The truth about hair damage is that it can happen even when you’re not aware. Damaged hair can look like split ends, hair thinning, dead hair, frizz, excessive dryness, and these are simply the degree of hair problems. In this article, we’ll take a look at the 5 most common types of hair damage that are leading to hair fall and also some ways to protect your hair against them:
Heat Damage
If you curl, straighten, smoothen, blow dry, or do any sort of hair styling, heat damage is not far away. After all, your hair is delicate and heat-sensitive and can not withstand temperatures over 390 degrees Fahrenheit. Apply too much heat, and you would observe a dry, lifeless, and rough texture.
How do we fix this?
- Keep the blow dryer and heating rods at a low-temperature setting.
- Use a heat protectant hair serum that helps protect hair caused by heat damage - like our Intensive hair care serum, which has been designed to protect your hair from extensive heat from styling. The serum creates an insulative barrier that protects hair from the heat and damage caused by straightening, drying, and other styling treatments, keeping it lustrous and tangle-free.
Mechanical Damage
We are all guilty of this! The harmless “playing with your hair” is doing much harm. Tight ponytails, constantly running your fingers through them, pulling them out, pushing them in – these are all ways in which you can damage your hair!
How do we fix this?
- Be mindful of your hair, do not touch it often, as doing so can cause tears and transfer pollutants from your finger to your scalp.
- Be gentle while combing and avoid combs with plastic bristles
- Use a hair serum before you comb. It ensures lesser friction that leads to less hair fall.
Chemical Damage
Hair colours and bleaches can cause hair damage, and the more frequently you do it, the more likely it will start showing on your hair, colours, bleaches and treatments can cause frizz, roughness, dryness and even hair fall, depending upon your hair type. However, there is one more point to consider. If you’re the type who doesn’t colour, bleach or treat, you still shampoo, which is a thing to consider when it comes to chemical damage. Chemical damage in the form of harsh sulfates can make your hair brittle, dry and prone to hair fall.
How do we fix this?
- Choose hair colours, treatments and bleaches wisely; and pick them as per your hair type.
- Use a shampoo that is mild, gentle and sulfate free. In fact, our recommendation would be iluvia’s no-sulfate shampoo which makes use of a unique micro-emulsion formula that gently cleanses without causing any harm to your hair or hair colour. Moreso, it has been specifically designed for coloured and treated hair.
- Make serums and oils that can help restore your hair’s lipid barrier. The Intensive Haircare Serum and our Pure Argan Oil, which is 100% natural and certified organic are good places to start.
Damage from Environmental Stressors
This is slightly more perilous than heat damage and, at the same time, more overlooked too. The sun throws ultraviolet rays our way, which can easily break our hair’s cuticle layer. Once that breaks down, it’s all downhill from thereon.
How do we fix this?
- Try and protect your hair and scalp, especially when the conditions are extreme. A scarf or tying a ponytail instead of leaving your hair open can help.
- Get a detox hair spa done frequently. In fact, iluvia has a detox hair spa that cleanses, strengthens and protects, available as a service in select salons that can really help*.
- Use the right products in your everyday hair care routine. iluvia’s professional haircare range made for different hair & scalp types and triggers is designed to give you results from the very first wash,
Hard water
While some places have soft water, which is gentler on your hair, the truth is that most places do not! Over 70% of India receives hard water, meaning water with very high contents of calcium, magnesium, and iron (among others). These minerals accumulate on your hair and scalp, blocking pores which lead to thinning and breakage and hair fall.
How do we fix this?
- One way of fixing this is installing a water filter in your shower. However, this may not be the only solution.
- While you may not be able to change the composition of water, you can switch to a shampoo that is developed to reverse hard water damage. iluvia’s shampoo for hard water gently removes the ion deposits in your scalp while also soothing itchiness and flaking.
Conclusion
When you start noticing lifeless, dull hair, you should know split ends, hair fall, thinning hair, and broken hair will all follow. Don’t wait! Prevention is better than cure.
*iluvia’s professional hair care range and the Detox Hair Spa service are available in more than 1,300 salons across regions. For more information on finding a salon near you that has the exclusive iluvia Detox Hair Spa service, you can reach out to support@renaura.com.