Repair Your Damaged Hair With These Simple Steps

Are you struggling to figure out how to repair your damaged hair without completely breaking your bank? Store-bought hair products can run extremely pricey, and most of those products contain additional ingredients that your hair really doesn’t need, including parabens, formaldehyde, sulfates, added fragrance, and benzene. These ingredients can irritate your skin, dry your hair even more, and even cause respiratory problems or cancer in cases of excess exposure.

There are countless natural remedies that can moisturize your hair, strengthen your follicles, and benefit your overall health. These remedies are free from chemicals and hidden ingredients that might make your damaged hair even worse. In addition to natural remedies, there are several basic practices you can implement into your daily hair care routine to promote long-term hair health. Check out these simple steps you can start taking immediately to repair your damaged hair and keep it healthy for good!

Eat nutrient-rich foods.

Your hair absorbs the nutrients you eat as well as the nutrients you apply directly to it. If you eat tons of junk food with little to no nutritional value, then your hair will be dry, brittle, and dull. If you eat healthy foods rich in vitamins and antioxidants, then your hair will be strong, healthy, and shiny.

Some of the best foods to eat for hair health include blueberries, chia seeds, pomegranates, avocados, carrots, almonds, leafy greens, and quinoa. Drinking plenty of water also keeps your hair more hydrated, which ultimately results in less long-term damage.

You can also apply vitamins directly to your hair by crushing them up and mixing them with any hair oil to apply after shampooing and conditioning or any time of day when your hair feels like it needs a pick-me-up!

Comb your hair before shampooing.

Because hair becomes more fragile when it’s wet, you should try to avoid handling it excessively while you’re shampooing and conditioning. The best way to do so is to gently comb out your hair before getting it wet so that it doesn’t become tangled while shampooing.

Avoid hot showers.

Hot water is harsh on hair and can actually dry it out. When showering, use lukewarm or cold water if you can stand it. Cold water makes your hair shinier, stronger, and healthier by flattening the hair follicles and strengthening their grip on your scalp.

Cold water also “seals” the pores on your scalp, which keeps your hair cleaner longer by preventing excess dirt and oils from penetrating and clogging your pores. All these benefits apply to your skin as well!

Apply oil to ends instead of product.

Applying any kind of natural oil like avocado, olive, or coconut oil moisturizes dry and damaged hair. On the other hand, hair products with tons of fragrance and chemicals start to build up over time and eventually lead to more damage.

If you have very fine hair, focus on applying oil directly to your ends to avoid giving your hair a greasy appearance. If you have thicker hair, feel free to lather your locks with oil to lock in moisture throughout each strand.

Braid your hair after shampooing.

Braiding your hair is one of the best things you can do to promote long-term hair health and restore damaged ends. When you braid your hair after shampooing and conditioning and then sleep on it, you’ll be less likely to style it with heat the next day because it will give you natural and full waves once you remove the braids.

Braids also lock in moisture, prevent breakage, minimize frizz, and reduce breakouts during your sleep since your hair is secured away from your face.

Use a humidifier.

Because your hair naturally loses moisture, especially when the air is dry, a humidifier is a great way to ensure that your hair stays hydrated. If you use a humidifier while you sleep, all the moisture your hair lost the previous day will be restored before morning!

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Apply a coconut cream mask once per month.

Store-bought hair masks can get pretty expensive and often contain unnecessary ingredients that can actually counteract the hydrating effects of their natural ingredients. One can of coconut milk costs anywhere from $1 to $3, which is less expensive than the average single-use hair mask available for purchase at your local beauty supply store.

Coconut cream is extremely beneficial to your hair health because it contains healthy fat and protein that your hair will absorb to look shinier and feel stronger. The best way to make coconut cream is to separate the cream from the coconut water in a store-bought can of coconut milk. Refrigerate the can for 24 hours to effectively separate the water from the cream, scoop the cream into a large bowl, and whisk until fluffy and spreadable. Apply and leave the coconut cream in your hair for 15 to 20 minutes, then shampoo and condition as usual.

Perform an apple cider vinegar rinse every 2 weeks.

Apple cider vinegar is rich in vitamin C, which nourishes your hair much more thoroughly than any store-bought product can. It’s also much cheaper than any similar product you can find at your local beauty supply store.

All you need to do is mix 16 ounces of purified water with 2 tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar, then evenly distribute the mixture to your hair after shampooing. Rinse thoroughly and condition after a few minutes.

Get a trim every 12 weeks.

The best way to maintain healthy hair and continue removing split ends as well as any overly damaged hair that refuses to respond to any treatments is to get your hair trimmed every 12 weeks. While trimming your hair might sound counter-intuitive if you’re trying to grow it out, it actually allows your hair to grow longer because the dead ends are constantly being removed.

Once a strand splits into two or more separate strands, the remaining strands are weaker than the previously intact strand and will break off much more easily. If your hair is constantly being rid of broken hair and split ends, then the hair that does grow will be stronger, more uniform, and more likely to absorb moisture when you treat it!