Men/Women hairstyle

Women's Hair Care

Split Ends And Damaged Hair, How To Fix It

how-to-care-damaged-hair
Share This Article with your
friends here

Even the most cared for hair is damaged to some degree, and while we can’t avoid damaged hair completely, knowing the causes can help us to limit it.

For a simple way to tell if you have damaged hair, run your fingers through your hair.

  • If you can run your fingers along your hair strands smoothly then the light coating of sebum (the natural oil that covers all hair) is working.
  • If your hair feels rough or prickly, particularly at the ends, then this points to dryness and damage.

Natural Hair Damage

Natural hair damage is caused by a lack of moisture, which can happen if there isn’t enough moisture in the cortex of your hair or if there isn’t enough sebum coating your hair. This all causes your hair to dry out and can be brought about by:

  • Aging
  • Genetics
  • Poor health
  • Poor diet
  • Hormonal imbalances

While there isn’t much you can do to avoid natural hair damage, using a better hair care routine and using better home hair care products regularly will help with the condition of your hair.

Here are some steps you can take to avoid or minimise natural hair damage:

  • Apply hair serum. It protects your hair from heat styling, prevents frizz, and gives it a beautiful shine.
  • Apply hair oil. Hair oils like pure coconut oil are a good option of moisturising your hair, hence preventing it from getting dry or frizzy.
  • Use a good quality conditioner after shampoo.

Styling Hair Damage

Hair damage that we cause ourselves is unfortunately something that is unavoidable. Simple everyday tasks such as washing your hair, brushing and even pulling your hair into an easy ponytail can all cause damage.

To minimise damage, always handle your hair as delicately as possible, be gentle when washing and brushing, and use the best hair tools possible, such as a mild shampoo and a natural bristle brush on dry hair and a wide tooth comb on wet hair.

To reduce the level of damage that you cause to your hair you can also try the following tips:

  • Keep in mind that spiky, heated rollers, metal combs, and plastic hair brushes can all cause damage
  • Hair elastics made from rubber will tear your hair so it’s best to use elastics that are covered in cloth
  • Wrap thin foam rubber around your heated rollers will help to limit damage
  • Curling irons and hair straighteners can dry and even burn your hair (if used incorrectly). Use them sparingly and always with a heat protection product
  • The sun, seawater, chlorinated water, air conditioning and central heating will zap the moisture right out of your hair so use scarves and hats when out in the elements, a swimming cap when you’re taking a dip, and moisture locking hair products if you spend most of your day in a room with air conditioning.

Chemical Hair Damage

Chemical hair damage is caused when hair is incorrectly or too often coloured with bleach and tints or chemically permed or straightened. When the hair is overexposed to chemicals then portions of the hair shaft break down and become soft. This can leave you with hair that tangles easily and a hair color that looks brassy or even green.

While for most people it’s not realistic to give up chemically treating your hair all together, you can limit the damage done by spacing out any processes with an 8 to 10 week gap. Try your best to see a professional hairdresser to have your hair coloured, permed, or straightened as they have proper training with the chemicals and will know how to apply them to your hair safely.

Here’s what you can do to minimise chemical hair damage:

  • Try hairstyles that don’t require hair styling products.
  • Rinse your hair soon after a swim. The sooner you get rid of chlorine in your hair, the better.
  • Go for only one service at a time at the salon, if you can. If you want to get your hair coloured and permed, then get it coloured in one sitting and get it permed in the next, with a gap of 3-4 days, if possible.

Being aware of what causes damage to your hair and handling your hair with as much care as possible will go a long way towards keeping any hair damage to a minimum and will help you to avoid more damage in the future.

Keep these hair care points in mind and every once in a while, schedule a damage free day by going with your natural hair texture and giving hair products and styling tools a miss. Who knows? You might even like your hair au naturel and prefer wearing it that way all the time!

