Moroccanoil have some great treatments for damaged hair. Image supplied.
Dryness, heat damage and colour damage are some of my main hair concerns and I’m sure I am not alone. Not only does colouring your hair and using heated styling tools contribute to hair damage, but environmental factors such as wind, heat and humidity can also play a big part in dehydrating your hair. Luckily, there are things you can do to prevent and repair damaged hair, so we had a chat with Violet Sainsbury, Moroccanoil‘s International Account Manager and asked her what her top tips are for caring for damaged hair?
What is hair porosity?
Porosity is a measure of the hair’s ability to accept and retain hydration or moisture. Low porosity (very healthy hair) means that the cuticle is laying very flat or ‘closed’ meaning the moisture and or products may not be accepted as well and sit more on the surface, think shiny hair with a very glassy texture or surface. High porosity is typically very damaged hair where the cuticle is very open and the hair doesn’t retain moisture easily. Somewhere in between low and high porosity is the happy balance, BUT the good news is there are products for you to get the best out of your hair no matter where you sit on the scale. Speak to your hairdresser for a personal recommendation or if you’re not sure.
How do you test for hair porosity?
A microscope is the only true test of porosity but a simple ‘feeling of the strand’ test will give you an indication too. Run your fingers lightly down the strand, the rougher the surface the more porous your hair and the more smooth and shiny the lower the porosity.
What tips and tricks would you recommend to help restore damaged hair?
Be gentle! Don’ be too rough when you dry, brush or style your hair, as this will only cause more damage. Chemically damaged hair is prone to further mechanical damage so be sure to keep that in mind. Even more importantly be sure to have a collection of products that are going to support recovery and mask the damage.
What product would you recommend to do this?
The holy grail is the Moroccanoil Treatment, either original or light depending on your hair density and colour. A restorative mask like the Moroccanoil Restorative Mask or the Intense Hydration Mask is going to give your hair a more ‘naturally healthy’ feel and appearance. Finally, you cannot go past the Moroccanoil Mending Infusion, this product will seal the split-end and prevent further breakage. If you are styling your hair with heat be sure to also use something with heat protection to prevent additional weakening from thermal damage, the Moroccanoil All In One Leave-In Conditioner is my personal favourite.