Nothing makes a statement like healthy, vibrant hair.
69% of women say they feel more attractive after having their hair colored. But coloring and styling can put a lot of strain on your hair and leave you with lasting damage.
That’s where hair strengthening comes in. By focusing on restoring strength to your hair, you can reverse damage and continue to enjoy trying new colors and styles.
We love coloring, straightening and curling our hair. We don’t love it when it gets dry and brittle as a result. Keep reading to learn about hair strengthening.
Below, we’ll take a look at what hair strengthening is and why you need it.
Why Strengthen Hair?
Our hair takes a beating throughout our lives.
Even if you don’t color or style your hair, it still suffers damage from environmental factors. If you live in a hard water region, just washing your hair can weaken it by causing mineral buildup. And sun, rain, wind, and cold air can all cause damage. Now add the influence of man-made factors like petrochemicals, and it’s no wonder our hair can struggle.
But you face even bigger challenges if you love to work with your hair. Let’s take a look at a few things you’re doing that weaken your hair.
Blow Drying
Heat is bad news for your hair. Your hairdryer can’t tell the difference between water from your shower and your hair’s core hydrating moisture. You’ll often over-dry your hair and leave it brittle. Once your hair has dried out, it’s easy to damage with brushing.
Curling
If blow drying is bad, then it’s no surprise that curling is worse. Have you ever forgotten to pierce a microwave dinner?
That’s what happens to your hair on a microscopic level when you curl it. Water expands and explodes out, damaging your hair. And all of what we said above about over-drying still applies.
Bleaching
Bleach is a harsh chemical compound that can cause extensive damage to your hair. If you bleach frequently, you could be left with brittle hair which has been stripped of its natural defenses.
Styling
It may sound unfair, but even styling can cause lasting damage to your hair. You’ll normally style your hair after applying heat, so you’re putting stress on your hair when it’s at its weakest.
What Is Hair Strengthening?
Hair strengthening is a way to restore body and life to your hair while reversing damage. It lets you work with your hair without shortening its lifespan.
Let’s take a look at a few ways you can strengthen your hair.
Use Nourishing Products
Using the correct products can restore balance to your hair and undo the harmful effects other products have caused.
Hair strengthening products focus on restoring and strengthening your hair, as well as preventing breakage. They do this by infusing your hair with natural oils, amino acids, and proteins. These are all essential building blocks for healthy hair, which can be stripped out by the factors we’ve covered above.
The key here is balance. There’s nothing wrong with coloring or bleaching your hair. But you need to protect it from damage while doing so.
L’Oreal Smartbond is a great example of a hair product designed to reduce damage. Smartbond is a three-step system that protects hair during and after hair treatments.
Not all shampoos and conditioners nourish your hair. Shampoos especially can strip out your hair’s natural oils. This can leave your hair looking dull and prone to damaging effects.
Some people get stuck in a cycle of trying to use their shampoos and conditioners to fix their damaged hair, without realizing they’re making the problem worse!
The Professional Touch
As we’ve touched on above, one of the best ways to protect your hair is to leave it to professionals.
Hairstylists know what works and what doesn’t. They understand the needs of different hair types. And they know what products to use to protect your hair. You may know how to dye and style your hair, but not how to keep it healthy.
Going to a salon can offset the damage done to your hair. Stylists with use products like Smartbond to give you all the joys of colored and curled hair without the associated risks.
What Can I Do?
You can achieve some hair strengthening with the right habits. Let’s break down a few things you can do for healthy hair.
Eat Right
Your hair depends as much on what you eat as the rest of your body.
Your diet should be healthy and balanced. Make sure you include plenty of protein and iron. You also need to ensure you’re getting your full calorie needs every day. If you’ve noticed sudden changes in your hair, think about whether you’ve made any recent dietary changes.
If you suffer from vitamin deficiencies, then vitamin supplements can be used to give your hair a boost.
You’ll also want to make sure you’re probably hydrated. Drinking water will allow your hair to maintain a healthy level of moisture, which protects it from damage.
Switch It Up
Wearing your hair in the same style compounds any problems the style might be causing.
If you switch up your hairstyle frequently, you can avoid creating long-term stress for your hair. Why not ask your stylist for new ideas? They can give advice on what works for you. They’ll also be able to tell you if it’s a high-stress hairstyle.
Play It Cool
Only use the heat you absolutely need. If you must use curlers or straighteners, use them on low settings. Keep your dryer on low. Balance the heat you use with hydrating products to lock in moisture.
You could avoid the need for heat altogether with the right products. A straightening product could help smooth out curls without drying out your hair. If it’s curls you’re after, then there are products to promote curling.
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Hair Strengthening Protects Your Look
None of us is looking forward to the day when the effects of age start to decide how we look.
Hair strengthening is an important part of anti-aging – it can add to the lifespan of your hair and keep it looking vibrant for longer. Consider asking your stylist for hair strengthening advice on your next visit to the salon.
If you’re after some advice or are interested in our services, be sure to contact us. We’d love to hear from you!