Split Ends

The best advice that anybody will ever give you for treating split ends is to cut them off. The reason for this is that leaving them there will only make your hair split further up the hair shaft as the hair is open, exposed to every single thing that you throw at it.

I have seen people refuse to get their split ends cut off, only to find months later that their hair appears to be getting shorter all on it’s own. The hair is in-fact still growing out from the scalp, but as it grows the ends are breaking off faster than it grows down, making it appear to be getting shorter overall.

While the hair is split and fraying, it will continue to tear away, even if you apply moisturisers, treatments, and silicone fillers. The only course of action is to take the necessary step of cutting the split ends away.

The root of it all

Once hair damage sets in, there isn’t much you can do to recover your hair.

You can try different recovery methods but by learning and changing your hair handling habits and giving it extra tender loving care, you will have healthier looking hair in no time.

If you’ve enjoyed this article, check out ‘Is your fear of a hairstyle makeover really worth it?‘, where we guide you on how to do a hair makeover fearlessly.

Get an email whenever there’s a new article Women's Hair Care

Be the first to get updates on Women's Hair Care articles, inspirations and hair advices!

    More Articles on Women's Hair Care

    Dyson Airwrap Hairstyles: How to Get the Best Results

    If you’re looking for a tool that can help you create beautiful, voluminous hairstyles without damaging your hair, the Dyson Airwrap might be just what you need. This innovative styling tool uses air to style your hair, rather than high heat, which can cause damage and breakage. Here, we’ll take a closer look at the … Continue reading Dyson Airwrap Hairstyles: How to Get the Best Results

    Has a Bad Haircut Experience Put You off a Change?

    Tired of having a bad hairstyling experience every time you visit the salon? Well, fret not! As Hair Style Channel is giving you handy advice that you can go through to avoid such bad experiences and enjoy visiting a salon every time.

    how-attitude-influences-the-way-to-pick-new-hairstyles

    How Your Attitude Influences The Way You Choose New Hairstyles

    Do you know that your attitude can be the reason holding you back from changing your hairstyle? Read this article to understand what is preventing you from getting a hairstyle change, sort out your inner feelings and be ready to embrace a new hairstyle.

    How Your Relationship With Your Hairstylist Affects Your Hairstyles

    The relationship between you and your hairstylist is very important. It is not just for the cutting, colouring and styling services but also ensuring you get a positive salon experience and leave with a hairstyle that you’re happy with.

    How Long Should You Think About a Hairstyle Change?

    Thinking of a hairstyle change? But don’t know what’s the right amount of time to get it to change. Don’t fret! Explore this article now to help you decide when you are ready to make the change.

    why-hair-consultations-crucial

    Why Hair Consultations Are Crucial To Getting The Best Makeovers

    Getting a hair consultation is an essential part of any hair care routine, especially when it comes to deciding on a new hairstyle or colour change, and it should be done before you begin any type of hair service. Often having consulted helps find the best shoulder-length hairstyles for women and men that suit our face cut.

    Make Your Hair Look Professionally Styled

    Can’t Afford the Salon? Here Are Some Tips You Need To Know

    It’s important that you visit your salon regularly, and let us assure you of this – it’s possible on even the tightest of budgets. Read more to find out how to make your hair look professionally styled.

    female-long-hair-style

    5 Steps To Fix A bad Haircut

    While there is nothing wrong with being upset and angry about a bad haircut or hairstyle, the way that you react to the situation can sometimes make it worse. To ensure that you get the outcome and results that you deserve, take a look at our guide for what to do about your reaction to a bad hairstyle.

    fear-hairstyle-makeover

    Is Your Fear of a Hairstyle Makeover Stopping You?

