How to Get Healthy Hair: Signs of Damage and the Best Fixes

If you're asking, “what does damaged hair look like?”, we don‘t have just one answer for you. There are a multitude of signs that strands are stressed out, from excess shedding due to hair breakage, to dullness and brassiness. There are several ways that we damage our hair without realising,this includes brushing, exposing locks to UV rays, heat styling or undergoing chemical treatments.

Here’s how to recognize the signs of damaged hair, what’s happening inside your strands, and the best ways to fix it for good.

What Does Damaged Hair Look Like? 5 Signs and Types

1. Is Damaged Hair Difficult to Brush and Style??

Yes, the first tell-tale sign of hair damage is usually that it’s hard to brush and may need more conditioner or leave-in product to tame it. It's lacking in natural shine and can feel rough, making it more difficult to style as a result. Hair strands can feel rough for a whole host of reasons, whether it's because of heat damage, bleach damage, or just simple genetics. And, once hair becomes damaged,it can lead to further problems - think breakage, split ends, flyaways and dullness. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to fix this, from vitamin-packed shampoos and conditioning treatments, to smoothing and renewing salon treatments.

TRY THIS FOR FRIZZY AND DAMAGED HAIR:

1. Reach for nourishing shampoos

Is your shampoo nourishing enough? For a truly transformative cleanse, reach for ULTIMATE SMOOTH Shampoo; a luxurious formula that cleanses without stripping damaged hair strands of essential oils. It's perfect for all hair types including straight, wavy, curly and coily repairing tresses while sweeping away damaging metals, pollutants and product build-up. It also kicks off the bond-rebuilding process, prepping your strands for the rest of the ULTIMATE SMOOTHritual, so all the reparative goodness can be deeply absorbed.

2. Condition hair correctly

If your hair is too wet before you apply a conditioner, you may dilute the benefits. Think about how a sponge works; if it's soaking wet, it can't soak up any more moisture. Your hair acts in much the same way, which is why it's important to squeeze out excess water and gently towel-dry strands ahead of applying conditioner. Try it with the ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner – a rich and creamy treatment that detangles strands, bumps up smoothness and visibly hydrates dry, brittle hair. Leave it on for between 30 seconds and three minutes so you reap the full rewards of this breakthrough conditioner.

3. Treat dry hair to a weekly mask

Once per week, drench brittle lengths and ends with a nourishing hair mask. ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask is a creamy, dreamy formula that instantly detangles, reduces frizz and repairs hair from the inside out. Plus, it harnesses targeted adaptive technology, which works to detect and treat the areas of hair in need of the most care. So, if hair is drier or more brittle in certain sections, ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask will give strands the hydration they crave. Simply massage it into towel-dried lengths and ends, allow hair to bathe in the nourishing ingredients for five minutes, then rinse out thoroughly. It's the perfect weekly booster.

4. Apply a leave-in repair spray

When it comes to styling damaged hair, there's no more intensive treatment than ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. In fact, it can repair hair damage in 90 seconds* - no more, no less. All you have to do is mist it through towel-dried locks, let it absorb for 90 seconds, and then style as usual. With a blend of AHA and Omega-9, the lightweight yet luxurious mist will leave your hair 12x smoother**, with 99% less breakage***.

In between those washes, add the ULTIMATE REPAIR Night Serum to your routine. This visibly corrects dullness and breakage cause by night stressors such as pillow friction. Simply apply 1-3 pumps on damp or dry hair as often as you need from lengths to ends for reduced tangling and breakage.

2. Does Damaged Hair Cause Breakage and Shedding?

If you’re noticing shorter pieces or excessive shedding, your hair is likely breaking mid-shaft. This can happen when the inner structure weakens due to overprocessing such as heat and bleach damage or lack of moisture.While hot tools and lightening products are completely safe for your strands, proper care should be taken to ensure the integrity of hair is protected. And while you can't reverse breakage when it happens, you can protect sensitized strands from further stress with the right products and techniques.

