How to Treat Fried Hair

We’re all very fond of heat styling and hair coloring, even though they can be a double-edged sword. While they’re meant to make your hair look lovely, they can also lead to fried hair. Fried hair is the result of using harsh chemicals, such as those found in bleach and hair coloring treatments, or excessive heat to style your hair.

So, if you’re suffering the consequences of overbleaching or overusing heat, don’t worry; there are several ways to repair fried hair. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about fried hair treatment.

Short Answer

You can treat your fried hair by:

• Avoiding frequent hair washing
• Applying conditioner in the shower
• Deep conditioning your hair with oils
• Using a hair mask
• Avoiding heat
• Using leave-in conditioners
• Putting on a swim cap in swimming pools
• Avoiding prolonged exposure to sunlight
• Using sulfate and silicone-free hair products
• Visiting your hair salon
• Seeking professional help

Now, let’s have a closer look at each of them.

1. Avoid Frequent Hair Washing

Washing your hair frequently worsens hair damage as it strips your hair of its natural oils. Natural oils are the main source of nourishment for your locks, as they give them a smooth texture and shine. Also, hot water can be very harmful to your fried hair. So, we suggest only washing your hair once a week, preferably with lukewarm water.

2. Apply Conditioner in the Shower

Since shampoo can dry out your hair while cleaning it, conditioners balance that out by giving it back the moisture it has lost. So, to avoid more damage to your fried hair, don’t skip using conditioner in the shower.

Look for conditioners that contain hydrating ingredients like jojoba oil, almond oil, and shea butter. To make sure your hair gets the full benefit, leave the conditioner on your hair for 2-3 minutes before washing it off.

3. Deep Condition Your Hair With Oils

 

One of the most effective home remedies is to deep condition your fried hair with hair oils. They moisturize the hair shaft by penetrating deep into the scalp. As a result, they reduce hair breakage and promote hair growth. They also significantly fix frizzy hair and manage flyaways.

Products containing oils such as coconut oil, olive oil, argan oil, and shea butter work great for these purposes. For best results, try using them once or twice a week.

If you’re not a fan of commercial products or find them unnecessarily pricey, you can prepare an equally effective hair oil deep conditioner at home. Here’s how:

•  Add a 1/4 cup of the oil of your choice to a 1/2 cup of your normal conditioner
•  Mix them well and apply them to wet hair
•  Leave the mix on for about 30 minutes (and don’t forget to wear a shower cap for optimal results)
•  After letting the oil sit in, wash your hair with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner

4. Use a Hair Mask

Using hair masks is similar to deep conditioning, except that hair masks are better at hydrating your dry, fried locks. You can also prepare your hair mask at home using the following steps:

•  Mix two tablespoons of honey and two teaspoons of olive oil with a 1/2 cup of yogurt
•  Wash your hair with shampoo before applying the mix to unclog the pores
•  Leave it on for 30-60 minutes and wear a shower cap
•  Wash with a sulfate-free shampoo and apply a conditioner

It’s good to focus on your damaged ends while applying the hair mask. And for optimum results, use this mask once a week.

5. Avoid Heat

 

We know that heat styling gives you awesome hairstyles, and you always want to pull off that fabulous look. While it’s tempting, it can easily lead to fried hair. So, to help treat your damaged hair faster, avoid flat irons, curling irons, and blow dryers for some time.

If you must use them, apply a heat protectant to protect your hair from damage. Heat protectants come in the form of sprays or lightweight lotions and are easy to apply to the hair right before using heat. But note that it’d be best to let your hair air dry on its own.

6. Use Leave-In Conditioners

A leave-in conditioner comes in handy to reduce the frizz and fix fried hair. Make sure to opt for one that contains ingredients like keratin, shea butter, aloe vera, and honey to give your damaged hair the extra hydration it needs.

Note that leave-in conditioners are applied to the hair after you wash and condition it in the shower (during air drying it).

7. Use a Swim Cap in Swimming Pools

Remember that chlorine found in a swimming pool inflicts more damage on your already damaged hair. So, whenever you think of hitting the pool, don’t forget to put on a cap to protect your fried hair from damage.

If you absolutely hate those caps, you can apply coconut oil to your hair before jumping in the pool. It acts as a barrier to prevent your hair from absorbing chlorine from pool water.

8. Avoid Prolonged Exposure to Sunlight

UV rays can be one of your hair’s worst enemies. If you have fried hair, try to avoid sitting in the sun for long periods. However, if you can’t avoid the sun, we suggest wrapping your hair in a bun during the time of exposure. This way, you can limit the hair exposed to UV rays.

9. Use Sulfate and Silicone-Free Products

To repair your damaged hair, you need to ditch sulfate-containing hair products. Although sulfates are powerful surfactants and do a great job cleaning your hair, they, unfortunately, also do a great job drying out your hair. So, if your hair is already fried, you’ll need to stay away from sulfates.

Instead, use a sulfate-free shampoo. Sulfate-free shampoos use cleansers that don’t lather and are very gentle on the hair strands. They also incorporate moisturizing ingredients and hair oils.

While silicone is considered a popular ingredient in hair cosmetics, it builds up on the hair follicles, scalp, and strands over time, creating a coat that prevents them from absorbing nourishing ingredients.

And if your hair is fried, you’ll want it to be able to absorb as much moisture and nutrients as possible. So, a silicone-free product would come in handy.

10. Salon Treatments

If you’re super concerned about your fried hair, we suggest visiting your hair salon. Depending on the hair type and damage stage, many treatments can be done there, such as Olaplex Bonding, Kerastase Fusio Dose, and Hot Oil treatments. You might also need a haircut to get rid of your damaged hair.

11. Seek Medical Help

If you’re still worried about your extremely damaged hair and think that hair care products and salon visits aren’t enough, you can always seek professional medical advice. Health professionals generally prescribe topical and dietary use of nutrients and vitamins, which work very well at treating hair breakage and fried hair.

Final Words

So, you got your hair fried? Fret not; you can still revive your fried hair and get it back all shiny and healthy using some tips.

Take the time to do weekly hair masks or deep conditioning, and try to avoid heat at all costs! Instead, air dry your locks and style them with a leave-in conditioner to give them a silky texture. Also, don’t forget to bring a cap to swimming pools and to wrap your hair in a bun when exposed to the sun for a long time. You can visit your hair salon, too.

This way, your dry hair will regain life and strength one more time.