Hair Care Basics #5: How to Protect Hair from External Factors?

In hair care, we often think about how to make hair more beautiful, shinier and silkier. But it is just as important to think about how to protect hair from damage.

Every day, hair comes into contact with many external factors: sun, wind, cold, humidity, water, heat, combing and styling. Over time, all of this can affect the condition of the hair fibre.

That is why one important basic hair-care principle is simple: treat your hair gently and protect it from unnecessary stress.

Why does hair not repair itself?

Hair outside the scalp consists mainly of keratinised cells and is not living tissue in the same sense as skin or muscle. This means that a damaged hair fibre cannot fully restore itself.

If the hair fibre is significantly damaged, its structure cannot be returned to its original condition. Hair-care products can improve the appearance and feel of damaged hair, smooth its surface and reduce breakage, but they cannot biologically “repair” hair that is already damaged.

That is why prevention is so important.

The fewer mechanical, thermal and chemical damages hair experiences every day, the easier it is to preserve its length, shine and elasticity.

What damages hair in everyday life?

The hair fibre can be affected by many external factors.

Sun and UV radiation can affect hair proteins and pigment, especially during prolonged sun exposure.

Heat from a hairdryer, straightener or curling iron can make hair drier and contribute to damage, especially when high temperatures are used.

Mechanical stress - aggressive combing, pulling, tight hairstyles and friction against pillows or clothing - can contribute to breakage and split ends.

Water and humidity can also affect the hair structure. Swimming, salt water and chlorinated water are factors worth paying attention to, especially when hair is dry, bleached or chemically treated.

How can you protect your hair every day?

One of the simplest ways to care for hair is to use suitable post-wash hair-care products.

Depending on your hair's needs, these may include:

• conditioner or leave-in conditioner;
• hair milk;
• serum;
• hair oil;
• heat-protective product;
• products with sun protection;
• products intended to protect hair before swimming.

The purpose of these products is not only to make hair look more beautiful. Many help reduce friction, make combing easier, smooth the hair surface and reduce the effect of everyday damage.

How can you understand what your hair needs?

There is no single product that suits absolutely everyone.

If, after using a particular product, your hair becomes soft, easy to comb and smooth and looks healthy, that is a good sign that the product suits your hair's needs.

If your hair becomes heavy, greasy, stiff or loses volume, the product may be too rich or you may be using too much of it.

It is therefore worth doing more than simply following recommendations. Listen to your hair and observe how it responds to particular products.

Gentle hair care is a long-term investment

Beautiful hair is not only the result of using the right products. The way we handle it every day also matters greatly.

Gentle combing, moderate use of heat, heat protection, protection from the sun and suitable care products can help keep the hair fibre in better condition over the long term.

If your hair is already damaged, there is no need to try to “save” it with more and more products. Sometimes the best solution is to prevent further damage and allow new hair to grow healthier.

Caring for your hair is not only about what we apply to it. It is just as important what we protect it from every day.

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