How damaged is your hair?
How damaged is your hair?
All the advice out there on fixing hair damage can tie you up in knots. Take the quiz to find out if your hair needs extra care.
All the advice out there on fixing hair damage can tie you up in knots. Take the quiz to find out if your hair needs extra care.
How long is your hair?
Ever coloured it?
How often do you use a blow dryer or flat iron?
How often do you wash it?
Have you tried any chemical treatments?
When was the last time you got a trim?
Take the porosity test: Dip a strand of hair in a bowl of water. What happens to it?
How often do you use SPF on your hair?
How often do you use a deep conditioning mask?
What does your stylist nag you about?
Can you run your fingers through the entire length of your hair?
What do your ends look like?
Do the elasticity test: Take a strand of hair from your brush. Wet it and tug at it from both ends.
Do you take any nutritional supplements?
Step away from the dryer.
Step away from the dryer.
Thermal abuse, over-washing or not caring enough for chemically-treated hair has done permanent damage, that has reached the central cortex causing your hair to split. Shweta Sodhi, national technical head for L'Oréal Professionnel that you trim your hair regularly, every four weeks, to keep the ends from splitting further. Since your hair can't retain moisture anymore, make your conditioner work harder by applying it on towel-dried hair because wet hair can dilute its effect.
YOUR PRESCRIPTION
Schedule monthly treatments at the salon to replace and replenish the missing keratin in your hair. Use products with these ingredients: ceramide, intracylane and keratin.
Try L'Oreal Professionnel Pro Fiber Reconstruct Masque and Shampoo
Could turn serious
Could turn serious
We’ve caught you just in time. Dry hair is the first sign of depleting health. Your hair's surface is made up of a really strong protein called keratin. When this layer is damaged the structure collapses. And it’s not your fault. “Even environmental aggressors like pollution or harsh products can cause this,” says Kérastase education manager, Ashima Kumar. Also get your doctor to rule out a hormonal imbalance. Thyroid problems and certain medications can trigger hair damage.
YOUR PRESCRIPTION
If you can hit the salon every four weeks for a deep-conditioning treatment, that’s ideal. Or start using a hair masque at home every week to protect the keratin and keep your hair hydrated.
Try TRESemme Spa Rejuvenation Shampoo and conditioner
Little to no damage
Little to no damage
Your smugness is well-earned. Sounds like you have very little or no hair damage. Your mission now is to keep it that way. Stan Newton, Creative Director for Wella Professionals says, “Remember that like your skin your hair and scalp also needs UV protection, so use products that offer this or cover up with a scarf”. A few tweaks to your near-perfect routine could go a long way in keeping things happy and bouncy. Avoid strong cleansers that strip natural oils and while heat styling, remember anything higher than 180ºC can melt your hair.
YOUR PRESCRIPTION
For constant shots of moisture use a leave-in conditioner and/or serum. And keep air-drying when possible. Stick to products that promise to ‘nourish’, ‘smooth’, ‘hydrate’ or ‘moisturise’.
Try Kerastese Nutritive treatment