    To some lucky ones, changing their hairstyle is an exciting, fun, and even enjoyable experience. However, for others, the whole process is riddled with fear, anxiety, and tension. Few of them never even make it to the salon chair because they are not able to get past the what if? stage. So, what exactly is it that virtually cripples some people …

    Share your thoughts with everyone   Join Our Content Writers

    FRequently Asked Questions

    Women Hair Advice

    Category: Women Hair Advice

    many miracle treatments are on the market that claim to have properties that will seal your split ends, however I am here to tell you that they are of a cosmetic nature only, filling the hair with silicones mostly to make it look and feel better. While some of these products will indeed help protect the hair from the elements, the split end needs to be amputated, cut off and removed as the best cause of action.

    Category: Women Hair Advice

    Yes, if you don’t cut off, remove the split ends they will travel up the hair shaft and cause more damage due to how the inside layer (the cortex) is exposed to all elements and the sun. Cutting split ends seals the hair, and is actually the best way to get longer hair because as it grows it won’t break off.

    Category: Women Hair Advice

    Naturally coarse wiry hair is what many people are born with unless you have damaged your hair from overusing chemicals, heat appliances, or the environment.

    The hair can feel dry because of how the cuticle sticks out at 45 degree angles, and also because of this, it is easy for coarse curly hair to actually dry out.

    Category: Women Hair Advice

    Curly hair that is coarse needs to be carefully cut all starting with a plan based around the type of curl, length of the hair, and then a person’s face shape, lifestyle, home hair care options, and available time.

    Some great haircuts for curly hair include

    • Short shaped afros
    • Short layer cuts
    • Undercuts
    • Medium layered Bobs
    • Layered Lobs
    • Long layer cuts
    • Curly curtain bangs
    • Side swept bangs
    Category: Women Hair Advice

    The best haircuts for coarse wavy hair vary depending on the length of the hair, and some of these include;

    • Short Crops
    • Short Pixie cuts
    • Short layer cuts
    • Medium Lobs and Shags (avoid razor cutting)
    • Medium layered Bobs
    • Long layered hairstyles
    • Wavy Curtain Bangs
    Category: Women Hair Advice

    Great haircuts for straight coarse hair include some of the following

    • Short crops
    • Pixie cuts
    • Layer Cuts
    • Razor cut Shags
    • Graduated Bobs
    • Layered Lobs
    • Classic long stacked layer cuts
    • Choppy cuts
    Category: Women Hair Advice

    Getting the best haircut for coarse hair depends on the texture and condition of the hair. Further to this, the best haircut for coarse hair also depends on a person’s face shape, personality, lifestyle, and other important factors.

    The best haircut for coarse hair is one that helps keep it in shape without too much work or effort.

    Category: Women Hair Advice

    There are many hairstyles that work perfectly for fine hair types, making the hair looker thicker, more solid, even without any body and these include:

    • Short Precision Bob Cuts
    • Wedge Cuts, or Pixie Bobs as they are also known.
    • Angled Bobs
    • Geometric Bobs
    • Bob Cuts with bangs
    • Mid length bangs
    • Blunt cuts
    • Deep side part
    Category: Women Hair Advice

    If you have fine hair you should avoid some of the following things:

    • Using shampoos and conditioners that have too much moisture in them as this will make your fine hair flat and dull.
    • Don’t overuse hair color and chemicals as this will damage your hair
    • Only use heat styling aids occasionally on your fine hair otherwise this will lead to damage.
    • If you have straight fine hair, avoid getting layers particularly if your hair is medium or long.
    Category: Women Hair Advice

    Straight hair can be cut in many ways, using a variety of haircutting techniques such as blunt cutting, sliced edges, chipping, razor cutting, layering, tapering, and much more, all on short, medium, and long hair lengths.

    Straight hair is easy to work with, but consideration must be given to how it falls naturally, working with the amount of hair, all against a person face shape, lifestyle, and personality

    Category: Women Hair Advice

    Curly hair comes in 3 ranges that include

    1. Loose curls
    2. Tight curls
    3. Coily curls
    Category: Women Hair Advice

    The answer to this often-asked question is that

    • Long curly hair tends to behave better due to how gravity weighs it down, making it tame and looking amazing, however it does take more work to keep it healthy and looking great
    • Short curly hair can look incredible when the right haircut has been created on the right face shape, personality, and that considers a person’s lifestyle factors. Short curly hair is also easy to style and maintain.
    Category: Women Hair Advice

    Layer cuts on curly hair are great at defining curls, allowing movement and bounce from eliminating weight. Layering curly hair is definitely good, and all about adding shape to create a hairstyle that will suit the individual.

