Reviving Damaged Hair

Perms and Heat Styling

It's ironic that the very things we do to style and beautify hair can leave it damaged and distressed. Blow-dryers, flat irons, color, perms -- even styling products can be downright ugly to hair when overused and abused.

The good news is that it's never too late for a little damage control. Revitalizing damaged hair and restoring it to a more healthy state, better able to withstand all we do to it, is possible. What's needed? Professional intervention and a big dose of TLCC -- tender loving care and conditioning.

Here, common hair mishaps and how to address them:

Problem: Perm Perils Your perm didn't take -- or it took too well. It's either too tight, too lax, or just not all what you wanted.

Solution First S.O.S. stop: a good salon. Ask for a "reverse perm" to counteract the effect of the perming solution. If you want to try the antidote at home, protect hands and clothes. Then, over a sink, comb perming solution over hair until you can visibly tell it's relaxed. Rinse hair completely and condition hair well; try Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask ($6.99).

Problem: Overheating The damage has been done. Your hair is brittle and has too many split ends due to excessive heat styling with blow-dryers, flat irons, curling irons, or a combination of all three.

Solution The first step to recovery is a good haircut. Your stylist will remove split ends and damaged hair. Follow up with a deep conditioning salon treatment -- ask your stylist which one is best for you. It will fortify hair and give your new style a super healthy foundation. Now that hair looks better, treat it better. Towel dry and/or air dry hair before heat styling. Pretreat hair with a conditioning and protective styling product before you blow, iron, or curl it (look for products specifically for heat styling like Aveda Brilliant Damage Control, $5.50). Shampoo and condition hair with products formulated for dry hair. Lastly, schedule regular trims to keep damage at a minimum.