The hair shaft is dead, keratinized skin particles. The living structure is the root: cells divide there, allowing hair to grow. The health of curls, their appearance and often their density depends on whether the root receives the necessary nutrition. In human skin, in the root zone, there are sebaceous glands: they produce oil. This is a natural lubricant that envelops the scales of the hair shaft, lubricates them so that they do not stand up, do not split, do not break, do not lie flat, remain soft and shiny.
If the hair root receives a sufficient amount of vitamins and the sebaceous glands function smoothly, even long hair will have sufficient nutrition, look healthy and beautiful. But if some internal processes are disrupted or external irritants appear, the strands begin to split, break, become lifeless, dry, become overly electrified, lose their shine, elasticity, and sometimes even resemble straw.
You can restore damaged hair without even delving into the reasons that caused the negative changes. But if you identify and then eliminate unfavorable factors, you will get a long-term effect and a more pronounced result. Otherwise, the situation will return soon, which means you will have to act again.
Causes of hair damage
On the outside, the hair shaft is protected by a layer of small scales, that is, the cuticle. These scales fit perfectly together, so the hair remains soft and all vitamins, nutrients and moisture are retained inside. Hair is considered damaged if the cuticle is partially destroyed, for example, if some of the scales have peeled off, opened or lifted. As a result, the flexible elastic rod loses the water it needs and becomes less durable.
In turn, the cuticle is damaged if there is a deficiency of fatty lubricant. It can no longer hold or glue the scales, they fall off, the rod is left unprotected and the moisture it contains evaporates quickly.
Let's look at the most common reasons that cause a deficiency of fatty lubricant and subsequent damage to the cuticle.
Lack of vitamins and microelements.
When the roots receive the vitamins and microelements they need, they provide them to the entire hair shaft. Vitamins also help regulate the functioning of the sebaceous glands, that is, they provide a strong protective film on the cuticle.
All vitamins and microelements are important for health, but if you first want to take care of your hair, check if you are deficient in vitamins A, B, C, D, E. Vitamin A (retinol) improves the condition of the hair. scalp, vitamins of group B normalize sebum production, accelerate cell division processes, C (ascorbic acid) and D are beneficial for hair follicles, E helps the body better absorb the listed vitamins. Also check if you are deficient in zinc, copper, iron, calcium, selenium, manganese, silicon, phosphorus, as they help hair retain moisture and have a good effect on the state of the sebaceous glands.
Add to your diet fish oil, beef liver, meat (white, red), fatty fish, carrots, broccoli, herbs, sea buckthorn, bell peppers, citrus fruits, nuts, beans, buckwheat, oats, eggs, milk andvegetable oils.
Take multivitamin complexes after an illness, as well as at the end of winter and spring, when the amount of useful elements in food decreases. Hair is one of the first structures to suffer a deficiency of microelements, since it is most important for the body to nourish the tissues on which life and health directly depend.
lack of humidity
When the cuticle is damaged, the hair shaft loses the moisture it needs. But deficiency can occur for other reasons, for example, if there is not enough water in the body. If you do not drink the prescribed amount per day, this will negatively affect sebum production.
The recommendation is simple: drink about 2 liters of clean water a day; It is a universal quantity. And if you want to calculate your personal norm, multiply 30 ml by your weight. Increase your dose if you exercise or sweat a lot. It is necessary to drink water: soups and juices are perceived by the body as food, and coffee even causes dehydration. If plain water doesn't taste good, add mint, lemon, or cucumber. Drink before meals, be sure to drink a glass on an empty stomach as soon as you wake up.
When there is a lack of moisture, the body behaves as if there were a lack of vitamins, that is, it first normalizes the functioning of the most important organs.
Eat harmful foods
The amount of nutrients is minimal in fatty, fried, spicy foods, buns, baked goods, sweet soft drinks and alcohol. If you eat these foods or drink alcohol, the body will feel full, but it will not receive microelements important for its functioning. But you should not think that you can eat unhealthy foods and drink multivitamin complexes to compensate for vitamin deficiencies. The fact is that these products contain elements that constrict blood vessels, negatively affect hormonal levels, increase blood pressure and put an additional load on the body. Not even the supply of vitamins from outside will be able to neutralize the damage.
Sometimes you can allow yourself to eat something greasy or spicy, but you shouldn't get carried away.
Smoking
Tobacco contains harmful substances in large quantities. It also constricts the blood vessels, so the tiny capillaries that feed the hair roots may even stick together completely and the follicles won't receive the nutrition they need.
Improper care, aggressive hairdressing procedures.
The cuticle can be damaged from the outside, for example if it becomes too dry, damaged or exposed to too high temperatures. They are considered harmful:
- Poor quality cosmetics. Perhaps the shampoo, conditioner or other products do not nourish the tissues enough, contain fewer vitamins than your locks need, are not suitable for your hair type and, therefore, do not solve your problems with curls. It is important not to dry out your hair, but it is also harmful to moisturize it too much. If all the necessary fat comes from outside, the natural functioning of the sebaceous glands will be altered. The solution is simple: choose products that are completely right for you.
- Incorrect washing. Don't wash your hair too often, this will only remove the natural protective layer. Find your optimal hair washing frequency.
