Damaged hair from sun and sea? Here are the tips for restoring it from an Italian hair doctor
High summer has its charm, with such a wild mane of sun- and sea-bleached hair. Tie it up – or let it loose – and with that color on your skin, you radiate summer happiness. But now that autumn is really here, that hair looks a bit sad. No worries: we found the best tips from an Italian hair doctor in La Repubblica. And she should know, right?
First the bad news: the more your hair has been in the sun during the summer, the more hair you will lose in the autumn. To prevent that misery, you need to take action now. Thus says Nadia Misino, health director at the Insparya center in Milan. Here are her four tips.
Tips for repairing damaged hair
1. Go to the hairdresser
The scissors don’t need to go in too rigorously, but do let your hairdresser trim the damaged ends. This way, your hair will immediately look a lot healthier. Two fingers are enough, according to the hair doctor. She also suggests that this is the perfect time to completely change your look and prepare for autumn.
2. Pay attention to what you eat and drink
A bit unfortunate, but what you eat also affects how your hair looks. All those snacks, glasses of Aperol spritz, and pizza aren’t very nutritious for your hair. Fortunately, Nadia Misino has tips for this too: eat plenty of iron, protein, folic acid, magnesium, iodine, zinc, vitamin B, and collagen. So put yourself on a diet of leafy greens, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, fish, fruits, and seaweed – then your shine and healthy look will be just fine.
3. Shower smarter
You probably already knew this, but secretly do it anyway: hot showers are torture for your skin and hair. So turn that knob down a notch, and you can already be proud of yourself. Furthermore, the hair doctor recommends gently massaging your scalp with your fingers to promote blood circulation. This way, the active ingredients from the shampoo can better reach the roots and the hair follicles can breathe. After showering, be gentle with the towel and brush, as wet hair breaks more easily.
4. A little less heat
Ah, how wonderful it was to let your hair dry in the summer wind. There’s a good chance you’re pulling out your hairdryer again now, perhaps along with other styling tools. Blow-drying is allowed by the hair expert – as long as it’s not too hot and at a proper distance – because it’s also not good if moisture stays on the scalp for too long. Curling irons and such are better left in the drawer, or at least use a protective product. Last tips: brush with love and avoid tight ponytails, as hair can also break from elastics.
