Fried hair is what happens when you are reckless about your daily hair care habits. Too much heat and excessive exposure to strong hair care formulas can add up over time until your hair eventually gives out, leaving you with fried hair that is not only unsightly but also seemingly irreversible. It is important that you address fried hair problems before they get worse or else you won’t be able to restore the natural state of your locks.
Causes
Needless to say, the best approach to fixing fried hair is to identify its cause. There are a few common causes associated with fried hair and some of them include the following:
hairoilz on Flickr and reproduced under Creative Commons 2.0
• Improper hair styling habits to fit your hair type or texture;
• Excessive use of chemical treatments too harsh for hair;
• Excessive use of heat styling tools that ‘fry’ your hair (especially when used on wet hair);
• Faulty use of hair tools and accessories;
• Frequent combing and teasing of hair;
• Inadequate hair care and maintenance.
If you are fond of styling your hair, then you might be guilty of one or two (or more!) of the causes above. If your hair is not yet fried, it will only be a matter of time until it does especially if you do not take the time to correct any mistakes in your hair care routine.
Fixing Fried Hair
Once you have identified that you are suffering from fried hair, it is important to plot the steps needed to restore health and vitality back into your damaged locks. You can try one or a combination of the following remedies:
Trim Your Hair: Here’s a harsh reality check: once your hair is fried, you can never bring it back to its normal stage pre-fried. You can use remedies to mask the condition of your hair but once it is damaged, it’s damaged! You can go for salon treatments but they can be expensive over time. The best approach is, therefore, to trim off those fried ends. This will allow new hair to re-grow and recover with healthier and more vibrant re-grow.
Cut Down Use of Shampoo: Daily shampooing is a no-no for fried hair. If you had to use it, dilute the formula by mixing one half of shampoo and one half water when you are washing your hair. But you can always go for shampoos with gentle and mild formula to eliminate harsh chemicals that can damage your hair.
Deep Conditioning Treatment: This is a good treatment that can revitalise fried hair. In fact, there are a lot of deep conditioners already in the market designed specifically to combat the damage caused by excessive use of hot styling tools. Choose any of these products based on what your hair needs most, whether it is moisture balance, eliminating frizz or tangles, or introducing lost nutrients back into your hair for a natural glow.
Avoid Silicone- or Alcohol-Based Products: These can contribute to product buildup in your hair and scalp, which can later on cause frizz and make your hair look fried or unruly. It pays to read labels before buying hair care products.
Take Hair Vitamins: There are two ways to achieve this: 1) through your diet, and 2) by applying them to your hair. The best vitamins for your hair include biotin, vitamin E, vitamin B6, and calcium. You can also eat lots of fruits, leafy green vegetables, or whole grains and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated from within. These vitamins will bring back the natural sheen in your hair and fortifies every strand.
Are you suffering from fried hair? What steps are you taking to bring back health into your locks?
[…] Now that you know the basics on which direction to curl your hair to, it is important to check the temperature of your curling iron. You need to get the tool hot enough so that it bends over to the desired direction. However, avoid setting it too high as it can also make your hair look fried. […]