Over Processed Hair

 CARING FOR OVER-PROCESSED HAIR

Caring for over-processed hair is important, especially if you want to get those lovely locks back into shape. It takes time and effort, but it can be done.  Here's how to care for over-processed hair and making it look healthy, shiny, and vibrant again.

STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING

When you’re first caring for over-processed hair, you have to ditch some of your hair habits. If you spend a lot of time coloring or bleaching your hair yourself, you’ll just keep damaging your already over-processed tresses. Make sure you have a professional working with you to make those strands healthy again. Try to step away from your blow dryer and your flat iron as well. If you simply have to use your tools, be smart about it: cool settings on the dryer and keep the straightening to a minimum.

DITCH THE SULFATES

Make sure none of your hair care products have sulfates in them. Your shampoo definitely shouldn't  but check your conditioner and your styling products as well. Sulfates dry out your hair horribly, so if you keep using sulfate-based products, you’ll also keep doing damage.

CONDITION X 3

Conditioning is the key to treating your over-processed hair. You have to condition with a rinse-out conditioner when you bathe or shower, but that’s just the beginning. Use a leave-in conditioner a few times a week, and give your hair deep conditioning treatments once a week. It seems like a lot of work but you’ll quickly see and feel improvements.

ADD EXTRA PROTEIN

Dry, damaged, over-processed hair needs protein. During your weekly hair care regimen, make sure you add a protein treatment into the mix. Check out our Joico K-Pak line. When you apply it, you have to make sure you get full coverage and then leave it in for 15 minutes or so. If your hair has gotten really weak, this should strengthen it.

BEAT THE HEAT

Stay away from the heat! At the very least, stop blow drying your hair for a while. Even if you can only manage to do it a few times a week, towel dry your hair, then let it air dry the rest of the way. Change up your routine if it helps, and start showering at night instead of in the morning. If you have to straighten your hair, either look for no heat methodsm or keep your flat iron on a much lower setting.

TRIM YOUR SPLITS

Make sure you go get your split ends trimmed on a regular basis, every 6-8 weeks. You might have to do it more than once in a relatively short amount of time, but you’ll be glad to get rid of the damage. Don't wait month's at a time, especially if you're trying to grow your hair out.  Remember keeping up with your trims helps you grow your hair out faster. If you have ton's of split ends they will just keep splitting and it will take forever to see good results for length.

PROTECTION AND PREVENTION

When your hair is over-processed, you have to be vigilant. If you’re out and about, even on a cloudy day, protect your hair from the sun in any way you can. You should also use protective products, just make sure they’re incredibly gentle. We have a great variety of heat protective styling products. Ask your hair professional when at your next salon visit.