Help! Extremely damaged hair!!!!

Nov 2, 2012

Katie S.

You could try a deep conditioner or hair mask which you keep on for 3-5 mins, try organix Moroccan oil mask and maybe get their Moroccan oil also, I hope this helps! Good luck and don't stress over it! :)

Nov 2, 2012

Z M.

Ya I had the exact same problems about 2 years ago. The only option that was left for me to do was to cut my hair and go get some clip in extensions and that is exactly what I did. If you want healthy hair again, then the only thing that you can do is to cut it. Deep treatment won't help the condition your hair is in 

Nov 2, 2012

Natalie T.

Does your hair feel less stretchy when it is dry?
How do you handle your hair when it is wet? What kind of brush do you use?

These probably aren't the correct ways to go about fixing your hair, but they are little things that have made my hair less nerve wracking to deal with, so they may help your stress:
I am asking these questions because, my hair wouldn't snap or feel stretchy when wet, so I would have to blow it dry(on the coolest setting) before I went out anywhere. It made my hair feel so much stronger, just to be dry, but it would take hours to dry and feel elastic and gummy until it was 100% dried out. Only use a wide tooth comb, NO BRUSHES OF ANY KIND on your hair when it is wet. Once it is dry-go for it, but stick to a wide tooth comb when it is wet. The hardest time to deal with this texture of hair is when it is half dry, if you know what I mean? Then, I could never touch it with a comb or I would get the most breakage. I would recommend taking your wide tooth comb in the shower with you and detangling your hair when you have conditioner in, to make the most headway, then comb it again as you rinse your hair, and finally once you're out of the shower give it a comb, then do not touch it with a comb or brush until it is dry. I also use argan oil on the ends of my hair when it is WET to help detangle and retain moisture. his has actually helped me a lot! in the shower, I use a lot of shampoos aimed towards my hair color, but maybe 1-2 times a week (or more, when you're starting to get your hair healthier) I use Aussie 3-Minute Miracle... it actually helped me! I also try to do a Hask Henna n' Placenta treatment to my hair whenever I get the chance. I think it works pretty well, I have been using that treatment on my platinum or red hair for about 12 years now... there may be some better deep conditioning and repairing treatments out there, but this one works for me, personally. My hair was recently like this because I went from red to blonde, but those steps helped me get through the "elastic period" now my hair feels great... it definitely isn't healthy, but it is so much less stress to deal with, just by doing those little things. I also started taking Biotin and Folic Acid around the time my hair started feeling better, I'm not sure if those helped too, but you may want to research those vitamins as well. Those are just some quick ways to relieve the stress you have on hand, but not ways of really repairing your hair, so please listen to everyone else's advice when they tell you how to restregthen your hair (I'm not great in that department, I'm working on it as well).




SOOOOO to sum it up:
Use a wide tooth comb to detangle
Use oil on the ends of your hair to help detangle as well
Deep Condition
Don't touch your hair until it is dry and not so "stretchy"
Research Biotin and Folic Acid (may or may not have contributed to my success with getting rid of elastic hair)
Wash your hair as little as possible



I don't know where in New Jersey you live, but that is where I grew up. If you're anywhere near Essex County, I could recommend a stylist who has saved my hair a million times before, but he's quite pricey =/



Good luck! 

Nov 2, 2012

Cat R.

You could try applying some almond oil before bed and wash in the morning. But i would say lay of using shampoo alot and shampooing everyday if you do. You need a very intensive conditioner in boots they sell a condition in the black hair section called hair mayonnaise it works really well it has protein, wheat germ and olive oil and doesnt leave your hair greasy! 

Nov 2, 2012

Hayne P.

Sounds like you need to do protein treatments as well. Aphogee makes a great one, but it's messy and time consuming. Worth it though! 

Nov 2, 2012

Sarah B.

How did you achieve a high lift red? Did you box color or formulate yourself?

