Damage Hair

Human hair starts from birth and grows till we reach well into our seventies. Most people have around 100,000 strands of hair on our head, and the average rate of growth is a mere one-half inch per month. Growth rates also vary at different ages and stages of our life.

The hair growth cycle is a complex process involving three phases. In the anagen phase, a hair matrix forms at the base of the follicle and actively divides to produce a new hair shaft consisting of keratin and melanin protein.

At the same time, new blood vessels form in the follicle to feed developing cells. The duration of this phase could vary from 2-6 years and accounts for 80-90% of all scalp hair on our head.

Everyone’s hair growth is different. For example, it is common for the hair to grow more rapidly between the ages of 15 and 30 than it does at other times. If you are very young or very old, your hair might not grow as fast as someone who is younger than 15 or older than 30 years of age.

Hair is one of the most important parts of our bodies and you must go to great lengths to make sure that it is healthy. Although we have several hair care products available, damaged hair is a major issue encountered by many people. Throughout this introductory video, the basics relating to the causes of damaged hair, and the different types, will be discussed.

Many people experience hair loss, thinning hair and other problems, due to factors such as low iron levels, insufficient protein, genetics, stress and lifestyle. This can help your hair look shiny and healthier. It is very important to understand that hair damage is not always immediately visible to the eye. Hair can be damaged almost invisibly, especially by lifestyle and chemical choices 

What is Damaged Hair?

You’re not alone. Dry hair, in particular, is a common complaint among women. You may notice your hair looks dull, no matter how much product or serum you use to boost its appearance. Damaged hair can be caused by a range of everyday occurrences, from heating tools to chemical treatments and beyond.

Everyone should know what dry and damaged hair is, how it happens and how to fix it so they can revitalise their locks before the damage gets too severe. Don’t give up on having healthy hair just yet!

Damaged hair is due to the cuticle being raised and layers of the structure coming apart – this is the hair splitting. Damaged hair has lost its smoothness and lustre, feels rough to touch and may break when you comb it or tie it up.

Dry hair is hair that lacks moisture. It can feel like straw and look dull, frizzy, and brittle. Damaged hair is a result of drying out your hair over long periods of time. It often has split ends, and can break or fall off completely.

Once you know what the difference between dry and damaged hair types are, we’ll show you how to care for each one properly

Hair damage is typically categorised into two types: dry and damaged. Dry hair lacks natural moisture needed for strands to look and feel healthy. Damaged hair has developed an unhealthy chemical alteration in its structure that makes it more prone to breakage and other forms of split ends, thinning, and tangling.

Since people might think dryness and damage are interchangeable, we’re here to debunk some myths and explain the true differences between the two.

Dry, damaged hair is a result of the impact of too much heat, chemical treatments and colouring. Resulting in lacklustre looking and feeling hair. These treatments create conditions where your hair can not hold moisture, which leads to dullness and frizz.

Causes of Damaged Hair in Men and Women

Given below are the common causes of Damaged hair in men and women

Different Hair Products and Styling Them

There are various products which people use when it comes to dyeing, colouring, and perming which contain a lot of chemical products in it which cause severe issues with hairs and make it damaged. Even some of the shampoos contain chemicals which are highly harmful to hairs.

As per the research done in 2014, the level of PH and which is there is shampoo can cause hair breakage. Some of the shampoos are alkaline and basic in nature which badly affect and hair gets damaged.

Over- Brushing Your Hair

Too much brushing of hair can also cause hair damage. You should not continuously brush your hair. It is advised by the American Academy of Dermatologists that you need to brush your hair as much as you want to style.

Lack of Moisture and Heat

Frequent usage of heat can damage your hair  as it damages your hair shaft and removes all the necessary moisture which is required for hair in its growth stage. Heat treatment for hair such as blow drying, straightening, curling  can give damage to your hair. Hot climate and humid climate can also lead to damaging your hair. At that time you need to take certain Precautions in order to save your hair from high damage.

Irregular Haircut

Irregular haircuts can cause split ends on your hairs. It  causes a high break-up to your hair near the hair shaft. Getting a regular haircut will give your hair proper growth by removal of split ends.

Drying of Towel

Rubbing a wet towel on your hair leads to frizyness towards your hair and it leads to breakage of hair.

Doing Tight Hairstyles

Tightening your hair will damage your hair,  especially when you tie some elastic bands around. TIght hairstyle will stretch your hair and break and damage it from the roots.

If people are regularly doing tight hairstyles with bun, braids etc will lead to hair damage and hair loss. It is a temporary issue, but if an individual continuously ties tight hair then  it can be a permanent one. As elastic rubber removes your hair from the root cause which is very difficult to grow again.

