Hair damage can happen for several reasons, and it’s a problem most African-American women deal with. Improper hair care, poor diet, environmental factors, and stress may contribute to it. Some black ladies may experience hair damage due to a genetic predisposition to certain hair conditions.
If the hair damage is extreme, there can be cracks in the cuticle. If the cuticle lifts, then there is a greater chance of your hair getting more damaged. Healthy hair strands would appear uniform and consistent. On the contrary, the cuticle layer of the damaged strand would appear uneven.
Damage signifies that your hair cuticle is not functioning well. It may also not provide the needed protection to the hair shaft. This can be a severe issue that you need to be wary of. Does your hair feel dry when you touch it? You can try some natural home remedies to resolve this hair issue. After trying these, you can expect smooth, lustrous locks.
This write-up covers a lot about hair damage, its causes, signs, and how to repair damaged hair. So, let us learn in detail.
What are The Common Causes of Hair Damage?
People may experience hair damage affecting every hair type, be it curly or straight. Hair damage can occur due to various reasons, including stress, diet, or product accumulation.
Heat and Lack of Moisture
More heat may damage your curls. If you often use heat-styling tools like straighteners or blow-dryers, your hair shafts might become damaged. Heat styling can also remove moisture from your hair, leading to brittle hair and breakage.
What’s more, hot and humid climates can also be the culprit for excess dryness and breakage.
Towel Drying
If you often rub your wet hair with a towel, you should give up on this habit. This may increase frizz and result in hair breakage.
You might know that wet hair is more prone to breakage than dry hair. So, next time you dry your damp hair, wrap a towel around it to let it soak up the moisture. You can also let your hair air dry.
Tight hairstyles
If you are someone who tries tight hairstyles to tie your hair, then you should stop from now on. Tight hairstyles can also be the reason for your damaged hair. These can stretch or break the hair away from the root.
If you wear styles like ponytails, braids, or buns, you may experience traction alopecia, a type of hair loss. Though it is a temporary problem, it may become permanent if it continues to happen.
Elastic ties can also raise the chances of hair breakage. So, it would be better for you to go for covered hair ties and wear their hair in various loose styles.
Over-brushing
Over-brushing is another factor contributing to hair breakage and damage. Brushing is an essential part of our hair care regime. It helps detangle and spread natural oils along the hair shaft. However, excessive brushing can make your strands more prone to damage. It can also cause scalp irritation and dryness, resulting in problems like dandruff.
If you want to avoid such situations, use a soft-bristled brush or a wide-tooth comb. Also, don’t brush when your hair is wet because they are more fragile at that time.
Not Having Regular Haircuts
If you are not having regular visits to your salon for a haircut, your hair may become more prone to split ends. This might result in more breakage, particularly close to the hair shaft.
Even for black women growing their hair, regular haircuts are good for maintaining strong, healthy hair.
You can also receive guidance from your hairdresser on maintaining good hair health and dealing with any hair issues.
Signs of Damaged Hair
No matter what hair type you have, whether straight or curly, there are signs to identify damaged hair. Some of the most common ones are mentioned and explained below:
Thickness At The Roots and Thinness At The Ends
A missing or inconsistent cuticle layer can cause damaged hair. This generally happens near the middle or ends because these areas are likely to be the most prone to damage. If the cuticle layer is missing or damaged, there may be increased thinning and roughness.
More Shedding
You may also see more hair left on your brush or pillow. If that’s the case, your hair has become more susceptible to breakage. It may break and shed more quickly.
Dry, Brittle Hair
If your hair feels dry, the reason for this is damage to the cuticle layer. When the cuticle layer is damaged, it becomes easier for moisture to escape, resulting in a brittle or straw hair texture.
Apart from that, if you try to give moisture to your hair, it might not be able to retain it. This creates a cycle of dryness.
Dullness
Dullness is another apparent sign of damaged hair. Pollution can be a cause for the damage that appears with dullness. The other causes can be product accumulation, ultraviolet rays, and hard water. When there is excessive product accumulation, it may result in unhealthy scalp irritation. So, it is advisable to use a dry scalp treatment once a week.
More Tangling Than Normal
Too much tangling can result from hair strands getting tangled in one another when the cuticle layer is disrupted. Long and curly hair is too susceptible to tangling. But just because your natural hair is hard to untangle, it doesn’t mean they are damaged.
Damage may be the reason if the tangling comes out of the blue or is not something you often encounter.
The Best Remedies to Treat and Prevent Hair Damage
There may be bad hair days that can be ignored. But frequent hair breakage is a nightmare for anybody. You may see split ends in your hair breaking off whenever you comb. So, what do you do to treat and prevent hair breakage? Below are some of the best natural remedies that you can try to see the difference:
Moisturize, Moisturize, and Moisturize
It is better to moisturize your strands using a mild conditioner after shampooing. This would help seize moisture within your hair and keep dryness away. A deep-conditioning hair mask can also be an option to try. You can use this hair mask 2 to 3 times a month to give extra nourishment to your hair.
Oiling
Plant oils contain essential fatty acids. These can provide complete nourishment to your hair and make them soft and strong. Some of the best oils that you can opt for are olive oil and coconut oil.
