Treating Damaged Hair

Allure Magazine

Elizabeth Siegel, Allure magazine

1. Breakage. The pros agree the best thing you can do to prevent future damage is use a heat protectant when blow-drying. Coax any flyaways down with two shots of lightweight hair spray. "First aim it at the hair in the direction you want it to lie," says Hawkins. "Then spritz it on a paddle brush and use that to smooth the hair down."

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2. Flakes. Quick quiz: Do you only see flakes in the winter? You've got a dry scalp. Use a moisturizing shampoo, and put conditioner right on your scalp for five minutes each week. Do you use styling products like volumizer on your roots every day? Scrub away the residue weekly with a tablespoon or sugar or clarifying shampoo. Do you have flakes and no clue why? Use an anti-dandruff shampoo, like Head and Shoulders Damage Rescue, twice a week (walmart.com).

3. Split ends. Stop putting off your next cut-every eight to ten weeks is the rule, says Blandi. And again, if you own a blow-dryer, you must own a heat-protectant spray. Heat causes and exacerbates split ends. Tresemme Split Remedy and Nexxus Salon Hair Care ProMend conditioners and serums temporarily glue split end together (tresemme.com; nexxus.com).

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4. Zero shine. This one is surprising: "The most common cause is shampoo residue," says Fusco, who recommends rinsing out your shampoo for a minute longer than you normally would. Then boost your shine with an at-home glaze, like Oscar Blandi At Home Salon Glaze Shine Rinse (oscarblandi.com).

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