Chemical processing such as bleaching, perming, and chemical straightening can damage the protective layer around hair and strip your hair of its natural proteins. The frequent use of heat-styling tools can further weaken over-processed hair.
Damaged hair is dry, fizzy, and can suffer from breakage. Such hair needs special reparative and nourishing products to recover. Keratin-replenishing hair products may help to temporarily fix the hair that suffers from protein damage. One of the popular keratin-infused hair care products is keratin oil.
The term “Keratin oil” is used mainly for marketing purposes. Keratin oil is usually a blend of hair oils that is infused with micro-particles of keratin proteins. The inclusion of hydrolyzed keratin makes hair oils more versatile. Such oils, in addition to providing protective and moisturizing benefits, temporarily repair damaged hair.
The hydrolyzed protein particles fill in the gaps in porous hair strands, smoothen the cuticle, and bring out natural luster. If you apply a small amount of oil before blow drying, your hair will lookhealthier after styling.
What Are The Benefits of Keratin-Enriched Hair Oils?
A keratin-enriched oil is an intensive treatment for dry, processed, and damaged hair. The most common benefits of using keratin-infused hair oil include:
Optimal strength: If your hair is over-processed and damaged, keratin-infused oil will repair damage and make it stronger and healthier from within, making it more resistant to breakage and splitting. This will help your hair grow longer.
Healthier-looking hair: Keratin molecules bond to the rough hair strands and seal the cuticles, leaving hair smoother and silkier. Hair oils with keratin restore shine to dull hair, define curls, and heal dry ends.
Thicker strands: Hydrolyzed proteins help restore the missing protein and add thickness to the strands, making hair look fuller.
Frizz and static control: If you have coarse, frizzy hair, a keratin-rich oil will protect the hair from frizzing and eliminate static electricity, making it easier to style and allowing you to maintain your style longer.
Heat protection: Most keratin-infused oils are made to protect against thermal damage. Read the product description carefully to make sure that the oil protects against heat damage.
Balanced moisture levels: A keratin-infused oil hydrates hair and keeps a healthy protein-moisture balance within the hair, so you don’t have to worry about protein overload.
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Keratin Oil Brands
When purchasing keratin oil for the first time, buy a smaller package to ensure that the product works for your hair and experiment on wet or dry hair.
1.It’s a 10 Haircare Miracle Oil Plus Keratin is advertised to transform weak and over-processed strands into strong, silky, and beautiful hair. It is formulated to protect the hair from heat, preserve the color, tame the frizz and static, and add instant shine.
This product works best for thick, curly hair and dry/frizzy hair. Use a small amount and work it through towel-dried hair before blow-drying.
You can also use It’s a 10 Oil on dry hair after styling. Make sure not to overdo it, as too much oil can make your hair look greasy, especially if you have straight, fine, or thin hair.
2.L’ANZA Keratin Healing Oil Hair Treatment could be the best choice for people with fine hair who struggle to find an oil that doesn’t weigh their hair down. This oil is designed to reduce drying time, provide thermal protection, and deliver outstanding shine.
A blend of botanical oils, Phytoceramides, and keratin amino acids work to retain optimal moisture levels and restore hair strength, leaving hair silky smooth, and free from frizz and flyaways.
L’ANZA keratin healing oil is lighter than shine exchanging serums, and it is completely absorbed by your hair within 10 minutes. It has a mild, fruity smell that doesn’t linger in the hair.
This oil should be applied to clean, damp hair before blow-drying. You can also use a small amount after styling to add extra shine.
3.HASK Keratin Protein Smoothing Shine Oil is designed to make hair healthy and smooth and provide a gorgeous shine. If you have dry hair, this keratin-infused oil will replenish moisture and smooth the cuticle, making your hair appear softer and frizz-free.
This deliciously scented hair oil is infused with hydrolyzed keratin and comes in vials.
As with most keratin oils, it works best if you use a small amount and apply it only from the middle sections to the ends of your hair.
How to Use Keratin Oils
Drop a nickel size amount in your palm, rub it between your hands, and apply it to freshly washed towel-dried hair. Start using the smallest amount possible because too much product can make your hair appear oily. You can add more if needed.
If you have fine or thinning hair, focus on the ends and avoid the roots.
If your hair is on the oily side, use a pea-sized amount on the ends.
If your hair is thick and coarse, you can use a bit more oil, by distributing it evenly from the roots to the tips.
Hair oil with keratin oil can also be used on dry hair to smooth frizz, tame static that makes strands fly away, and improve shine. You can use the oil whenever your hair feels dry. Just make sure to avoid the roots.
Don’t panic if your hair looks a little greasy after application; for some oils, it can take up to 15 minutes for hair oils to fully absorb.
Frequent coloring can leave your hair dry, porous, and prone to breakage. Hair color and bleach contain chemicals that lift the cuticle to allow the dye to penetrate the hair. While necessary to the coloring process, those harsh chemicals have some unwanted effects. They can damage the cuticle and weaken the internal bonds that keep your strands strong and healthy.
Fortunately, some products help to strengthen your over-processed hair and protect it from future damage. Thanks to the latest revolutionary technology for hair protection and innovative products called bond builders you can have both – your dream color and healthy, shiny hair.
Bond-building products are designed to prevent damage and keep the integrity of your hair during chemical processing. Bond builders work to create new bonds or reconnect damaged ones, making your hair even stronger than it was before coloring.
Bond reinforcing products also repair and smooth the hair’s cuticle, giving your hair natural shine and softness. If you are concerned about chemical damage due to regular coloring, you should talk to your colorist about incorporating bond-multiplying products in your coloring service.
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Pronexa Bond Repair Complex uses a patented combination of ingredients designed to reconnect the disulfide bonds that have been broken by constant coloring, chemical treatments, or excess heat. The product repairs structural damage inside your hair and forms stronger disulfide bonds.
The two-step process that is common for competitors’ products can be time-consuming. The good news is that the Pronexa is a multi-tier repair system in one bottle. Once the bonds are relinked, a blend that includes Castor Oil, silk proteins, Retinol, Vitamin B5, and Vitamin E works to deeply condition hair and strengthen the new bonds. This two-step process in one bottle helps restore strength and the healthy appearance of damaged, over-processed hair.
Individuals with damaged hair can notice a significant improvement in the condition of their hair after 2 or 3 applications. In some cases, hair appears healthier than it was before damage-inducing chemical treatment.
Benefits
Reverses the damage and strengthens the inner hair structure
Improves elasticity and helps to reduce hair breakage
Pronexa Bond is easy to apply due to its creamy consistency and it’s also easy to wash out in the shower. Apply about 1/2 ounce (for medium-length hair) to clean, damp hair and comb through. Wait at least 15 minutes, then rinse and shampoo as usual. If your hair is very damaged, the product can be used as an overnight mask. Use once a week for moderate damage or twice a week if your hair is severely damaged.
ONC Artofcare QUINOAPLEX R3 is an organic bond builder and protein conditioner. It is developed to restore protein lost during coloring, bleaching, shampooing, and exposure to sunlight. This product claims to make hair stronger, smoother, and shinier.
