If you’ve spent all your time perfecting your skincare routine and neglecting your hair as a result, this one’s for you. Our hair needs just as much TLC as our skin does, if not more, as once it emerges from the hair follicle in our scalp, the cells within the strand of hair are no longer alive.

They won’t shed dead cells and grow new ones like our skin does, which is why it’s important you keep the hair that you do have in good condition before it grows out or gets the chop.

Now you know the facts, let’s get down to business and repair that damaged hair with hacks you can use now and forever. 

1. Use a Microfiber Towel

If we were to put healthy hair under a microscope, the hair cuticles (the first layer of the hair shaft made of overlapping scaly-looking layers) would be tightly closed and look like one layer. While damaged hair will have apparent layers that have been raised off from the hair shaft, minimising protection and inviting in UV rays, dirt, and bacteria, which aren’t exactly the type of guests you want to roll out the red carpet for.

Regular towels can wreak havoc on already damaged hair as the rough texture can pull the hair cuticles in all sorts of directions – up, down, sideways, you name it. Whereas the softness of a microfiber towel can help to heal hair breakage as it won’t disrupt the hair cuticles.

Microfiber Towel - €9.00

If you’re like us, the typical plain white (snore) microfiber towels always convinced you that repairing your damaged hair can wait, except desperation is now at a new high that it just might have to do. But wait! Curls N’ Clouds Microfiber Towels are a beautiful baby blue to brighten your morning and get you in the mood for a good hair day. Made from 100% microfiber, it’ll dry your hair without enhancing or promoting hair breakage and help with the natural healing process.

2. Regularly Apply a Hair Mask

When in doubt, mask it out. Hair masks generally contain the highest concentration of ingredients, which can speed up repairing damaged hair – why wait?

Hair masks can target a bazillion different concerns, but as we want to target broken hair, we recommend picking one up that shouts about tackling dryness, split ends, and breakages.

Don’t get distracted and caught up on things like colour enhancement or volume, as they won’t take well to damaged hair.

3. Limit the Use of Hot Styling Tools

In an ideal world, we wouldn’t have to use hot styling tools at all (seriously though, imagine a universe without bed hair!). But realistically, tossing them out altogether is too much to ask for most of us.

Embracing your natural hair only a few times a week can help to repair damaged hair. But of course, the more days you go without using hot styling tools, the better.

Try timing it with your schedule – you know, just like you do with your hair wash days - and save hot tools for non-negotiable days like the weekend or a hot date with a stranger on Wednesday night. And if you must use them on broken hair, remember to use a heat protector. Always. 

4. Blow Dry from a Distance

But there’s one hot tool that we can’t so easily cut back on, as the longer your hair is wet, the more water it collects and swells up, often causing hair breakage from the strain. Meaning after soaking up as much water as possible with Curls N’ Clouds Microfiber Towel, a hairdryer to finish the job is up next.

When the inevitable time comes around, we recommend keeping the hairdryer 15-20cm, about 6-8 inches, away from your hair at all times. This distance will limit the amount of damage to the hair and preserve more strength.

Bonus Tip: for an even safer blow dry on damaged hair, try turning down the temperature of your hairdryer.

5. Keep On Top of Tangles

You’re probably thinking “duh. Who leaves their hair tangled?”. While yes, we all use a hairbrush, how well do you really brush out tangles?

Damaged hair is way more likely to knot up as the raised cuticles we mentioned earlier grip onto other hairs better than closed cuticles. A lack of moisture with broken hair can also contribute as dry strands create more friction, rather than sliding past sleek hairs.

Try sectioning your hair and start brushing at the ends and work your way up to your scalp. This allows you to detangle individual knots, rather than a knot made of several knots you’ve just pushed down to the bottom of your hair – ouch! Brushing your hair this way will help you to keep on top of knots and prevent hair breakage.

Bamboo Afro Pick – €12.00

If you have curly hair, you already know how hard it is to detangle your hair. Curls N’ Clouds Bamboo Afro Pick will make the whole experience a total breeze and go easy on damaged hair. It’s made from 100% bamboo for minimal friction, and wide, long teeth to avoid disturbing your natural curl pattern and reach deep beneath your hair to get those itty-bitty hidden knots.