After the summer: SOS help for damaged hair

Sun, chlorine or salt water put a strain on your hair in the summer months. Bleached hair in particular oxidizes, becomes lighter and dry. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, hair expert Michael Rogall explains the care with which the mane regains its old shape after the summer. In addition, the author of the book “Hair Consultation Hours: Healthy Solutions for Beautiful Hair” (Herbig) gives first aid tips for particularly damaged or discolored hair.

Lots of brushing and a little vinegar

The most important care for healthy hair is brushing, says Rogall. So plan enough time in the morning and in the evening. “It is important to use a natural hairbrush with wild boar bristles. These are structured like human hair. If you go through the hair and over the scalp with the brush, the cuticle closes,” explains the expert. This also helps against hair breakage, split ends, dryness and fluffy ends. “Brushing your hair is like brushing your teeth – essential and the most important thing for healthy hair,” he says. The brush removes plaque from the scalp and acts like a peeling. “In addition, brushing promotes blood circulation in the scalp, which stimulates hair growth and anchors the hair even more deeply. The scalp’s natural protective acid mantle is, so to speak, the body’s own hair treatment, which pulls the boar bristles right up to the tips.”

For washing hair, Rogall recommends a “preferably organic shampoo”. If you want, you can also use conditioner. “It is important to only apply the conditioner to the ends of the hair, because they need the most care. If you already apply conditioner to the hairline, the hair becomes soft. This means that the hair no longer has volume and the scalp greases faster,” he explains . A little vinegar helps to make it easier to comb and to close the hair. The expert says: “To do this, mix one liter of water with at most one tablespoon of vinegar, put it in a spray bottle and put it on dry or wet hair.”

First aid for broken hair: henna and aspirin

If you want to see an effect quickly, you can use unusual first aid for your hair. “Anyone who has natural hair – that is, without any chemical color in it – could use henna without color, known as henna neutral,” says Rogall. The product contains tannic acid. “Mix the powder with hot water, add a little vinegar and apply it to the hair for 15 minutes. It’s like an intensive pack that closes the hair. After that, it feels up to a third thicker.”

Blonde people quickly have a green tinge in their hair after spending a lot of time in the sun and in the pool. The expert has a tip: lemon juice or aspirin. The aspirin opens the hair, “which softens the verdigris,” he explains. “Simply dissolve a tablet in a glass of water and rub it over your hair.” However, Rogall warns: “Don’t do it too often!”

Avoid many care products

According to the expert, the following applies not only after the summer, but basically: the fewer ingredients, the better. Many products would contain silicone polyquaternium. “These two substances close the hair. As a result, they eventually get tired, limp and too soft – lose their own strength,” says Rogall. And not only would the hair lock up, “but also the scalp, which can lead to hair and scalp problems,” he warns. “This can even lead to homemade hair loss. Especially in summer: If the scalp is ‘smeared’ with such products, you sweat and if the pores open, they can clog. The consequences can be allergies, itchy scalp, crusts and pustules on the scalp or hair loss. “

It’s not just about the ingredients themselves. The key is not to use too many products. “A natural hairbrush, a mild shampoo – that’s all you really need,” says Rogall. “Of course: if you style your hair, you can use hairspray or gel. Here, too, you should be careful to choose silicone-free products. Those who have dyed or bleached their hair can also use a conditioner because the hair is usually a little more damaged is.”