Back to Basics Beauty Series: Understanding Your Hair Structure, How Damage Happens, and How You Can Protect Your Hair + GIVEAWAY
As a hairstylist, I often get asked about the science behind hair health and how to keep hair looking shiny and smooth while using heat. The question "How can I keep my hair healthy while using hot tools?" came up during my back-to-basics beauty research. This is probably one of the biggest topics in the hair industry because everyone wants "HEALTHY" hair but we insist on doing things that do in fact damage our hair. To truly care for your hair, it helps to understand what it's made of and how daily habits, coloring, and heat styling can affect it. This week, I'm giving you some healthy hair facts AND A GIVEAWAY!!!
The Structure of Hair
Hair is made up of three main layers:
- The cuticle - the outermost layer that acts as a protective shield.
- The cortex - the thick middle layer where most of the hair's strength and flexibility comes from. It's also where your natural pigment (melanin) is stored.
- The medulla - the core, found in thicker hair strands.
The cuticle is key to how healthy your hair looks. When it's lying flat, hair reflects light, which gives it a smooth, shiny appearance. When the cuticle is damaged, hair looks dull, frizzy, and feels rough. This is why acidic treatments, deep conditioners and some hair oils are great for your hair!
Check out my blogs about hair treatments below!
Hair's Hydrophobic Nature
Naturally, hair is hydrophobic, meaning it repels water, which is kinda crazy considering haircare products all say they "hydrate and moisturize" your hair. Even though hair repels water on the outside due to its hydrophobic nature, it still needs moisture to stay healthy, smooth, and flexible. The goal of hydrating and moisturizing products isn't to soak the hair with water, but rather to help maintain an optimal moisture balance inside the hair fiber.
The cuticle's outer layer, covered in natural oils, ensures that your hair remains resistant to excess moisture. This is why water beads up on healthy hair instead of soaking in immediately. However, when the cuticle is damaged, the hair becomes more porous and absorbs water easily, making it prone to breakage and frizz. If your hair is damaged, it's important to work on your cortex layer with treatments and oils.
How Coloring and Styling Tools Damage Hair
Using color treatments and heat tools frequently can damage the hair structure. When you color your hair, especially with bleach or an alkaline color, the chemicals penetrate the cuticle and alter the bonds inside the cortex. This weakens the hair, leaving it more vulnerable to breakage. Similarly, heat tools like flat irons and curling wands can strip the hair of moisture and cause the cuticle to crack or lift, resulting in frizzy, dry hair.
Protecting Your Hair
The good news is that there are ways to protect your hair and keep it healthy:
- Use heat protectants: Always apply a heat protectant before using any hot tools to create a barrier that minimizes heat damage.
- Moisturize regularly: Hydrate your hair with masks, leave-in conditioners, and oils to replenish moisture and seal the cuticle. Look for products with ingredients like argan oil, keratin, and proteins.
- Limit heat styling: Whenever possible, air dry or use low-heat settings on your tools. Check out my Heatless Curls Blog Post.
- Be gentle: Avoid rough towel drying, excessive brushing, or using hair ties that tug on your strands. All these actions can weaken the cuticle over time.
- Choose the right color treatments: If you color your hair, opt for less damaging techniques. Ask your stylist for recommendations.
By understanding the structure of hair and how various practices affect its health, you can take better care of your strands, ensuring they remain smooth, shiny, and strong for the long haul. Healthy hair starts with mindful care, both in the salon and at home! SPEAKING OF HAIRCARE... I am giving away a haircare basket with my favorite oils, treatments, heat protectants and a hot tool!
How to enter:
1.Reshare my blog post on your Facebook feed (tag me so I see it)
2.Reshare my blog Instagram post to your Instagram story (tag me so I see it)
3. Tag 2 friends in the comments so they can enter too!
4. Make sure you are following me on:
I will draw a winner randomly on 10/6/2024. Please don't click any links or fill in any personal information on the posts. I will contact you if you are the winner <3