
How Can You Repair Your Heat-Damaged Hair?
- Switch Your Shampoo and Conditioner. Your first step should be to switch to products for heat damaged hair. ...
- Add in a Conditioning Treatment. While you should certainly be using conditioner immediately after shampooing, an additional conditioning treatment, such as a mask, may be helpful at this time.
- Give Your Hair Time. No extremely damaged hair can heal overnight. ...
- Avoid Excessive Heat and Chemicals. Try to step back from the hair dryer and hair straightener during this time, and embrace your natural hair instead.
- Change Your Hair From the Inside Out. What you eat affects your hair. Eat protein-rich foods or collagen powders to give your hair strength and shine.
What is the best treatment for heat damaged hair?
The 11 Best Protein Treatments for Natural Hair We've Ever Tried
- Olaplex No. ...
- Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment. ...
- Aveda Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment. ...
- Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Protein-Strong Treatment. ...
- Giovanni Nutrafix Hair Reconstructor. ...
- L’Oréal Elvive Total Repair 5 Protein Recharge Treatment. ...
- Redken Extreme CAT Anti-Damage Protein Reconstructing Rinse-Off Treatment. ...
What are some fast ways to repair damaged hair?
- No more heat
- Get the damaged hair cut off
- Keep it moisturized by conditioning it twice a week and getting it deep conditioned every so often. ...
How do you protect your hair from heat damage?
- lie flat
- release natural curl
- release moisture
- hold a different shape
How to fix severely heat damaged hair?
- Pour about 1/2 cup olive oil in a small bowl and put it in the microwave for 30 seconds.
- Slowly apply small amount of the olive oil until your hair is completely covered in it.
- Let the olive oil sit on your hair for about 30 minutes.
- Rinse your hair with shampoo.

Can heat damaged hair be reversed?
The simple answer is no, heat damage is irreversible. Once the protein bonds are broken and the hair cuticles are cracked, the inner cortex is exposed to all types of damage. With the cortex exposed, your hair becomes weaker and less pliable.
How long does it take for heat damaged hair to repair?
Using products that are designed to nourish the scalp and hair can definitely speed up this process, but on average you'd be looking at six months to a year to fully see a difference in your hair's condition.
Is heat damaged hair permanent?
Managing heat damaged hair Once the structure of your hair is changed by heat damage, it's permanent. There are a few options for managing the situation. You can cut your hair and remove the damage, but this could require a big chop depending on how extensive the damage is.
Can damaged hair be repaired?
For the most part, hair damage is permanent because hair is actually a collection of dead cells, making them beyond repair. The only real cure is time, a pair of shears, and taking steps to prevent new damage.
What heat damaged hair looks like?
You may also experience a change in texture, and your hair might not cooperate as it once did. Damaged hair becomes brittle and breaks easily. Your hair might look dull and dry, and the appearance of split ends is more noticeable. It can also be challenging to get your hair to lie flat.
Is it best to cut off damaged hair?
Split ends are a sign that your hair has been weakened from chemicals and exposure to heat, wind, and sun, Blaisure adds. Trimming is the best way to keep ends from fraying and causing further damage.
Will my hair get healthier if I stop straightening it?
Though your daily styling routine might give you dreamy lengths, too much heat can ultimately do a lot more harm than good to your overall hair health. "Too much heat on the hair causes breakage—constantly heating and cooling will weaken the hair, leading it to break," says FEKKAI brand stylist partner Chad Wood.
Does Olaplex fix heat damage?
OLAPLEX rebuilds bonds in the hair, creating healthy bonds, which means healthy hair. Although it can do this in one treatment, the more damage your hair has, the more treatments you'll need to get your hair back into healthy shape. Heat from the sun can cause damage to the hair, like breakage and lightening.
How do you fix fried hair without cutting it?
How to Repair Damaged Hair (Without Cutting It)Get A Professional Smoothing Treatment. ... Get Fresh Cuts. ... Use A Restorative Clarifying Shampoo. ... Avoid Heat and/or Use A Heatspray. ... Mend With Masks. ... Give TLC To Those Ends. ... Look Into Your Water. ... Get Regular Blow Outs.More items...
Does damaged hair grow back healthy?
Does damaged hair grow back healthy? The only way to get healthy hair is to allow your hair to grow without further damage. If you'd damaged your hair by over-styling, too much heat or over coloring with harsh chemicals, the good news is - your hair will grow back healthy.
How can I hydrate my hair?
Dry Hair Care: How To Moisturize Dry HairChoose a shampoo that is designed for dry hair. ... Skip the daily shampooing. ... Avoid extreme weather conditions. ... Waterproof your hair with a thick conditioner cream before taking a dip in the pool. ... Ditch the chemicals when taming frizzy hair.More items...
How to tell if your hair is damaged by heat?
Heat damaged hair often looks dull and feels coarse to the touch. Other signs of damage include split ends and breakage. If you have naturally curly hair, you may even notice that your hair is losing its curl and becoming straighter.
How to protect hair from getting damaged?
