Is your hair brittle, dull or even has split ends? Find out here how you can care for damaged hair and whether it is even possible to repair it with products.
Dry, brittle, damaged hair cannot be repaired. Only scissors can help. At least that's what I've always heard and believed. But are there products that can actually save your hair?
Understanding the hair structure
To continue here, it is important to know the structure of your hair. This is because your hair consists of three layers. If your hair is damaged, products usually have to penetrate the innermost layers to repair them.
- The innermost layer: the medulla (medullary canal): This is the central part of the hair and is located in the centre. It is not present in all hair, but mainly only in normal to thick hair thicknesses. This is why this innermost layer has no influence on how your hair reacts to chemical processes. Nevertheless, the medullary canal is not completely pointless. By optimising light reflection, it can improve the shine and colour of your hair.
- The middle layer of the hair: the cortex: The cortex is the middle and most important layer of the hair and consists of long, thread-like cells that contain proteins such as keratin, hydrogen bonds, salt bonds and disulphide bonds. If you want to apply chemical products to your hair, this hair layer is therefore the most important. It is also the layer that contains the hair's colour pigments and is therefore responsible for the hair colour. The cortex also determines the elasticity and strength of the hair.
- The outermost layer: the cuticle: The outermost layer of the hair consists of several thin layers of transparent, overlapping scales that cover the hair like the tiles of a roof. The cuticle protects the inside of the hair from external damage and prevents moisture loss. Healthy hair has an intact cuticle, which protects the hair and gives it shine.
If your hair has really damaged ends due to bleaching, colouring or heat styling, there's probably no way around a visit to the hair stylist to at least cut the ends. If your hair is simply dry and damaged, you can actually breathe new life into it with the help of care products and prevent new hair damage. Find out here which products are worth using to repair your hair.
Olaplex
Olaplex is the absolute classic when it comes to hair repair - but the brand has stood the test of time. Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3 in particular helps you to actually save your hair. Thanks to the treatment, broken disulphide bridges in the hair are repaired from the inside. Disulphide bridges are the connecting elements between the keratins that make up most of the hair. These can break due to heat or UV radiation. The entire hair becomes brittle and loses its shine. With an Olaplex No. 3 treatment, you can permanently repair these bridges and restore your hair's strength.
K18
Frizz is your constant companion? Then you should integrate the Molecular Repair Hair Oil from K18 into your hair care routine. The strengthening and smoothing hair oil works on two levels of the hair fibre to combat frizz: damage in the innermost layer of your hair that leads to frizz is repaired. But the oil doesn't just repair the inside of your hair. Natural oils smooth frizz and flyaways on the surface of your hair. The Repair Hair Oil also offers heat protection of up to over 230°C. As tempting as this sounds, don't just rely on the heat protection in the hair oil. In order for it to protect your hair effectively, you would have to use so much of the product that your hair would become greasy and stringy. So use a conventional heat protection product in addition. Nevertheless, the Molecular Repair Hair Oil from K18 is a real all-rounder.
Aveda
Do you trust in the power of nature? There are actually hair repair products that can repair your hair with plant-based technologies. The Aveda Botanical Repair - Strengthening Overnight Serum offers you deep repair overnight while you sleep. All three layers of hair are repaired and split ends are reduced by 84%. In addition, an invisible veil over each strand reduces friction and protects against damage while you sleep.
L'Oréal Professionnel
The Absolut Repair Molecular Rinse-Off Serum from L'Oréal Professionnel Paris has been specially developed for hair that is severely damaged in its structure. The serum repairs two years' worth of hair damage in just one application. Enriched with 2% peptide bonders and 5 amino acids, it penetrates deep into the hair structure and instantly transforms the hair. However, this miracle product can only unfold its full effect as one of several steps in a care routine with the Absolut Repair Molecular products. You can only start this routine in the salon with a treatment. But it's worth it! If you continue to care for your hair with the products from the care line at home, you can actually enjoy shiny, healthy and repaired hair.
Preventing hair damage
We're happy that there are now many different products that can actually repair your hair. But to prevent it from getting that far in the first place, or the damage from becoming so severe that not even the best technologies can help, you can prevent damaged and brittle hair with these tips:
- Regular haircut: A regular haircut removes split ends and promotes healthy hair growth. This prevents the damage from spreading further.
- Gentle washing: Use mild shampoos and conditioners that have been specially developed for damaged hair. Avoid washing too often and only use lukewarm water. This will prevent your hair from becoming excessively dry.
- Avoid heat: Reduce the use of heat styling tools such as hair dryers, straighteners or curling irons. If you do use them, make sure you use heat protection products and choose low temperature settings.
- Deep conditioning: Intensive treatments and hair masks can moisturise and restore the hair. They help to lock in moisture and strengthen the hair.
- Healthy diet: A balanced diet with sufficient intake of proteins, vitamins and minerals is important to promote healthy hair from the inside out.
- Avoid aggressive treatments: Chemical treatments such as bleaching, colouring or perming can further damage the hair. Try to reduce these or at least only use them rarely.
- Natural oils: Use natural oils such as coconut oil, argan oil or olive oil to nourish and moisturise your hair. Apply the oil to the ends or use it as a hair conditioner before washing.
- Protection from environmental influences: Protect your hair from sunlight, chlorine, salt water and environmental pollution by using hats, scarves or special hair protection products, for example.
Are you particularly interested in hair repair with natural products from Aveda? We tested all the products in the Botanical Repair line.
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