Profile: Brittle/Damaged Hair

Definition: Hair whose fibers have lost their strength and elasticity, meaning they break at the slightest aggression. The hair appears dull, dry, split, rough, straw-like, difficult to style, and with split ends. This phenomenon is explained by the disappearance of the hydrolipidic film, which increases the vulnerability and exposure of the hair to external aggressions, by a disassociation of the scales that exposes the interior of the hair and causes excessive evaporation of the water naturally present in the hair, and by the damage suffered by the keratin chains.

Internal and external causes: Stress, prolonged sun exposure, deficiency in vitamins and minerals, repeated relaxers and color treatments, intensive use of hairdryer/straightening iron, excessive and incorrect brushing especially on wet hair, overly tight hairstyles, lack of sleep, overly aggressive towel drying, smoking, use of unsuitable hair accessories.

How to reduce or eliminate: Smooth the scales and restore the original protection of sensitized hair fibers with the application, strand by strand, of a re-lipidating and repairing mask (squalane, ceramides, keratin, oils, butters...); trim the ends when they are too damaged.

Preventative steps to take: Do not skip the conditioner; apply oil to the lengths of your hair before washing to protect it; limit the use of heat sources (blow drying, straightening, curling irons...); limit chemical treatments (relaxers, color treatments...); avoid brushing your hair too aggressively; dry your hair gently without rubbing; avoid touching/playing with your hair; use a silk pillowcase to minimize friction during the night or braid your hair; spray your hair with a heat-protective mist before using a heat styling tool; protect your hair from the sun; avoid sleeping with wet hair; opt for a hair diffuser for even heat distribution and thus protect the hair fiber from the blow dryer's blast.