Even though it is red... In order to achieve a color in a vivid form, you have to lift... Only way to do this is with bleach. I am naturally a dark brown and I am a platinum blonde... My hair requires 40vol bleach (highest strength of lift) in order to pull my undertones and reach a true lightness. My hair is gummy when wet as well... High lifting is a porus and damaging process..


I hate I break it to you, but you broke disulfide bonds in your hair when applying a high lift color. There is absolutely NO WAY for you to reverse breaking chemical bonds. Yeah, you can deep condition and use protein treatments (Aveda's Damage Remedy line is something you should look into if you want to keep your hair length and color) .. But nothing will fix this. Only thing to do is to cut length so breakage isn't as noticeable.

If you continue to keep your hair long, it will eventually break... Uneven choppy lengths look unhealthy as hell.

I would consider cutting it. Picture shows you how short I keep my hair.. I have medium texture hair, but A LOT of it. I'm not suggesting that you cut all of your hair off because I know a lot of women put their hair as means to ensue feminity, but cutting off some length will appear to make your hair much more healthy in appearance.

(I am a cosmetologist.. I know the science. It's hard to hear but I would rather be honest then enable false hopes of recovery) hope this helps 

Nov 2, 2012

Tallia W.

You need to invest in a good deep conditioner like Nexus: Humctress and Keraphix. 

Nov 2, 2012

Gabriela Nicole M.

I agree with the deep conditioner. I have very curly hair and it was completely fried. Like it made me so sad. And my hair was to the middle of my upper back an I chopped it off to my chin. And started using any products that have the word "repair" in it. Then when I shower , out of the 3 days a week I wet my hair I only shampoo it once and use conditioner and wen the other two times to cleanse my hair. My curls have seriously came back and my hair is soft and shiny now.

Nov 3, 2012

Michele C.

Thank you so much everybody.

@ Natalie T. I am in Hudson County! Please do let me know the stylist! I need him :'(

Nov 3, 2012

Shelly T.

You need the scissors. That's the only surefire way to repair your hair.

Nov 3, 2012

Haley W.

I have bleached my hair, and had highlights. I find that getting a trim, and then using a serum works wonders. I SWEAR BY the Paul Mitchel super skinny serum. Its around $17 I think, but it is 1000000000% worth it. (: hope this helps

Nov 3, 2012

Michele C.

Yes, I think I'm just going to dye it back to pretty much my original color and getting a significant cut then just leaving it alone for a long time.. I promise that every time I've done my own hair its been in great condition. I go to a salon and spend $$$ and leave with destroyed hair. Its crazy because I go to a really great salon. Apparently my hair just can't handle the salon products! :/

Nov 4, 2012

Natalie T.

If you still want to see my old stylist, his name is Alex Schiavone, owner of Salon Mosaic. It is located at 9 Bloomfield Avenue Caldwell, NJ 07006 and the number is (973) 228-9993.


Good luck with everything!

Nov 5, 2012

Michele C.

Thank you so much again. Ill definitely be going to see him soon! I really appreciate it!

Nov 5, 2012

Monique B.

I recommend you a good kit of products that will help you to repair your hair, it's pro naturals moroccan argan oil hair treatment kit which also will leaves your hair soft, shiny and healthy again. :)

Nov 5, 2012

Melissa T.

Get it cut as much as you can and use repairing treatments to help speed up the growth process so that you can grow the damage out quicker. I recommend sulfate and silicone free products for this, anything from pro naturals is awesome for this.

Nov 20, 2016

Rosie G.

I've damaged my hair with one to many colors of the rainbow. Gummy breaking brittle hair... My Cure is to beat 2 eggs at room temp so they can wake up...nooooo I know its not their fault i damaged my hair. Lol jk. Beat 2 eggs at room temp. Pour it all over you hair with your hands. Do not brush. Leave it as long as wish. The longer the better. Mine i leave in about 4 hrs. Let it dry completely. It will be stiff but do not mess with it. Let it be. wash out with warm water. Use your usual shampoo n deep conditioner...it towel dries smooth n manageable...able to brush...use Your fav oils.