Classifications of Damage Hair in Men and Women

Level 1
In Level 1 of Damaged hair, cuticles/scales are spiked from which some of them are broken or lifted up but here the hair cortex is not completely damaged. In level 1 the hair becomes slightly dry and poor shine.The first signs of damage to the hair fibre are visible with a loss of gloss, pattern of scales appearing uneven on the cuticle, the cortex possibly exposed and colour balance becoming uneven.

Level 2
Level 2 damage means that the outermost layer of hair is damaged and the inner cortex has some vulnerable areas. Your hair will feel rough, colour will be uneven, and you may have split ends.Hair becomes Dry, porous, dull and rough to the touch. Severe breakage leading to split ends and hair loss.

Level 3
Level 3 is the highest level where the cuticles are damaged completely. THe cortex is exposed and becomes weak.The texture of the hair surface becomes coarse.

Diagnosis of Damaged Hair in Men and Women

Before starting with Diagnosis it is very important to do certain testing as recommended by Doctor such as :-

Blood Testing – It will help to examine the medical reason behind hair damage

Biopsy of Scalp – Sample of your scalp is taken or a few hair strands to understand the roots with the help of a microscope. It will help to examine the problem.

Pull Test – Pull test is where the doctor pulls here which comes to know the amount of hair fall.

Treatment of Damaged Hair

Proper treatment is advised in order to protect your hair from hair damage. After proper medication, it will be in the proper state and your hair will again start getting proper nourishment in terms of growth, shine, moisture and smoothness.

How to take care of your health for specific types

Straight Hair

If you have straight hair, it can be difficult to keep grease in check. Try washing your hair more often with a dry shampoo to help you keep oil at bay. Use a daily conditioner to keep your hair healthy, but try not to use it on your roots.

You can also use a conditioner after shampooing just on the ends — leave it on for about three minutes, then rinse. This will help prevent split ends, the term used for when hair literally splits in two.

Curly hair

To take care of your curly hair, avoid brushing it since the brush can get stuck in the curls and damage your hair. Instead, wash it with lukewarm water in the shower, since exposing your hair to hot water will dry out your scalp. When you wash your hair, use a shampoo that’s specially formulated for curly hair to prevent frizz.

After you’re done washing it, apply a conditioner that’s made for curly hair to keep your hair moisturised. Finally, avoid blow-drying your hair whenever possible because it can dry out your scalp and make your hair more frizzy. If you have curly hair, try bringing some leave-in conditioner or mousse with you wherever you go so you can stay hydrated!

Wash your hair less often if possible. Your curls naturally have a bit of frizz to them, but washing it everyday only makes it worse. Not to mention that when you wash curly hair, you’re drying it out too. Once or twice a week is ideal for curly hair. Use a conditioner made for curly hair.

This will help with the frizz and help make your curls softer and more manageable. You can also apply some argan or jojoba oil into your hair while it’s still damp after the shower to add some moisture back in and reduce frizziness.

Wavy hair

Wavy hair can be a unique yet challenging hair type. Curls and waves have a more difficult time retaining moisture than straight hair, so they tend to get dry and frizzy quickly. Proper hair care is essential to keeping wavy hair healthy.

Wavy hair is more prone to frizz than straight hair. You can combat frizz by applying a small amount of avocado oil or grapeseed oil to your hair, combing through it, and then tying your hair up to let the product soak into your hair. Additionally, once a week, use a deep conditioning treatment instead of your regular conditioner after shampooing.

Changing Lifestyle Habits to Make Your Hair More Healthy

Even if there are a lot of genetic factors which play a major role in prevailing your hair, likewise it is also important to make your lifestyles more healthier in terms of regular habits and food.

1. Intake Protein –Hair is majorly made from a high rich protein called Keratin. You need to intake protein to develop your hair growth and eliminate damaged hair.

2. Avoid Smoking – Smoking has adverse effects on your hair growth and will lead to hair loss or damage. Although at the very start quitting is very difficult, even doctors can help you out.

3. Take all necessary micronutrients – Having a proper balanced diet will help to remove all the deficiency prevailing in your body.

4. Reduce sun exposure –Research shows that 90% of UV rays can penetrate your hair directly to the scalp, and exposure may cause hair discoloration, dryness and brittleness. While there are products that help condition, protect and restore hair from UV damage, wearing a hat is the simplest way to limit your exposure.When outside in the sun, it’s important to protect your hair from UV light. However, not all hats are created equally. Cotton and other fabrics do not offer protection from the sun’s harmful rays.

5. Regular Exercise –Exercise isn’t known to have a direct effect on hair health. However, it may have other benefits that indirectly influence hair health. Regular exercise helps increase blood flow throughout your body, including the scalp. Better circulation can lead to healthier cells, including skin and hair cells.