How to Fix Damaged Hair in 8 Steps
Is it time for a hair intervention? If you're dealing with dull, dry, damaged hair, it's important to switch up your hair care regimen – and fast – before hair strands become even more sensitized. It takes more than a cut to turn back the clock on over-processed hair, but the good news is that newly advanced care technology makes it easier than ever to repair a stressed-out mane.
Below, we reveal the at-home and in-salon innovations that restore strong, healthy hair, from a bond-strengthening treatment that boosts your color appointments, to a regimen that repairs hair damage in 90 seconds1...
But, First – How Can You Tell If You Have Damaged Hair?
There are a few telltale signs of hair damage, from hair that looks persistently dry and dull to strands that snap off through the lengths, leaving you with breakage and split ends. 9 out of 10 women do something to damage their hair every single day, and you might just be one of them. So, what are the signs of damage to look out for?
1. Hair Breakage
If your hair snaps easily through the lengths (not from the root) and you're constantly battling split ends, this is a big sign of damage that needs to be remedied as soon as possible. Breakage can also enhance the appearance of frizzy hair, due to wispy tips and flyaways. If the hair shaft is looking frizzier than usual, breakage may be messing up your style.
2. Hair Thinning
Breakage can also lead to hair thinning through the lengths, so look out for hair that appears to be fuller at the root but gradually gets thinner as you reach the ends. This can happen when the lengths have been exposed to hot tools, like a flat iron, or chemical treatments without the proper at-home care, such as heat protection sprays or nourishing hair masks.
3. Dry and Dull Hair
While hair dryness is often a result of genetics, it can also be a sign that damage is at play. Dry, brittle hair is also prone to dullness, and may even lead to overly warm, brassy hair color. This dryness can stem from daily wear and tear or even changing temperatures, with extreme cold and excessive sun exposure breaking down hair's protective outer layer.
4. Excessive Tangling
When your hair is dry and damaged, it tends to tangle up easily. This is because the frazzled hair cuticles are raised, making it easier for them to snag on each other and lead to knots. The more damaged your hair is, the more likely it will become tangled. So, if it's trickier than usual to run a comb through your lengths, your hair may need a dose of hydration.
How to Boost Hair Health & Repair Hair Damage
1. Reach For a Rich, Hydrating Shampoo
The foundation of healthy hair is choosing the right shampoo for your hair type. When you have damaged hair, that means picking one that repairs from the inside out to leave your lengths soft, smooth and beautifully hydrated. ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo does just that, with a sumptuously creamy formula that pampers fine, thick, straight, wavy and curly hair back to its most lustrous. It removes harmful impurities – including metals, product build-up, oils, dirt and pollution – and kick-starts the bond-rebuilding process, no matter what type of damage you're dealing with. Massage it into wet hair and rinse thoroughly for a nourishing cleanse. The satiny lather and silky results make for a truly luxurious hair-washing experience.
2. Treat Dry Hair to a Deep Conditioner
ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo should be followed by ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner, a creamy formula that detangles, strengthens and repairs your hair. It's packed with AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) to penetrate the hair fiber and rebuild bonds from the inside, and Omega-9 (a nourishing fatty acid) to replenish the outer hair cuticles and recreate a protective hair barrier.
After squeezing out excess water, apply it to the mid-lengths and ends of clean, damp hair, then evenly distribute with a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush. Allow it to absorb for between 30 seconds to three minutes to give hair time to reap the rewards, then rinse out thoroughly. It delivers rich moisture after just one use, which lasts up to four washes2.
Want more intense nourishment? At least once per week, use a deep conditioning mask, like ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask. It's packed with smart conditioning agents that are able to identify and treat the areas that need it most. So, whether you have snapping through the crown from too-tight hairstyles or dryness through the lengths from chemical damage, this powerful hair mask gives you truly bespoke care.
3. Prevent Mechanical Damage
Sometimes we cause damage without even realizing it, like when we rub hair dry with a rough, cotton towel or slick it back into a high, tight ponytail. But the smallest changes can protect your hair against everyday damage, so break your bad hair care habits and try these easy upgrades:
- Swap regular towels for microfiber towels and, instead of rubbing, blot excess moisture out of your hair.
- Use a wide-tooth comb or a detangling brush to work through knots. Detangle while a hydrating mask or conditioner is in your hair for added 'slip'.
- Update your pillowcases. Trade rough cotton for silk or satin, as they're kinder to your hair, reducing breakage as you toss and turn.
- Before you go to bed, apply ULTIMATE REPAIR Night Serum through the lengths. The weightless hair serum acts as a shield against friction, so you wake up to healthier hair.
4. Use a Supercharged Leave-In Treatment
A leave-in conditioner or leave-in hair treatment stays on your hair for longer than a rinse-out, allowing it to deliver the most intense nourishment. And ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue takes leave-ins to a whole new level, with the potent mist repairing hair damage in 90 seconds1 while leaving your hair 12x smoother4 with 99% less breakage4. Straight hair appears sleeker, while curly or wavy hair looks more defined. This game-changing hair treatment was made to nourish all hair types.
