6 Essential Tips to Strengthen Hair, Straight From the Experts

Let’s start with the not-so-great news: There is no shortage of things that can damage and weaken our hair. They range from environmental factors such as sun and pollution to chemical processes such as bleaching and straightening treatments to seemingly innocuous daily habits, such as how often we shampoo or blow-dry. The point being, our hair is constantly exposed to an onslaught of potentially damaging culprits.

The good news? While it is admittedly hard to avoid many of these things, there are plenty of (fairly simple) ways that you can help bolster weak hair. Here, board-certified dermatologist Dhaval G. Bhanusali, MD, stylist Reyna Zaragoza, and trichologist William Gaunitz, WTS, share their top tips, tricks, and product picks for strengthening your strands.

Meet the Expert

• Dhaval G. Bhanusali, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Hudson Dermatology & Laser Surgery in New York City.
• Reyna Zaragoza is a stylist at 3rd Coast Salon in Chicago.
• William Gaunitz, WTS, is a certified trichologist and the founder of Advanced Trichology.

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Brush Regularly…

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Excessive heat can cause everything from dryness to split ends to breakage, damaging the hair overall, says Zaragoza. It dries out the cuticle and damages the internal keratin structure of the hair, Gaunitz adds, resulting in hair that looks dull and lifeless (not to mention is weaker). Ideally, not using your hot tools daily is your best bet. But, if that isn’t a realistic option, try both turning down the heat settings as well as prepping your hair with a heat protectant before using your blow-dryer, straightener, or curling iron, Zaragoza advises. She likes the multi-tasking Unite Hair 7Seconds Detangler. It not only shields strands from heat and UV rays, but it also acts as a detangler and leave-in conditioner and increases both moisture and shine.

How to Prevent (and Heal) Sun-Damaged Hair