The Secret to Fixing *Really* Damaged Hair

There's damaged hair – a little dry, a little dull, showing the very first signs of breakage – and then there's really damaged hair. The kind that looks and feels beyond the point of no return. But, before you surrender to dry, split ends and settle for a life of messy topknots, know this: you can repair your hair. You just need the right tips and tricks (and a whole heap of conditioner).

So, let's explore the steps you need to take to fix really (really, really) damaged hair. Approved by stylists and used in salons, these techniques give your hair the boost of moisture it craves...

Can Your Hair Be Permanently Damaged?

Yes and no. It's true that sections of your hair can be damaged for good, and may not fully recover from the excess heat, friction or chemical services they've been exposed to. But the great thing about hair is that it grows back. So, even if you have to trim stressed sections away, you'll gradually see new, healthy hair growth coming back through. It's also worth mentioning that even if your hair is very damaged, there are always things you can do to improve its condition, whether that means masking with ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask or misting with ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. Never think that healthy hair is a futile goal; with a consistent hair care regimen, you can enjoy a lustrous mane once more.

How Do You Fix Extremely Damaged Hair?

1. Start with a Trim

There‘s no fix for split ends. Once hair starts splitting, it needs a cut – and fast. That way, you can prevent hair breakage from working higher and higher up the hair shaft. So, before you do anything else, book a thorough trim at your nearest Wella Professionals salon. One cut can make all the difference to even the most severely damaged hair.

You don't have to lose all your length, either. By booking a Cut & Seal service, you can enjoy an 'invisible' cut that sees your Wella stylist only target broken hair strands. Then, they'll seal your hair with ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue, our powerful leave-in treatment that leaves your hair 12x smoother¹ with 99% less breakage².

2. Focus On Repairing the Hair Bonds

Strong bonds are the foundation of healthy strands, but when heat styling, chemical processes and UV exposure happen, they can start to break down. Cue hair damage. So, your first goal is to support and repair your hair with care formulas that work deep within the hair shaft. For this, we recommend the ULTIMATE REPAIR collection.

Each product in the range is infused with AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) and Omega-9. The AHA is small enough to penetrate the hair fiber, working at the deepest level to support the internal bonds. Meanwhile, Omega-9, a nourishing fatty acid, fills and smooths the outer layer of the hair cuticle, so you get inside-out repair that leaves strands more resilient.

The essentials in your regimen are ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo and ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner, a caring combo that deeply cleanses and conditions without weighing your hair down. Both formulas are vegan, color-safe, and packed with a Metal Purifier to neutralize metals, so after rinsing, even brittle hair feels clean, softer and more manageable – as you’ll see in the before and after photos below…

3. Level Up Your Hair Mask Regimen

It's not enough to simply smooth on a hair mask and let it do its job. To get the most from a deep conditioner, there are two quick changes you need to make to your regimen. First, after shampooing, make sure you blot excess water away with a microfiber towel. If your hair is too wet, the mask will be diluted, so you need to work with towel-dried hair. Then, after applying your mask, place a plastic cap over your head while the reparative ingredients absorb. Give it a full 10 minutes before you remove the cap, rinse hair with warm water, and blot dry again with your microfiber towel.

As for which mask to use, there's one choice when it comes to treating really damaged hair. ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask is the nourishing product that stressed strands crave. It harnesses smart conditioning agents to identify and treat the areas of hair that need it most, so if you find your ends or face frame are more vulnerable to damaging effects, this mask will give you intense nourishment. It also leaves hair 6x easier to detangle¹, so your wide-tooth comb glides with ease, resulting in less breakage and fewer split ends.

4. Apply *This* Leave-In Hair Treatment

When it's extremely damaged hair you're dealing with, a rinse-out conditioner is just phase one. You also need a leave-in treatment to rehydrate parched strands. Why? Because when your hair is put through stress, gaps and tears form along the hair shaft. These holes leave you with highly porous hair, meaning it's like a sponge; able to absorb a lot of moisture but not able to hold onto it. A leave-in conditioner stays on strands for longer, so your hair can soak up more of its nourishing goodness, allowing it to defy frizz, dryness and tangles.