TRY THIS FOR BROKEN HAIR AND SPLIT ENDS:

Strengthen with bond-repairing shampoos and masks

Work on building up your hair's resilience with strengthening shampoos and conditioners. The Fusion collection gives you up to 95% more resilience against breakage, thanks to a fusion of silk amino acids that work to recover the hair fiber. Wash with the Intense Repair Shampoo and Conditioner, and apply the Intense Repair Mask (in place of the Conditioner) weekly to make strands more resistant to wear and tear.

Get regular trims for split ends

The ideal ‘cure' for split ends is a cut, and if losing too much length is a concern, there is a solution. The ULTIMATE REPAIR Cut & Seal service keeps those ends neat and tidy, while maintaining long, luscious lengths. Your hairdresser will precisely target split ends only, and gently snip them off, resulting in an 'invisible' trim. Hair simply looks healthier, but not shorter. Then, they'll 'seal' strands by washing, conditioning and styling with the ULTIMATE REPAIR regimen, including Miracle Hair Rescue for the smoothest strands.

3. Why Does My Hair Get Tangled So Easily?

Tangles happen. A few knots are completely normal – especially if you've just washed your hair – but you shouldn't be having to spend more than five minutes teasing them out. If they're becoming a problem, this could be a sign that strands need a turbo boost of nourishment. Dry, thin and frizzy hair gets in knots more easily, so this is a symptom of damage. As such, not only should you follow the tips above for dry hair, but you should also take extra care when eking out tangles to ensure you don't cause further hair breakage. ‘Gently, gently' is the perfect approach to detangling knots and achieving smooth hair.

TRY THIS FOR KNOTTY, TANGLED HAIR:

Detangle while conditioning

On hair wash day, try detangling hair with a conditioner or hair mask. This will soften up the knots and make it easier to work through strands section by section. If your hair is curly or coily, you’ll want to do this before shampooing with fingertips. If your hair is straight or slightly wavy, you can detangle after shampooing, also with fingertips or a wide tooth comb.

Start combing from the ends

When detangling, don't drag your brush or comb from root to tip. Start at the bottom of the hair and gently, patiently tease out knots, then move a little higher up the hair shaft before working through the next section. Continue this process until you've smoothed out every last tangle. This way, you won't be tugging hard on delicate strands that reduces your risk of extra shedding and hair breakage.

Use a leave-in detangling spray

Don't be without a detangling spray. Elements Renewing Leave-In Spray makes it quicker to battle knots by smoothing and nourishing damaged hair, so it has more ‘slip'. After washing, mist it all through towel-dried mid-lengths and ends, allow it to settle for 30 seconds or more, then begin teasing out tangles. Your comb or brush will move through strands easier.

4. Why Does Damaged Hair Look Dull or Brassy?

If your hair looks dull, flat, or brassy, it may be a sign of lost moisture or pigment. Color-treated hair, especially, can fade and lose shine after exposure to sunlight or heat.Dull hair can usually be fixed with in-salon glazing and glossing services, but it's important you upgrade your care routine to prevent dullness at home too.

TRY THIS FOR DULL, BRASSY HAIR:

Book in for a Shinefinity Color Glaze

Few things transform dull or brassy hair more quickly than a Shinefinity Color Glaze. Not only does it offer zero damage, but it veils strands in shine you can feel with sheer, translucent color. Plus, your colorist can dilute the shades further if you want an even softer result, or they can give you a clear glaze that works like a glossy topcoat for your hair. So, next time you're in the salon, ask about this new service; it only takes up to 20 minutes to develop, so you can be in and out in the space of a lunch break.

Top up the tone with a color-depositing mask

Did you know that you can boost your hair color at home with a color-depositing mask?

For a tone top-up in 10 minutes, the Color Fresh Mask comes in 13 shades for blondes, brunettes, red heads and even bold, bright manes. When ditching brassiness is the goal, try Cool Espresso or Chocolate Touch for brown hair, Pearl Blonde for cool blonde hair, Caramel Glaze for caramel tones, or Golden Gloss for warm blondes. All you have to do is smooth it through clean, towel-dried locks, leave it on for 10 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly. You don't even need to use a follow-up conditioner. Simply dry, style and glow.

