Ways to Treat Damaged Hair Caused by Hair Dye

Frizzy hair is not -- rest assured -- a permanent condition.

Many women love to try new trends and experiment with the latest looks for their hair. Unfortunately, sometimes these fun forays can result in disaster. Hair dye especially can cause significant damage to our locks, but there are steps you can take to fix the damage caused by the high stakes of experimentation.

Keep a Wet Head

One of the first things to do to help repair your damaged hair is to make sure that you use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. It is also important to start using a leave-in conditioner two times a week to help salve the damage caused by the hair dye. Try to avoid washing your hair with shampoo more than three times a week because it will strip away your hair's natural oils. (In between shampoos, wet your hair with water to freshen it up.) Avoid hot water -- with or without shampoo -- and try to rinse your hair with cold (not cool) water to seal the hair follicles. Be sure to get your hair trimmed regularly to nip split ends.

Avoid Heat

While your hair is in recovery, try to use a blow dryer and curling or flattening irons as little as possible to avoid further damage. If you must use a hair dryer, put it on the lowest setting and use a heat guard. Heat guards are products that often come in a balm or a spray. They can be purchased at any salon, drug store or mass retailer.

Read the Labels

When purchasing shampoo, conditioner and styling products, be sure to check the labels for ingredients that are bad for your hair. Sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate is used in a lot of shampoos, but it is a de-greaser that will strip your hair of its natural oils, leaving your hair more susceptible to dirt and damage. Avoid using styling products that contain alcohol because they can dry out your hair even more.

Consider a Cut

If your hair has been severely damaged by hair dye, you might consider talking to your hair stylist about creating a shorter style that would allow you to literally cut off the damage. You may love your shorter style even more and, if not, your hair will always grow back. Use this time to take good care of your hair so that it will grow back healthy and strong.

References

• Damaged Hair
• Hair Tips