Oil your hair before shampooing, as it can help prevent dryness that your hair may feel during the wash. Make hair oiling a critical part of your regimen to avoid breakage.
Do Not Go for Chemical Treatments
It would be good to avoid using chemical treatments if you are having hair breakage. Use natural alternatives such as henna or indigo to dye your curls and keep the damage away.
Avoid Heat Styling
After using the shampoo, air-dry your hair as much as possible. This is an excellent way to prevent breakage naturally. If you want to blow dry your hair, ensure to wait for a while till your hair is 70 to 80% dry. Use the dryer in a lower heat setting. Moreover, limit using tools like straighteners or curling iron to prevent further damage.
Change Your Accessories
Elastic hair ties and bands may keep your hair away from your face. But they might also pull on your hair, which can cause breakage. Thus, it would be good if you wear satin or silk hair bands.
Lifestyle Tips for Preventing Hair Damage
Below are some of the lifestyle tips that you can implement in your routine to prevent hair damage:
Keep A Healthy Diet
You must maintain a healthy diet rich in vitamins, proteins, and minerals. Eat foods like nuts, eggs, fruits, and vegetables. All these foods can help in healthy hair growth and lessen the risk of damage.
Select The Right Hair Accessories
Don’t wear tight hair ties, rubber bands, or hair accessories that come with metal parts. These can pull on your hair. So, you must go for accessories like silk hair ties or scrunchies.
Reduce your Exposure to Sun
UV radiation can dry out hair and fade its color. If you are going to be outside in the sun for a long time, wear a cap or apply UV-protective items.
Regular Trims
Do regular trims every 6-8 weeks. This can help you get rid of the split ends and prevent them from traveling up the hair shaft. This results in further damage.
How Much Time Does it Take to Repair Hair Damage?
Hair damage might be difficult to reverse once the protein bonds and cuticles have been altered by the heat. But you can restore your hair health by giving it the nourishment it needs with the best hair products. You should also invest in top-notch quality styling tools to avoid further damage.
The time it takes to repair damaged hair may differ depending on the extent of the damage. It may even depend on individual factors like hair type, overall health, and the effectiveness of the chosen repair treatments.
What to Know When Buying Hair Products for Hair Damage?
Select the most suitable hair care products to meet your needs. Whenever you are buying hair care products for hair damage, do consider the following factors to consider:
Moisture and Hydration
Moisture is often lacking in damaged hair. So, you need to choose hydrating products like shampoos, conditioners, and leave-in treatments that restore moisture and elasticity to the hair.
Price Vs. Quality
High-priced products may have premium ingredients. But effective hair care doesn’t always have to come with a hefty price tag. Choose products that are both reasonably priced and outstanding in terms of quality.
Heat Protection
If you regularly use heat styling tools like flat irons or blow dryers, choose products that offer heat protection. This may help mitigate further damage from heat exposure.
Balance
Hair products with a balanced pH level of about 4.5 to 5.5 help maintain the natural acidity of the hair and scalp. This may promote good hair health.
Reviews and Recommendations
Before you buy, read reviews from prior consumers. You can also seek recommendations from your family members, friends, or hairstylists who have experience with similar hair problems.
What is The Best Product to Buy for Damaged Hair?
Looking to buy a hair product to repair your damaged hair? We know what you need and would be perfect for you: Beauty Pam Repair Protein. Can protein treatments repair damaged hair? Yes, this is a moisturizing hair mask that can prevent hair damage. It fixes split ends and gives your hair strength. All in all, this hair mask assures the best moisture retention.
How to use Beauty Pam Hair Repair Protein:
Take a small amount of the product to cleanse your hair from the root to the tip. After that, give your hair a good massage to ensure it is distributed to every corner. Use a plastic cap or sit under the dryer. Let the hair protein repair be there for about 15-20 minutes. Then, wash it with pure water.
Ingredients of Beauty Pam repair protein:
- Purified Water
- Honey
- Biotin
- Vitamin E
- Apple cider vinegar
- Papaya (fruit extract)
- Mentha Piperita (Peppermint)
- Cherry (oil)
- Strawberry (Fruit Extract)
- Almond (oil)
- Musa (Banana)
- Hibiscus sabdariffa
- Fragrance (EO blend)
- Guar Gum
- Keratin
- Honey
- Phenoxyethanol (Paraben-free preservative)
- Macadamia oil
- Methi (Herb infuse)
- Glycerin Vegetable
- Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed butter
Conclusion
Hair damage is common among African American women. It can happen for many reasons, like overbrushing, towel drying, skipping haircuts, and tight hairstyles. Dullness, excessive tangling, and brittle hair are some of the common signs of damaged hair.
To eliminate this issue naturally, you can adopt the best hair care practices. Use natural products with nourishing ingredients like biotin, almond oil, honey, and vitamin E. The best products can help restore your hair’s strength and elasticity.
Beauty Pam is the go-to choice if you are looking for similar products and desire lasting results. Check out our large assortment, including hair growth oil, hair masks, styling gel, and accessories. Try our hair protein repair treatment and see a noticeable change in your hair health.