See for yourself with ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. The powerful treatment repairs hair damage in 90 seconds³, and it couldn't be easier to use. Mist it through clean, damp hair, let it absorb for the full 90 seconds, and then style your hair as usual. It has an ultra-concentrated dose of ULTIMATE REPAIR's signature skincare-inspired blend, so you enjoy even deeper care in a weightless mist.

5. Put Oil Back Into Your Hair

Your hair follicles produce a natural, protective oil known as sebum, which travels down from the roots to the ends of your hair to keep each strand nourished. But, when damage happens, the hair surface is stripped of this natural moisture and left vulnerable to snapping. The fix: a hair oil that's packed with hero hydrators to remedy parched strands. Our go-to is ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum, which is used both in the salon and at home to smooth hair and restore its healthy glow. Apply it through the lengths of your hair, using just a drop at first – you can build up as needed. Need hydration on the go? You can also smooth it through dry hair, over your styling products, for instant glow.

6. Prioritize Heat and UV Protection

No matter if you're heat styling daily, weekly or monthly, you need a heat protectant. Whether you love a bouncy blow-dry or you're loyal to your flat iron, it's going to prevent heat damage from making hair even more stressed. But not just any heat protection will do; choose a formula that multitasks in your hair care routine, giving you a heat shield, UV ray barrier, shine booster and frizzy hair fighter in one.

ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue ticks all of the boxes. It not only injects dry hair with inside-out nourishment, as mentioned above, but it also works double duty when you're using heat styling tools. Apply it before using your blow dryer, flat iron, curling iron or when you're heading outside, and it will nourish your hair in 30 seconds for smoothness that lasts up to 3 days⁴. The dream when you're dealing with damage.

7. Skip the Everyday Hair Stress

There are so many things we do each day that cause what's known as mechanical damage. Brushing our hair, towel-drying it, slicking it back in a high pony… The list goes on. But, because these steps are often essential and unavoidable, your goal isn't to stop doing them completely, but to make some tweaks that are gentler on your hair. Try these upgrades:

• Wash with lukewarm water – not hot or cold water – and very gently massage in shampoos and conditioners.
• Swap elastic bands for silk scrunchies, as they don't tug on your fragile hair.
• Use a microfiber towel or soft cotton t-shirt to blot – not rub – wet hair dry.
• Avoid brushing hair when it's wet, and use a wide-tooth comb wherever possible.
• Instead of sleeping on cotton pillowcases, head to bed with silk or satin pillowcases to reduce overnight hair breakage. A few drops of our midnight mender, ULTIMATE REPAIR Night Serum, will also protect fragile strands from pillow friction while you sleep.

8. Keep Your Hair Repair Journey Consistent

There's no instant fix for really damaged hair. To get the best results, you've got to stick with your regimen and keep adding moisture with nourishing formulas. Be patient, be consistent, and soon you'll be on track to happier, healthier hair. Oh, and don't forget those regular trims to keep lifeless, brittle ends at bay.

Need a Recap? Here's a Quick Look at Your New Damage-Fighting Regimen:

1. Trim away split ends for an instantly healthier look.
2. Turn to bond-repairing products on wash day, including ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo and ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner.
3. Blot hair dry with a microfiber towel before applying damaged hair treatments and masks, like ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask.
4. Mist clean, damp hair with ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue to repair hair damage in 90 seconds³.
5. Put oils back into your hair with the inside-out nourishment of ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum.
6. Use ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum as a heat protectant and shield against UV damage too.
7. Reduce friction through your hair with protective styles, satin scrunchies, silk pillowcases, and ULTIMATE REPAIR Night Serum.
8. Keep your regimen consistent. Hair repair takes time, but it's worth it in the end.

We hope you found this article helpful for defying the signs of hair damage. For more tips on enhancing your hair care regimen, check out our full collection of hair care articles.

¹ Vs. non-conditioning Shampoo.

² When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue instrumental test vs. non-conditioning Shampoo.

³ When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.

⁴ When using ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum, if unwashed for 3 days, vs. untreated.