QUINOAPLEX R3 uses Quinoa protein, which is virtually identical to human hair protein. Quinoa protein bonds together with protein in human hair to reverse the damage, and revitalize hair. The effects are visible instantly.
When used before coloring or bleaching it helps reduce breakage, improves color retention, and enhances color vibrancy. It can also be added to color or bleach to protect hair from chemical damage without interfering with the color results.
When used between shampoo and conditioner QUINOAPLEX R3 restores missing protein making hair stronger and fuller.
As a stand-alone treatment, it can be used once a week. For severely damaged hair, the treatment can be applied more than once a week.
B3 Brazilian Bond Builder is one of the latest innovations in bond-building color additives. This one-step professional product can be added to your bleach or color mixture to prevent chemical damage during the coloring process. It also claims to increase shine and improve pigment retention.
Advantages Over Competitors’ Products:
B3 Bond Builder claims to rebuild all three types of hair bonds: disulfide, hydrogen, and salt bonds, unlike competitors’ products that only repair disulfide bonds.
B3 is simpler and faster to use than Olaplex or colorpHlex because it’s a one-step product that you can simply mix into your color formula.
Unlike Olaplex, B3 doesn’t affect the color processing time and you don’t need to adjust the level of the developer.
Some experts believe that b3 Bond Builder performs better in preventing damage than in repairing existing damage.
This bond builder/color strengthener comes with a home care kit that includes the b3 Color Care Shampoo & Conditioner duo and the b3 Instant Restore & Protect Reconstructor, as a weekly reconstructive treatment.
This at-home bond-strengthening treatment repairs internal bonds to restore the integrity of chemically treated hair.
This bond-regenerating mask helps to rebuild broken hair bonds and transform lifeless hair into silky soft and shiny locks. It replenishes moisture, tames frizz, and makes hair easy to brush. This mask also seals the cuticle to help maintain color vibrancy. It prevents damage from the blow dryer and straightener, which results in less breakage and split ends.
The product is supposed to be applied to damp hair. Leave it in your hair for up to 5 minutes and then rinse thoroughly. Apply once a week.
The three-part Redken process that protects your hair from chemical damage when you are using bleach includes:
1. pH-Bonder’s bondprotective additive is supposed to be added to your bleach/color formula. The pH-Bonder protects hair from damage and reduces breakage during and after bleaching and coloring services.
2. After rinsing the color from your hair, your stylist will use pH-Bonder’s fiber-restorative pre-wash concentrate to repair damage and align hair cuticles for added shine and softness.
The PH Bonder service can also be performed as a stand-alone salon treatment to restore over-processed and damaged hair.
3. The salon treatment is followed up with the Redken pH-Bonder Post-Service Perfecter– a take-home product, that should be applied once a week before shampooing.
Related Products
Matrix BOND ULTIM8 Bond Protecting System (Available at Walmart)
Bond Ultim8 is formulated to protect bonds during coloring and lightening processes and to make hair stronger, shinier, and more manageable.
The formula uses active ingredients that protect the hair by trapping damaging lightener residues.
Bond Ultim8 System includes 3 products:
Step 1- Amplifier—a liquid additive, which needs to be added to your lightener/color mixture to protect the bonds, preserve hair fibers, and reduce breakage during chemical processing. The product doesn’t require any additional timing or reformulation.
Step 2 – Conditioning sealer treatment—supposed to lock in the benefits of Step 1, restore weakened bonds, and prevent further breakage.
Step 3 – At Home Sealing Treatment—designed to provide ongoing nourishment. This treatment should be done weekly, to help maintain hair strength.
Bond Ultim8 can be incorporated into a hair glossing treatment or it can also be performed as a standalone rejuvenating hair bond treatment to improve the overall condition of your hair.
Schwarzkopf Fibreplex Bond Enforcing System
The Bond Enforcing System uses Magnesium Citrate in its formula to maintain the pH level and stabilize the inner structure of delicate lightened and colored hair.
The system includes the following three products:
Bond Booster is added to the bleach or color mixture to protect the structural hair bonds from damage and reduce breakage.
Bond Sealer is an intensive treatment that helps create new bonds, seals the cuticle, and provides softness and shine.
Bond Maintainer is made for home use to protect the hair from mechanical damage and keep it strong.
Bond Angel is a three-step hair-protecting system designed to restore damaged hair and prevent damage from bleaching and coloring. It helps multiply hair bonds, eliminating the risk of hair breakage after chemical processing.
The product is designed primarily for blonde hair and helps achieve the desired shade of blonde without serious hair damage.
The Bond Angel Treatment Kit contains three bottles:
1. The Bond Builder in bottle number 1 needs to be added to your color/bleach. It acts as a chemical protector, ensuring that your hair will undergo the coloring/bleaching process without being damaged or broken.
2. The second bottle contains Bond Reconstructor which conditions and restores your hair, keeping it strong and healthy. The Bond Reconstructor has a light, delicious scent.
3. Bond Angel – Bond Fortifier in the third bottle helps intensify the results that you have achieved during steps one and two, keeping your hair strong, healthy, and shiny. It can be used for home care regardless you have performed the previous two steps or not.
The application process:
Step 1:Mix 0,5 teaspoon of Bond Maker with 1oz of bleach powder and apply it to the hair as usual. When your hair is lightened enough, wash it out thoroughly using water only.
Step 2: Use 3-4 teaspoons of Bond Reconstructor to soakyour hair. Use a fine-tooth comb to distribute the product throw the section of your hair. Leave the product on the hair for 15 minutes, then shampoo and condition it. You can also use the Bond Reconstructor periodically, in a similar way as you use a deep conditioner, regardless you have performed the bleaching process or not.
Step 3: This is a home hair care treatment and can be used twice a week. Apply the Bond Fortifier to freshly shampooed hair and distribute it evenly. Let the product sit on your hair for 5 minutes. Rinse and style as desired.
The Bond Angel as a Stand-Alone Treatment
Similar to Olaplex Bond Angel can be used as a stand-alone reconstructive treatment:
Dilute the Bond Maker (Step 1) in drinking water at a ratio of 1:6.
Apply the mixture all over your hair and leave it in for 20 minutes. Don’t rinse.
Apply 4 teaspoons of Bond Reconstructor (Step 2). Use a comb to spread the product evenly. Let it sit on the hair for 20 minutes, then rinse.
Benefits of Using Bond Builders
This group of products offers greater possibilities for stylists and their clients to create different shades without sacrificing the hair’s integrity.
You can change your color more often without harming your hair. You will experience less breakage after drastic color changes.
Bond multipliers also help prolong the vibrancy of your hair color.
Which Bond Building Product Works Best for You?
Olaplex is the preferred choice for most professional colorists, while others believe that competitors’ products can provide a similar level of protection as Olaplex. Stylists often use Olaplex alternatives because they are more affordable for their clients.
If you want to increase your level of protection during coloring/bleaching, it is best to consult an experienced colorist and determine which product to choose.
