Don’t you just wish you would one day wake up with hair straight from a shampoo commercial? Instead, so many of us are dealing with dry, brittle hair because of excess heat styling, harsh products, and nutritional deficiencies.
It can feel like an endless battle, but thankfully, thick, luscious hair is only a few simple tips away. BEAUTYDIRECTORY chatted with hair stylist Anthony Nader from RAW by Anthony Nader for his advice on avoiding and taking care of brittle hair.
BEAUTYDIRECTORY: Tell us, what causes brittle hair?
Anthony Nader: Three things can contribute towards brittle hair, with those being over colouring and heat tools. Ongoing colour applications of using powder lighteners and high-volume peroxides can have a long-term effect of damaged ends and feeling frail. When having your colour service done, it’s not every time you need colour applied to the ends. Instead ask your hairdresser for a clear gloss on the ends. You can go past the healthy gloss, and this doesn’t have any harsh chemicals in it either.
And when it comes to styling, go easy on the excess heat and try a lower heat temp from today. Heat from your hot appliances will dehydrate your strands without a doubt, so always aim for a lower heat setting.
BD: What would you say is the best way to treat brittle hair?
AN: Moisture masques are fab for feeding hair strands the goodness they deserve.
Moisture will plump up strands a little until you can get to your hairdresser to have the ends snipped off to healthier days ahead.
BD: What type of products do you recommend using if you suffer from brittle hair?
AN: Always aim for products that feed strands nutrients that have been lost over time from excess colouring and using hot tools. Serums, heat protector sprays and moisturisers will be your new besties to worn off brittle hair days ahead. Although these products are low with the hold factor, they will feed your hair strands with ‘health’ rather than unnecessary alcohol-based products such as mousses and sprays that can dry out the hair.
BD: What advice would you give to your clientele if they come to you with dry, damaged hair?
AN: First thing I always recommend is a healthy haircut. Cutting off the ends is the most important and vital way to remove brittle hair strands. There’s no point in ‘masking’ brittle ends when really, at the ends of the day it doesn’t solve the problem. When you remove the ends, your hair will grow stronger and faster.
BD: As a hair stylist, is there any service you would refuse if your client came to you with extremely brittle hair?
AN: Having a colour service that requires bleach lightener paired up with a high-volume peroxide.
It’s not worth the heartache for the client nor the hairdresser.
Product recommendations for brittle hair:
Arbonne Intelligence Thermal Fusion Hair and Scalp
Wella System Professional Repair Conditioner
Sebastian Professional Penetraitt Repair Masque
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Length Retention Shampoo
Living Proof Timeless Conditioner
Nutrimetics Repair+ Treatment Masque
Kerasilk Repairing Conditioner