    Category: Women Hair Advice

    There a number of ways to make straight hair change to curly or wavy, however they can be grouped into two categories.

    1. Non-Permanent, using thermal appliances such as hot irons, curling tongs, hot rollers, or curling the hair when it’s wet on round shapes (rollers overnight) will change the texture of hair when it dries. These new curls on your once straight hair will only last until moisture gets inside your hair shaft and is why you are told to stay away from humidity when you have your hair curled. The change in your straight hair to curls is on the Hydrogen bonds only (outside) and so not permanent.
    2. Permanent, using chemicals that go into your hair and rearrange the sulphur bonds, known as perming. Straight hair is stretched and moulded around a roller, chemically altered, and then set in place in new formations or curves, round shapes that we know as curls. This can be made straight again by using chemicals to drag the hair straight again, however moisture or simply washing your hair will not make permed curly hair straight on its own.
    Category: Women Hair Advice

    The thing about bangs is most people have tried them at least once in their lifetime and have either had a great experience or a really bad one.

    What’s important to remember about bangs is that they do have an effect on hairstyles and other important elements such as;

    • Straight across bangs halve the vertical length in a person face shape, thus they suit people with oblong, diamond, or narrow face types.
    • Curtain bangs with a middle part actually add length to face shapes, suiting round and wide faces best.
    • Side swept angled bangs are great on angular face shape such as square and broader jawbones.
    • Straight across bangs draw attention to the eyes.
    • Bangs are an easy way to do something different without having a complete full makeover.
    Category: Women Hair Advice

    The short answer is NO. The longer answer is no don’t razor cut wavy or curly hair unless you are wanting it to frizz, look wiry, like it has split ends. The reason is that razor cutting slices hair on an angle, and also removes only some (not all) of the hair, and when hair is wavy or curly and razor cut, the shorter pieces with less weight spring up between longer pieces making a bushy, frizzy effect.

    Category: Women Hair Advice

    It is a good idea to get your hair trimmed by your hairdresser every 4-6 weeks.

    Regular trims ensure that;

    • The shape of your haircut will be maintained easily
    • Any damaged or split ends can be cut off, visit by visit so that they don’t creep further up the hair shaft.
    • You will be able to style your hair far more easily
    • It’s an opportunity to treat yourself on a more regular basis.
    Category: Women Hair Advice

    There was a time not so long ago that every young lady (sorry guys no disrespect) was told to brush their hair 100 times in the morning and another 100 times at night with a good natural bristle brush.

    This was very important for long hair types as it ensured that

    • Any knots or tangles where brushed out
    • That sebum from the scalp was distributed to the mid length and ends, protecting the hair with natural oils.
    • The brushing on the scalp created good circulation to the follicle to help with better hair growth.

    The art of brushing hair was sadly lost back in the eighties and nineties when perms and brushing were not a good match.

    Category: Women Hair Advice

    This answer depends on your lifestyle, hairs length, and hair type.

    For example, if you live a sporty lifestyle you will need to shampoo your hair every single day and so will need to consider a hairstyle and home haircare regime that will help facilitate this.

    On the other hand, if you work inside out of the elements, have normal to dry hair and scalp on short hair, you should only be shampooing it 2-3 times per week.

    Category: Women Hair Advice

    There is no right or wrong answer here, fine hair can look amazing short with stylish one length looks and bangs, but it can also look great when it’s straight and all the one length, precision cut. Wavy and curly fine hair types can also look great short or long.

    Share This Article with your
    friends here