Inject shine with oil-rich hair care products

Oil-rich hair care products bestow a glow like no other, while also rehydrating dry locks for short-term shine and a long-term health boost. Look to Oil Reflections for a light yet lustrous blend of oils that supercharge hair's radiance. The Luminous Reveal Shampoo and Luminous Smoothing Oil are musts for dull hair days.

Finish each look with a shine spray

Don't underestimate the power of a shine spray. When you've finished perfecting your style, a ‘topcoat' will deliver a touch of gloss without weighing strands down. Spritz through mid-lengths and ends to instantly brighten and beautify.

5. Why Don’t Hair Products Work on Damaged Hair?

When your hair seems to “reject” even the best conditioners and masks, you may have high hair porosity — where the cuticle has gaps that let moisture escape. Strands become more porous when damage causes tears and gaps in the hair cuticle, which allows moisture to get in and – more importantly, straight back out with ease. As a result, a lot of the nourishing ingredients in your masks escape through the gaps, meaning that your hair can't reap the full rewards of your moisturizing routine. So, watch out for how your damaged hair responds to hydrating products. If you're not getting the results you expected, a few extra tricks may be needed to lock nourishment in and prevent future damage.

TRY THIS FOR HIGH HAIR POROSITY:

Wash colored hair with color-protecting shampoos

It's not just moisture that can escape through tears in the cuticle; if you have colored hair, you might find some of the pigment gets out too. This makes color care products more important than ever. Try the ColorMotion+ Color Protection Shampoo to lock shade down; it's packed with antioxidants designed to protect your dream color from fading.

Reach for oil- and cream-based masks and conditioners

Richer oil- and cream-based hair masks have enough substance to help seal the cuticle, so locks will be better able to hold in moisture. That's why ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner is ideal for highly porous hair. Massage it through the mid-lengths and ends of clean, towel-dried hair, leave it on for three minutes and enjoy a smoother, silkier mane. For even deeper repair, reach for the ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask and leave it on locks for up to five minutes, allowing the blend of AHA and Omega-9 to nourish porous strands from the inside out.

Lock in moisture with leave-in treatments

While rinse-out masks are still a must for porous strands, leave-in treatments are the secret to longer-lasting nourishment through parched hair. That's why your hair wash regimen should end with Ultimate Repair Miracle Hair Rescue. We recommend around five sprays for fine hair, 10 sprays for medium hair, and 15 sprays for coarse hair. Don't forget to let the supercharged treatment absorb into porous hair for 90 seconds, then go ahead and style to perfection. Locks will be smoother, softer and flawlessly detangled. Now, by knowing the signs of damaged hair, you can upgrade your at-home hair care routine to ensure that you're giving locks exactly what they need, when they need it most. Get ready to start your journey to achieving healthy hair!

Looking for more tips to care for damaged tresses? Discover our blog for a complete collection of hair care, color and styling advice for every hair type and concern.

How to Get Healthy Hair After Damage

Understanding how to know if your hair is damaged means learning the visible and invisible signs: dryness, breakage, tangles, dullness, or loss of elasticity. By pairing nourishing products with protective habits, you can restore your hair’s natural strength and shine, and keep it healthy for the long term.

Now, by knowing the signs of damage, you can upgrade your at-home care regimen to ensure that you're giving hair exactly what it needs, when it needs it most.

For more information on hair care, hair color and styling, check out the Wella Professionals blog. Want to learn more about your hair? Take our hair quiz for an expert consultation.

¹ When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.

² Vs. non-conditioning shampoo.

³ When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. Instrumental test versus non-conditioning shampoo.

⁴ When using ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum, if unwashed for 3 days, vs. untreated.

⁵ Fusion shampoo and conditioner vs non-conditioning shampoo.

⁶ When using ColorMotion+ Structure+ Mask.