How to Care for Burnt Hair

How to Care for Burnt Hair

Straightening irons, hairdryers, dyes and heat from the sun are primarily responsible for burnt hair. When these factors are abused or not used correctly, the cuticle of the hair breaks and the natural protein is lost. This makes hair dehydrated and lose both shine and elasticity. The result is often frizzy hair and/or split ends. In order to repair it, the key is to moisturize, avoid heat and maintain a good diet. If you want to learn about even more practical solutions, read this oneHOWTO article on how to care for burnt hair.

Singed hair treatment

One of the most common reasons for burned hair is the use of curling irons, straighteners or any other electronic heating device. The high heat can often lead to singed hair, something which is difficult to treat. If you burn a match, you're going to have trouble returning it back to its previous form. The same can happen with singed hair.

If your hair has been singed, then one of the best options is to cut it. When hair is mistreated at the tips the damage can spread. So, if you have damaged tips, it may spread through your whole hair. This occurs because the cuticle is open at the ends and splits along the hair until all protein that keeps it healthy is lost. You should remove at least three inches of burnt hair so that it begins to regenerate.

Keratin treatment

Not all burnt hair will be singed. Sometimes, the hair is burned on the outside by exposure to heat, sunlight or both. It won't necessarily be singed, but it will be damaged. Treatment for this type of hair will be that which is able to repair the damage, bringing proteins back and strengthening the hair in general.

One great way to help repair the damage of burnt hair is the use of keratin. When you burn your hair, you lose an important protein called keratin and this supply must be replenished. Keratin is a protein that is responsible for your hair looking healthy, shiny and elastic. You can get keratin in professional conditioners, bath creams, hair repair treatments and many more specialized hair products. Simply look for 'keratin' on the label.

Be extra careful

As stated above, the heat from the iron is one of the main causes of burnt hair. Whether a curling iron, straightener or even a flat iron, the damage can be irreparable. this is why it is very important to know what we're doing when using any of these appliances. To prevent burnt hair, we should know what care treatment we need to make before straightening it as well as what mistakes many people make during the process.

If you have burned your hair, it doesn't make sense to keep straightening it or using the appliances which caused the damage in the first place. This may mean you have to walk around with your natural curls. It may not be your preferred look (although there's no reason you can't make it work for you), but its better than doing more harm. Here are some tips if you do end up using such an appliance on damaged hair:

  • Do not straighten your hair when wet.
  • Use your iron at a medium temperature.
  • Apple a heat protector to your hair before.
  • Do not straighten your hair every week.

Sun protection

There are other ways you can burn your hair, with sun damage being one of the most common. While it will be unlikely the sun can cause singed hair, it can still be as harmful as an iron. To avoid this, you should know how to care for your hair during the summer. This is the time with greatest solar intensity. You should use a styling cream with sunscreen to help protect your scalp as much as your hair.

Of course there are many ways to protect your head and hair from the sun. Wearing a hat is a common one as is simply avoiding direct sunlight. Remember that the winter sun can still be strong, even if the temperature is cold. This means it can still damage your hair.

Hair masks for burnt hair

Applying moisturizing masks for burnt hair can be the ideal remedy. Sun damage can cause color to drain from the hair as well as reduce its protein and water content. Hair masks help moisturize the strands and restore the water lost by abuse. You can apply this mask twice a week, leave on for 20 minutes and then remove with cold water.

Hair masks can be made from various products. Many use natural remedies which have varying levels of effectiveness, despite their claims. Equally, commercial products may say they work well, but results may vary. If you do prefer natural products to be used, you may want to try fuller's earth for hair.

According to Jethro Kloss, author of "Back to Eden: The Classic Guide to Herbal Medicine, Natural Foods, and Home Remedies Since 1939," combining whole eggs and coconut oil can help to soothe and repair burnt hair. This has not been FDA approved, but the theory is that the proteins in these substances can help boost the protein in the hair. It may not be as effective as some burnt hair treatments, but it won't do your har any harm if you wash it out thoroughly.

