If your hair is damaged, it’s time to take control. There are lots of things that cause hair damage. It can be environmental – sun damage, especially. If you color or chemically treat your hair, that’s damaging as well. Probably the most common way we damage our hair, however, is heat styling. Whatever the reason for your hair damage, you can bring life back to your locks. It’s easy and only takes a little time and thought.

Get a haircut. If you trim the split ends and breakage from your hair, it will be easier to condition. It also won’t keep splitting up the hair shaft. You don’t have to cut it short, but at least keep it trimmed to minimize the damage.

Don’t color or chemically treat your hair more than every two months. Color treated hair tends to be dry, as does chemically treated hair. Even if the treatment is gentle, it’s still going to give you some dryness, and your hair is going to need a little more TLC. Use shampoos and conditioners specifically made for color or chemically treated hair.

Consider using a leave in conditioner. Not only will it give your parched hair the moisture it needs, many contain sunscreens that further protect your hair from damage. Even if you’re not out in the sun that much during the day, your hair can still be damaged by the sun’s rays. And don’t think you can skip the leave in conditioner, even if the forecast is for rain. You can just sustain just as much damage from UV rays on cloudy days.

Use thermal protective products on your hair. These products keep heat styling from further damaging your hair, and leave it lustrous and beautiful. Chi makes excellent heat styling products to use with their ceramic flatirons. Ceramic flatirons don’t burn your hair, and used in combination with these heat protectant hair products, they keep your hair from drying out and breaking.

Use a deep conditioner on your hair at least monthly. If you have severe damage, deep condition once a week. Your hair will get the moisture it needs, and any split ends or breakage you have will be minimized.

What is your hair regimen like? Let me know on twitter, facebook, or let me know here on the blog.