How To Condition Dry Brittle Hair

All of this talk about dry, brittle hair is depressing, but living with the “snap, crackle & pop” sound your hair makes as it breaks off just isn’t an option. But there’s light at the end of tunnel, because there are two more outstanding products that have made their way onto the pages of Hue Knew It because they both get you the results you need: one locks in the necessary moisture your hair needs because of it’s porosity, while the other delivers moisture as a 3-in-1 daily use product.

From you ladies who sport natural curly manes to those of you who prefer wearing a relaxer, DēvaCare One Condition ($18.95, devashansalon.com) kills two birds with one stone. The Deva line of products is known for the maintenance of curly locks, but despite that, this conditioner works on all types of hair – curly, relaxed and everything in between! Seriously parched hair needn’t stay that way because all you need to do is apply a dollop of product on your hair after you shampoo, do a deep condition (with plastic cap and heat) for at least 20 min, or if you have spare time, do an overnight treatment (plastic cap and scarf). In either instance, your hair will feel incredibly soft and manageable after you’ve rinsed and styled it. If you wear color, One Condition contains orange peel extract to slow down color fade.

Another way to deliver moisture to your hair, prevent breakage and repair split ends is via Cantu Shea Butter’s Super Shine Hair Silk ($6.99, target.com). At first glance you might find it hard to believe that a thick, clear liquid can do everything that this one claims to, but it can and more without weighing your hair down. For daily use just squeeze a little onto your palm and work through dry hair root to tip. What I see as a bonus is using Hair Silk as a reconstructive treatment – just apply to damp hair, wear a plastic cap and then wrap your head in a warm towel, wear a heat cap or sit under the dryer for 10 minutes, comb through and style. What you’re left with after using Hair Silk as a treatment or as a daily styling product, is hair that feels stronger hair, has a brilliant shine and is now protected from the damaging rays of the sun.

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Hearing your hair snap as you comb through it can be as traumatic as having a loved one do the unthinkable and play in your hair and you hear the comment, “wow, your hair feels a little rough.”The horror!

Rather than worry yourself into a craze, concern yourself with reviving your dry & brittle hair and turn it into shiny & lustrous hair like Kenya Moore’s. If you don’t have an appointment lined up with your stylist, it’s easy to do a series of at-home treatments to make this transformation happen on your own.

No time. No problem. Do a one-step treatment if you suffer from hair breakage with ApHogee’s Keratin 2 Minute Reconstuctor ($9.99, sallybeauty.com). It’s made specifically for home use between salon visits, so there’s no way you can make a mistake. This product is a concentrated blend of keratin amino acids, botanical oils, and vitamins that does a wonderful job of restoring strength and softness to hair that requires a deep, penetrating treatment.  It’s recommended on tinted, bleached or relaxed hair. ApHogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor even helps to repair damage caused by chlorine and hard water. It soothes irritated scalps and can be applied following each shampooing until the healthy condition of the hair is restored.

To use, just apply to clean hair in the shower and rinse to treat brittle hair with cuticle damage and moderate breakage.

If you need a root to tip treatment and you have no time commitments, Phytospecific Intense Nutrition Mask ($28, sephora.com) is a good option. It improves strength and elasticity. The ingredients include an interesting mix of (but aren’t limited to) mango seed, plaintain, quinoa oils which hydrates and fortifies and vitamin E which sooths the scalp. There is also wheat amino acids and wood cellulose which help lock in moisture and detangle your hair. After using this product you will notice that your hair will feel hydrated, soft, and very strong.

To use, shampoo hair and towel dry. Apply a generous amount of product to your entire head and then put on a plastic cap. Sit under a dryer for at least 10 minutes. Rinse and continue styling.

Queen Helene Hot Oil Treatment (local beauty supply stores) is a product that many have used in their homes for years, but for those of you new to the Queen Helene phenomena, a hot oil treatment is yet another way to lock some moisture into your otherwise, dry, drab hair.  It also restores softness, shine, manageability, breakage and split ends.

To use, simply shampoo your hair and towel dry. Place bottle in a cup of hot tap water for one minute. Massage 1 oz of warmed oil into hair and scalp. Cover hair with a dry towel for three minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Towel dry and style. This heat-activated treatment penetrates deep into towel-dried hair to control damage caused by chemicals, over-processing and weather exposure.

 Hue Knew It? I did.