July
2004
July
20,
2004
Fried & Very Damaged Hair
Question
First I
used Sun In on my hair to go lighter. Then I relaxed my hair
at home. After that I colored it Hazelnut Medium Brown.
I didn't like the color because it was so dark. Within one week I
had colored my hair about 5 more times, all with semi permanent
color, except for one permanent color somewhere in the middle.
Finally the color is back to the way it was, but now my hair is
very damaged. I know it was stupid to color so much, but
it's very hard to lighten such dark hair.
Now my hair
is starting to get new roots and I don't want to color anymore.
But there are also spots on my head where my hair just broke off
at the top, where it took the most damage.
So there is
about an inch of short hairs all around the top of my head and
some in the back. It looks really stupid. I have
learned my lesson and will never color again or do anything
damaging. I use hot oil treatments, deep conditioners and
conditioner for dry and damaged hair, and occasionally a deep
fortifying conditioner. However, my hair seems like it is
still breaking and falling out. It seems brittle and dry.
I do
straighten my hair with a hot flat iron, because it is so poofy
and frizzy. I just don't know what to do! I am going to high
school this year, and I don't want to start off as a geek! Please
give me some advice! My hair is a bit longer than shoulder length
and is layered slightly in the back, and to my nose in the front.
What can I
do to get softer, healthier hair, and make the short hairs grow
back faster?
Please help!
Going insane!
Dear Allison,
I am so sorry to hear of your hair problems.
Once hair is super damaged, as you have discovered, it just
doesn’t recover overnight. Unfortunately the extent of the
damage your hair has experienced may not even be completely obvious
for some months to come.
While is great to know that you learned
your lesson from what happened after you over processed your hair,
there is still the reality that hair can not be instantly recovered
once damage is severe.
You are taking the right steps by using
shampoo and conditioners that are designed to add back moisture and
help you recover from damage. Deep conditioners and products
designed specifically for damaged hair will help your hair
immensely.
Time does help to heal all hair
wounds. I know that time is not on your side since school
starts soon. Therefore, I would
suggest thinking outside the box at this point to win with your
upcoming new high school attendance.
Consider some of the following options for
your hair:
- Wear
really cool hair accessories. Especially headbands.
Not only are hair accessories sizzling hot for 2004, they will
help hide your roots, especially the wider headbands.
- Play
with Paris Hilton & Ashley Simpson style flowers accessories
from Michelle Roy or Karin's Garden. Pull your hair up
into a messy bun where visible roots are considered OK and
attach one of the
Paris
style flowers to help camouflage the root area.
- Try
the stretchy tube bands that work like a scarf. Or play
with scarves or do-rag style of headgear.
- Ashlee
Simpson wears newsboy caps when she is having a bad hair day.
If caps are permitted in your school, you may want to invest in
a few cute ones which will give you that edge but also cover
your hair. If anyone asks, tell them you are doing an Ashlee
look.
- Go
to your hairdresser and ask them to apply a semi-permanent
hair color to only your root area that will not add to the
existing damage. Some of the new semi-perms will actually
condition hair to be stronger. If you can’t afford a
visit to the hairdresser, go to Clairol.com
and email or call the toll free number for the consumer color
hotlines. The operators are all hair colorist experts and
can help you find a color that will not damage your roots
further.
- If
you do decide to color your hair with a semi-perm color, go one
shade darker than your natural color so that you will not have
future root growth.
- Get
your hair cut very short in a cut chunky shag style which is
very popular and then use conditioning shampoos, conditioners
and repairs.
- Stop
using any and all hot tools for your hair including your blow
dryer, hot iron or other hot styling products. This will give
you hair time to recover without being assaulted by damaging
heat. Air dry your strands as much as possible.
- Buy
some multi-colored clip-on hair extensions like Nicole Richey
wears. This will divert attention away from your roots if
you decide not to go with a semi-permanent color.
- Try
to stop stressing about your hair. This only makes things
worse and will cause hair to fall out even worse.
Have a wonderful new adventure with high
school.
Best wishes,
Karen
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