Damaged Hair – Causes, Home Remedies & Precautions

home remedies for damaged hair

Hair enhances your overall personality and aura. As they say, eyes are the reflection of your heart, the same way hair tells about your health and diet. Those long shiny strands of hair look beautiful as compared to dull and brittle hair. In today’s polluted world, it is very hard to maintain your skin and hair. Very hard it is to avoid dryness and damage done to the hair bringing a lot of challenges like healthy nutritious diet, lots of water, and other home remedies.

The outer layer of the hair is called cuticle which when damaged makes your hair dry. However, it is important to protect that layer taking a few precautions and doing proper care. A combination of factors like heat, overexposing to sun, and pollution contribute in ruining your hair. While there are many home remedies like hot oils, egg mask, henna, hair massage, and aloe vera etc. with which you can retain the appearance of your hair. Before that, let’s study the reasons for hair damage:

Reasons for Hair Damage

Some of the possible causes for hair damage include:

  • Excess hair wash
  • Use of heating iron, rods, and styling products
  • Nutritional deficiency
  • Lack of vitamins and minerals in the body
  • Use of harsh chemicals on hair
  • Hormonal abnormalities
  • Anorexia nervosa disease

How to Treat Damaged Hair Naturally

Follow these below home remedies and get long locks in no time:

[ Read: Essential Oils for Dry and Damaged Hair ]

Argan Oil For Damaged Hair

argan oil for damaged hair

Studies have shown that argan oil pre-treatment was effective in protecting hair against oxidative damage (1).
Things you need: ½ cup argan oil

How to do:

  • Take argan oil and heat ½ cup in medium flame. Make sure not to boil it or overheat it.
  • Pour some oil on your palm or use your fingers to take the oil from the bowl.
  • Rub it on your scalp and into your hair for a few minutes and then cover your head in a warm towel.
  • Let the oil sit for approximate 30-30 minutes.
  • Now wash your hair with a mild shampoo and feel the change.

Best time to do: In the morning.

Number of repetitions: Using it once a week will deliver great results.

[ Read: Benefits of Argan oil for Hair ]

Coconut Oil For Damaged Hair

coconut oil for damaged hair

Coconut oil is one of the best natural nutrients for hair. It helps in healthy growth of hair a shiny quality. It is also highly effective in reducing protein loss which can lead to various unattractive or unhealthy growth qualities in your hair (2).

Things you need: ½ cup coconut oil

How to do:

  • Put the moisture back into your hair with coconut oil.
  • It adds shine to dry and brittle hair and makes them thick and heavy.
  • To get long wavy tresses, use hot coconut oil and massage your head.
  • Dampen your hair a little and apply warm coconut oil properly on the hair.
  • Put on a warm towel or a shower cap to condition the hair deeply.
  • Wait for 45 minutes and then rinse with a shampoo.

Best time to do: In the morning.

Number of repetitions: The coconut oil can be used thrice a week for best results.

[ Read: Natural oils for Damaged Hair ]

Olive Oil For Damaged Hair

olive oil for damaged hair

There are indispensable benefits of olive oil for hair. From managing damaged hair to encouraging new hair growth, olive oil has shown proven affects in different studies (3).

Things you need:

  • 3 egg whites
  • 2 tbsp of olive oil
  • 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar

How to do:

  • Olive oil has soothing and cooling effects on hair.
  • Prepare a hair mask with 2 tbsp of olive oil, 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar, and 3 egg whites for damaged hair.
  • Apply the mask on the hair and cover with a shower cap.
  • Then shampoo after half an hour to see the results.
  • Other than that, you can simply rub hot olive oil on your hair and leave it for 30-45 minutes before shampooing with a mild hair cleanser.

Best time to do: In the morning.

Number of repetitions: You can use it twice a week before shampooing your hair.

[ Read: Home Remedies for Dry Hair ]

Castor Oil For Damaged Hair

castor oil for damaged hair

Castor oil is one of the most popular home remedies for dry hair. It contains vitamins and antioxidants that provide fuller look to the hair.

Things you need: 1/2 cup castor oil

How to do:

  • Put moisture back into your hair by warming half a cup of castor oil.
  • Massage your head for a few minutes and cover your hair with a warm towel.
  • Now wait for 45 minutes or leave it overnight before rinsing with shampoo.

Best time to do: In the morning.

Number of repetitions: The damaged hair is quite common and castor oil is an amazing elixir when used twice a week.

[ Read: How To Get Rid Of Static Hair ]

Coconut Milk For Damaged Hair

coconut milk for damaged hair

Coconut milk is infused with lauric acid that has the ability to penetrate hair easily and help strengthen the cuticle. Also, it is rich in proteins and vitamins C, E, B-1, B-3, B-5, and B-6 (4). It slows hair loss, protect from damage and helps getting rid of dandruff.

To add shine to dry hair, coconut milk is a wonderful remedy.

Things you need: Coconut milk

How to do: Take coconut milk and apply on your scalp for 20 minutes. Wash your hair with a chemical free hair cleanser to see noticeable results.

Best time to do: In the morning.

Number of repetitions: Use this thrice a week in the morning before you take a shower.

[ Read: How to Straighten Hair with Coconut Milk ]

Egg Hair Mask For Damaged Hair

egg hair mask for damaged hair

To strengthen the hair, egg hair mask is helpful as it retains the moisture of dry and brittle hair.

Things you need:

  • 1 egg white
  • 2 tbsp tepid water

How to do:

  • Prepare this protein mixture and apply it on the hair.
  • Whip an egg white with 2 tbsp of tepid water and apply it on your scalp and hair.
  • Move your fingers in circular motion and massage the scalp for a few minutes.
  • Then rinse the hair with cold water before using shampoo.
  • Also, you can apply a mixture of 3 eggs, 2 tbsp of olive oil, and 1 tbsp of honey to your scalp and hair.
  • Cover your head with a shower cap for 30 minutes and then shampoo.

Best time to do: In the morning.

Number of repetitions: Use this egg mask once a week for good results.

[ Read: Homemade Egg Hair Mask Recipes ]

Rice Water For Damaged Hair

rice water for damaged hair

Rice water improves the texture and health of your hair when used once a week.

Things you need: Rice water

How to do: Massage your head with rice water and leave on for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse your hair thoroughly with regular water.

Best time to do: In the morning.

Number of repetitions: Once a week.

[ Read: Benefits of Rice Water for Hair and Skin ]

Yogurt Hair Mask For Damaged Hair

yogurt hair mask for damaged hair

For dry and damaged hair, yogurt hair mask is an effective home remedy.

Things you need:

  • ½ cup yogurt
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 6 drops essential oil

How to do:

  • Mix half a cup of yogurt, 2 tbsp of olive oil, and 6 drops of any essential oil in a bowl.
  • Apply it after shampooing your hair and cover your head with a shower cap.
  • Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes and then rinse with warm water.

Best time to do: In the morning.

Number of repetitions: For amazing results, use this mask twice a week.

[ Read: How to Use Castor oil for Hair Growth ]

Precautions & Tips

Here are a few tips and precautions to avoid your hair from getting damaged:

  • Avoid wearing tight ponytails.
  • Avoid swimming as the water is chlorine based.
  • Remove hair accessories before sleeping.
  • Use mild shampoos containing argan oil, coconut oil, and soybean.
  • Wash your hair with cold water.
  • Trim your hair frequently to avoid split ends.
  • Wear scarves or hat on the head in sun.
  • Drink at least 10 glasses of water for healthy hair

Head massage is quite beneficial for the health of your hair and it is important to keep the natural oil of your scalp intact. Plus, massage improves blood circulation and by following the above mentioned remedies, you will get healthy, shiny, and long hair.

Take proper sleep, balanced diet, and regular exercise to get rid of dryness and hair loss. Hair damage cannot be undone but with complete hair care, you can restore the shine.

Scientific Evidences

1. Argan oil as a pretreatment of human hair before exposure to oxidative damage: Attenuated total reflectance and protein loss studies- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35226791/
2. Medicinal Benefits of Coconut Oil- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268805677_Medicinal_benefit_of_coconut_oil
3. Topical Application of Oleuropein Induces Anagen Hair Growth in Telogen Mouse Skin-  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4462586/
4. The Chemical Composition and Biological Properties of Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) Water-  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6255029/

You Might Also Like:

Was this article helpful?

Advertisement2