All bond-reinforcing products, except home care kits, are supposed to be applied in the salon by a professional colorist.
If you do your color at home, Pronexa Hair Bond Repairing Complex is the easiest to use.
If you prefer using vegan products, try colorHplex.
If you wish to stick to your favorite color brand, you might want to try an “upgraded color service,“ which includes the use of a bond-reinforcing product from the same brand as your hair dye, such as Matrix BOND ULTIM8, Redken pH-Bonder, L’Oréal Professionnel Smartbond, Schwarzkopf Fibreplex or Keune Bond Fusion.
Excessive heat styling and frequent chemical treatments can reduce hair strength and vitality, making it susceptible to breakage. Although excessive hair breakage can be frustrating, the good news is that the problem can be managed by having the right products in your bathroom cabinet.
The right combination of protein- and moisture-based hair products can help maintain optimal moisture and protein balance in hair fibers, making them healthier, and more resilient to breakage.
One of the most efficient ways to protect your hair from breakage is to select the optimal frequency of hair washing.
Frequent shampooing can remove the protective sebum coating that rests on the hair shaft; this can cause damage to the cuticle layer. A lack of natural oils results in dryness, increased friction, and brittle hair strands. To prevent excessive dryness, individuals with dry, damaged, or curly hair should limit shampooing up to twice a week.
1. Pre-Shampoo Treatments
These protective treatments prepare your hair for washing to minimize the drying effect of shampoos and repair hair before washing. Pre-wash treatments lock in moisture, help with detangling, and increase tensile strength to dramatically reduce hair breakage.
Related products: Creators of Living Proof Timeless Pre-Shampoo Treatment claim that their product will reduce breakage by 85% after one use. Other brands of pre-shampoo treatments advertised to boost hair elasticity include Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Pre-Shampoo Treatment, Huile de Leonor Greyl Pre-Shampoo Oil Treatment, and Kerastase Resistance Soin Premier Therapist Pre-Shampoo Treatment.
2. Shampoos for Brittle Hair
Sulfate-based shampoos have great lathering capabilities, and they are very efficient at removing greasy residue from the hair and scalp. However, harsh sulfate detergents in hair shampoos can strip the hair of its natural oils and increase friction between hair fibers, leaving your locks prone to tangling and breakage.
People with dry, damaged, or chemically-processed hair should use shampoos with mild cleansing agents. Mild cleansers are plant-derived, less likely to cause excessive dryness, and are safer for the environment.
Ingredient-focused selections of hair shampoos and conditioners will provide you with better results than shopping for top brands. You might want to look for humectants and other moisturizing ingredients, as well as hydrolyzed proteins.
The latest innovations are bond-building hair shampoos and the inclusion of ceramides and bamboo extract in anti-breakage shampoo formulas.
3. Hair Products with Ceramides
Ceramides are a group of lipids naturally found in human hair. Ceramides act as a binder, keeping hair cuticles together, which results in smooth and shiny hair. Ceramides are also moisture-supporting ingredients that encourage moisture absorption and retention in the hair shaft.
Too frequent shampooing, chemical treatments, and hot styling can deplete supplies of ceramide over time. Lack of ceramides results in rough cuticles, which allow moisture to escape, leaving hair dry, inelastic, and susceptible to breakage.
Ceramides are most beneficial for women with color-treated and/or relaxed hair. Products infused with ceramides can restore damaged cuticles and improve hair elasticity, making the strands less prone to breakage.
Shampoo brands with ceramides: L’Oreal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner and M72 Ceramide Keratin Shampoo & Conditioner.
4. Hydrolyzed Proteins for Breakage Prone Hair
Chemical treatments, excessive heat, and daily grooming can damage the protective cuticle layer, leading to the chemical degradation of hair proteins. Loss of keratin results in reduced strength and elasticity of hair fibers.
Proteins in hair care products are large particles that cannot penetrate the hair shaft and act on the surface layer, forming a moisture-retentive film, increasing hair volume and shine.
Newer lines of protein-rich hair products contain hydrolyzed proteins. Hydrolysis is a chemical process in which the protein compound is broken down into smaller chains of amino acids. When incorporated into hair products, low- molecular-weight amino acids are easily absorbed into the hair, improving its elasticity and luster.
Hydrolyzed keratin has been used for decades to repair damage and give strength and flexibility to hair. To meet increasing customer demand for an alternative to animal-derived proteins, cosmetic chemists developed Phyto-proteins, such as hydrolyzed wheat protein, hydrolyzed soy, and hydrolyzed corn protein.
Hydrolyzed proteins penetrate the hair shaft and temporarily rebuild damaged spots, reviving the structure of hair strands. Adding hydrolyzed protein to hair products helps increase hair elasticity and reduces the risk of breakage.
5. Hair Products with Bamboo Extract
Bamboo is the richest source of organic silica. Bamboo extract contains 70% silica. Silica is an important component of collagen, and it plays a key role in improving the elasticity of skin and hair. When the level of silica is decreased, hair becomes brittle and more prone to breakage.
Silica-based hair products help strengthen hair fibers and stimulate healthier hair growth. Shampoos enriched with bamboo extract help seal the cuticle, tame frizz, and add a beautiful shine.
Sulfate-free hair-strengthening products that contain bamboo extract include Alterna Bamboo Shine Luminous Shine Shampoo & Conditioner and Boo Bamboo Strengthening Shampoo.
6. Conditioners for Brittle Hair
Regular conditioning after every shampoo is an important part of the hair care routine for those who suffer from hair breakage. Rinse-out conditioners form a thin coating over the hair shaft, protecting the strands from further damage and reducing the risk of breakage.
Trying to untangle wet hair without the use of a conditioner will cause split ends and breakage. Conditioners flatten the cuticle scales, which decreases inter-fiber friction and makes hair feel soft to the touch. The protective coating they leave on the hair helps separate hair strands and makes detangling and combing easier.
7. Deep Conditioners
Deep conditioners are more effective at repairing hair damage because they contain more concentrated ingredients and stay longer on the hair than rinse-out conditioners. They usually remain on the hair for at least 15 minutes before rinsing. Deep conditioners are formulated as thick creams enriched with proteins and other ingredients that promote moisture retention and help rebuild inner hair strength. Adding heat to your intensive conditioning treatments allows for deeper penetration of conditioning agents into the hair shaft.
Protein and moisture work together to keep hair healthy and resilient to breakage. Over-conditioning that is not balanced with protein can cause protein deficiency leading to unmanageable hair that is prone to breakage.
Preference for protein-rich hair products can cause a deficiency of the moisture needed to lubricate the hair, leaving the strands inelastic and brittle.
Related products:
Deep conditioner with ceramides: Matrix Biolage Fiber Strong Cream.
Deep conditioner with bamboo extract: Tree Naturals Bamboo and Fig & Lotus Flower Deep Conditioner.