Quality hair care products

Use a special line of haircare for damaged hair cna help repair burn damage. Using shampoo and conditioner for damaged hair will help it to regenerate. Do not wash your hair every day, even though the shampoo is helpful. Washing dries hair if carried out daily, as shampoos contain many chemicals like sodium and sulfate to generate foam and aromas.

When choosing the right shampoo for your hair, choose one that has a pH level between 4.5 and 5.5. We also recommend washing your hair with fairly cold water instead of steaming hot, as this can further damage it.A good remedy for burn hair is using a homemade natural shampoo, you can try shikakai and amla hair wash or reetha shampoo for example.

Avoid dying your hair

It is best to avoid decoloring or dying burnt hair. These chemicals act on your hair accentuating the the damage already caused. The result is that and leaving it porous and weak. If you are used to dying your hair to hide your grey hair, you could try to regain your natural color while regenerating your hair. Or, go for coloring using natural products like henna and katam.

Moisturizing burnt hair

Intensive moisturizing is recommended to for burnt hair. Moisturizing does not alter the shape of the hair, but moisturizes most of the strands to the core. Hair botox is a vial that offers intense hydration with results that can be seen from the same day of application. If you want to save some money, you can also apply hair botox at home.

Similarly, you can also make your own hair moisturizer at home. One of the most basic, but effective hair treatments for burnt hair can be found with the following recipe:

Ingredients

  • 1 ripe banana
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Steps

  1. Add the banana and the olive oil in a container, blend thoroughly until you get a homogeneous paste with no lumps.
  2. Massage it onto your head.
  3. Leave to stand for 30 minutes.
  4. Wash with water and use shampoo to make sure you get rid of the mixture.

Repeat this process every other day for a month to see results. As you know, olive oil is a great moisturizer and the magnificent properties of banana will give you the vitamin C and antioxidants your hair needs to come back to life.

Healthy diet

While hair masks and other burnt hair treatments work on the hair itself, this is not the only way hair maintains its health. Hair is a general signifier for your general health and well-being. If you are not well, then your hair is likely to show it. This is why we advise you to make sure you nourish your body from the inside too.

Omega 3 fatty acids are the perfect ally to help hair grow strong and shiny, which is why we advise you to add flax seed and walnuts in your daily meals. Increase the amount of vegetables you eat, as they are full of iron and vitamin C. These nutrients will help you to look healthy. Cruciferous vegetables, avocado and carrots will be your best allies in these cases. Take a look at the list below to know the best ingredients to add to your diet.

Make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day, 2 liters of water on average.

  • Blueberries
  • Spinach
  • Salmon
  • Avocado
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Sweet potato
  • Eggs
  • Wholegrain
  • Nutritional yeast
  • Kale
  • Lentils
  • Turkey
  • Chickpeas
  • Butternut squash
  • Kiwi
  • Orange
  • Papaya
  • Carrot
  • Oysters
  • Nuts
  • Yogurt
  • Spirulina

Avoid drinks with artificial sweeteners, refined sugars, alcohol, processed starches such as those in cakes or white pasta and fast food. These clog up your scalp's pores and can lead to weak hair growth.

Be patient, burnt haircare requires much attention and effort. It is ultimately possible to regenerate hair and following these tips can help. This is esepcially so if you get a haircut to remove certain damaged parts and prevent them from harming the rest of the hair. If you love long hair, don't worry. Here we tell you how to care for your hair so it grows.

If you want to read similar articles to How to Care for Burnt Hair, we recommend you visit our Beauty & Personal Care category.

Tips
  • Strictly avoid hair products that contain alcohol or hydrogen peroxide as one of their ingredients.
  • When drying your hair when you come out of the shower, do not rub it with the towel, but rather lightly pat it to get rid of the extra moisture. Remember it's not advisable to apply direct heat while your damaged hair is still recovering.