Identifying and repairing the five main types of hair damage

Completely avoiding hair damage is nearly impossible. While smart styling can minimize some causes, daily factors like brushing and sun exposure still take a toll.

Common signs of damage include split ends, breakage, frizz, and dullness, leaving hair without strength and shine. Understanding the different types of hair damage is the first step toward preventing further issues and finding the right solution to restore your hair's health.

Key takeaways

• Five sources of damage: Hair can be damaged in five main ways: chemical treatments, coloring, heat styling, mechanical stress, and environmental factors like sun exposure.
• Prevention is crucial: You can protect your hair by using heat protectants, gently brushing, avoiding tight hairstyles, and shielding it from chlorine and UV rays.
• Targeted care matters: Using products designed for specific issues, such as color-safe formulas for dyed hair or strengthening systems for chemically treated hair, is essential for maintenance.
• Bond repair is the core solution: All types of damage result in broken protein bonds within the hair, which can be rebuilt with specialized amino acid and keratin treatments to restore strength and smoothness.

1. Chemical damage

Chemical hair damage occurs from treatments like straightening, perms, or exposure to chlorine in pools. These chemicals can break down the hair's protective outer cuticle, reducing its ability to hold moisture. This often results in breakage, dryness, frizz, split ends, and a loss of shine and elasticity.

How to prevent chemical damage

Regular swimmers should wear a swim cap or pre-soak hair in clean water to limit chlorine absorption, rinsing thoroughly after swimming. If you get chemical treatments like perms or straightening, reduce at-home heat styling and use a strengthening hair care regimen. The Keraphix line, for example, is formulated to treat severely damaged hair between salon visits.

2. Color damage

Hair coloring, especially with bleach, frequently causes damage. The process alters hair's structure by lifting the cuticle to change its natural pigment. Repeated coloring can weaken hair, while bleach can strip proteins, leaving strands limp or stringy.

How to prevent color damage

To maintain healthy, colored hair, use products specifically formulated for protection and repair. The Nexxus Color Assure range uses a ProteinFusion blend with elastin protein and quinoa to replenish nutrients lost during coloring. This system, including a shampoo, conditioner, and mask, helps keep hair healthy and color vibrant for up to 40 washes.

3. Thermal damage

Using heat styling tools like blow dryers, flat irons, and curling wands can lead to thermal damage. High heat erodes the hair's cuticle, exposing inner layers and causing loss of elasticity, reduced shine, increased frizz, and dry, brittle strands.

How to prevent thermal damage

To minimize thermal damage, use the lowest possible temperature on your styling tools and limit how often you use them. Always use a heat protectant. The Nexxus Prep & Protect Leave-In Spray forms a barrier to shield hair from heat and lock in moisture. For added benefits, the Blow Dry Frizz Control Cream protects hair while smoothing frizz during styling.

4. Mechanical damage

Mechanical damage is physical stress from styling, such as aggressive brushing (especially when wet), tight hairstyles, or using harsh hair ties. This wear and tear can lead to mid-shaft hair breakage, split ends, and dullness. For better results, consider switching from elastic bands to satin scrunchies.

How to prevent mechanical damage

Gently brush your hair, particularly when detangling wet strands, using a wide-tooth comb. Avoid tight hairstyles and rotate styles to prevent stress on the same areas. Using a silk pillowcase and a microfiber towel can also reduce friction and damage. To restore moisture after styling, the Repair & Nourish Ultra Lightweight Hair Oil, with Rose of Jericho and Damascus Rose oils, helps seal in moisture and revive dry hair.

5. Environmental damage

Just as the sun can damage skin, its UV rays are a primary cause of hair damage, especially for color-treated hair. Sun exposure can lift the hair's protective cuticle cells, leading to protein loss. This results in hair that is dry, brittle, and can even cause discoloration.

How to prevent environmental damage

Protect your hair from the sun by wearing a hat in direct sunlight. You can also apply a heat protection product, such as the Nexxus Prep & Protect Leave-In Spray, to shield your strands from environmental stressors.

How to Fix All 5 Types of Hair Damage

All five types of damage share a common result: broken hair bonds, lost amino acids, and depleted protein. The Nexxus Amino Bond collection, including the Shampoo, Conditioner, and Intense Rebond Treatment, is engineered with amino acids and keratin protein to repair these bonds from the first use. This system rebuilds hair, generates new bonds, and makes hair stronger, smoother, and more resistant to future damage, regardless of the cause.