Flying Hair and SunglassesThere are times for all of us that the hair has just taken way too much of a beating!  Whether that is from simple sun damage, chlorine, product over-kill, hair straightener abuse or too much hair dryer use, the time comes for most of us, women in particular to give it all a rest and just let our follicles BREATHE!

Au natural!  Nothing like it!  But really… can hair that has taken a hard hit ever recover, short of a good hair cut and leave it be.  Well there are many products out there that claim to be able to do this very thing.  Many natural products as well, and many combination products, I like to call them – they have a strong base of say, olive oil, but other additions that make it less than completely natural.  This is the section for discovery of many different types of solutions for all kinds of hair, for both men and women.

How to repair hair from straightening may look different from the type of treatment needed to turn blonde hair back to blonde again, if it has turned a greenish hue from chlorine damage.  Treating damaged hair is like figuring out what works best for the individual person  – unique to the hair shaft itself.  Some of the ways we can damage our luscious locks include but are not limited to:

  • Cheap (usually), harsh kind of shampoo
  • Too frequently hair washing
  • Perms
  • Hair coloring
  • Chlorine, as mentioned before,  in swimming pools and hot tubs
  • Overuse of hair blow dryer, straightener or curling iron
  • Over-exposure to sun and wind
  • High mineral content in the local water supply, not off-set with a softener
  • Illness and medication
  • Vitamin/ mineral deficiency
  • Radiation for cancer treatment

Yes, there are certain illnesses and medications that may  take a toll on our hair. Cancer drugs or radiation, prolonged sickness, for example, can cause hair to have a reaction. Perhaps there is a vitamin or mineral deficiency happening of which we are unaware. (Please keep in mind that AllAboutHair.info is not providing any kind of diagnosis at all, this is for general information only. Any flags that may be raised in discussing illness as a root of hair difficulties, please see your Dr. and proceed with recommended care.)

The easiest and first place to start is with common sense. If you notice hair becoming damaged after prolonged outdoor exposure, for example, limit that. Wear a hat. If it’s from chlorine, then keep your head above water or wear a bathing cap – not the most popular option these days! :) But effective nevertheless. Also dry, damaged hair really does not need daily washing, so go 2 – 3 days between washes and this alone can often bring some relief against dryness.

Here is a quick tip using a very common, home product to fix dry hair – vinegar! Vinegar is a great conditioner and can easily improve both cleanliness and shine. Just add 1 tablespoon vinegar to your hair as you rinse it. It’s an awesome conditioner, as handy as it gets and brings out a fine shine to dry hair. You could keep a trial-size bottle of vinegar in your shower for this purpose, and even take one when you travel. Massage full-strength vinegar into your scalp several times a week, right before your shampoo as a quick fix-it for dandruff! (Is there a product out there that compares with simple usefulness as vinegar?? Across the board, this one’s a winner!). A brief soak in vinegar and water before shampoo can do double duty : help control dandruff and also remove the dulling look of build-up from harsh shampoos, sprays and/or conditioners.