’ll cut off my hair in a second if I feel like it’s damaged.
You’re welcome 😉 and you are right. Damaged hair always have to be cut off in order to get healthy hair again. There is no other way.
I haven’t straightened my hair in almost a year. I have been deep conditioning and all types of stuff. Even went and got a Devacut which I am looking to get another soon.
That’s good! I don’t even remember the last time I straightened my hair. I believe years ago.
I heard of Devacut but don’t know much. I’ll look into it.
I would also like to add to use natural methods to cleanse your scalp! I use clay mask and apple cider vinegar rinses to clean my scalp for better hair health and growth.
Yes it’s best to use the most natural products possible. I don’t do apple cider vinegar for the moment because I’m a bit lazy lol but I’ll start using it at some point.