View Full Version : How to Make Hair Healthy
XoD
May 29th, 2016, 06:44 PM
My hair is the longest it's ever been, but it's always been unhealthy looking despite getting cuts and easing up on flat irons. I hate seeing my hair in pictures because it looks so thin and wispy and crap! I currently use Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine shampoo & conditioner (I have wavyish hair but don't know exact type because it's always so frizzy and unmanageable). After washing I put Moroccan oil in it. Other than that, I don't do anything (except for straightening it once every 2 weeks). My diet isn't the best (I work in a pizza bar and usually take food from there to eat). I do not take vitamins, although I am definitely interested in seeing if they help any.
I am looking to dye my hair back to its natural color, but want to make it healthy before doing that. Anything you guys suggest?
http://i67.tinypic.com/15h03ed.jpg
XoD
May 29th, 2016, 06:46 PM
I also use mostly moisturizing shampoo and conditioners because that's what I thought I'd need, and IDK if I over moisturize it and need protein? I'm not sure how to check for that.
princesssaffron
May 29th, 2016, 07:02 PM
welcome to LHC! :o :flower:
using morrocan oil is great for your hair, and its good to hear you aren't using as much heat! is the morrocan oil 100% argan/morrocan oil? check the ingredients because if it isnt, there are other ingredients (alcohols) which dry your hair out (which defeats the purpose of putting the oil in your hair!)
i think a fresh start is the best thing for you! if i were you, i would chop off all the dead ends - they will only get worse :( your hair will look and feel a lot thicker, then you can dye your hair, and work on keeping your hair healthy and thickening it up even more! a change in diet would also be beneficial for the health of your hair, it can make a huge difference! as for vitamins, i have never taken them and i dont think i need to, but of course that depends on the individual :)
here are some ways to see if your hair needs moisture or protein:
http://www.xovain.com/hair/moisture-protein
http://www.bustle.com/articles/124772-how-to-tell-if-your-hair-needs-protein-or-moisture-so-you-can-choose-the-right
and heres a thread about it:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=28426
hehe i just realized how cute this photo is :crush:
Obsidian
May 29th, 2016, 07:27 PM
You can't make damaged hair healthy, once the damage is there is around for good. What you can do is be extremely gentle with it until all the damage is grown out/cut off. Using heat really isn't good, even only twice a month. It's cumulative and the healthy hair that is growing out of your head will become dry and damaged by the time its longer.
Wearing your hair in protective styles like buns or braids will help prevent mechanical damage that can break off strands. Gentle combing with a seamless comb from the tips to roots so you aren't pulling the strands and using silk pillow cases or a silk sleep cap to reduce friction are a few things you can do to help prevent or at least lessen further damage.
Complexity
May 29th, 2016, 07:36 PM
I'm just bunning mine and trying to ignore it until I can get my hands on some decent scissors.
Welcome to LHC! Have you clarified?
MINAKO
May 29th, 2016, 07:43 PM
Your hair doesn't look unhealthy or even damaged to me, just seems to be the case that it's thr texture it naturally grows in. Not all hair is the same even if the wave patterns are similar and therefore classify as the same type. Porosity makes a difference and the is a certain level of kinky texture that can occur in all types from 1-4.
You could try wet setting it to bring out waves and make the strands lay smoother to each other.
gthlvrmx
May 29th, 2016, 09:02 PM
You can't make damaged hair healthy, once the damage is there is around for good. What you can do is be extremely gentle with it until all the damage is grown out/cut off. Using heat really isn't good, even only twice a month. It's cumulative and the healthy hair that is growing out of your head will become dry and damaged by the time its longer.
Wearing your hair in protective styles like buns or braids will help prevent mechanical damage that can break off strands. Gentle combing with a seamless comb from the tips to roots so you aren't pulling the strands and using silk pillow cases or a silk sleep cap to reduce friction are a few things you can do to help prevent or at least lessen further damage.
This here! :) Once the damage is done (and since you have used heat on your hair, you most likely have heat damage even if it doesn't look like it from far away), it's there and the only way to get rid of it is to cut it off. You can do other things to make the damage not be as noticeable like using oils and serums though, and using temporary "fix/helpers" like protein treatments. Your hair looks like it needs more moisture to me so maybe you can try oiling on damp-wet hair if you don't already do that. Do you oil on your hair when it's dried or wet?
lapushka
May 30th, 2016, 01:53 AM
Flat ironing it, even every 2 weeks can bring damage with it. I'd say blow dry it rather than heat style it, if you can - much better if you must.
Obsidian is right, once it's damaged, it's on there for good. White dots from heat damage up the strands? You'll need to cut those out via S&D. Split ends? Those too. You can't "repair" them.
Otherwise, I think it looks good, as far as you can tell from the picture.
I also don't see why you'd want to dye your hair. Seems fine to me! If dyeing isn't 100% necessary then don't do it.
Wildcat Diva
May 30th, 2016, 08:34 AM
Maybe use a vegetable based dye to get your ends to your natural color instead of a peroxide based dye.
The heat straightening even every two weeks can risk damaging. Some people here say their hair can take it and your mileage may vary. Mine cannot take it and I am glad I stopped in 2012. Even now at BCL my ends can be rough and tangle and don't hold moisture well. That's in part the heat damage. It didn't do me any favors for my growing out journey, but it is what it is so I deal with it. I do think most people don't have the texture of hair that can stand straightening. I was straightening "wrong" too, I found out. Passing the iron too slowly down my hair.
Take a look in the wavy and whurly thread for some inspiration on what your hair can be like wavy and not straightened.
Why don't you search on here for a moisture treatment called "SMT"?
And try a moisture strategy like "rinse out oil method". And LOC" method? These last two have links in Lapushka's signature.
oh! I see you are a brand spanking new member! Welcome to LHC! Don't be overwhelmed by all our efforts at help lol.
missmagoo
May 30th, 2016, 08:47 AM
Moroccan Oil is pretty coney, and for me if I use that type of serum too much and too often without some other type of leave in, my hair gets drier. Try using a dime side amount of protein free conditioner on your ends under the Moroccan oil.
spidermom
May 30th, 2016, 09:08 AM
I believe that the oil you are using on your hair is mostly silicone. Two pure oils that are good for hair are olive oil and coconut oil. Not everybody likes them, but I've had very good results from both.
I agree that your hair would be best served by stopping the heat styling. Some types of hair can take it, but mine can't, and maybe yours can't either. A little trim on the ends might freshen them up enough to look better to you.
01
May 30th, 2016, 03:44 PM
It's not that damaged really!
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