Let's give it up for our hair. Sure, we take good care of it most of
the time, but sometimes, whether it's constant heat styling or crazy color
treatments, for the sake of a look, we sacrifice its health. Almost
everyone has found themselves reaping the consequences of harmful
styling, and wound up with hair that is, well, not exactly
commercial-worthy. But though we may sometimes be rough on it, hair
grows back, and with some extra TLC (and plenty of patience), you can
nurse your coif right back to peak health.
[post_ads]But do you need a ton of product to do it? Reddit User everyoneiknowistrash took to the site's curly hair forum
to show what their hair looked like eight months post–styling damage.
The user claims they achieved their new head of healthy hair by taking a
minimalist approach, using conditioner only. "No shampoo, no dye, no
products, no heat," the user wrote.
We all know that conditioner is key
when it comes to giving your hair the kind of moisture it needs to
thrive. But is conditioner alone enough when you're trying to nurse your
damaged hair back to health?
According to New York City
dermatologist Francesca Fusco (who's also a consultant for Unilever),
not at all. While conditioning is a very important part of maintaining
hair health, she says it's not wise to avoid shampooing altogether.
"Shampooing cleans and removes dead skin, oil and buildup. The key is
using a shampoo that is formulated for both scalp and hair and
contains nourishing ingredients." This is especially important for
people who also struggle with dandruff, as shampoo helps keep flakes in
check "by ridding the buildup of yeast, which are a big factor in
dandruff."
New York City dermatologist Neil Sadick agrees. "If you
do not shampoo your hair regularly and cleanse the follicles, you can
cause more damage. Not shampooing does not stimulate hair growth."
So if your hair is damaged, while it is important for you to adjust your routine to help it out, it's not as useful to be too minimalist with your product usage.
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That said, what products do help to maximize the healing process? Hairstylist Tippi Shorter, who has worked with celebs like Yara Shahidi and Alicia Keys,
suggests a protein treatment when your hair is really in a bad place.
"Protein is a rebuilder for damaged strands, but should only be used
sparingly and discontinued when hair has regained its vitality," she
told Allure.
She also suggests looking for products that have
vitamins A and E, as well as natural oils like jojoba or coconut. Fusco
is also a fan of coconut oil for damaged hair, as it helps keep protein
loss at bay.
If you are trying to care for damaged hair, you
definitely want to avoid things like heat styling, chemical
straighteners, and any products with high concentrations of bleach or
alcohol. But as for the one-product-only approach? It might make your
life easier in terms of your hair routine, but in the long run, healthy
hair needs more than one product to really thrive.
More on getting and maintaining healthy hair:
