{"id":9830,"date":"2021-03-03T13:00:03","date_gmt":"2021-03-03T18:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prose.com\/?p=9830"},"modified":"2022-04-26T15:15:42","modified_gmt":"2022-04-26T19:15:42","slug":"hair-damage-signs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prose.com\/blog\/hair-damage-signs","title":{"rendered":"What Does Damaged Hair Actually Look Like?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n

First, it\u2019s important to determine whether your locks fall into the damaged or healthy hair category. The easiest way is to examine a piece of hair under a microscope<\/a>. Healthy hair will have regular, well-closed scales and appear smooth and homogeneous, explains Mathilde Sitter, Prose R&D Project Leader. This is because healthy hair has an intact cuticle layer, while damaged hair is stripped of the cuticle layer. That\u2019s why, damaged hair typically appears irregular and open. Since most of us don\u2019t have a microscope at home, an easier telltale sign of damaged hair is split ends and a difference of thickness between roots and ends. Meaning, if the roots are thicker and the ends are thinner you\u2019ve probably lost part of your cuticle layer due to some sort of hair damage.<\/p>

Though it\u2019s easy to identify damaged hair under a microscope, it\u2019s not so easy to know where the damage comes from. \u201cIt is difficult to determine exactly what has caused hair damage by just using a microscope,\u201d Sitter says. \u201cWe can see that the hair is damaged, but we cannot know what the cause is heat, pollution or color treatment. We have to ask the customer questions to know more about their hair and combine their answer to a microscope observation. Microscope observation is always something added to real consultation and questions.\u201d<\/p>

Hair issues don’t always equal damaged hair<\/h2>

When hair doesn\u2019t behave the way we want it to, it\u2019s natural to blame damage for that. But damage isn\u2019t always what\u2019s responsible. For example, needing more time to detangle your hair doesn\u2019t necessarily mean it\u2019s damaged. \u201cDamaged hair will be difficult to detangle but detangling difficulties can also be linked to other factors,\u201d Sitter says. \u201cFor example, undamaged long and fine hair can be difficult to detangle just because they are prone to knots and fairy knots.\u201d<\/p>

It\u2019s easy to assume that dull, lifeless hair is damaged, but that\u2019s another example of the obvious not always being the case. \u201cDamaged hair can lead to dull or lifeless hair if you\u2019re not taking care of it,\u201d Sitter says. \u201cBut non-damaged hair can also be dull or lifeless, unfortunately. The wrong dye, products, vitamin deficiency, stress, bad hot tools, bad hormonal pills\u2014all these factors can lead to lifeless or dull hair.\u201d<\/p>

Another tricky factor is dry and brittle locks, which aren\u2019t always a sign of damage. \u201cOf course, if you have damaged hair, your strands are more sensitive and brittle,\u201d Sitter says. \u201cBut dryness doesn\u2019t necessarily mean your hair is damaged. Natural coily and kinky hair are very dry due to their porosity, making them very fragile and in need of extra moisture.\u201d<\/p>

How to spot hair damage<\/h2>

The key signs of hair damage are actually pretty straightforward. There are three to keep in mind. \u201cFrom a macroscopic point of view, first is aspect: dull, brittle hair and split ends,\u201d Sitter says. \u201cSecond is touch: rough, dry and irregular. Third is shedding due to breakage. Look for more hair lost in the shower or visible on your brush or pillow because it\u2019s more sensitive to breakage.\u201d<\/p>

Prevention is the key to healthy hair<\/h2>

The best way to treat damaged hair is to prevent it in the first place. Steer clear of the
most common causes. \u201cIt is important to not color treat your hair too often.\u201d Avoiding bleach is especially crucial. Sitter also recommends minimizing intensive use of hot styling tools, over brushing, harsh shampoos, and repeated and harsh hair styling, such as ponytails, buns and braids. Pollution also takes a major toll on strands<\/a>, including air pollutants<\/a>, UV<\/a>, hard water<\/a>, and chlorine, so use UV protector sprays and other product shields to safeguard strands. Ultimately, a little effort goes a long way when it comes to keeping hair happy and healthy.<\/p>

\u201cWe can prevent hair damage by using specific products made to nourish your hair,\u201d Sitter says. \u201cThanks to Prose\u2019s in-depth consultation, we\u2019re able to create a unique formula for each individual. Each kind of damaged hair is taken into account and Prose can propose special ingredients for each hair damage type.\u201d Using the right ingredients in your hair care can protect your hair from everyday stressors. \u201cWe have ingredients for heat protection, which are a mix of amino acids. We have ingredients for color protection, a mix of super oils. We also have ingredients for damaged hair, hair shine and dryness. Prose is also able to recommend what kind of products are the best according to your needs.\u201d<\/p>

That\u2019s a lot to keep up with, right? Skip the guesswork and let our consultation<\/a> create your custom formula to give you your healthiest hair yet.<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/div>
ONLY GOOD HAIR DAYS\u2014<\/span>Think of us as your partner in haircare. Start with our innovative consultation.<\/span>GET YOUR FORMULA<\/a><\/div>
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Decode your damage. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":9843,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,382,392,389],"tags":[53,337,479,333],"class_list":["post-9830","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-category-expert-advice","category-expert-tips","category-hair-damage","category-category-hair-health","tag-fine-hair","tag-medium-hair","tag-new","tag-thick-hair"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nIs My Hair Damaged | How to Tell if Your Hair is Damaged<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There are a few telltale signs that your hair is damaged, like shedding and dullness. 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