Apply 5-15 pumps (depending on your hair type) to clean, damp hair and distribute with a wide-tooth comb, before leaving the fast-working treatment to act for 90 seconds. Then, you can style your hair as you usually would – whether that means letting hair dry naturally, or grabbing your hair dryer and blow-drying to perfection.
5. Layer with a Frizz-Fighting Hair Oil
Your hair follicles produce a natural, protective oil called sebum, which is responsible for keeping hair healthy, strong and resilient. But, when damage happens, sebum may be stripped from the hair shaft, leaving it dry, frizzy and vulnerable to breakage.
So, how do you restore the lost moisture? The key is to add nourishing oils back in, and that's where ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum comes in. Packed with Omega-9 and Squalane, it hydrates dry, frazzled hair from the inside out, providing consistent care that nourishes in 30 seconds for smoothness that lasts up to 3 days5. Layer it over ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue for a damage-defying double act. The powerful oil even protects against heat styling tools and excessive sun exposure.
6. Ask For WellaPlex at Hair Coloring Sessions
Having damaged hair doesn't mean highlights and color are off-limits. However, it does mean your hair stylist should add a little extra care to your lifting and toning formulas. So, ask them about WellaPlex; our bond-strengthening salon treatment, which is mixed right into your lightener or color so it can support your hair structure while your dream shade develops. Designed to keep hair strong during every color service, it's perfect for balayage an all-over shade transformation, and every coloring technique in between. No salon session should be without it.
If your hair is being lightened, they can also use BlondorPlex to reduce breakage by up to 97%⁶. With this innovative pre-lightener, the Plex ingredient is already built in, helping you achieve up to 9 levels of lift while enjoying strong, healthy hair.
Image Credit: @marianiliehair
7. Protect Your Hair From Heat Damage
If there's one styling essential everyone needs in their kit, it's a heat protectant spray. Trust us: you don't want to be using heat tools without one. Try EIMI Thermal Image, which features a bi-phase formula you shake up and spritz. One half is a weightless protective liquid, while the other half is a shine-boosting hair serum. Mixed together, they are able to shield the hair shaft from up to 220°C thermal damage while heat styling. This is a must-try hair product for straight, wavy, curly and coily hair, safeguarding strands from future damage to maintain a healthy mane.
Struggling with frizz? Then use ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum as your heat protectant. Not only does it veil hair in mirror-like shine, but it also prevents heat and UV damage. Apply it before using heat tools to guarantee the glossiest results, then add another drop or two after styling to give your hair the sleekest finish.
Pro tip: Try adjusting your drying technique when styling damaged hair strands. After washing, let hair air-dry 50% of the way before you pick up your hair dryer, so you won't be blasting it with excessive heat for too long. You can also reduce exposure to high temperatures by using the lowest heat setting. These simple changes can make all the difference to the condition of brittle hair.
8. Apply Nourishing Styling Products
Once you've completed your hair repair regimen, you'll have the perfect canvas for any style you crave, whether you love sea-breezy waves or a super-smooth, sleek finish. ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue and ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum are both wonderfully weightless, so you can layer them with your go-to styling products to achieve the look you want.
For beachy waves, try: EIMI Ocean Spritz, which encourages surfer-inspired texture with grip and guts, all while protecting hair from dehydration. You can mist it into slightly damp hair and scrunch or braid for dreamy waves. It's also suitable for spraying through dry hair to amp up hair texture. Blow-dry it in for a chunky, piece-y look.
For boosting volume, try: INVIGO Volume Boost Bodifying Foam, which amps up hair thickness and bids farewell to bad hair days. As a rule of thumb, it's best to work into clean, damp hair from roots to ends, then blow-dry while wrapping hair around a round brush. Lift from the root to lend extra height and volume, then curve at the ends for added bounce.
For defining the shape of curls, try: NutriCurls Curlixir Balm. It gives your hair soft hold, definition and bounce. Consider it the remedy to frizzy days, as it reveals the beautiful shape of curls on both fine or coarse hair types. Apply it evenly to curls while they're damp and blow-dry with a diffuser or (very gently) scrunch it into dry hair in between washes.
We hope you found this article helpful for defying the signs of hair damage. For more tips on enhancing your dedicated hair care regimen to protect hair from damage, check out our full collection of hair care articles.
1 When using Miracle Hair Rescue.
2 When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo, Conditioner & Miracle Hair Rescue.
3 Vs. non-conditioning shampoo.
4 When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue instrumental test vs. non-conditioning shampoo.
5 When using ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum, if unwashed for 3 days, vs. untreated.
6 When using Wellaplex N°2 with Blondorplex, versus Blondorplex alone.
