Hair breaking off!

dollydebs

Started using a new hairdresser in October and my hair seems worse the wear for it!. I have a trim and highlights done about every 8 weeks. Its just past my shoulders but recently its started to look really thin and damaged. Its never really been thick but now I am left with lots of broken bits esp at back and sides. Never had this before!. I asked her 2 weeks ago about it and she said it is obviously heat damaged. I'm not convinced tho. I bought new GHD's in Black Friday Sale and maybe use them once a week. I deep condition my hair regularly and my diet is pretty good. I stopped smoking at New Year after a 2 week stay in hospital where I was very ill and pumped full of every drug going. Really getting me down - always had such nice hair - now I feel scared to touch it!!!!:eek: . Any advice??

Armchair23

You sort of say it all dollydebs in you question. Highlights every 8 weeks, poor health (hope you're on the mend) and hair straighteners.

Bit of a disaster waiting to happen, I'd cut back on the highlights and straightening for a while use a good conditioning pack every week and see how it goes.

And if it makes you feel more comfortable go back to your old hairdresser, not always easy I know.

tomtontom

Are you still on meds? They, as well as the highlights etc could be weakening it.

I can recommend Aphogee Two Step Protein Treatment. It is designed for afro hair but many blondes use it too - you can get a small bottle on Amazon for around £5.

kjcdal

my hair is thin also and since i bought ghd's they have ruined my hair which was long and has now all broken off, i only used them once maybe twice a week, ive recently not been using them and just some cheaper straightners that have heat control on them as the ghds were just to hot for my hair type and my hair has started to grow back again

jenniewb

Totally second the Aphogee 2-step Protein treatment; you can buy it from most health and beauty ethnic shops on the high street (you don't need afro hair to use it!) It needs to be used twice but no more than once a week or once a fortnight before you will see the difference. It's a faff to use (do your research first) but is worth it.


Heat will damage your hair. Hair is dead, once it's damaged by heat it wont mend itself even if you use a mask. All you can do is use a mask or treatments to patch together what you have but when that treatment wears off you will need another treatment to pick up where the last left off. If your new to GHDs or any heat styling really (hair drying is heated styling and will also cause damage for example) even if it's once a week it will still cause noticeable damage.


If you were or are ill this will impact on the nutrition left over in your hair- your body works to use all it's nutrients when trying to fix you if you are ill. If it can't get what it needs or only just manages to scrabble together what it needs, other parts of your body which it deems are non essential to your survival (eg the quality of your skin or hair or nails...etc) are going to be starved of their usual nutrients so your body can use these nutrients to work on it's recovery.


Stress, air conditioning, pollution, passive or active smoking, repeated brushing of hair...there are many things that will all cause damage and once hair is damaged it is not possible for it to mend itself.


If your already using a mask and your trying to repair damage make sure your using a correct mask for the purpose; if your hair is damaged through heat styling it's going to need moisture as well as protein. But this is going to mean two different masks to get the benefit.


My best tip is to use a mask for protein just before you decide to heat style your hair. Then when you wash your hair after heat styling it; use a mask for moisture.
If you can leave a mask in for 20+ minutes; you will notice the difference. If you do this though make sure your hair is damp or wet through beforehand as it's the water which helps the product to absorb into your hair. If you leave a mask in resist the urge to brush it through! Use a wide- toothed comb (not readily available!) to get the product through evenly to the ends but be careful not to pull or tug on any knots.
If you can tie your hair back loosely before going to sleep or if you know your going out in a windy or polluted environment (say for example if the weather is bad or you're going onto the London tube) it helps to prevent further damage but don't tie your hair band too tightly or you risk creating kinks and twists.