8. Hair Straightening Leave-in Conditioners
Leave-in conditioners are used on damp hair to seal in moisture, smooth the cuticles, control the frizz and help with detangling. Repair leave-in conditioners help repair damage and keep hair healthy and strong.
Related product:L’Oreal Professional Expert Serie Sealing Repair Lipidium Double Serum uses Phytol-Keratin and Ceramides to reinforce inter-cellular cement that fills the damaged area of hair and boosts internal strength to minimize breakage.
Hair breakage occurs when the hair strands break along the shaft or snap due to weak points in the hair structure. Damaged hair has lost its protective outer layer and has an increased tendency to break during everyday wear and tear.
Virgin hair can undergo stretching of up to 30% of its initial length and it contracts back to the normal length and will recover very well. However, excessive stretching could be harmful to the hair. Stretching the hair fibers to 70% can cause irreversible damage to the hair shaft. Stretching hair to 80% of the original fiber length will cause breakage.
Curly hair lacks natural oils that give elasticity to hair fibers. This type of hair is more prone to breakage than straight hair. The curly strands create friction during brushing and styling which can damage the cuticle, increasing the chances of breakage.
Straight hair is easier to brush since combing friction is low and there is no risk of severe damage when hair is brushed.
Damaged cuticle layer
What Causes Hair Breakage?
Common hair care habits that can trigger hair breakage are frequent shampooing, excessive heat styling, and chemical hair treatments such as chemical straightening, perms, and permanent hair coloring.
1. Chemical Treatments
Studies show the number of broken hair fibers increases with the frequency of chemical treatments. Chemical processing such as straightening, permanent waving, bleaching, and coloring can compromise the integrity of the cuticle layer, contributing to frizzing, tangling, and split ends.
Chemical straightening and perming involve changes in disulfide bonds within the hair fibers, leaving the strands with decreased tensile strength and increased brittleness. Permanent hair dyes affect the chemical bonds in the hair cortex and disturb the cuticle layer, leaving the strands weak, inelastic, and vulnerable to breakage.
Hair breakage often occurs when chemical treatments and products are over-used or applied incorrectly. When chemicals are left on longer than the recommended length of time or are not properly rinsed out hair strands can become excessively dry and fragile.
2. Heat Styling
Blow drying and flat ironing using extremely high temperatures can cause hair to become brittle and weak. The heat sucks moisture from the strands and affects the integrity of the hair fiber, leaving hair dry and prone to breakage.
3. Tight Hairstyles
Pulling hair into a tight bun, ponytail, or braid regularly can create excessive tension and increase the likelihood of breakage. You should also refrain from using uncovered rubber bands and sharp hair accessories that pinch or pull your hair and cause knotting, increasing the risk of breakage.
4. Vigorous Brushing and Combing
Excessive combing, as well as brushing hair when wet, can increase friction and cause mechanical damage to the cuticle, leading to weakened hair fibers. Another factor that often contributes to hair breakage is the hair’s tendency to get tangled. Pulling through the tangle creates overstretching and bending that can cause hair fibers to break.
5. Chemicals in Hair Care Products
The frequent use of poor-quality shampoos and styling products that contain alcohol can leave your locks dry and ready to snap. The chemicals from hair care products can build up on the hair over time, making it more susceptible to breakage when brushed.
Other Causes of Hair Breakage
Nutritional deficiency, aging, hormonal imbalances, and certain medical conditions are often contributors to hair breakage. Environmental factors such as hard water and continual exposure to sunlight can also weaken hair and exacerbate breakage.
Hair doesn’t have a self-repairing capability, so broken hair fibers cannot be restored. However, you can prevent hair breakage and split ends by adjusting your hair care routine. Hair breakage can be significantly reduced by restricting the use of chemicals and heat styling tools and selecting appropriate hair care products.
1. Keep Your Locks Moisturized
Since dry hair breaks easily, it is important to keep your locks well-moisturized. Moisture provides the disulfide bonds in the hair cortex with the flexibility to retract to a normal state after stretching.
Avoid daily shampooing because too frequent washing can remove the protective oil coating from the strands, leaving your hair overly dry and less elastic. Look for a sulfate-free shampoo that will provide gentle cleansing without stripping off natural oils from your hair and scalp.
Apply a good moisturizing conditioner after shampooing to reduce friction and replenish the lost moisture.
Treat your hair with a deep conditioner once a week to help it stay hydrated and smooth down split ends.
2. Untangle Gently
To limit physical stress on the hair, do not brush your hair roughly. Use your fingers and a wide-toothed comb to gently untangle your locks. To minimize the risk of breakage, start from the tips, and then gradually work to the roots.
For best results, use a wide-toothed sandalwood comb, since it doesn’t tend to pull or break the hair while weaving its way through the follicles without getting stuck. Thus, detangling becomes much easier as compared to plastic combs. The wide bristles reduce friction, so getting rid of tangles and knots is more convenient. The perturbing issue of hair loss while combing is taken care of, which means less breakage and damage. If you have a sensitive scalp, a sandalwood comb prevents any kind of bruising or scraping, while ensuring your hair doesn’t dry out, by distributing oil from scalp to hair.
3. Avoid Overstretching
To avoid overstretching the strands, do not tie your hair very tightly. Choose elastics, headbands, and hair clips made of smooth and hair-friendly materials that will not cause knotting and breakage.
4. Reduce the Use of Heat StylingTools
Give your hair a break from using heated tools. Air dry your hair if you have time, or use a blow-dryer at a lower setting and with continuous motion. If you can’t move away from hot tools, use heat protection products to minimize the damage from heat.
5. Trim your Hair Regularly
Have regular trims to get rid of damaged ends and prevent further breakage. If you do not have your hair trimmed for a long time, splits can travel up the hair shaft making the strand weak and ready to snap.
6. Minimize The Use of Chemicals
Avoid overlapping chemical treatments and keep a recommended gap between two chemical processing. Minimize the use of styling products that contain drying alcohol and other harsh chemicals. Switch to natural hair care products to keep your hair in good condition and more resistant to breakage.
7. Do Hot Oil Treatments
Natural oils like coconut, almond, and extra virgin olive oil are excellent home remedies for hair breakage. Doing a hot oil treatment once a week strengthens the strands from roots to tips and provides your hair with much-needed moisture.
8. Use Hair Straightening Masks
Try a homemade hair mask that nourishes and strengthens damaged hair. Apply a mayonnaise or avocado hair mask if you want to revitalize your strands and prevent further damage and breakage. Alternatively, purchase a keratin-infused mask to temporarily fix damaged areas in your hair and make your strands mo resistant to breakage.
Chlorine is a chemical disinfectant used to prevent the growth of pathogenic microorganisms in swimming pools. While keeping swimming pools clean and safe is important, pool chlorine also has a harsh effect on hair. Major negative effects of exposure to chlorine in swimming pools include chemical reactions between chlorine and hair proteins, sebum, and the pigments responsible for hair color.
The chlorine present in pool water causes damage to the hair proteins which build the hair shaft. This weakens the structural integrity of the hair shaft, making hair more vulnerable and prone to breakage and split ends. Chlorine also lifts the hair cuticles, making them rough, porous, and difficult to untangle. Additionally, damage to hair done by chlorine is amplified in combination with exposure to sun rays.
