You start the morning running your fingers through your hair and are met with a mane that feels rough and dry *slight panic*. You run to the mirror and are greeted with a collection of split ends and hair that lacks shine and looks quite frankly, dull *major panic*. Oh, and it’s January *give up*. The living nightmare of damaged hair. Arghhh!

With 9 out of 10 women doing something to damage their hair every single day, you are not alone. The scary thing is though, a poor hair care routine can pretty quickly lead to weak, brittle and frizzy hair.

But what does healthy hair actually look like? Well, it should have a shiny and smooth hair texture. It should have good elasticity, which means your hair will be able to stretch out and return to its original shape, without breaking. Finally, breakage should be minimal.

If you do have damaged hair, it can be easily rectified and it’s nothing really to be that afraid of. Often, all we need to do is swap out a few of our current habits and introduce some healthier ones, your hair will definitely thank you for it.

Our GLOWWA experts are on a mission to teach you all about damaged hair and how you can fix your hair by taking onboard a new hair care routine. We’re putting you back in the driver’s seat, helping you take control again of your hair.

Let’s start at the very beginning. What a lot of people don’t know, is there are different types of damaged hair, and before you start fiddling with your routine, you need to learn which type you have. Luckily for us, the list isn’t exhaustive, there are 3 main causes for damaged hair, and we think they are pretty self-explanatory…

• Thermal damage aka The reliance on heat tools

The culprits: Straighteners and curling irons.

This type of damage will dry your hair out, causing roughness, breakage and split ends. Did you know our heat tools can reach temps that are actually higher than what we cook our food with?!

Repairing and preventing thermal damage

You can’t repair thermal damage sadly *weep* nonetheless, you can help your hair by going for regular trims and starting afresh with your products. Let’s walk our way through preventing any more thermal damage in the future. First, you need to invest in quality shampoo and conditioner. The next step is improving your drying method, ensure you are using heat protection on your hair. Heat protectants cover your hair in a coating, acting a bit like a shield, so your hair won’t be burnt as easily by heat tools. Finally, styling itself. Our GLOWWA experts recommend lowering the temperature of the heat tools you use. Or take the brave step and embrace the natural flow of your hair. 

• Mechanical damage aka The wear and tear of your hair

The culprits: Brushing, hair ties, extensions and overall friction.

This type of damage will also have split ends, however you will also be able to see a more even spread of damage from root to tip. This causes hair to break higher up the strand of hair, alongside frizz and dullness.  

Repairing and preventing mechanical damage

When it comes to mechanical damage, first and foremost, you need to go for a trim or even a proper good chop. Get rid of those nasty split ends before they start creeping up the rest of your hair causing havoc. Next, give your head a rest from all tools and just enjoy your natural hair.  Avoid metal hair brushes, get yourself a silk pillowcase, avoid those tight pulled-back updos, and swap to a microfibre hair towel. Also, try to go with the ‘gently gently’ approach when brushing your hair, rather than lion mane tamer!

• Chemical damage aka Those nasty chemicals

The culprits: Colouring products, bleaching products or even chemical straightening or perms.

This type of damage leaves your hair feeling sticky, matte and very stretchy. It’s most likely caused by chemicals damaging the protein structure of your hair over time. Occasional chemical processing is no real reason to worry, it’s when you are using them too frequently or using ones which are too harsh.

Repairing and preventing chemical damage

Recently you may have seen everyone discussing the magical properties of bond-building (protein-infused) hair products, and chemical hair damage is a great opportunity to try out their transformational abilities. Welcome back the smoothness and manageability of your locks, it will create healthier-looking hair in no time. These masks work their charm by reconstructing the amino acid bonds that build keratin in your locks. The ultimate prevention technique though is regular maintenance i.e. frequent trims. 

One important thing to remember is that healthiness also comes from within. Eating a well-balanced diet and drinking more water can really benefit the quality of your hair. On top of that, GLOWWA Hair Food supplements are a natural way to support hair health and promote hair growth. Made with natural ingredients like Biotin, L-Lysine, and Folic Acid, GLOWWA Hair Food supplements nourish hair from the inside out. Containing only clean ingredients they're also free of artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives. By following these steps and incorporating GLOWWA supplements into your routine, you can support healthy hair growth and address hair loss. Results can often be noticed in as little as 12 weeks, with optimum results being achieved from consistent ongoing use. Hair Food can be used all year round to support and maintain your healthy hair growth journey. 

So, the road to healthy hair is paved with smart choices and care. Remember, start your journey by narrowing down what type of damage you are suffering from. From there try and repair the past, but then focus on nurturing a healthier future for your locks. Within no time your hair will be back to its bouncy and shiny former self!