Signs Of Damaged Black Hair

Textured hair is more fragile than other hair types, and damage can present itself in many different ways, including constant dehydration or texture change, hair that feels mushy and soggy, lack of elasticity, split ends and excessive tangling, to name a few. Dependent on the damage, the hair can be repaired with small, consistent adjustments, including mechanical and styling changes. However, if the damage is too excessive, it is unlikely that the hair can be repaired and will need to be cut to prevent the damage from spreading. Below are seven signs of hair damage and the remedies to get your hair back to a state of health.

Signs Your Black Hair May Be Damaged

Split Ends

Split ends are caused by styling techniques such as blow-drying, straightening, curling, bruising and curling the incorrect use of damaging chemicals that break down the hair structure. Split ends are so common that almost everyone will experience split ends at some point. Split ends can’t be repaired. The only reliable way to get rid of them is to cut them off. Other

ways to prevent split ends can include:   

Use all-natural shampoos that contain no harsh ingredients.

• Use a conditioner after shampooing or use a leave-in conditioner.   
• Use a wide-tooth seamless comb to detangle wet hair.
• Seal and protect hair ends with a nourishing light oil to prevent damaging black hair. 
• Use a heat-protective spray, and minimize the use of heat.

Texture Change

Damage can also present itself as texture change; curls, once springy and vibrant, can become straggly, dull and lacklustre. 

Lack Of Elasticity

Hair damage from heat, chemicals or dehydration can also affect hair elasticity. Your hair elasticity is defined by how well your hair can handle stretching without snapping. The elasticity of your hair is primarily hereditary, but it can be enhanced or reduced with hair care practices.

If you notice that you have a lot of tiny, broken hairs after styling, you likely have an issue with your hair’s level of elasticity. Lower levels of elasticity mean that you need to incorporate more strengthening and flexibility elements into your hair care routine. Our Super Botanicals conditioner and Maximum moisture hair spray are perfect for restoring hair elasticity. It delivers deep moisture and protein bonds which help support your hair’s flexibility. 

Dry & Brittle Texture

It is important to note that damaged hair will always have high porosity, which often presents itself as dry and brittle hair that cannot retain any moisture. This is because when hair is damaged, the cuticles (the outermost protective part of the hair) is unable to hold hydration in the innermost part of the hair. As a result, the hair is dry, brittle, lacks elasticity and breaks easily.

Hair Tangles Easily

Let’s face it, kinky curly and coily hair tangles more easily than straighter hair types. However, excessive Knotes and tangles could be a sign of hair damage. Knots and tangled occur when the outer layer of your hair shaft. I.e. the cuticle becomes damaged and opens up; this results in hair that is rough to the touch. When the cuticle is open, hair strands intertwine and become snagged on each other, resulting in tangles and knots in your hair, the more significant the damage, the worse the tangles. To help close the cuticles, it’s essential to use a product with a PH balance of 4.5 - 5.5. 



As seen in the diagram above, a lower Ph helps to close the hair cuticles. All products within our range have a pH that supports cuticle health. 

Hair Breaking & Snapping

Hair that breaks and snaps easily is a sign of significant dehydration which can be caused by a variety of factors, including dry weather using the wrong hair tools, too much heat, damaged hair cuticles or product overload poor diet and stress. To help reduce breakage it’s important to identify the cause of the breakage and implement hair care techniques that provide maximum hydration and reinforcement to the hair's cuticles.

Frizz Which Is Excessive

Let’s face it, curly and coily hair textures can have a frizzy appearance; it is one of those curly hair things. But excessive frizz can also signify hair damage and raised cuticles. So again, the best solution for extreme frizz is serious moisture. Our Moisture retention leave-in conditioner, followed by our super seed oil, will help with this. Combined, these two products will help coat the open cuticle and make it “slippery,” so your hair will glide through itself instead and form clumped curls/coils instead of frizz. 

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