Chlorine removes a protective layer of the natural oils that coat the hair shaft, leaving the hair more susceptible to damage. Swimming in chlorinated pools without proper protection can leave hair dry, brittle, and lifeless.
Chlorine acts as a bleaching agent that can remove melanin pigments and lighten your hair color. Chlorine raises the cuticle, allowing minerals to get into the hair and discolor it. People with gray hair may develop brassy tones after swimming in pools regularly. Blonde hair and blonde highlights may even turn greenish after exposure to chlorine.
Swimming in a pool regularly leaves a chemical smell that can linger on your skin and hair -even after taking a shower.
Color-treated, permed, or relaxed hair is particularly vulnerable and needs extra care to prevent and treat damage from pool chlorine.
Fortunately, there are some effective ways to protect hair before swimming and minimize the negative effect of chlorine after swimming sessions. With appropriate protective measures and care, you will not end up with excessively dry, orange, or green hair.
How to Prevent Chlorine Damage to Your Hair
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How to Protect HairBefore Entering the Pool
Use a swimming cap
Use a quality silicone swim cap that fits snugly around your head. A swimming cap will keep your hair dry and protect it from the damaging effects of chlorine.
2.Soak hair in fresh water
To prevent chlorine from reaching your hair, take a short shower before entering the pool. This way you will saturate your hair with fresh water and reduce its ability to absorb pool water.
3.Coat your hair with oil
Apply a generous amount of olive oil or coconut oil before you get in the pool. The oil will coat your strands and create a protective barrier that prevents chlorine damage. You can also soak your hair with an oil-based pre-shampoo treatment such as Huile de Leonor Greyl Pre-Shampoo Oil Treatment.
4.Apply pre-swim conditioner
Before stepping into the pool, saturate your hair with a pre-swim conditioner. This conditioner will coat hair strands and repel chlorine from entering the cuticle.
A special pre-swim conditioner such as AquaGuard Pre-Swim Hair Defense should be applied to damp hair before swimming to protect color-treated hair and keep it safe from the damaging effects of pool chlorine.
How to Treat Your Hair After Swimmingin the Pool
Washing: Wash your hair immediately after a swim. Apply a generous amount of shampoo, massage, and rinse thoroughly. Choose a shampoo specifically designed to remove chlorine and mineral deposits from your hair. Apply conditioner.
Drying: Do not vigorously rub your hair with a towel, because wet hair tends to be very fragile, especially after exposure to chlorine. Instead, gently blot and squeeze your hair, or just wrap it in a soft towel. Let your hair air-dry, if possible, or use a blow dryer at a lower setting.
Conditioning: Apply Ion Swimmer’s Leave-in Conditioner to replace lost moisture and make combing easier. Use a wide-toothed comb instead of a brush to avoid stretching wet hair.
Shampooing: Avoid shampoos that contain sulfates since sulfate-based products can be harsh on your hair. A gentle shampoo formula with moisturizing and nourishing ingredients will keep your hair in good condition.
There are shampoos and conditioners designed for swimmers, which should help reduce the damage done by chlorine and other pool chemicals. These products claim to be effective in preventing chemical buildup, retaining the color, and protecting hair from drying out.
Benefits of using chlorine shampoos:
Chlorine-removing shampoos help get rid of the chemicals that accumulate in the hair after swimming in pool water. Using chlorine shampoo twice a week should be enough to minimize the harmful effects of pool chlorine.
Chlorine shampoos prevent silver and blond hair from turning yellow and keep the green tint at bay.
Swimmers’ shampoos also help eliminate the chemical smell of chlorine-exposed hair.
Chlorine shampoos keep hair from drying out by sealing in moisture and leaving your tresses smooth and shiny. After eliminating chemical buildup, your hair is less tangled and easier to comb.
This swimmer’s shampoo is formulated to gently cleanse your hair while protecting it from damage caused by chlorine, sun, wind, and salt. Natural ingredients including aloe, panthenol, and sunflower oil help to moisturize, detangle, and revive the luster of your locks.
This sulfate-free, chlorine removal shampoo is designed to gently cleanse swimmers’ hair and prevent chlorine build-up. It is formulated with antioxidants, vitamins, and botanicals to replenish moisture and boost shine. It helps preserve hair color, eliminates brassy tones, and keeps your hair from turning green.
This post-swim hair remedy is specifically formulated for hair exposed to pool and ocean water. It eliminates mineral build-up and prevents the appearance of swimmers’ green hair. This hair remedy also helps to restore softness, manageability, and color vibrancy.
The product is 100% vegan and free from gluten, parabens, and sulfates. It is safe for color-treated hair.
Use at least once a week or as often as desired. Apply after you’ve rinsed out the shampoo. Mix the powder with a little water until it forms a rich gel. You can also mix it by rubbing it between your hands. Apply and distribute evenly throughout the hair, and leave it on for up to 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and follow with a conditioner.
How many of you struggle daily to reverse hair damage caused by using hard water? Water hardness refers to the percentage of mineral salts that water contains. Hard water has a high concentration of dissolved minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium, but may also include copper, iron, and chlorine. Soft water, such as clean rainwater or distilled water, is typically comprised of very little or no calcium and magnesium ions.
If you travel across the world, you’ll typically find that the effectiveness of your hair care products varies from one area to another. In turn, your hair will behave differently from place to place. When you reside in a hard water area, the minerals in the water interfere with the cleansing agents in your shampoo, making it less effective. It takes longer to create a lather, so you need to use larger quantities of shampoo, even if it contains sulfates. When used with soft water, shampoos or body washes tend to lather more quickly and clean more effectively compared to hard water.
The high mineral content in hard water is difficult to rinse out completely, which can cause a mineral buildup in your hair. The same chemical compounds in water that cause whitish scum on your bathtubs and shower curtains, also leave deposits on the surface of your hair. You can even add more and more build-up with every hair wash, without even realizing it. Let’s learn more about how to reverse this curse of hard water!
Many people aren’t aware that the water they’re using for washing and bathing has an impact on their skin and hair. Around 85% of American people live in areas with hard water. Hard water is considered healthy to drink, but it can have adverse effects on your skin and hair and can cause scale deposits on your household appliances. If you live in a hard-water region, special precautions should be taken to protect your hair from the damaging effects of water hardness.
Hard Rockers: The Effects of Hard Water on Hair
If you live in a hard water zone you’ve probably noticed the negative effects of mineral deposits and metal traces on your hair. A high concentration of minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and copper in your water can damage your hair and cause it to look dull, limp, and unmanageable. Some effects like dullness or brassy orange tints are easily noticeable, while other damaging effects may slowly accumulate over time before becoming obvious. Let’s examine some nasty effects of these hard rockers in the water world:
1. Dirty Dancing: Greasy and dirty-looking hair: While the movie is iconic, dirty hair isn’t! Minerals dissolved in water form deposits on your hair, weighing it down. Your hair may feel sticky and dirty near the scalp, no matter how often you wash it. At the same time, your ends may become overly dry and prone to splitting and breaking.
