How to fix over-processed hair
Changing between different hairstyles, colours and looks can be very exciting, but your hair often pays the price. Over time, all these changes can be detrimental to your scalp health and your hair can be damaged permanently in some cases.
In this article, we’ll explore what over-processed hair is, how it comes about, and how you can manage and restore it.
What is over-processed hair?
Hair that has been repeatedly bleached, dyed, exposed to extreme heat or treated with relaxants tends to deteriorate over time. These processes weaken your hair follicles, shafts and can cause lasting damage to your scalp.
You can easily tell if yours is over-processed if you contend with split ends, a dry or itchy scalp, thinning, and brittle hair regularly. Damaged hair is noticeably drier, duller and harder to work with.
Trimming and cutting strategies for damaged hair
Managing over-processed hair can be done well with the right cutting and trimming techniques. A trip to the hairdresser can help to draw a line under damaged hair and split ends, helping you to start fresh and revitalise your hair.
Depending on the severity of your hair damage, you may need to opt for more length taken off to get rid of damaged strands. Split ends can work their way up to the roots, so trimming regularly should help to prevent that level of splitting.
Styling damaged hair gets more difficult the longer you neglect its restoration. Avoid continuing to use straining or damaging styling techniques until you’ve revived your hair.
How to restore hair health
Taking steps to revitalise your hair is crucial to restore its health and longevity. Here’s how you can get your hair back to its full glory:
Cut back on heat and chemical treatments – Lay off the hair straighteners, blow dryer, bleaching and dyes for a while to allow your hair to recover. If you carry on damaging it, it won’t have the chance to regain its strength.
Eat the right foods – The food you eat can actually have a significant impact on your hair health. Ensure that your nutrition is well-balanced with plenty of healthy fats, proteins and greens. You may want to try some hair supplements to fill any nutritional gaps.
Nourish with quality shampoos, conditioners and hair masks – Use quality products to revitalise your hair, including moisturising shampoos, conditioners and hair masks if possible. Cheaper products typically use harsher chemicals and may disrupt your hair’s recovery.
Have regular trims – Staying on top of your split ends will benefit your overall hair health. You’ll also avoid them travelling up to the roots, which can be a nightmare to deal with.