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Garnier’s Ultimate Guide to Damaged Hair: causes, prevention and repair

Uncover the secrets to healthy hair with Garnier. Learn what damaged hair looks like & how to prevent breakage with the best products for damaged ends. Read now

Garnier’s ultimate guide to damaged hair: causes, prevention, and repair

From tight ponytails to towel-drying, there are dozens of ways we damage our hair on the daily without even realising it. But can damaged hair be repaired? Yes! In fact, most hair damage is only temporary. By understanding the root causes, you’ll be able to prevent and repair damaged hair – keeping your locks enviably healthy, strong, and swishy.

What does damaged hair look like?

You’ll know damaged hair when you see (or run your fingers through) it. Whether your hair’s straight or curly, damage makes it look and feel frizzy, brittle, and dry. Very damaged hair might be consistently tangled with a rough, coarse feel to it – and you’ll struggle to get that shampoo-advert shine.

Here’s some of the causes:

1.Chemical treatments

It’s probably no surprise that chemical treatments like bleach take their toll. To begin with, chemicals used in many relaxers and dyes strip natural oils from hair. This leaves it dry and more susceptible to breakage. The hair-dye process breaks down original pigments to deposit new colours, all of which weakens strands.

2.Heat styling

When hair’s exposed to high heat – whether it’s from curling irons, flat irons, or blow dryers – this causes damage to the cuticles. It can even reduce elasticity, leading to snapped strands and visible frizz. Fortunately, there’s an easy fix for this one. Heat protectants form a barrier between styling tools and your hair for damage control.

3.Daily haircare habits

It’s time to bust the myth that you need to brush your hair 100 times in one go. In fact, over-brushing is one of the main causes of hair breakage, especially if you don’t use a detangling product first. Towel-drying, brushing, and detangling wet hair also cause damage to the shaft. And tight hairstyles like ponytails and plaits can pull on your scalp, creating tension.

Garnier-ultimate guide to damaged hair
4.Environmental factors

It’s not just curling irons that create damaging heat – UV rays are also a problem. So, if you love to sunbathe, you’ll need to protect your hair just as much as your skin. Sun-damaged hair is dry and brittle, particularly at the tips. Humidity and saltwater can break down the hair shaft, leading to frizzy split ends.

How to prevent hair breakage

The best path to better hair days is with prevention. In a word: hydration. Moisture plays an important role in your hair’s elasticity, allowing it to stretch and bounce back. Use a conditioner after shampooing to restore moisture, fight split ends, and detangle strands.

Protect your hair from environmental damage by popping on a sunhat. Use heat protectant sprays or serums and avoid tight elastics that can cut into your ponytail. After a shower, let your hair air-dry before brushing and styling. And if you colour your hair, look for gentle products while avoiding harsh bleach-based formulas when possible.

Finally, don’t forget the importance of a simple haircut. Broken ends can cause splits higher up the shaft. This is why you should get regular trims to snip off those pesky split ends.
Garnier ultimate guide to damaged hair

Can damaged hair be repaired?

Once the damage is done, how can you fix it? The best hair products for damaged ends and roots fill in and strengthen hair, replacing the nutrients and proteins your cuticles need. Garnier’s Hair Food range is the perfect solution for damaged hair.

Is your broken hair in need of an SOS? Try the Garnier Ultimate Blends Papaya Hair Food Hair Mask. This 3-in-1 intensive treatment works as a rinse-out hair mask, regular conditioner, and leave-in conditioner. It can visibly reduce 50% of your split ends after the first use, melting right into your strands for enviable softness without weighing them down.

Use together with the Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food Papaya Shampoo and Ultimate Blends Hair Food Papaya Conditioner for a restorative routine. All three are made from 98% natural origin ingredients like papaya and coconut to treat your hair from within.

Restore and protect damaged hair

None of us can avoid damaged hair completely, but by understanding its causes there are many simple steps you can take to prevent it. Try out a few of our handy tips to prevent breakage and keep your hair healthy and strong. With an ounce of prevention and a helping hand from nourishing, deep conditioning treatments, you’ll nurse your hair back to health in no time.

Need a quick repair for broken hair? Check out Garnier’s damaged hair range for products that can help.