Wearing your hair up can protect it from getting damaged by the environment. Opt for loose braids, ponytails, and buns and use cloth-covered elastics or bobby pins to secure the styles. Avoid tight braids and sleek ponytails. If you feel tension on your roots, your style is too tight.
How to calm staticky hair?
2. Use a clarifying shampoo if your hair is dry or staticky. Clarifying shampoo can help smooth and calm your hair when it’s dry or crispy. If you can't find a clarifying shampoo, use a gentle shampoo instead, then rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar.
How to get rid of a swollen strand of hair?
Replenish your hair with a hot oil treatment. Heat some olive oil over the stove, then allow it to cool down to room temperature. Apply it to clean, towel-dried hair. Tuck your hair under a shower cap, then wrap a hot towel around your hair. Wait 1 hour, then rinse the oil out with cold water.
How to restore moisture to hair?
Expert Answer. Using hydrating masks, shampoos, and conditioners can help restore moisture to your hair. If you have virgin hair, an avocado mask can help. If your hair is chemically dyed, you'll want to go to a salon for professional treatments to heal your hair.
How to brush your hair straight?
Brush your hair starting from the ends. Never drag a brush straight down from the roots if your hair is all knotted and tangled. Work in small sections instead, starting from the ends. Brush out the ends of your hair first. Once you can run your brush smoothly through them, brush from the mid-lengths down, then finally from the roots-down.
How to get hair to grow out?
Drink plenty of water. Try to drink around 8 8-ounce (240-milliliter) glasses of water each day. This won't necessarily repair the damage, but it will ensure that your hair grows out healthy and strong. If you keep forgetting to drink water, begin a habit of drinking a glass of water with each meal.
How Does Heat Affect Your Hair?
Hair that’s exposed to high temperatures loses its resilience and strength. That’s because intense heat can dry out the outer layer of the hair, also known as the cuticle. “The cuticle develops small areas of injury, which represent breaks along the hair’s cuticle,” explains Caren Campbell, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in California.
What Does Heat-Damaged Hair Look Like?
Wondering how to tell if your hair is heat damaged? You’ll likely be able to see it (or feel it), experts say. “Signs of heat damage include hair looking dry and dull, a lack of moisture, split ends, frizziness, rough or changed texture, hair loss, and frequent tangling,” says McKenna Watts, a hairstylist based in California.
Can You Repair Heat-Damaged Hair?
Damage caused by temperatures above 365 degrees is irreversible, says Toves-Vincilione. “The breakdown of the hair at these temperatures doesn’t reflect the same characteristics as healthy hair. It can be treated but not restored,” he says.
The Best Products for Heat-Damaged Hair
So, what can you use to repair heat-damaged hair? Experts list their go-to products, below.
How to Prevent Heat-Damaged Hair
Since heat damage is often irreversible, prevention is key. “The best practice you can adopt is to always use a heat protectant before blow drying or applying a hot tool,” Toves-Vincilione says. “Another key practice is to keep your hot tools at or below 365 degrees.”
The Best Products for Preventing Heat-Damaged Hair
If you want to keep your hair healthy and happy, heat damage prevention is the name of the game. Here are four expert-approved products to use.
How to Identify and Repair Heat Damaged Hair
Obsessed with the results from your favourite flat iron or curling wand, but not so into the damage heat styling can cause to your hair? We’ve been there, babe! The inconvenient truth is, if heated tools are part of your regular haircare routine, you’ve likely had to deal with some frazzled locks along the way.
Identifying Heat Damaged Hair
Maybe you went overboard with the straightening iron or blow dryer heat, and now you’re wondering whether your hair is, in fact, heat damaged. Or could it just be a little dry?
Steps for How to Repair Heat Damaged Hair
We know we’ll be bursting a few bubbles with this truth bomb, but repairing heat damaged hair won’t always be possible. We hate to say it but also want to be realistic and up front. If your hair has some serious breakage and looks like it’s been razed by a small fire, no amount of moisture sealing and protein restoration will whip it into shape.
Use a Protein Treatment
A good place to start is restoring your hair’s natural proteins with a protein treatment, keratin spray, leave-in conditioner, or a hair mask. These leave-in treatments alleviate and repair broken bonds in the hair follicles, while introducing some added nutrients, lipids, and proteins.
Introduce and Seal Moisture
Curly hair tends to get a little dry after a protein treatment.
Preventing Heat Damaged Hair
There’s not always a tonne you can do to completely fix heat damage. But you CAN make sure your haircare routine supports healthy hair and promotes restoration, while also preventing further issues. What, you didn’t think a bit of heat damage meant you could forget about hair maintenance, did you?!
Final Thoughts
We hope the steps above have helped you learn how to repair heat damaged hair without breaking the bank and causing additional issues! It’s not always easy to find a solution, but with the right preventative measures and healing techniques, you’ll be on your way to a worry-free style and haircare routine in no time.
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Split ends are those little forks we see when our hair is dry and damaged. Find out how to fix split ends and get back those shiny locks you love.
How to Repair Chemically Damaged Hair
If your chemically damaged hair needs some care, check out our guide for how to treat chemically damaged hair and get your hair back to its best.
