Think you have dry AND damaged hair? Well, think again, because there’s a difference between having dry hair and having damaged hair. Not only do the treatments vary, but the tools you use may be what’s causing the damage.

Read on for the T.L.C tips your hair deserves as told by industry experts.

DRY HAIR

“Dry hair will be harder to style and you’ll usually see significant dullness, rougher texture and less body,” says Renya Xydis, Founder and Creative Director of Valonz and Salon X.

Here are some tell-tale signs that your hair is actually dry not damaged.

SIGNS OF DRY HAIR:

• Rough texture 
• Little flexibility 
• Dullness
• Itchy scalp
• ‘Raspy’ to touch
• Frizzy
• Take a long time to dry

AT HOME TEST

Still unsure? Remika Massihi at Schwarzkopf Professional, advises us to check if our hair is dry by, “Taking a small, gathered section of hair (2cm in thickness) and hold between fingers at the roots. Gently slide your hand down the hair shaft to the ends and observe the texture. If it feels smooth and silky that’s a good sign, but if it feels rough and brittle that is a sign the hair may be dry and lacking moisture.”

HOW DID WE GET HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Dry hair can be from a combination of things including your “Product choice, over washing, styling tools, sun, some hair is naturally dryer,” tells Darren Summors from AVEDA.

Lifestyle and environmental factors such as “Alkaline/hard water, swimming in chlorinated and seawater, sun exposure, wind as well as cheap and aggressive hair products contribute to dry hair which leads to a more open cuticle layer (meaning) hair’s internal moisture is easily lost,” advises the Olaplex team.

Most common causes of dry hair include:

• Over-washing 
• Overbrushing 
• Harsh brushing 
• Overuse of heat styling tools
• Using supermarket shampoo and conditioners

“Many supermarket shampoos & conditioners contain filler ingredients and foaming agents that can do more harm than good. Try to avoid products that contain silicones, sulphates, parabens, SLS, DEA agents and fragrances and opt for a clean and natural regime,” recommends the team at BondiBoost.

TREATMENT

“Dry hair occurs with chronological age and length of the hair, the older or longer the hair, the more moisture it needs. If the right products are not used to replenish that moisture, the hair will become dry,” says Remika Massihi, Schwarzkopf Professional.

To treat dry hair, follow some of these suggestions:

• Frequent trims 
• Regular use of hydrating / conditioning treatments 
• Avoid washing hair daily
• Avoid excessive heat styling 
• Invest in salon-quality shampoo and conditioner

DAMAGED HAIR

“The real solution to preventing dry and damaged hair is to work with your hairdresser and follow their advice,” tells the Olaplex team.

Here are some tell-tale signs that your hair is actually damaged, not dry.

SIGNS OF DAMAGED HAIR:

• Split ends
• Faded colour
• Hair doesn’t hold shape for long
• Breakage when combing or heat styling

AT HOME TEST

Still unsure?

“A little at-home trick we like to do is to pluck a strand of your hair, lightly tug at both ends and if it snaps right away, chances are your hair may be damaged. Another great way to keep track of your hair health is to monitor the ends of your hair strands after you get a haircut.

If your hair is brittle and splitting less than a month after a trim, this may be a sign that it’s damaged,” says the team at BondiBoost.

HOW DID WE GET HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Damaged hair can be from a combination of things “Likely caused by a number of factors; these include overexposure to chemicals, colour and heat,” advises Renya Xydis.

Most common causes of damaged hair include:

• A build-up of years using heat styling
• Over colouring 
• Chemical-based services
• Hygral fatigue
• Sun/UV damage

Hygral fatigue is when “Your hair shaft expands and contracts when moister enters and leaves. When this happens too often, it can tire out your cuticles and cause excessive breakage. Hygral fatigue is most commonly caused by wetting your hair very frequently, over-conditioning or a lack of protein,” tells the BondiBoost team. 

TREATMENT

“Damaged hair needs to be fortified, (meaning) adding new bonds and protein to strengthen the hair structure. Without repairing the damage it is hard for the moisture to stay on the hair. So always treat damage first,” tells Darren Summors from AVEDA.

“Bond reformation is a relatively recent addition to our ability to treat damaged hair and rebuilds the links that hold the hair’s protein structure together,” says the Olaplex team. 

To treat damaged hair, follow some of these suggestions:

• Chat to your hairstylist to assess the treatment it needs 
• In-salon repair treatments
• Hair masks and treatments
• Keratin protein fortifying ingredients
• Use a microfibre towel

“Investing in a microfiber towel, can not only reduce your drying time by half (win!), but it also prevents hygral fatigue thanks to its rapidly absorbing fibres,” recommends the BondiBoost team.