What's really damaging your hair and how to fix it?

You don’t need to be a hairdresser to work out what your hair looks like when it’s damaged. Split ends, breakage and a dull, lack luster finish are all red flags that signal when your hair is looking and feeling less-than-amazing.

We thought you might find it interesting to know why your hair is suffering and what you can do to identify the causes. Once you know this you can then prevent them from causing anymore long term damage.

Just so you know in advance… unfortunately it’s not something that can be rectified by a quarterly trip to the salon for a single treatment at the basin!


Mechanical damage

This kind of damage occurs when you brush, comb and roughly towel-dry your locks. And it’s a popular belief that you’re more likely to cause damage when your hair is wet.

Think of your hair like a spring. When pulled it can snap back, but it will eventually get to a point where it won’t snap back because it starts to unravel inside. You can then see how one day, you pull the spring and it snaps. When your hair is wet, it’s easier to stretch out that ‘spring’ and brush however try not to play with it too much as this is where you could be damaging your hair without even realising it.

To combat this, try squeezing (instead of rubbing) the moisture out of your hair with a towel and brush/comb it when it’s mostly dry.

Thermal damage

It should come as no surprise that the heat from your hair tools damages your mane. The sad truth is that if you want to style your hair, heat is important. So what’s a girl to do? 

Hair responds to temperatures differently, and the higher the temperature, the more you’re damaging the protein in your hair.

So, instead of cranking up your hair straightener to 230 degrees and going over each section of hair once or twice, set the tool to a lower temperature and do a few more strokes. It may take you a few extra minutes, but isn’t it worth it to save your strands?

Environmental damage

Factors, such as strong sun, temperature variations and changes in air humidity can damage the hair cuticle. Because of this the hair changes its properties: it loses its shine and suppleness, becomes dry and brittle and in some cases its strength is impaired.

The best way to help ward off the harsh winter wind and summer sun is to make sure your hair is cared for with good quality hair care products that contain UV protection and ingredients that keep hair well hydrated. This prevents hair breakage a pesky split ends.

Excessive colouring or bleaching 

Some hair types tolerate colour and bleach far better than others. Thin/fine hair tends to be more fragile than thick course hair. That being said it's still a good idea to give your hair a break every now and again.

If you have foils, try getting a low light every second visit or full colour that's a shade or two darker every now and again.This ensures hair gets a chance to rest between lightening and allows shine and suppleness to return.