Damaged hair treatment: hydrating, RP or protein?
Damaged hair treatment: hydrating, RP or protein? How to tell dry from brittle hair, deal with split ends and protect your hair from the straightener.
Fraying ends, rough lengths, hair that snaps when you brush it: straighteners, colour and sun eventually leave their mark. Before choosing a damaged hair treatment, you need to understand what your hair is really missing, because dry hair and brittle hair are not treated in quite the same way. Here is how to diagnose it, which treatments to choose and which home routine to follow, in Casablanca or anywhere else.
Dry, brittle or split: getting the diagnosis right
Signs of dry hair
It feels rough, looks dull, tangles easily and frizzes in humidity. It mainly lacks water and lipids: the surface is open and lets moisture escape.
Signs of brittle hair
It breaks halfway down, you find small pieces on your clothes or in the brush, and the ends are uneven. The inner structure of the fibre is weakened, often after bleaching or too much heat.
The elasticity test
Take a wet strand and stretch it gently between your fingers:
- it stretches a little and springs back: the hair is healthy;
- it stretches a lot and does not return, like a tired elastic: it lacks structure;
- it snaps almost straight away: it lacks moisture and flexibility.
This test is only a guide, but it helps point you towards the right treatment.
What about split ends?
A split end cannot be glued back together. Treatments can smooth their appearance and slow them down, but only a cut removes them. Trimming a centimetre or two regularly stops them travelling up the hair.
The most common causes
- Straighteners and curling tongs used too hot, every day, without protection.
- Repeated colouring and bleaching, especially when the lengths are recoloured every time.
- Sun, salt and chlorine, which dry the hair in summer (see our summer hair care tips).
- Everyday habits: rubbing with a towel, brushing wet hair hard, tight elastics, sleeping with hair pulled back tightly.
Damaged hair treatment: which one to choose?
The right choice depends on the diagnosis. At the salon, the stylist looks at your hair and advises you.
- The hydrating treatment suits dry, dull hair that frizzes and tangles. It brings softness, suppleness and shine.
- The RP hair treatment is the salon's repair treatment for damaged hair, when lengths need more than moisture.
- The protein treatment helps hair that lacks body and structure, and tames frizz; read our protein hair treatment guide before booking it.
One important point: too much protein on hair that is already stiff can make it brittle. That is why treatments are often alternated, and why the diagnosis matters more than the trend of the moment.
Your home routine to repair and protect
When washing
- A gentle shampoo, focused on the scalp, with lukewarm water.
- Conditioner every wash, on the lengths and ends.
- A mask once a week, left on for the stated time.
- Squeeze hair in a microfibre towel or cotton T-shirt, never rub.
With heat
- Always use heat protection before the dryer or straightener.
- Lower the straightener temperature: for fine or damaged hair, stay between 150 and 180 °C.
- One slow pass is better than five quick ones.
- Let your hair air-dry whenever you can.
Day to day
- Detangle from the ends up with a wide-tooth comb.
- Choose fabric scrunchies and soft clips over tight elastics.
- Sleep on a satin pillowcase with a loose braid.
- Trim the ends every 8 to 12 weeks.
If you notice heavy shedding, bald patches or a persistently itchy scalp, this is no longer a cosmetic issue: see a dermatologist.
Repair treatments at Chicas
At Chicas Beauty & Spa in Aïn Sebaâ, the stylist looks at your lengths before choosing between the Hydrating treatment (about 60 minutes), the RP hair treatment (about 75 minutes) and the Protein treatment (about 150 minutes). A Haircut removes split ends, and if you colour, Root colour or Ammonia-free colour avoid overloading the lengths. We do not offer keratin or hair botox; here is how those treatments compare with protein. Details are on our treatment menu.
Frequently asked questions
How many treatments does damaged hair need?
It depends on the starting point. A series of treatments a few weeks apart, with a good home routine, usually works better than a single one.
Can a treatment repair split ends?
No. It can smooth them and slow their progress, but only a cut truly removes them.
Can I keep using my straightener?
Yes, with heat protection, a moderate temperature and a single pass per section. Using it less often helps a lot.
Hydrating or protein: how do I know?
Rough, dull hair usually needs moisture first, while soft hair that snaps and frizzes often needs structure. Your stylist will confirm at the salon.
Do your lengths need some help? Book online or ask us on WhatsApp.