If you’re someone like me who loves experimenting with their hair, you might have experienced the damage that comes with getting chemical hair services done. It can be coloring, smoothening, keratin, botox or perming, these treatments if done repetitively can leave your hair feeling dry, frizzy, brittle, and damaged. Below are 5 tips that have helped me take better care of my own treated hair.
- Use a hydrating and nourishing shampoo and conditioner
Chemical treatments make hair dry and prone to breakage by stripping the natural oils from your hair.. That’s why it’s important to use a shampoo and conditioner specifically formulated for chemically treated hair to give the required care and nourishment. Look for products containing moisturizing ingredients such as argan oil, coconut oil, or shea butter. These will help replenish lost moisture and nourish your strands.
- Deep condition regularly
In addition to using a hydrating shampoo and conditioner, integrate deep conditioning masks into your hair care routine to restore moisture and improve the overall health of chemically treated hair. Look for deep conditioning masks that help repair damaged or weakened areas of the hair shaft. I personally like to apply a deep conditioning mask once a week and leave it on for at least 20 minutes before rinsing it out.
- Minimize heat styling
Heat styling tools such as flat irons, curling tongs, and blow dryers further damage chemically treated hair by causing hair to become dry and brittle. Try minimizing the use of these tools or at least use them on lower heat settings to reduce potential damage. Also, use a good quality heat protection spray before using any of the styling tools.
4. Protect Your Hair from Sunlight
Just like our skin needs protection from UV rays so does our lovely tresses need protection too.
An innovative way is to make protective hairstyles that will help in protecting the scalp skin from direct sun exposure thereby preventing any kind of sunburns which might lead to dandruff and other scalp issues. When heading outdoors, protect those tresses by covering them up or using an umbrella.
5. Trim regularly
Even with proper care, split ends are inevitable when you have chemically treated hair due to its weakened state post-treatment. Taking hair trim every 6 to 8 weeks will not only keep split ends at bay but also promote healthy growth.