Do your strands feel brittle, dry or dull? These could be signs of damaged hair. Your hair may simply need some extra care. With the right routine, smart choices and small steps, you can improve your damaged hair. In this guide, we explain what really helps, why it works and how you can make your damaged hair stronger step by step.
How to recognise the signs of damaged hair
Dermatologists describe three clear signs of damaged hair. You can usually notice these yourself, without having to visit a hairdresser or doctor.
Fragility
Damaged hair breaks more easily, even during normal brushing or combing. This happens because the inner structure of the hair (the cortex) has weakened. You may often see short hairs sticking out or notice many broken strands on your clothes or in your brush. Fragile hair is usually dry and has lost its elasticity. It does not bend but snaps or breaks straight away. That is why it is important to repair severely damaged hair in time.
Dry, rough texture
Healthy hair has a smooth outer layer, called the cuticle. When the cuticles are damaged, they lift like roof tiles. This allows moisture to escape and makes your hair feel dry or straw-like. It also tangles more easily and can feel “gritty” between your fingers.
Dull colour or rough look
When your hair loses its shine and looks flat, it is often a sign that light is no longer reflecting well. In healthy hair, the cuticles lie flat, so the light reflects smoothly. With damaged hair, this effect is lost, leaving your strands looking “lifeless.”
Why does hair get damaged?
Damaged hair usually comes from three main causes: mechanical damage, chemical damage and heat damage. But what happens inside your body can also have an effect. Here’s how:
1. Mechanical damage (friction and rough handling)
Caused by:
- Rubbing your hair dry with a towel
- Brushing wet hair
- Brushing too hard
- Wearing tight elastics or hairstyles
- Sleeping on cotton pillowcases
Result:
- The cuticles get damaged
- Hair becomes frizzy, dry and fragile
2. Chemical damage (colouring, bleaching, perming)
Caused by:
- Hair dye, bleach or chemical treatments
Result:
- The bonds that make your hair strong inside (disulphide bonds) break
- Hair becomes porous, weak and breakable
3. Heat damage (straighteners, blow-dryers, curling irons)
Caused by:
- Heat above 180°C without protection
Result:
- Moisture evaporates from the hair
- Cuticles burn, leaving hair dry and dull
4. Internal factors (nutrition and stress)
Caused by:
- Lack of iron, biotin, zinc or vitamin D
- Long-term stress (disrupts hair growth)
Result:
- Hair grows slower or falls out
- Hair feels weak or thin
How can you repair damaged hair?
We understand you want to know how to visibly repair damaged hair. Sadly, there is no single miracle product. Repair requires a mix of protection, nutrition, care and realistic choices. With the steps below, you give your hair the best chance to recover.
Protect and prevent further damage
Prevention is better than cure, especially for hair. Here’s how to protect your strands from new damage:
- Limit the use of heat tools like straighteners and curling irons. If you do use them, keep the temperature between 150–180°C. Always apply a heat protector with silicones or polymers: they create a protective layer around the hair.
- Do not wash your hair too often. For most hair types, 2–3 times a week is enough. Use lukewarm water, as hot water dries out both your scalp and your hair.
- Always use a conditioner after washing. Conditioner seals the cuticles, reduces friction and makes hair softer. Choose a gentle conditioner without harsh ingredients.
- Be careful with wet hair. Avoid tying it up too tightly, use a soft towel and comb through very gently.
- Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase. These reduce friction while you sleep and help keep hair smooth. Bonus: your skin will thank you too!
- In strong wind or sun, wear your hair loose and cover it with a protective hat or cap. Tight braids and buns can cause friction, especially if your hair is already weak.
- Support the quality of new hair with the right nutrition and minerals. Hair is made up of over 90% keratin, a protein. If your diet lacks protein, hair can become weak and thin. Make sure you eat enough protein-rich foods such as eggs, beans, chicken and fish. Iron, zinc, biotin (vitamin B8), vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids are also key for healthy hair. A blood test at your general practitioner can show if you may have deficiencies.
Want to know more? Read our blog about the best nutrients for hair growth.
Care for your hair that has light damage
Is your hair dry but not severely damaged? Then you can improve it a lot with deeply nourishing products. At the same time, take good care of your scalp.
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Use a nourishing mask
Do this once or twice a week. Choose masks with humectants such as glycerine or hyaluronic acid. These ingredients hold in moisture.
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Use the right shampoo
Not every shampoo is gentle on your hair. The best choice is a shampoo without parabens, sulphates or SLS, such as the Neofollics Hair Growth Stimulating Shampoo.
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A gentle massage
By softly massaging your scalp while washing, you stimulate blood circulation.
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Temporary solution for split ends
Do you want to camouflage the damage for a while? A ‘split end mender’ may help. This type of silicone-based product can temporarily seal split ends, making your hair look smoother. But this does not repair the damage. The only real solution for split ends is to cut them off.
Trim split ends
Sometimes repair is no longer possible: especially with split ends. In that case, cutting is the only solution, because split ends keep moving further up the hair shaft.
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Regular trims
Visit the hairdresser every 6 to 8 weeks to stop the damage from spreading.
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The dusting method
Tip: choose the so-called ‘dusting’ method if you want to keep your length. This is a gentle trim that only removes the damaged tipss
Conclusion
Damaged hair often comes from a mix of factors: mechanical friction, chemical treatments, too much heat, and sometimes also nutritional deficiencies or stress. The bad news: once hair fibres are split or burnt, they cannot fully recover. Split ends and broken fibres are permanent and must eventually be cut off.
The good news: you can do a lot to prevent new damage and make your hair look and feel healthier. With gentle care, nourishing masks, less heat and regular trims, your hair can become stronger and softer again. A healthy lifestyle also supports the growth of new, stronger strands.
The key word is consistency. Do not expect a miracle product that “heals” your hair in a week. Think of recovery as a process: with the right care and nutrition, you give your hair the chance to shine again and feel healthy step by step.
Sources
American Academy of Dermatology. How to repair damaged hair.
