5 Ways To Improve Damaged Hair

Are You Dealing With Weak, Brittle, and Damaged Hair? 

Numerous factors can negatively affect your hair’s strength, appearance, and overall health. In this article, we’ll walk you through five practical, simple steps that you can take to care for damaged hair and improve its look, feel, and health. In addition, we will discuss some of the causes of hair damage and how to prevent them from sabotaging your efforts at achieving the hair of your dreams.


The Primary Causes of Hair Damage

While there are many potential causes for hair damage, the three factors listed below are some of the prime suspects for causing split ends, breakage, and other issues.


Inconsistent Hair Care Habits 

When you are inconsistent with your hair care routine, your hair’s health can suffer. Being diligent with your use of shampoo, conditioner, and other important hair products can make a major difference for your hair’s overall health.


Low-Quality Hair Products 

Shampoos, conditioners, and other hair products are not all created equal. Some hair care products contain harsh chemicals, artificial colors and scents, and other potentially harmful ingredients that you definitely want to avoid. These ingredients have the potential to dry out your hair, leaving it brittle and weak. In addition, low-quality hair products can sometimes cause a dry and irritated scalp.


Stress

Stress can have a direct impact on your hair’s health, and can also contribute to hair loss in some cases. When you are stressed, your body releases cortisol, a hormone which can have a shrinking effect on your follicles. This can cause your hair to grow shorter, thinner, and weaker.


Your Pillowcase 

Did you know that the fabric you lay your head on each night can have a major impact on your hair? Some pillowcases are made from more abrasive fabrics, which can create friction as you sleep. Choosing the wrong pillowcase can leave your hair frizzy, especially if you have curly or wavy hair.


What You Can Do To Strengthen and Restore Damaged Hair 

While the factors listed above can have significant negative effects on your hair, there’s still hope. Below are five key tips to follow for stronger, healthier hair.


1. Choose Your Hair Products Wisely 

As you’ve learned, not every shampoo, conditioner, or other hair product is the same. Some ingredients can be potentially damaging to anyone’s, and others are especially problematic for certain hair types. 

Below are some essential rules for choosing your shampoo, conditioner, and other hair products.

Avoid sulfates, especially if you have curly or wavy hair. Sulfates are emulsifying ingredients, which help to give hair products a lathery texture. While this lather may feel nice when massaged into your hair and scalp, it can also have a drying effect on some hair types. Sulfates attract both water and oil to themselves, and they can strip your hair of its natural oils as a result. Curly and wavy hair have a distinct texture that is largely dependent on the hair’s natural oils. To ensure that you can maintain healthy, hydrated, and nourished hair, make sure to choose sulfate-free hair products.

Watch out for artificial ingredients. Additives like parabens, fragrances, dyes, and more can all have potentially negative effects on your hair and overall health. Whenever possible, choose hair products that are made without the use of these ingredients. Remember, you don’t need artificial fragrances to make your hair smell great – natural scents can be just as effective! In addition, it’s always best to avoid artificial ingredients, but it can be especially important if you have sensitive skin.


2. Don’t Over-Shampoo 

Shampoo plays an important role in any hair care regimen, but you might not need to use it as often as you think. In many cases, too much shampoo can have a drying effect on the hair, especially if your shampoo includes sulfates. 

While some hair types can sustain daily washes, others, especially curly and wavy hair, may do best with just a few washes per week. On all other days, you can still use a conditioner to nourish and hydrate your hair.

However, there is one important exception to this rule – if you are using a hair loss prevention shampoo, daily use is best. 

GroMD’s DHT-blocking shampoo and conditioner combo is designed to be used every day without drying out or damaging your hair. In fact, the shampoo and conditioner combo contains hydrating ingredients that can help to keep dryness, breakage and irritation from occurring. 


3. Consider A Bamboo Pillowcase

As you now know, some pillowcases can make your hair frizzier, and may detract from its natural volume. To prevent your pillowcase from sabotaging your hair, consider swapping for a case made from either silk or bamboo.

We highly recommend opting for a bamboo pillowcase over satin for two main reasons:

  • Bamboo pillowcases are more environmentally sustainable. While silk is a resource that requires the deaths of multitudes of silkworms to be produced, bamboo grows in abundance and regrows extremely rapidly. Thus, a bamboo pillowcase can be kinder to the environment, and is also compatible with a vegan lifestyle.
  • Bamboo is also a cheaper material. Silk production is a long, resource-intensive process, which increases the cost of silk pillowcases. Bamboo, on the other hand, needs only to be ground into a pulp and have its fibers extracted and woven to create high-quality fabric.

Switching to a bamboo pillowcase can be especially beneficial for anyone with curly or wavy hair. More abrasive fabrics can cause these hair types to lose their volume and texture.


4. Reduce Stress Whenever Possible 

Taking practical steps to reduce the amount of stress in your life can be great for your hair, especially if you are dealing with thinning. 

You can work to reduce stress by forming good habits like the ones listed below.

In addition, you may also benefit from talking to your doctor if you suspect that your stress stems from a diagnosable psychological issue. In some cases, chronic stress is caused by a condition like generalized anxiety disorder. If your hair is falling out and you believe stress may be one of the primary causes, make sure to pay a visit to your doctor.


5. Know When To See A Doctor

In some cases, a person with severely damaged hair can greatly benefit from visiting a doctor or dermatologist. If you are dealing with issues like chronic dandruff or scalp irritation, prescription treatments that you can get from your doctor may be helpful. When you have had no luck with over-the-counter treatments, it may be time to get help from a professional.

In addition, anyone dealing with significant hair loss can benefit from paying a visit to a doctor or dermatologist. A healthcare professional can assess your hair loss and help you form a comprehensive hair loss treatment plan. This plan may include prescription treatments that you would not be able to get without your doctor’s approval. In other cases, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter treatments and lifestyle changes to combat your hair loss.

If you have additional questions about hair care, hair loss prevention, and more, make sure to visit the GroMD blog. There, you’ll find plenty of helpful information related to building a hair loss prevention regimen and taking great care of your hair.

Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.

Sources:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/telogen-effluvium-a-to-z

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858

https://corporate.dukehealth.org/news/caffeines-effects-are-long-lasting-and-compound-stress