Posted by Tomi Wahlroos
on April 18, 2022
Much like your skin and body, your hair needs consistent care and attention — because keeping it shiny, healthy, and gorgeous-looking takes real effort. Your hair endures a lot of daily stress from everything you subject it to. Among the most widespread hair concerns for women are dryness, dullness, and damage. Whether the culprit is environmental stressors, styling tools, or the products you use, tackling these issues head-on is essential for restoring your hair's vitality. Here, we've put together eight key factors worth paying close attention to if you want to revive your locks and bring them back to their best.
1. Heat Styling Tools Lead to Hair Damage
Most of us don't realize just how much our everyday routines are harming our hair and scalp. Flat irons and curling wands are among the most popular styling tools — and they're also some of the biggest offenders when it comes to weakening hair shafts and causing brittleness. Constant use of these heated tools strips away the hair's natural moisture, leaving the fibers prone to dehydration and breakage. The best approach is to cut back on these tools and embrace hairstyles that don't rely on heat styling. With ANSWR's at-home keratin treatment, you can ditch your straightening iron — after completing the treatment, you'll enjoy naturally smooth, sleek hair that stays frizz-free for up to three months, no daily heat required.
2. Hair Styling Products
To minimize and prevent hair damage, steer clear of styling products like hairsprays, gels, and mousses that wreak havoc on your hair. The harsh additives, drying alcohols, and synthetic fragrances they contain are more than enough to cause significant damage over time. Keep your hairstyles simple so you can skip these products altogether. Did you know that applying a so-called damage-control serum or heat protectant spray can actually multiply the harm to your hair? Don't fall for marketing claims from brands selling these supposed heat-protection products. Going product-free where possible will not only help prevent potential damage but also save you money on styling products.
3. Insufficient Hydration
Regardless of how many hair care products and nourishing masks you use, nothing will deliver real results if you're not hydrating your scalp properly from the inside. Failing to drink enough fluids doesn't just affect your internal organs and skin — it takes an equally devastating toll on your scalp and hair. Dehydration causes the body to lose moisture to its surroundings, leaving every cell — including those in your scalp — starved of the water they need. This leads to a dry, itchy, and flaky scalp that can trigger dandruff, irritation, and even hair thinning. Drink at least eight glasses of water daily and incorporate water-rich foods into your meals to keep your scalp and hair well-nourished.
4. Harsh Shampoos and Conditioners
The majority of mainstream hair care products contain sulfates — aggressive detergents that strip away the natural oils from your scalp and hair. These oils are crucial for keeping your hair in peak condition, making it look vibrant and hydrated. The natural oils on your scalp don't just lock in moisture — they also shield it from external aggressors like bacteria, UV damage, grime, and toxins. Sulfates can also disrupt your scalp's pH balance and cause additional damage by opening hair follicles and increasing friction between strands. With all these harmful effects in mind, ANSWR has developed a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to safeguard the health of your hair. ANSWR's sulfate-free shampoo gently cleanses your scalp and hair without stripping away essential moisture, while ANSWR's sulfate-free conditioner deeply hydrates and helps repair scalp and hair damage.
5. Extreme Temperatures
Hot water is one of the biggest threats to your hair and scalp. It opens the hair cuticles and robs your scalp of its moisture, leaving it vulnerable to dehydration, itching, and infections. A dry, unhealthy scalp inevitably leads to hair breakage and lackluster strands. Switch to cold or lukewarm water instead to preserve your hair's natural moisture. And if you think only heat can harm your hair, think again. During winter, dry cold winds and dropping humidity levels cause the scalp to lose moisture into the air. On top of that, indoor heating systems used in colder months only add to the problem.
6. Chemical Processing
In the pursuit of silky, smooth hair, we subject our locks and scalp to a variety of chemical treatments that can inflict serious damage. Many in-salon smoothing treatments contain formaldehyde — a known carcinogen that poses significant health risks. Prolonged exposure to formaldehyde can lead to chemical sensitivity, respiratory issues, and other health complications. The ANSWR at-home keratin treatment offers a safer alternative — it's completely free from formaldehyde, the most commonly used carcinogen found in traditional salon smoothing treatments. Plus, it's loaded with the nourishing benefits of Brazilian Bioactive compounds that protect and strengthen your scalp and hair from the inside out.
7. Unhealthy Lifestyle
We rarely consider the impact of our lifestyle choices until it's too late and the damage has become difficult to reverse. Smoking, alcohol consumption, and a poor diet rank among the leading causes of significant hair damage. Both smoking and drinking contribute to dehydration, which gradually deteriorates the health of your scalp and, in turn, your hair. We all understand that our skin needs a constant supply of essential nutrients to look its best, yet we often overlook the fact that our hair requires the same deep nourishment to thrive. Deficiencies in vitamin B, fatty acids, iron, and zinc can lead to inadequate sebum production, which triggers a host of hair concerns. Incorporate fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, fish, and poultry into your daily diet and cut back on processed foods.
8. Environmental Pollution
Avoiding exposure to environmental stressors and the damage they cause is nearly impossible — we all need to step outside at some point during the day. Free radicals, toxic chemicals, gases, dirt, and smoke are among the primary culprits behind an unhealthy, inflamed, and flaky scalp. These pollutants accumulate in the hair follicles, threatening both the health and appearance of your hair. Regular exposure to these elements can leave your hair looking dull and accelerate strand breakage. While we can't completely shield ourselves from the outside world, there are protective steps we can take to reduce the harm. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, be sure to cover your hair adequately and treat it with deep conditioning and nourishing masks on a regular basis.
If your hair is struggling with dryness and dullness, ANSWR's keratin treatment is the solution. Enriched with an abundance of natural ingredients, your hair will be deeply nourished and moisturized with just one simple application — and the best part is that it will look incredibly shiny and smooth. The results last for up to three months, which means your hair will dry perfectly frizz-free after every wash.