How to Prevent and Repair Heat Damaged Hair
Winter wreaks havoc on your luscious locks. The weather at this time of the year, with the wind, rain, snow and sleet dries out your hair, leaving your scalp flaky, itchy and in dire need of a good conditioning treatment. When you pair this with all the heat damage from your blow dryer and other heated hairstyling equipment like a flat iron or curling iron, it’s likely you’ve experienced some shrinkage. Here’s how to recognize winter-damaged, heat-destroyed hair and how to repair it.
The Problem: Your Flat Iron Is Thinning Out Your Hair
It’s a common misconception that hair straightening causes hair loss. However, excessive heat damage from a flat iron can cause long-lasting damage to your hair follicles, resulting in limp, lifeless, thin hair. This is because heat-styling tools exhaust your hair of moisture, which is essential for healthy hair. Add in the drying effects of the harsh winter weather, and your hair will be crying out for some TLC. Some people are super sensitive to the chemicals used in hair straighteners too, which could result in an unwanted scalp condition.
The Solution:
During the winter, use an oil-based product when straightening, which will add some much-needed lubrication to your hair follicles. Argan oil, also known as “liquid gold” is probably best. This contains vitamin E, a natural antioxidant for fuller, thicker hair.
The Problem: You Have Seasonal Hair Loss
You might experience hair loss during the winter months. Bitter winds and central heating systems are two of the biggest culprits of thinning hairat this time of the year. Some people might even suffer from telogen effluvium, a condition associated with excessive hair shedding. Typically, telogen effluvium occurs about one to three months after a stressful event such as childbirth or trauma, but the condition might also be related to a vitamin D deficiency, which is common in the winter. Heat-styling accessories can make the problem worse.
The Solution:
Incorporating more vitamin D into your diet in the winter could promote hair growth. This vitamin is found in food such as mackerel, a small portion of this fish contains a massive 90 percent of your recommended daily amount. Other suggestions would include sardines, tuna and eggs. Alternatively, you can take a vitamin D supplement, which is available in capsule or liquid form.
The Problem: You Have Brittle Hair
If your hair generally breaks easily when it is brushed or combed, it could get worse in the winter. According to hairstyling, exposure to windy weather leads to much weaker hair and using heat-styling tools can only exacerbate the issue. Both the wind and heat products strip your hair of its natural oils, leaving it coarse, frizzy and unmanageable.
The Solution:
A good hair conditioner helps your scalp retain more moisture and prevents the problem of brittle hair. Conditioners for dry, damaged hair nourish the scalp and are packed full of hair-loving ingredients. Avoid using a shampoo that contains alkaline, which can dry out your hair and minimize the amount of heat you apply to your hair.
The combination of winter weather and heat-styling products creates dry, thin, patchy hair. In addition to some of our above suggestions for preventing thinning, dry and damaged hair, you may also consider Tricovel, which can help individuals suffering from thinning, balding hair and conditions like telogen effluvium. Many have attested to growing thicker and healthier hair, with a noticeably less hair loss as well. Learn more about Tricovel here or leave us a comment below!