How to Take Care of Damaged Hair Naturally

Nothing spoils your mood more than dealing with damaged hair and hair loss. The good thing is you can do a lot to make your hair feel healthy and whole again, such as using treatments, (1) oiling, masking, and massaging your scalp to stimulate blood circulation.

Some reasons your hair shaft gets damaged are getting chemical-laced treatments such as bleaching, hair dyeing, and perming, which can also cause changes in the hair texture.

Your hair shaft can also be damaged from friction due to using hair accessories, frequent combing, and rough towel drying.

Never comb your hair when it is wet as it can lead to hair damage, and wear a cap or head scarf when out in the sun as exposure to UV rays and heat can damage the hair fibers and lead to dry, dull, and brittle hair. (2)

If you are looking for ways to take care of damaged hair, read on.

Ways to Treat Damaged Hair

Follow these remedies to treat damaged hair and obtain better hair growth.

1. Coconut oil + curry leaves + rosemary oil mask for damaged hair

Among most hair oils, coconut oil penetrates the scalp the most, and research also shows that it reduces protein loss from hair when applied to the hair before or after shampooing. (3)

Curry leaves are an excellent ingredient from nature that help fight against damaged hair, premature graying of hair, dandruff, and hair fall. You can apply curry leaves as a mask alone or along with other ingredients to get rid of some hair problems. (4)

Rosemary essential oil is scientifically proven to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce oxidative stress on the scalp, which causes hair loss, breakage, and premature graying of hair. (5)

How to use:

1. Add five curry leaves to a vessel and 2 tablespoons of coconut oil.
2. Add a few drops of rosemary oil to the mixture and mix well.
3. Heat the vessel on medium flame for 1–2 minutes or till the leaves turn brown.
4. Remove from heat.
5. Cool this oil, store it in a jar, and use it twice weekly for good results.

2. Banana + olive oil hair mask for soft hair

Bananas are readily available and full of vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for your skin and hair. Applying it to the scalp and hair can make the hair more manageable and soft and helps prevent dandruff.

Bananas are rich in potassium, oils, carbohydrates, and vitamins, which help to maintain the hair’s natural elasticity and prevent split ends and breakage. (6)

Olive oil is an excellent source of essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that are needed to make the hair soft and manageable and help reduce hair damage.

How to use:

1. Mix one mashed ripe banana and 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a bowl until you get a smooth mixture.
2. Apply this paste evenly to your scalp and hair and leave it on for 30 minutes.
3. Wash your hair with a natural shampoo and conditioner.

3. Hibiscus flower mask to prevent hair breakage

Hibiscus is packed with nutrients that protect the scalp and hair from damage. It acts as an emollient and restores moisture and elasticity to damaged hair.

It also protects your hair from the harmful effects of UV rays and prevents hair breakage by conditioning your hair to make it soft and manageable. (7)

How to use:

1. Add 10 hibiscus flowers to a vessel and add 1 cup of coconut oil to it.
2. Heat it on medium flame till the flowers are brown.
3. Let the oil cool completely, and then strain it out and store it in an oil bottle.
4. Massage this oil onto your scalp and hair, and leave it on for 30 minutes.
5. Wash it off with a natural shampoo and conditioner.
6. Repeat the process twice weekly for good results.

4. Aloe vera gel as a conditioner

Aloe vera gel is a storehouse of skin and hair-friendly nutrients and contains 75 potentially active constituents, including proteins and amino acids, salicylic acid, enzymes, and vitamins. (8)

It is rich in vitamins A, C, and E, which help in promoting healthy cell growth and shiny hair. The vitamin B12 and folic acid in aloe vera gel also help prevent hair loss and maintain the hair’s elasticity.

How to use:

Method 1

1. Apply 2 tablespoons of aloe vera juice directly to your damaged hair.
2. Leave it on for 10 minutes, and then wash it off with warm water.

Method 2

1. Mix 4 tablespoons of aloe vera gel with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil.
2. Apply the mixture to your hair, and leave it on for 30 minutes.
3. Wash it off with a natural shampoo.

5. Miracle berry oil for hair strengthening

Miracle berry oil comes from the seed of the exotic fruit of Synsepalum dulcificum and helps to lubricate, moisturize, and strengthen damaged hair. It has a similar composition of nutrients as the sebum produced by the sebaceous glands.

It is rich in natural oils and has high amounts of palmitic acid (42%) and squalene (1.5%), which are essential for the hair and are almost the same in amount as that found in human sebum. (9)

How to use:

• Apply a small amount of miracle berry oil evenly to damp or dry hair.
• Leave it on for 40 minutes.
• Wash it off with a natural shampoo.

6. Fenugreek seed mask for hair repair

Fenugreek powder can be sourced by grinding fenugreek seeds into a fine consistency. This abundantly found ingredient is a fantastic remedy for damaged hair because it contains high amounts of iron and protein.

Fenugreek powder is commonly used in hair masks with other ingredients or alone to repair the hair shaft and to improve dry and damaged hair. It is an excellent option for those with damaged hair shafts due to excessive use of hair color and hot styling tools. (10)

How to use:

1. Soak 3 tablespoons of fenugreek seeds in some water in a bowl and leave it overnight.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of coconut milk to it.
3. Grind the mixture into a paste.
4. Apply the mixture to your scalp and massage it for 5-10 minutes.
5. Leave it on for 40 minutes.
6. Rinse it off with a natural shampoo and conditioner.

7. Following a nutritious diet

A diet that does not contain vital nutrients such as iron, zinc, niacin, essential fatty acids, selenium, folic acid, biotin, and vitamins D, A, and E will impact the condition of the hair and skin.

You need to include green leafy vegetables, nuts, and grains in your diet to get these hair-beneficial nutrients in your body. (11)

8. Reducing stress

Research has suggested a link between stress and hair damage as people suffering from chronic stress, including depression and anxiety, have reported problems in digestion, sleep, and hair. However, the exact reason is still unclear. (12)

In a small study on mice, it was found that the stress hormone impaired the stem cells necessary for hair growth, which can be the case in humans also. (13)

Tips to Prevent Hair Damage 

• Use your fingertips to gently massage shampoo into the scalp and length of your hair.
• Never skip out on using a conditioner, even if your strands are oily.
• Be gentle when towel-drying your hair, and use cotton tees to rub your hair as they are more delicate than regular towels. 
• Never comb your damp hair after washing it, as friction can cause hair breakage and damage.
• Apply a heat protectant to your hair before using a blow-dryer or curling iron.
• Avoid using hair styling products that offer long-lasting hold.
• Opt for less frequent hair coloring, perming, or relaxing. (14)

General Queries Related to Hair Damage

Final Word

Give the above-mentioned remedies and measures a try to repair damaged hair.

However, if it does not improve, consult a board-certified dermatologist to get to the root of the matter. The cause can be something deeper that needs proper investigation and intervention. (14)

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