If you love to colour your hair regularly then you’ve probably fallen victim to damaged hair – mild, moderate or severe. With the repeated use of chemicals over time, the condition of your hair is likely to deteriorate quickly, leaving you with fragile hair. What we know about the frequent use of bleach is that it strips the cuticle scales from each strand, breaking down the natural fatty acids on the hair shaft, making it weaker and weaker each time.
Added to that the use of hair dryers, straighteners and curling wands with temperatures exceeding 200°, drying out your hair causing further damage and frailty. The idea of achieving lustrous locks can seem like a pipe dream if you suffer the signs and symptoms of damage including brittle hair, split ends, thinning hair and a tone that looks dull and lifeless, leaving you feeling frustrated and possibly fuming.
Thanks to an industry that thrives on R&D, innovation and advances in hair treatment, we’ve got a few solutions to help you repair and reverse the damage. These days, there’s a brand, product and manufacturer out there for every hair problem under the sun, leaving us spoilt for choice. Here are some of our recommendations:
Oloplex
Still relatively new to hit shelves and salons, Oloplex has everybody raving about the results it achieves. Founded by organic chemists Dr Craid Hawker and Dr Eric Pressly, Oloplex is a patented active ingredient that works on a molecular level to seek out broken bonds in the hair that are caused by chemical, thermal and mechanical damage.
Olaplex can be used concurrently during the application of colour or as a stand-alone treatment. Its single active ingredient repairs the hair from within resulting in stronger and healthier hair, as well as long-lasting colour vibrancy.
Here’s a little bit more about Oloplex by Celebrity colourist Tracey Cunningham:
Agave Oil
The next big thing for those who prefer botanical products is Agave Oil, founded by Fernando Romero, Beverly Hills salon owner and famed international hairdresser. The Agave plant comes from Mexico and is known to transform and restore damaged hair by locking moisture inside the hair follicle. It is made up of amino sugars that form complex bonds with internal proteins to add strength and elasticity.
Agave Oil is endorsed by Instagram Hair Blogger Lyss Ryann @lyssryann who sports gorgeous platinum blonde hair that no doubt is not immune to damage due to its fair share of bleaching.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZJuD8EF_rQ/?hl=en&taken-by=lyssryann
Social media hair superstar Grace @officialprettylilmzgrace shares below on the features and benefits of Agave Oil:
Keratin
By now, every salon should be offering a Keratin Treatment on their menu of hair repair services. Known primarily for its smoothing and shining effects, Keratin treatments can be done through a professional stylist or at-home.
“Keratin treatments fill in the porosity of your hair, as overly-porous hair causes tangles, frizz, and breakage,” says New York Hair Stylist Abraham Sprinkle. “Because it is essentially rebuilding the damaged areas, you can expect to see an increase in shine, less frizz and an easier styling process overall.”
Keratin Treatment, historically known as Brazilian Hair Straightening has had a bad rap due to chemical ingredients being unsuitable for hair already damaged by colouring. Namely, formaldehyde, a dangerous preservative used in cosmetics, building materials and fertiliser was once an ingredient in these treatments.
However, Keratin has come a long way in recent years with the use of formaldehyde banned in most countries. There are several different Keratin in-salon treatments to choose from and most over-the-counter sprays, shampoos and leave-ins are safe for use.
Abraham concludes, “If you do your homework and use the right after-care products, your treatment should last at least two months, possibly more depending on your hair type and how often you choose to lather up.”
Check out Fashion and Beauty Blogger Carli Bybel’s review below on Keratin Treatment:
