Hair repair: haven't seen the hair you were born with since … well, when you were born? All of that coloring, curling, straightening and blow-drying is doing damage—but it's reversible. Get back to your roots for hair that's healthy, vibrant and simple to style

Natural Health, Feb, 2004 by Dina Roth Port

The first step for keeping a straight mane in shape is getting it trimmed every four to six weeks. "You need to cut off those split ends often," suggests Philip B. "If you don't, the separation can travel right up the hair shaft, making it more fragile and potentially causing it to break somewhere in the middle of the strand." Straight hair, unlike curly, also lacks the texture to hide imperfections, so breakage is often very apparent. Prevent split ends by cutting back on blow drying.

Any buildup (from products, natural oils or dirt) in straight hair can weigh it down and make it look greasy, so look for cleansers with purifying ingredients that will keep hair clear of residue--preferably ones that are free of harsh sulfate detergents. Our favorite: Flawless Repairing Shine Shampoo ($6; at Walgreens), with cleansing, astringent burdock root and avocado oil, which is rich in essential fatty acids. Or, for a once-a-week buildup-removal treatment, try John Masters Organics Herbal Cider Hair Rinse & Clarifier ($17: johnmasters.com), with organic apple cider vinegar. And always use a light-weight, nourishing conditioner or detangler like Paul Mitchell Lite Detangler ($14; paulmitchell.com) to seal time cuticle shaft without weighing it down.

To add lift at the roots, look for water-based volumizing products, such as Joico K-Pak Thermal Designing Foam ($14.95; 800-445-6426) and Rusk Thickr Thickening Spray ($7.50; rusk1.com). As you blow-dry, flip your hair over and dry your roots at a 90-degree angle.

Coarse hair, on the other hand, needs richer shampoos and conditioners, like the luxurious Philip B. White Truffle Shampoo, ($50; philipb.com), filled with 19 pure plant extracts, soy protein and truffle oil, and Back to Basics Green Tea Reparative Conditioning Balm ($11; 800-456-9322), with soy proteins and vitamins. Also, look for finishing creams with emollients and serums that soften the hair cuticle. Best bets: Wella Liquid Hair gloss Jelly Finishing Polish ($10; wellusa.com), to smooth strands and deliver shine, and Aveda Light elements Defining Whip ($20; aveda.com), a creamy styling wax with organic marshmallow root and flaxseed oil.

chemically treated hair

Nowhere does the expression "the grass is always greener" ring truer than when it comes to hair color. Whether highlighting, lowlighthing, bleaching, or covering grays, women are constantly coveting a new hue. That's perfectly fine, as long as you take extra, caring steps.

"The chemicals used in these processes, like ammonia and peroxide, disrupt the scales of the cuticle and permeate both the cortex and medulla in order to change the hair," explains Felderman. "You can do incredible damage and wind up with hair that's weak, brittle and more susceptible to static and humidity if you don't take the steps to protect it."

For one, turn down the blow-dryer. "After these treatments, your hair is in shock and more fragile, so you don't want extra heat near it until it has adjusted to the chemicals," says Giselle, a colorist at the Pierre Michel salon in New York City. For a few days, set the dryer on cool and, as always, keep it at least six inches from your scalp. If it's possible, air-dry your hair.