How to repair damaged hair?

Jun 26, 2014

Alyssa N.

I used to curl/straighten/ put heat on my hair a lot. I've been trying everything to improve it and it has been improving I just want it to look more healthy and more shiny and long. I recently purchases Macadamia Oil and I love how soft it makes my hair but it makes my hair too oily. I've been using Argan Oil shampoo and I haven't used any heat on my hair since my last trim and that was about 4 months ago. Excluding special occasions which weren't very frequent. I think I used heat on my hair about 4 or 5 times at the most in the last 4 months. I'm so tempted to dye my hair & get extensions but I don't want to until I get my hair to be healthy and shiny again. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Jun 26, 2014

Hannah K.

Here's how I keep my hair healthy/keep the color in.

First, in terms of health, trim any split ends. If you don't, they will keep splitting up the shaft and ruin even more of your hair. That means that when you do finally cut your hair, you'll have to cut off even more of it to get rid of the splits

Second, in terms of products, invest in a sulfate and sodium chloride free shampoo and conditioner. I really like the brands Pureology and Keratin Complex for hair color care. They're both entire brands devoted to keeping color vibrant, and they both work really well. They're expensive, though, so barring that I'd highly recommend you find a sulfate and sodium chloride free shampoo and conditioner, like L'oreal EverStrong. I'm also about to try the Unite shampoo and conditioner, so I may review those.

I also recommend investing in a hair mask or deep conditioner. I really like the Macadamia Deep Repair Masque, it's very moisturizing and leaves your hair feeling hydrated instead of dry. I also happen to love the L'oreal Power Moisture Mask, it's a weird, jelly-like texture, but I love how light it feels on my hair. It makes my hair extremely soft without weighing it down. I also recommend the Keratin Complex Vanilla Bean Deep Conditioner. It's a bit heavier as well, but it smells great and certainly hydrates your hair. If your hair feels oily after this, you haven't rinsed it out enough (try to only rinse your scalp, it's fine to leave it on your ends).

Shampoo only the roots and condition from your ears down. Rinse quickly in cold water, and then after that, apply your mask, focusing on the ends of your hair. Finger comb until you don't feel any knots, because that way you don't have to brush it, because brushing it can break it off like heck. then put your hair in a bun. Leave it that way for the rest of your shower, washing it out should be the last thing you do. I wash my hair around 3 times a week (with drier hair I can get away with it) and do the hair mask every time. If you need to wash your hair more than that, reduce your hair mask usage to 3 times :)

Third, in terms of heat protectors (which protect hair color and help keep it healthy), I like the Tressemme heat protector and the It's a 10 Leave in Plus Keratin. If you heat style your hair a lot, just make sure that you're taking care of it and nothing will happen.

A random miscellaneous tip:
-if you have to shower often, put your hair up to try and keep it out of the water and just wash your body.

That's my hair routine, my entire head is bleached and it is just as healthy as it was before I dyed it.

Jun 26, 2014

Bianca B.

I agree with Hannah, I also use sodium & sulfate free shampoo and conditioner. Plus an fluid for my ends. It contains propolis. You could look for something like this, I can tell you what mine is, but I'm from Germany :D so I don't know if you can buy it in America ;) It's really great, you massage it into your ends and it protects and strengthens them. :)