Sure, you can use well-formulated, natural conditioners, oil treatments, and masks to improve texture and disguise hair issues temporarily, but that stuff is akin to using makeup to improve the appearance of your skin — eventually they’ll wash out and you’ll be left with the original problem. To understand damaged hair, it’s important to know how hair works1. Most hair is made of three layers: the inner fiber called the medulla, the middle layer called the cortex, and an outer layer called the cuticle. When hair becomes damaged, the cuticle raises, chips, becomes fragile, easily tangled, and loses moisture, luster, and the shine that’s created when the cuticle is flat and smooth. Damaged hair has less elasticity and is prone to breakage and splitting. Split ends are absolutely not repairable and are very challenging to conceal, especially when there are a lot. Another downside to split ends? If they’re not removed, the strand will split even farther, faster and unevenly as the hair grows. Split ends, in a sense, infect hair. So if it’s healthy hair you’re after, the only real solution is to trim it regularly. If you’re holding onto your split ends because you don’t want to “lose your length,” know that by not cutting your hair, you’re actually contributing to thinner, less healthy-looking hair. Split ends can also be caused by silicone and product buildup, mechanical damage from harsh brushing, overexposure to the sun, and heat styling, so think twice before you whip out that blow dryer. Lack of nutrients internally can also make hair more susceptible to breakage, so it’s important to make sure your diet is full of hair-healthy foods. For brittle, crunchy hair, adding moisture back to your locks is crucial for temporary healing. When applied topically, plaint oils like almond, marula, coconut, hemp, jojoba, tamanu, evening primrose, apricot, and argan will temporarily smooth and seal the cuticle, creating the appearance of healthy hair. When hairs are split, you can camouflage split ends with shea butter (my favorite!). Butters and oils are excellent at creating an occlusive, “breathable” barrier, temporarily concealing split ends. In addition to making hair look healthier than it is, these oils can also help prevent accelerated damage for brittle hair. So while it is unfortunately impossible to “heal” damaged hair, there are ways you can manage and maintain it, and instill the habits, practices and knowledge to keep your hair healthy moving forward.