- Overheat. Curling irons, hot air hair dryers, straightening irons, curling irons and other thermal devices evaporate moisture from the surface of the hair. For the same reason, it is not recommended to wash your hair with hot water or walk without a hat in the scorching sun. Reduce the use of thermal devices to a minimum, take a break from them at least one week a month and apply thermal protection. If you use a hair dryer, choose a cold setting and direct the wind in the direction of hair growth, i. e. from roots to ends; this will soften the cuticle.
- Aggressive procedures. Perms, dyeing, highlights, bleaching - these procedures destroy the hair structure. For example, compositions used for coloring lift cuticle scales to remove natural pigment. If you cannot refuse aggressive procedures, dye only the regrown ends, use good dyes, and then use intensive care designed specifically for dyed hair.
- mechanical damage. You cannot comb wet hair, rub it with a towel, use a hard brush, for example, a metal one, constantly wear tight elastic bands, hairpins, or keep a towel on your head for a long time.
Diseases
The most serious effects on the hair and scalp are anemia, hormonal changes and diseases of the digestive and circulatory system. For example, if a person has pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, the vitamins and microelements contained in food will not be completely absorbed and will not enter the bloodstream and, therefore, the hair follicles.
Always monitor your health, visit a doctor as necessary, have an annual medical examination, and do not develop chronic diseases.
How to restore damaged hair
Since the hair shaft is made up of dead cells, it cannot receive nutrition on its own, but is supplied only by the hair follicle. That is why it is important to take care of your health. It is also necessary to restore the cuticle: if you do not glue the scales, all the vitamins that come from the root will still not be retained inside.
Is it possible to restore hair?
The hair shaft is dead cells, they cannot be revived and their nutrition depends solely on the roots. If your hair loses the moisture it needs, it won't be able to fully regain it. It is believed that damaged strands should be cut and then only the hair follicles should be worked on so that the growing strands are healthy and strong.
But not everyone is willing to get a short haircut, which is why cosmetics come to the rescue. It has several tasks:
- Accelerates hair growth. Even if you are not ready to part with the length, you will cut the ends more often, so you will gradually completely remove damaged strands.
- Give vitamins to the roots. The hair that grows back will be healthy.
- Glue the cuticle scales. This will be a temporary effect - the scales will still disperse. But if you constantly use good cosmetics, they will constantly hold together.
If you want to quickly get rid of damaged hair, you cannot do without good cosmetics.
What cosmetics should I use?
- Shampoo. Look for products designed to restore damaged curls; this action is usually written on the packaging. It is good if the composition contains oils, glycerin, panthenol. Choose a shampoo based on your hair type and pH level. If you have dry hair, the acidity level of your hair wash should be less than 5.
- Conditioning balm. Do not neglect it, because it is this product that seals raised scales, gives hair softness and helps retain moisture. For dry hair, the pH of the balm should be 4 or less. If the acidity level is not indicated, see what effect the product has. A nourishing conditioner ensures rapid growth of healthy hair, a protective conditioner will help you if you frequently use thermal styling tools and walk in the sun without a hat, a conditioning conditioner will allow you to easily comb your hair, which is especially important for long, thick hairor fine. and a color protecting conditioner will help preserve the color and therefore reduce the frequency of new stains. Usually, balms are applied only along the length, without affecting the roots, but there are products that act directly on the skin; this is written on the label. Regardless of the effect, it is necessary to leave the balm on for a few minutes and then rinse it off.
- Masks. They cannot fill the hair follicles and shafts with moisture, but they actively nourish them and fill them with useful substances. But don't use masks too often: 2-3 times a week is enough. Otherwise, they will only weigh down the hair, overfeed it and alter the natural mechanisms of regulation, nutrition and hydration. As a result, a dependence on masks may develop, and in some cases the opposite effect is even possible: products that are supposed to moisturize will eventually begin to dry the strands. And apply the masks correctly: anti-hair loss products are applied mainly to the scalp, and cosmetic masks are applied to their entire length, 5-10 cm from the roots.
- Lotions, oils. These products do not need to be washed, so they act on the hair continuously and restore it well. Oils and lotions are applied to damaged dry or wet ends after each hair wash and effectively combat the delamination of cuticle cells, that is, they help restore the hair structure. Many products have a cumulative effect, which increases if cosmetics are used constantly. But make sure the oils don't weigh down your hair; Don't apply too much, otherwise the strands will look greasy.
It's good if you use all the products, not just one, and even better if you choose cosmetics from one line. Most of the time, these products enhance the effects of each other, so you will get the desired result faster than if you use just one.
Home Remedies
The best effect is provided by proven professional products sold in pharmacies and specialized stores. But its effect can be complemented with the help of popular masks: egg, honey, fruit, yogurt, kefir, henna.
Herbal decoctions have proven themselves well, especially nettle, burdock root, hop cones, burdock, dandelion, chamomile, birch leaves, thread, sage, calendula, St. John's wort, lemon balm and linden flower. Use them after washing your hair or even every day. Prepare decoctions immediately before use; do not store them, as the beneficial substances they contain are quickly destroyed.