Why Your Hair is Damaged (and How to Fix It)

Frizz is a common enemy among just about everyone who wants beautiful hair. Sometimes the weather can play a part, but if your hair is routinely looking frizzy and stressed out, or if your hair is brittle or breakable, chances are that it’s coming from hair damage. Don’t beat yourself up, it happens to many of us, and it’s probably coming from simple habits and patterns that you didn’t realize were a problem. Let’s look at some of the most common causes of hair damage and breakage and, just as importantly, let’s find some solutions.

Common Causes of Hair Damage

No one has perfect hair – most of us have at least some amount of hair damage from one source or another, and damage can sneak up on you from simple habits you might be doing every day. These are some of the most common causes of hair damage and breakage.

Heat Damage

You’ve probably heard this one before, and it’s true – heat can damage your hair, especially when you use it repeatedly over time. We’re talking about curling irons, straighteners, blow dryers, hot rollers – all the fun styling tools that can make your hair look stunning in the moment but make it look worse long-term.

The Wrong Hair Hygiene Habits

Simple mistakes you might be making in the way you’re caring for your hair can add up over time. For example:

• Rubbing shampoo into the full length of your hair (it’s best to only massage it into your scalp instead)
• Rubbing your hair with a towel to dry it after washing it
• Brushing your hair while it’s wet (hair is more vulnerable to breakage when it’s wet)

These habits are common and they seem harmless but if they’re repeated every time you wash your hair, they can add up to noticeable damage.

Too Many or Improper Hair Treatments

We all love a fun hair makeover at the salon and an exciting change of pace. These hair treatments have to be done the right way and with some recovery time in between, though, or they can cause serious damage to your hair.

This is especially the case for anything that uses chemicals on your hair – bleaching, chemical relaxers, perms, and so on. It’s not only salon treatments either, because box color can cause damage too. Some non-chemical hair services can cause damage too if they’re not done properly or if they aren’t properly maintained, like weaves and extensions.

This isn’t to say that you have to just roll with your natural hair and that you can’t enjoy some fun colors or hair treatments. But it’s all about doing them the right way and with the right precautions in place. Your head isn’t a place for DIY experiments – go to a professional and follow their recommendations on things like timing and post-treatment hair care.

Other Chemicals

Along with hair treatment chemicals, other chemicals that come into contact with your hair can damage too, especially if you’re in contact with them over and over. The most common example is pool chemicals, but some at-home hair products can add up to damage too like very strong hairspray.

Nutrient Deficiencies

Your body is constantly producing new hair as your hair grows, and there are certain vitamins and minerals it needs to make that hair and to keep your hair healthy and damage-resistant. Those vitamins and minerals need to come from your diet, so a healthy and balanced diet will make sure your body has what it needs for stronger hair. The key nutrients to consider here are protein, biotin, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, and zinc.

Tips for Fixing Hair Damage

Now that you have some ideas of why your hair might have picked up some damage, let’s talk about how to fix it. The good news is that as easy as it is to accidentally have some hair-damaging habits, it’s easy to fix those habits too.

Take a Hair Supplement

There are oral supplements that are specifically designed for healthier, stronger hair. There are basically two categories here: the first is nutritional supplements that just contain the vitamins and minerals your hair needs to make sure you’re getting anything that isn’t in your diet. The second category, though, is more direct. Supplements like Nutrafol have active ingredients that specifically enhance your hair growth and make your hair stronger and healthier.

Rethink Your Hair Care Habits

We noted some common habits above that can damage and break your hair, and those are things you can stop doing today to help your hair repair damage and prevent further damage. Do things like changing the way you use your shampoo and pat your hair dry with a towel after you shower rather than rubbing it with the towel. Consult with your hairstylist too about how you can keep your hair treatments healthy and safe.

Use Restorative Topical Products

Just like supplements, there are topical products you can take too that will repair damage and leave your hair smoother and healthier. Olaplex No. 3 for example is a popular hair treatment you can do at home to restore health and vitality to damaged hair and to maintain healthier hair. Hair masks and specialized conditioners can do this as well.

Fixing damage to your hair might take some time, but it’s very doable with the right modifications and products, and you don’t have to just wait until the damaged hair grows out or chop it all off. A few simple habit swaps and new products could be all you need for healthy and gorgeous hair.