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Quite a few of us have been there. Too much time under the sun at the beach, one too many diy bleach jobs, or a remaining memory of our healthy hair after daily use of our flatirons. We are left with dry, fragile, and damaged hair and the uncertainty of how to work with it. So what do we do now?

The first step is to get back on the right track with prevention for damage with the hair we have now and the new growth. Here are is some useful information to take care of your hair:

• Too much of a good thing, can be bad. Washing our hair helps cleanse it of impurities, dirt, and oil. But washing hair too frequently can strip our hair of needed oils and shine. Those who are chemically dependent (who colour their hair on a regular basis) will even notice their colour fades. Now many of you who are in the habit of shampooing your hair every day are going to wonder how you are going to get by with shampooing less frequently. Wash your hair every day if you must, but only use warm water…with out shampoo. Scrub and massage your scalp and let the natural oils your body produces to condition your hair. You may also still use conditioner or a creme rinse, but apply just to the ends. Using a professional grade shampoo, sold by a stylist or a salon, cleanse your hair every three days.
• Protection is Key. If you are using heat tools like a blow dryer or flat iron, make sure to prep your hair first with heat protectant products. When going out into the sun for extended periods of time, wear a hat. Some hair product companies even manufacture products with SPF for your hair. Ask your stylist what s/he recommends.
• Wet Hair Stretches. When your hair is wet it can stretch up to 50% of its original length and return to its normal shape without breaking, while dry hair will only stretch about 20%. Knowing this now, always use a wide tooth comb when combing through or detangling wet hair. Do not use a brush in your hair until your hair is at least 75% dry to protect its integrity.
• Healthy is a choice. You want your hair to grow faster and you want healthy hair. While you can treat your over processed hair with products that claim to condition the hair strands from inside out, there is something you can do promote healthy hair. Eat foods that are high in nutrition, drink plenty of water daily, get enough rest, and exercise regularly. All these factors can benefit in healthy hair and nail growth. Even your skin will reap the benefits.

Remember and put into action these key steps and you will save your hair from further damage.