2. Chameleon Curses: Changes in Hair Color: Mineral deposits and the high content of iron in hard water can cause color fading or even stifle the results of salon coloring services. In other words, it can give you a chameleon curse on your color! Iron in water specifically acts as an oxidizer, causing brassy tones in light blonde hair and coppery red highlights in dark hair. The more you wash your hair, it’ll continue to turn orange. Blond highlights may look orange even with a water softener system installed.
3. Plain Jane: Dry and dull hair: Mineral scales can cause your hair to look greasy and frankly quite Plain Jane! As a result, you’ll then need to wash your hair more frequently and use more shampoo. Overwashing leaves your hair dry, straw-like, and brittle while your scalp may feel itchy and flaky. The mineral build-up also causes a loss of shine, leaving your hair looking dull and lifeless.
4. Wild Child: Unmanageable Hair: Frequent washing and use of sulfate-containing shampoos will disrupt the cuticle layer, increasing the rough texture of your hair, making it prone to fizziness, and full of split ends. Rough hair gets easily tangled and may be difficult to style. Damaged hair doesn’t hold curl well and your perm will fade faster. Tame that wild child water!
5. Disappearing Act: Thinning hair: Mineral build-up hinders hair’s overall elasticity, making it more prone to breakage. Hard water buildup on the scalp may clog the roots and interfere with the growth of new hair. Calcium deposits on the scalp may cause a dry and itchy scalp with powdery flakes. No one wants this disappearing act, right?
Mineral Mania: How to Prevent Mineral Build-up from Developing
To curb mineral mania from tackling your hair, here are a trip simple tips:
1. Soften your water: Installing a water softening system throughout your entire home is a good way to address hard water. The minerals and metal cations are eliminated before they get to the tap, resulting in softer hair and skin.
2. Get a shower filter: Replace your old showerhead with one that’ll purify your shower water. A water-softening showerhead is an easy and affordable fix if you don’t want to fully invest in a home water-softening system. The filter should be replaced every six months.
3. Use a chelating shampoo: Use a chelating shampoo: This type of hair shampoo is made to remove dirt, product residue, and mineral build-up in your hair, leaving it shiny and clean, and fresh. Clarifying shampoos shouldn’t be used frequently to avoid the excessive dryness they may cause.
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911: Chelating Shampoos
There are specialized shampoos designed to help get rid of mineral deposits accumulated in your hair. These shampoos may be more expensive than regular shampoos, but they’re efficient in combating the adverse effects of water hardness. These will serve as your hair’s 911!
This chelating shampoo gently removes the buildup from hair products, environmental pollution, and mineral buildup due to hard water. The triple detox shampoo deeply cleanses your hair without causing scalp dryness.
Activated charcoal absorbs excess oil from the scalp and while mild surfactant helps remove pollution from the hair. An anionic polymer helps remove product buildup, while chelating agents help remove hard water mineral buildup. A soothing complex with witch hazel helps nourish and moisturize the scalp. Patented Healthy Hair Molecule repels dirt and oil, keeping hair clean for longer.
The product is free of sulfates, parabens, silicones, and phthalates. It is safe for color and chemically treated hair
If you have hard water in your bathroom, leave the shampoo on for 1-2 minutes before rinsing. Your hair will feel smooth and silky again.
Ion Hard Water Shampoo is developed to prevent mineral build-up in your hair and reverse the undesired effects caused by hard water like discoloration and dullness. In addition to deep cleansing, it adds moisture to dry strands, leaving your hair soft, shiny, and easy to detangle.
This gentle chelating shampoo removes mineral deposits without exposing your hair to abrasive cleansers. It is free of harsh sulfates and is suitable for all types of hair.
Being free of sulfates and other harsh chemicals, this chelating shampoo is less likely to cause severe dryness than sulfate-containing clarifying shampoos. It leaves your hair nourished, soft, and easy to style.
It doesn’t interfere with chemical services including coloring, highlights, perms, and hair straightening treatments.
The Malibu shampoo helps eliminate brassy tones and brighten blonde hair. It is safe to use on colored hair.
Malibu Hard Water Wellness Conditioner infuses hair with moisture and adds silkiness for easy detangling. Get that “California Dreaming” sensation!
This product does a great job of removing hard water residue and keeping the brassiness under control. After just two treatments, you’ll usually see a noticeable reduction in the brassiness if you have blonde or gray hair. It has more strength to remove mineral deposits than chelating shampoos.
Demineralizing treatment prevents and eliminates hard water buildup, restoring shine to your locks. Apply once a week to get rid of mineral deposits and improve the look and feel of your hair. You can do this treatment at home instead of paying for the salon demineralizing treatment. Think of these treatments like life vests for your tresses!
Apply after rinsing out your shampoo and leave the product sitting on your hair for 5-10 minutes. Massage to ensure even coating. Apply heat for better results. Rinse thoroughly and continue with your conditioning routine.
This weekly brightener for blonde hair is formulated to eliminate mineral deposits from hard water that make hair unmanageable and cause brassy and yellow tones in blonde hair. Malibu Blondes Wellness Remedy prevents hair breakage from bleaching, restores softness, and eliminates brassiness to keep your locks bright and shiny. It works for natural blonde, bleached, and highlighted hair
This product should be applied to wet, freshly shampooed hair. Add some water to dissolve Blondes crystals in your palm, then rub your hands together and massage the product into your hair. Leave it in for 5 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Shampoo and condition as normal.
Just for DIY fanatics: Home Remedies to Reduce Damaging Effects of Water Hardness
Vinegar rinse: Apple cider vinegar is a natural clarifier and works well to remove buildup from hair products and minerals in your hair. Rinsing with diluted vinegar helps smooth your hair’s cuticles for increased softness and natural shine. It also prevents hair color from fading.
Lemon rinse: Diluted lemon juice works similarly to vinegar for removing residual minerals from hair and reducing dullness. Lemon rinse helps prevent oily hair and relieves scalp issues like flaking and dandruff.
Captured rainwater: To prevent damage from hard water, use captured rainwater to wash your hair. Rainwater collected from clean surfaces is naturally soft and free of salts and minerals.
Distilled Water: If you’re visiting a hard water area, you can wash your hair with distilled water or at least use it for the final rinse after shampooing.
Olaplex Hair Perfector is a part of the Olaplex Professional System designed for home use. This at-home product reconnects the disulfide bonds within your hair that have been broken from chemical services, heat styling, and mechanical abuse. Olaplex strengthens the hair on the molecular level, making your strands stronger and healthier.
After having the Olaplex stand-alone treatment in a salon, you can continue to rebuild broken chemical bonds and maintain the strength of your hair by using Olaplex No. 3 at home.
Olaplex No. 3 contains the same molecule (Bis-AminoPropyl Diglycol Dimaleate) that can be found in Olaplex No. 1 and No. 2 but in different concentration levels.
