When selecting the perfect of-the-moment style for you (Jane Birkin bangs? An angled bob? A mermaid-worthy mane?), a universal truth guides us all: compromised lengths does no one any favors. Even the coolest cut and color lack the impact of healthy, well-tended lengths. “Damaged hair has overall weakened strength, making it more porous, dry, and prone to split ends,” celebrity hairstylist and K18 Ambassador Cassondra Kaeding tells Vogue. “Each type of damage affects the hair’s integrity in different ways, requiring reparative products that go deeper and work from the inside out.”
Shab Caspara, a New York City–based trichologist and founder of hair-care platform Leona, says the most common causes of hair damage include “mechanical damage (brushing, hair ties, extensions, and overall friction), chemical damage (overly bleached or processed hair), and thermal damage (flat and curling irons).”
Vogue’s Favorite Treatments for Damaged Hair
According to Neera Nathan, MD, board-certified dermatologist and chief dermatological advisor at Vegamour, hair damage typically shows up in three main ways: breakage, hair loss, and dryness. Breakage occurs when damage to the hair shaft weakens it, causing strands to snap off. Hair loss is self-explanatory, while dryness results from damage to the outer layer of the cuticle, leading to moisture loss and hair that feels coarse and appears dull.
Take it from me: Nearly two years after my big chop, I’ve found that having a bob is relatively easy to maintain overall, but it requires far more frequent upkeep. Daily use of a multi-styler, even with a gentle touch, has also left its mark—more flyaways, a slightly more brittle feel, and a bit less movement. Mechanical damage has left my mane in a less than desirable state. So I took to TikTok, as one does, in search of solutions. Many Abbey Yung, trichologist and hairstylist, videos later, I became more methodical about my hair-care regimen—a change that, as the experts explain, can help prevent strands from becoming weaker and frizzier over time.
While there’s no way to completely undo heat damage, an overhaul of your daily product lineup can help (along with, as you may have guessed, regular trims). Regardless of which type of hair damage you’re dealing with, there’s a path forward for gradually improving the appearance of lackluster lengths—editor-tested and expert-approved. Ahead, take a deeper dive into the common causes of damaged hair, how to identify it, and the best ways to mitigate its effects—along with a curated edit of products that work well fo rme.
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Pre-Wash Hair Oiling
If there’s a tried-and-true method for achieving longer, stronger, shinier lengths, it’s hair oiling—so tried and true, in fact, that it’s an ancient Indian practice dating back more than 5,000 years. The concept is simple: applying nutrient-rich natural oils from scalp to ends to replenish moisture and nourish the hair. “It reduces dryness and gives your hair strength, shininess, thickness, and softness,” Ananta Ripa Ajmera, a certified Ayurvedic health practitioner, previously told Vogue. Another benefit of hair oiling—especially before shampooing? Your oil of choice acts as a protective barrier, helping prevent shampoos from stripping away natural moisture while also minimizing protein loss.
