(Last Updated On: November 11, 2023)

What’s one of the most important things for every woman? Yes, that’s right – to have silky and shiny hair that makes everyone else jealous. But sometimes in our quest for beauty and perfection, something goes wrong.

One day we take a glance at the mirror, and we see that our hair is not healthy. We shouldn’t panic. Damaged hair happens to everybody at some point in their lives. The crucial thing is to identify the reason behind the damage and to take immediate measures to prevent further issues.

So what do we do? We can always use shampoos for damaged hair, but sometimes they can make matters worse due to the presence of chemicals. On the other hand, there are many natural home remedies for damaged hair that can help us get our soft curls back.

Let’s talk about how our hair gets damaged.

What causes hair damage?

How our hair looks depends solely on our actions. To have healthy and luxurious hair, we have to take very good care of it. This means that we have to use the right hair styling products, and also eat healthily.

Yes, that’s right – what we eat affects our hair. If you eat junk food, for example, it’s very likely that your hair is not getting the nutrition it needs to grow thick and healthy.

Let’s see what else besides diet could cause hair damage:

  • Your hairbrush. You have to choose the right hairbrush for your hair type and replace it when the bristles start to break.
  • Brushing your hair too much, not brushing enough, pulling at tangled hair.
  • Wearing your hair in tight ponytails or buns.
  • Sleeping on harsh materials.
  • Flat and curling irons. Even if you use heat-protecting products, damage can still occur.
  • Excessive blow-drying because it dries the hair.
  • Washing your hair too often. This could lead to dry hair.
  • Wrong shampoos for your hair type.
  • Excessive use of hair care products. Most hair products contain some form of chemicals. If you use them too much, they would irritate the scalp and damage the hair shafts.
  • Bleaching and dying when it’s done too often without enough time for the hair to recover.
  • You don’t use conditioners. They are important for protecting the hair and keeping it moisturized.
  • Chlorine water and salt water.
  • You’re not drinking enough water.
  • Stress.
  • Medical conditions, especially thyroid issues.

As you can see, it’s a long list of possible culprits behind hair damage. Pay close attention to everything you do to your hair so that you can quickly identify the damaging factor.

Symptoms and signs of damaged hair

Healthy hair is shiny, thick and easy to untangle. If it’s a daily struggle to brush and comb your hair, then you have a big problem. Let’s see what the other signs of damaged hair are:

  • tangled wet hair
  • brittle hair
  • faded color
  • rough structure
  • dryness
  • easy to break hair
  • no elasticity
  • a lot of split ends
  • itchy scalp
  • shedding

However, the best indication of whether your hair is healthy is how many strands you lose every day. If you notice any unusual amount of hair on your brush – then you have a problem.

Also, keep an eye on your split ends. Just wrap a strand of hair around your finger. If you see hairs sticking out – these are splits end. If you have many of them, it’s time for action.

How to treat damaged hair?

5 Ancient Home Remedies For Damaged Hair That Will Surprise You

Sometimes, all your hair needs is a little extra care. There are a lot of products available for reducing hair damage – on your head and face (if you’re a man who wants to grow a beard). In fact, there are a number of good beard shampoos and conditioners on the market to help them grow thicker facial hair. But if you don’t want to go to the drug store, there are plenty of amazing home remedies for damaged hair. They have proven their efficiency, and they are completely natural and safe.

However, if you have severe hair damage, it might be best just to cut it and start fresh. I know, not a pleasant option, so take a look at these home remedies and try them before it’s too late.

1. Olive oil for extra moisture

If you have brittle hair, there is no better option than olive oil. It’s rich in vitamins A, B, C, and E which are necessary for healthy hair. In addition to this, olive oil has antioxidant properties, which means that it takes care of free radicals that cause damage to your scalp cells.

Olive oil also contains fatty acids which act as emollients. They moisturize your hair and make it silky to the touch. Moreover, olive oil smoothes the cuticle layer of the hair so that you don’t have to worry about frizz or dryness. It’s also useful for split ends.

Required Ingredients:

  • olive oil
  • a microwave
  • a bowl
  • a warm towel
  • shampoo
  • conditioner

Process:

  • Pour the olive oil into the bowl. Measure how much you need based on the length of your hair.
  • Put it into the microwave.
  • Warm it for a few minutes.
  • Start applying the warm olive oil on your scalp.
  • Be thorough. Start from the roots and go all the way to the tips.
  • Massage your scalp for ten minutes to improve circulation and absorption.
  • Wrap the warm towel around your hair.
  • Wait at least thirty minutes.
  • Rinse with shampoo and then apply conditioner.
  • Repeat once a week.

As an alternative, you can also mix honey with olive oil to add even more moisture to your hair.

Required Ingredients:

  • olive oil
  • honey
  • a bowl
  • a microwave
  • lukewarm water
  • shampoo

Process:

  • Measure ¼ cup of olive oil.
  • Measure ½ cup of honey.
  • Mix the two together in a bowl.
  • Stir well.
  • Warm the mixture.
  • Apply it to your hair thoroughly.
  • Wait half an hour.
  • Rinse with cool water and shampoo.

Notes: If you have severely damaged hair, wait at least an hour or two before rinsing your hair. Or you can put the olive oil mask in the evening and wash it in the morning.

You can find more olive oil recipes here.


