Many treatments that enhance the appearance of your hair can actually damage it, causing your hair to become dry and brittle. Follow these dermatologists’ tips to prevent dry, brittle hair: When dyeing your hair, stay ‘on shade’. Choose a dye within three shades of your natural color. Typically dyeing hair darker is better than lighter. Lightening your hair more than three shades requires higher volumes of peroxide, which causes more hair damage. Test store-bought hair color before using. Follow manufacturer’s instructions. If you develop a rash or redness, swelling, burning or itching, you are having an allergic reaction to the die. Do not dye your hair and consult your dermatologist for further allergy testing. Protect your hair from the sun. The sun can make your hair weak, dry, rough, faded and brittle. This is especially true if you dye, bleach or perm your hair. Wear a wide-brimmed hat when you go outside. Use caution when perming hair to prevent long-lasting damage. Set a timer
Unique in appearance and structure, Black people's hair is especially fragile and prone to injury and damage. More than half of African American women will cite thinning hair or hair loss as their top hair concern. Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to help minimize damage and keep your hair beautiful. Woman with natural hair smiling while brushing her hair To help keep Black hair healthy, dermatologists recommend the following tips: Wash your hair once a week or every other week. This will help prevent build-up of hair care products, which can be drying to the hair. Use conditioner. Use conditioner every time you wash your hair. Be sure to coat the ends of the hair with conditioner, as the ends are the oldest and most fragile part of your hair. Use a hot oil treatment twice a month. This adds additional moisture and elasticity to your hair. Use a heat protecting product before styling. Adding this to wet hair before styling will help minimize heat damage. Use caution with rel