8 tips to prevent heat-damaged hair
Spot the signs of heat-damaged hair, then follow our tips to prevent heat-damaged hair without setting down your styling tools.
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Don’t let damaged hair cramp your style. Follow our tips to protect your hair from split ends, dullness, and breakages and keep your locks looking their beautiful best.
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How to get curls back after heat damage?
This is the best and most efficient way to repair your heat damaged hair and get your curls back to popping immediately. So, get some hair scissors and cut those ends off. You don't want to be that girl with the twist out with limp ends. This is the quickest way and the most painful way too because not everyone wants to give up their length. But if you do not want the quick way, there are other ways to repair that heat damage and get your hair back to health.
How often should I deep condition my hair?
Joi recommends deep conditioning your hair once a week because that will help give your hair the moisture it needs. If you don't wash your hair once a week, then consider co-washing and deep conditioning once a week and pulling out the shampoo when you would regularly do your whole wash day routine.
Why do curls get hard after heat styling?
For protein sensitive curlies their hair tends to become dry and hard after using a protein treatment, but this can also be a result of how strong the protein treatment is. By using it before heat styling you are helping to strengthen the hair for the process, and using it afterward will rejuvenate your curls.
What temperature should curls be?
Usually the rule of thumb is the thicker the strands, the higher the temperature. Most curlies try to stay under 350 degrees or 375 degrees. It may be challenging to achieve the fresh-relaxed look but at least you are not compromising the health of your hair.
Can you blow dry wet hair?
Blow-dry on damp, not wet hair. If you opt to use the tension method or blow-dryer with comb attachment to stretch your hair prior to straightening, make sure the hair is damp and not wet. Blow-drying wet hair is equivalent to frying the hair, which is very harsh on the hair.
Do curlies like straight hair?
Most curlies and coilies love the versatility of their natural tresses. Sleek chignons, voluminous twist outs, and bold Bantu knots are just a few of the vast styling options that can be easily achieved on textured hair. Some curlies also like to wear it straight, but sporting this look can be detrimental if done too frequently or achieved ...
Consider A Trim
This part is essential—possibly a bit scary—but also doable from home (with caution). When I first chopped my hair in 2016, I used YouTube as my guide for shaping and cutting the damaged ends that needed to be eliminated. Sure, it was risky, but trimming your ends where damage is the most prevalent can be helpful.
Moisture Is Important
My hair needed moisture to combat the dryness, and brittle state straightening left it in. I used a natural hair mask made from raw eggs (gross but effective), raw honey, and avocados to soften and detangle my curls.
Vitamins Are A Plus
While there's a lot of research still needed to determine the efficacy of hair growth supplements, vitamins can play a role in the overall health of your hair. 1 I stocked up on vitamins A through D and OLLY Ultra Hair vitamins to help make sure that my body was receiving the proper nutrients so that my hair would remain healthy and strong.
Try Protective Styles
Protective styles are clutch because they allows me to change my look without manipulating my natural hair daily. This means my chances of breakage, tangling, and heat damage is minimized depending on the style.
The Bottom Line
The beauty of having natural hair is the ability to switch up your style: One day, you can be bone-straight, and the other with a 'fro. Nonetheless, no matter how you decide to rock your hair, I've learned that finding ways to keep your strands healthy is a good foundation of any routine.
What is the best treatment for heat damage to hair?
Hot oil treatments are a godsend for natural hair heat damage. With the right concoction, oils can repair elasticity and promote shine. Exactly what we need when our hair is suffering from heat damage.
Why is my hair straight after heat?
Many naturals who experience heat damage report that their hair becomes utterly straight, especially at the ends, where the protein bonds are weakest. Another factor to consider, aside from protein strength, is your hair width.
How to curl your hair with a perm rod?
Simply section your hair in sections around your head (the smaller the section, the tighter the curl pattern). On clean, deep conditioned and moisturized hair, wrap the perm rod around smaller sub-sections hair and lock the perm rod to secure it.
What is Mielle hair milk?
A Mielle cult classic, this moisturizing hair milk is formulated with film-forming, moisturizing humectants such as aloe vera, nettle and horsetail extract. It also includes various strengthening ingredients such as rice and wheat protein. A perfect staple product for high porosity or heat damaged strands in need of some TLC.
What is the best oil for natural hair?
The best way to do hot oil treatments for natural hair is as a pre-poo. Pre-poos protect the hair from the harsh surfactants of the shampoo. Coconut oil is a great pre-poo/hot oil treatment for natural hair heat damage.
What is natural hair damage?
What is Natural Hair Heat Damage? Natural hair heat damage occurs when, as the name suggests, too much heat is applied to natural hair. At a molecular level, when heat is applied to the hair, keratin bonds in your hair are weakened and ultimately broken, depending on how strong these bonds are.
How to protect new growth from heat damage?
And while you are mitigating the heat damage, remember to take care of your new growth with moisture and deep conditioning sessions, and protecting it from future damage by protective styling and minimizing heat styling.