2. Black tea for shiny hair

black tea

Yes, tea is not only an excellent home remedy for a sore throat, but it could also be beneficial for your hair. Black tea, in particular, can have some pretty amazing effects on your hair, and it’s one of the best shampoos for damaged hair. Let’s see what makes it unique:

  • It contains caffeine which might be useful against hair loss. Some studies suggest that caffeine blocks the DHT hormone and promotes hair growth.
  • It protects the hair from UV rays.
  • Black tea makes your hair shiny and silky.
  • It enhanced the hair color.
  • It’s rich in polyphenols and vitamins.

Required Ingredients:

  • black tea bags
  • water
  • a bowl
  • jasmine essential oil
  • regular shampoo
  • a spray bottle
  • conditioner

Process:

  • Start by boiling one cup of water.
  • Then add minimum of two black tea bags. If you have long hair, you should use more, but don’t use more than ten.
  • Let the tea steep for 10 minutes.
  • Add a few drops of jasmine essential oil (It’s optional, don’t worry if you don’t have any)
  • Wait for the tea to cool.
  • Remove the tea bags.
  • Wash your hair with shampoo.
  • Then pour the tea or use a spray bottle.
  • Wait half an hour.
  • Rinse and apply conditioner.
  • Repeat once a week.

Notes: Be aware that black tea is suitable mostly for brunettes since it enriches and darkens the hair color. If you have blonde hair, specialists recommend that you use chamomile tea. Also, don’t use decaffeinated versions, since caffeine is one of the most important ingredients.


3. Eggs to nourish and protect your hair

eggs

Most of you know that eggs are of invaluable help when it comes to carrying for our hair. Eggs:

  • Contain protein, which is essential for healthy and strong hair.
  • Nourish the hair strands and help them heal from damage.
  • Prevent tearing and breaking.
  • Smooth the raised cuticle layer and help us deal with frizz and dryness.
  • Rejuvenate the hair due to the presence of vitamin E and B. Vitamin A increases sebum production, which in turn moisturizes the hair.
  • Improve the blood circulation of the scalp.
  • Remove dirt from the scalp.

There are numerous ways to use eggs as a home remedy for damaged hair. For better results, you can add another moisturizing agent –for example, mayonnaise.

Required Ingredients:

  • 2-3 tablespoons of mayonnaise
  • a bowl
  • eggs
  • a fork
  • lukewarm water
  • shampoo

Process:

  • Measure 2-3 tablespoons of mayonnaise and add them to the bowl.
  • Take one egg.
  • Break it and add it to the mayonnaise.
  • Use the fork to mix the ingredients.
  • Apply the mixture to your hair, starting from the roots and covering the tips.
  • Wait an hour
  • Rinse with cool water.
  • Shampoo
  • Repeat once or twice a week.

Notes: If you rinse your hair with hot water, it will be very hard to wash off the mask. Stick to cool water. If the egg smell bothers you, add a few drops of essential oils.


4. Aloe vera gel cleanses the scalp

Aloe vera is a plant that has been used to treat various skin conditions, including burns, for ages. But you might not know that it’s also a perfect home remedy for damaged hair. 

To use aloe vera for hair, you have two options:

  • buy aloe vera gel
  • make your own gel or juice by extracting it from the leaves of the plant.

If you chose the second option, here’s a video on how to do the procedure correctly.

Required Ingredients:

  • aloe vera gel
  • coconut oil
  • yogurt
  • a bowl
  • shampoo

Process:

  • Measure two tablespoons of coconut oil
  • Measure four tablespoons of aloe vera gel.
  • Mix the two ingredients and add three tablespoons of yogurt.
  • Stir well.
  • Apply to your hair.
  • Wait 30 minutes.
  • Rinse with shampoo.
  • Repeat.

Notes: Alternatively, you can apply aloe vera juice directly on your scalp for 15 minutes.


5. Bananas improve the elasticity of the hair

banana peel

You probably know that bananas have pretty amazing health benefits for anyone that eats them regularly. But did you know that they can restore the elasticity of your hair, too?

That’s not the only thing that they are capable of when it comes to hair care. Bananas increase the sebum product due to the high content of vitamin A. In this way, they naturally moisturize your hair and protect it from damage.

If you want fast results, you might combine banana with another natural conditioner – milk.

Required Ingredients:

Process:

  • Peel a ripe banana and cut it into pieces.
  •  Put it into the blender.
  • Add two tablespoons of milk.
  •  Blend.
  • Apply the concoction throughout your scalp and strands.
  •  Put the shower cap on your head and wait an hour.
  • Rinse thoroughly with water.
  •  Apply mild shampoo.
  •  Repeat up to four times a week.

Notes: It would be easier to apply the banana mask if you slightly dampen your hair first. Also, blend the banana until there are no lumps left. Otherwise, it will take you a lot of time to rinse it.


How to prevent damaged hair?

Here are some very simple things that you can do to avoid or restrict the damage to your hair:

  • Sleep on satin or silk material to reduce friction.
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Eat a balanced diet.
  • No excessive use of curling irons, flat irons, bleach or dye.
  • Don’t wear your hair in tight braids, ponytails or buns.
  • Use a hairbrush with wide teeth or soft bristles.
  • Don’t brush your hair when it’s wet.
  • Use conditioners rich in protein.
  • Don’t use permanent dyes.
  • Allow your hair to recover before dying it again.

Have you got anything to say about these home remedies for damaged hair? Well, don’t hesitate to leave a comment. And share the article with your friends so that they would know how to take proper care of their hair.

A licensed hair practitioner, Catalina Johnson has worked in hair care for more than 25 years, spending the last decade focusing on trichology, which is the study of hair and scalp disorders.She is an accomplished author and educator as well, and she credits God for drawing her to the hair industry.

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