Olaplex Hair Perfector can be used either as a part of the Olaplex Professional System or can be bought separately and used occasionally to optimize the condition of your hair, regardless of whether or not steps 1 and 2 have been performed.
Olaplex No 3 is free of silicones, parabens, aldehydes, oils, and gluten. It is not tested on animals. The product is very simple to use.
Potential Benefits of Olaplex No 3 to Your Hair
Reconnects broken bonds and repairs the damage to hair that has been compromised by chemical processing, heat styling, and mechanical abuse
Improves and maintains hair strength and integrity
Helps repair damage from frequent coloring and bleaching
Reduces breakage and helps the hair grow longer
Reduces the appearance of split ends
Tames frizz and makes hair shinier, smoother, and more manageable
How to Use Olaplex Hair Perfector?
Wet your hair and apply a generous amount of the product to unwashed, damp hair. Applying to damp hair makes spreading easier, so you need less product. Focus on the areas where you have the most damage and then comb through for more even distribution. Alternatively, you can cover your hair with a plastic cap and leave the product on for 30 minutes. For better results, left in the hair for extended periods.
If your hair has a heavy buildup from hair products, you can shampoo it before applying Olaplex hair perfector. But make sure to rinse the product from your hair and then shampoo and condition the hair.
For severely damaged hair, repeat the application step without rinsing the product after the first application. When the processing time is over, rinse the hair, then shampoo and condition it as usual.
If you are going to leave the product on the hair overnight, make sure to wash it with shampoo in the morning.
Keep in mind that you need to use a conditioner after shampooing because Olaplex hair perfector is not formulated to add moisture to hair and it can’t replace your conditioner.
One bottle (3.3 Oz) should give approximately six applications for fine, shoulder-length hair or 2 applications for long hair of medium thickness and density.
How Often Should You Use Olaplex No 3?
The product is supposed to be used once a week before shampooing. Olaplex no 3 can be used 2-3 times a week if your hair is extremely damaged.
How to Use Olaplex No 0 and No 3Together
Olaplex 0 is formulated to be used with No.3 1-3 times a week for very damaged hair. It works as a primer to intensify the results you would get with Olaplex hair perfector.
You need to apply Olaplex No 0 to clean dry hair and leave it for at least 10 min. Part your hair in sections and squeeze the bottle to saturate your hair with the product. For easier application, order this product packed in a spray bottle from Olaplex or purchase a spray bottle separately, so you can quickly apply it to your hair and minimize waste. After 10 minutes apply Olaplex No 3 over Olaplex 0. Comb the hair to spread the product evenly and leave it on for 20 minutes or longer. Rinse the treatment from the hair and shampoo and condition it as normal.
Olaplex changes the internal hair structure and helps increase hair strength and elasticity. The strengthening and protecting effects are permanent. Conditioning treatments just coat the hair shaft providing only temporary results.
Olaplex also differs from protein treatments that can easily be overused. Unlike protein hair treatments, the more you use Olaplex, the more benefits you’re going to get from it.
Does Your Hair Need Olaplex Hair Perfector?
Olaplex Take Home Treatment works well on all hair types from virgin to over-processed and severely damaged hair. This product works best on color-treated hair that has been damaged by repeated coloring and bleaching processes. If you like to experiment with your hair color, you can push your hair limits without fear of breakage.
Olaplex also helps to undo hair damage caused by the overuse of hot tools, as well as damage caused by excessive mechanical manipulations such as wet combing and aggressive brushing.
If your hair is healthy and untreated, you may not see a big difference after using Olaplex Hair Perfector, but it will not harm your hair in any way.
Olaplex is a reconstructive hair treatment developed by scientists for repairing damaged hair and preventing future damage. Olaplex active ingredient – Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate works on a molecular level to repair and restore disulfide bonds in the hair, giving strength and elasticity to hair fibers. When hairstylists add Olaplex to hair color, bleach, or neutralizer, this component shields against the damaging effects of chemicals and helps to improve hair quality. This makes it possible to perform chemical services with minimal damage to the hair.
The Olaplex system consists of three essential components:
No.1 Bond Multiplier (highly concentrated)
No.2 Bond Perfector
No.3 Hair Perfector
Different Uses of Olaplex
There are several ways to use Olaplex to improve the health of your hair:
The ‘Stand-alone Olaplex Bond Reparation Treatment can be done whether you have had a chemical service or not. Heat styling and tension from combing and brushing can also weaken hair’s protein bonds and cause damage inside the hair shaft. Olaplex Bond Repair Treatment is a proven way to rebuild the strength of heat-damaged and mechanically abused hair.
Fill a non-spraying applicator bottle with 3oz (90ml) of lukewarm water.
Add 1/2oz (15ml) Olaplex No.1 into the application bottle and mix them together.
Wet the hair thoroughly (if there wasn’t a need to wash it) and towel dry.
Fully saturate the hair with the solution. You may comb through to endure that every strand is coated with the solution.
Leave it on for 5-7 minutes.
Don’t rinse.
Apply a generous amount of Olaplex No. 2 Bond Perfector to your hair and comb through it to distribute it evenly.
Leave it on for 10 – 20 minutes or more.
Rinse.
Shampoo and condition as usual.
2. Using Olaplex to Go Lighter
Hair damage has been a major problem since the invention of hair dye. To lighten hair a colorist needs to “break the bonds” in your hair. The lighter you go – the more bonds are broken! A drastic color change can sometimes cause serious hair damage including breakage and dryness.
Olaplex has the ability to reconnect broken disulfide bonds in the hair shaft and minimize the chances of breakage. The product increases hair elasticity and enables hair to withstand more dramatic color changes with less or no damage. Olaplex makes your hair stronger and healthier, and your color will last longer.
Hair can be colored or lightened to any level with minimal damage to the strands. Dark hair can go blonde faster and blondes can have their hair even blonder without being fried. Olaplex literally goes into hair and reverses damage from previous exploits and also prevents damage to your hair that would be caused by chemicals during color service.
Olaplex Colour Change – Dull Brunette to Power Blonde by Tom Smith
Bond Multiplier
Bond Multiplier can be mixed directly into your color/bleach to protect your hair before any damage. It works with any type of color including permanent, semi, or demi hair color, glosses, toners, and high lift. Olaplex step 1 reconnects hair bonds broken during exposure to chemical services, heat styling, and mechanical abuse.
Bond Perfector
This is the second step of the Olaplex system and is applied after the color processing has been completed and the hair has been rinsed and towel dried. In this step, your hair is saturated with the Olaplex Bond Perfector to ensure that all the newly formed bonds in your hair stay intact. The product is left on the hair for a minimum of 10 to 20 minutes. After rinsing out the product the hair will be shampooed and conditioned.
Why is Olaplex Important for Blondes?
If you start with dark hair color, you will need to use bleach to pull the pigment out of your hair and get your hair as light as possible. Lightening, if you don’t do it properly, can seriously compromise your hair’s structure. Repeated bleaching in a short period of time can leave hair weak and inevitably lead to breakage.
