5 ways to diagnose hair damage

A common sign of damaged hair is a flyaway texture that refuses to be controlled (often called frizz). Dry hair types are more prone to it, especially in humid weather. Why? Because thirsty hair absorbs moisture from the air, swelling and temporarily rearranging. Try switching to haircare that replenishes moisture and eliminates frizz, such as Dove Anti-Frizz Oil Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner.

Lack of moisture is a result of both internal and external damage. The biggest difference between healthy and damaged hair is that the cuticle is damaged, uplifted and/or eroded which results in a lack of moisture and shine and makes it more prone to breakage. This means you need to replenish your hair with an intensive treatment, such as Dove Hair Therapy Breakage Remedy Leave-On Treatment.

The porosity of your hair affects how it absorbs and retains moisture. This can be down to genetics, but also damage that has caused the cuticle layer to raise. Take a strand from your brush and drop it into a glass of water. If it sinks quickly, it’s porous (the cuticle layer is raised). If it floats or sinks slowly, the cuticle layer is flat and doing a good job of protecting the strand.

Take a small section of hair between two fingers and take a closer look. If any strands split into a V shape at the end, they’re a split end (the name says it all). Use our Dove Hair Therapy Brilliant Gloss & Repair Serum to visibly repair any frayed ends. As an added bonus, your ends will feel so smooth you won’t need to get your hair trimmed so often.

Ever paid to have your hair professionally colored, then watched your vibrant new shade fade? Damage that lifts the protective cuticle and zaps moisture from your strands will also whip away any new color pigment. A great solution is Dove Color Care Shampoo and Conditioner.They protect the hair by nourishing and strengthening the cuticle, to maintain color vibrancy for up to eight weeks.