Platinum blonde which has become the hottest hair trend requires serious bleaching. Many women can’t achieve their dream hair color because bleaching would be too harsh on their previously highlighted, porous, bleached-out, and already compromised hair.
Olaplex is especially essential for anyone who wants to go more than three shades lighter to reach their desired hair color. The product allows for more frequent hair coloring and makes it possible to lighten your hair to new levels with minimal damage. Re-bleaching previously bleached hair is now easily achievable and you might be able to go platinum without ruining the integrity of your hair. Brunettes can now go platinum blonde in one day without frying their hair.
3. Using Olaplex Before Keratin Treatment
Olaplex works very well as a strengthening pre-treatment for Brazilian Blowout or keratin treatment. Olaplex Stand Alone Treatment should be performed prior to keratin service. Olaplex will penetrate the hair shaft to strengthen hair internally before the hair shafts are coated with the keratin treatment. The result is stronger and more flexible hair that is resistant to breakage. Olaplex also enhances hair softness and shine and maximizes the benefits of keratin treatment and Brazilian Blowout.
Olaplex can also repair hair damaged by a keratin treatment but make sure to wait at least three weeks after keratin service before using Olaplex.
4. Olaplex Before and After Perm
A perm is a procedure that breaks numerous bonds in the hair. If the integrity of your hair has already been compromised an Olaplex treatment is recommended to prepare the hair for perm service. Take equal amounts of Olaplex No. 2 and a protein conditioner and mix them in a bowl. Apply to towel-dried hair concentrating on the most damaged areas of the hair. Use a hot dryer heat to dry the mixture in the hair completely. Then, mist the hair with water and proceed with the perming process.
As a restorative post-treatment, diluted Olaplex No. 1 should be applied over neutralizer over each rod to repair the damage caused by the perm. Leave Olaplex No.1 Bond Multiplier in the hair for about 5 minutes. For very damaged hair rinse and towel blot rods and then re-apply Olaplex for another 5 minutes.
You don’t have to wait 48 hours to shampoo your hair after doing neutralization with a neutralizer enriched with Olaplex.
5. Olaplex for Relaxed Hair
The best way to protect the hair from the chemicals in relaxers is to perform a treatment with Olaplex before and after your relaxer process. Olaplex may be added to your sodium hydroxide relaxers as well as to your neutralizing shampoo.
How to incorporate Olaplex into your relaxing procedure depends on the desired level of straightness.
Can Olaplex No. 3 Save Your Relaxed Hair? by Style Domination
The tiny bonds within our hair are constantly being compromised due to thermal, mechanical, and chemical processes. No. 3 Hair Perfector is a take-home product that helps to maintain the health of the hair between salon visits. The No. 3 Hair Perfector contains the same active ingredient as both the No.1 and No. 2. It will continue to link bonds within the hair, making hair stronger, softer, and shinier. The product is designed to use once a week before shampooing your hair. It should be applied to damp hair and left on for a minimum of 10 minutes. Afterward, your hair should be shampooed and conditioned.
Keratin is a fibrous structural protein naturally found in our hair, skin, and nails. Human hair consists of keratin (up to 95%) and small amounts of lipids, water, and pigments. The middle layer of hair- the cortex– is made of keratin proteins that keep hair strong end elastic. Keratin protein in the outer layer protects the cortex from damage that may be caused by thermal styling, chemical processing, and prolonged sun exposure.
When the keratin in the cuticle layer is depleted, the cuticle is unable to provide protection to the inner layer of the hair. Plus, damaged cuticles increase friction between hair strands, causing additional damage during washing, brushing, and styling. Damaged hair loses its strength and elasticity and becomes weak, brittle, and prone to frizz.
One of the simplest ways to make up for lost keratin is to use keratin-enriched hair care products. Switching to a keratin shampoo and conditioner is a good way to start as you don’t have to add any extra steps to your hair care routine.
Benefits of Keratin-Infused Hair Shampoos
Replace missing keratin: Keratin-enriched shampoos are formulated to infuse keratin proteins into hair cuticles during the shampooing process. Keratin in hair shampoos binds to the strands and fills the gaps in the hair shaft to temporarily improve hair structure.
Make hairless prone to frizz: The keratin-infused shampoos help strengthen and align the cuticle, improving hair’s resistance to humidity. Keratin shampoos create a smooth finish on chemically treated hair and add natural shine. They leave chemically processed hair looking healthier and less prone to frizz.
Shield the hair from future damage: Keratin in hair products helps restore both the inner and outer layers of the hair. This way it protects the strands from further chemical and environmental damage.
Enhance the results of keratin treatments: If you have received a keratin smoothing treatment, a keratin shampoo can extend the results of your keratin treatment service. Keratin in your shampoo and conditioner helps to replace some of the keratin that has been washed away with each shampooing.
Does Keratin Shampoo Straighten Hair?
Keratin-replenishing shampoos are made for all hair types, but they are especially beneficial for chemically processed and damaged hair.
Keratin in hair shampoos will not change the texture of your hair. However, it has the capability to fill in the cracks and polish the cuticle layer, making the strands look, fuller, smoother, and shinier. It doesn’t straighten curly hair but it will soften your coarse and frizzy locks.
What Ingredients to Look for?
When buying a keratin-containing shampoo, check the label to ensure that the ingredient list includes at least one of the following terms:
Hydrolyzed keratin consists of smaller fragments of keratin that are able to rebuild disrupted bonds, repair the cuticle, and strengthen weakened strands.
Amino acids have a small molecular weight and can easily penetrate the hair shaft. They will work to repair damaged strands and create protection against further structural damage.
What Ingredients to Avoid?
Make sure to avoid sulfates and salt that can wash out keratin from your hair. Some brands of keratin shampoos may even contain formaldehyde. You should only consider products offered by reputable companies, that are committed to selling safe personal care products.
Select a keratin shampoo formulated with natural ingredients that are gentle on your skin and hair. Many drugstore keratin shampoos contain harsh sulfates. There are also several “low-sulfate” formulas on the market. If you haven’t received keratin treatment and looking for an inexpensive keratin shampoo, you may find that some of these low-sulfate formulas work for you. Just be aware that harsh sulfates and salt may diminish the desired effects obtained by keratin in your shampoo.
Quality Matters
Low-quality keratin shampoos contain larger molecules of keratin that can’t adhere to the hair for long enough to survive the rinsing step. So, go for a reputable brand if you want to see any benefits.
Are Keratin Shampoos Good for Keratin Treated Hair?
If you’ve had a keratin treatment, it is not necessary to use keratin-containing shampoo for your post-treatment care. However, you can benefit from using keratin shampoo as long as the product is free of sulfates and sodium chloride.
To maintain the results of your keratin treatment, you can use shampoo and conditioner from the same line or any other brand of sulfate and salt-free shampoo. However, when the results of your treatment start to fade, it is advisable to incorporate keratin-containing shampoo into your hair care regimen. This will keep your hair smoother and more resistant to humidity.
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