Five easy fixes for dry, damaged hair

Dry, dull hair can be a total downer. No matter how much you try to style and slap on the smoothing product, frizzy fried hair isn’t pretty.  If you’re looking for a few quick ways to revive locks and restore them to their proper glory, you’re in luck. Here are five tips and tricks to get hair back to normal in a flash.

Tip #1: Seal and Repair Hair Cuticles. Are you overdosing on shampoo? Over shampooing with the wrong products can strip hair’s natural oils, drying and weakening hair cuticles. Your hair cuticles are the outermost layer of the hair shaft, and are responsible for locking in moisture. pH balanced shampoos, like Sebamed Everyday Shampoo ($12.99, SebamedUSA.com), can help revive, close and seal the cuticles. Formulated with a new generation surfactant blend, the shampoo’s moisture retaining properties penetrate the structure of the hair shaft, adding volume and silky shine.

Tip #2: Choose a “Flake-Free” Diet. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, iron and protein can lead to a healthier, happier scalp. Since about 3 % of your hair shaft is made up of omega-3 fatty acids, they’re vital to keeping you scalp hydrated. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in foods like walnuts, almonds, tuna and salmon.

Tip #3: Tame Frizz. Instead of loading your hair with oily serums and fly-away tamers, try styling with hair tools that produce ionic heat – a proven frizz fighter.  Ionic products like Rowenta Beauty’s Inspiration Pro™ Auto Sensor™ Hair Dryer ($159.99, Ulta.com)lock in moisture, keeping your tresses hydrated and resistant to breakage, which also gives you that coveted salon-quality shine.

Tip #4: Promote New Growth, Naturally. When trying to grow out your hair its important to trim split ends. Also, giving yourself a gentle scalp massage for 10 minutes 2-3 times a week in the shower can loosen skin flakes, product residue, and natural oils, and increase blood flow to the scalp to help promote new hair growth.

Tip #5: Restore Life to Your Hair. Do you color your hair, straighten it a few times a week or use a lot of hair spray? Adding chemicals, applying heat or using products are habits that we all find hard to kick, and can come with some unwanted side effects. Luckily, hair masks like Repêchage Hydra-Amino® 18 Hair Spa Seaweed Mask ($55, Repechage.com) work to restore and nourish hair from scalp to tip for dramatically smoother, more youthful looking hair. Apply it in the shower 1-2 times weekly or leave in overnight for a deep treatment. Formulated with select seaweed plants, this treatment works to repair stressed out tresses, strengthen damaged and chemically treated hair, and protect it from further damage.

True or false: Hair expert Theo Perry sets the record straight on 5 hair myths

The beauty scene is a constantly changing, growing and evolving realm filled with facts, rumors and everything in between. Hair expert Theo Perry of Tryst Beauty Salon & Spa in Highland Park, IL is weighing in on the five most common hair myths in the beauty industry right now.

Expensive Products Don’t Make That Much Of A Difference. Not true. Certain brands of hair care that tend to be more expensive do in fact make a great difference. Higher end brands can add more to the texture, shine and overall health of your hair.  This is achieved due to higher end brands using higher grade ingredients and less product filler.

Argon Oil Is The Most Important Ingredient In Making Your Hair Smooth. This is absolutely not true. It is not the Argon oil that makes your hair smooth but the silicone in the product. Hair care products with silicone improve unhealthy, dull, brittle, damaged hair. Many hair repair treatments and shampoos with conditioner included contain silicone because it helps to repair and improve hair structure.

Hair Care Products Can’t Clog My Skin. Some hair care products can indeed clog your skin. This can be avoided by buying product that don’t include a lot of filler product. Again, good to higher quality products are better for both your hair and your skin.

I Don’t’ Need To Use The Latest Products To Maintain My Hair’s Health.  Using the same products your parents used 30 years ago is a mistake. Today’s products are much more scientifically advanced and specific to clients needs.  Whether you have curls, straight hair, etc. there is a specific product for all colors and types of hair (color shampoos help retain color, moisture shampoos maintain curls, etc.).

I Don’t Need Pre-Hair Treatments. Pre-hair treatments are great to help the longevity of your hair color.  By not including a pre-hair treatment into your routine you may be missing out on making your hair look it’s absolute best.

Along with these tips, Theo recommends the newly available Natomy line of products. Natomy is a professional hair care product line originally developed for Salon use only and found in salons throughout the Chicago area. A closely kept secret of leading stylists across the nation for many years, Natomy is now available for direct purchase for the first time ever.  The line caters to all different hair types and is an environmentally safe, free of Parabens, Sodium Chloride, Propylene Glycolis and Phthalates.

To learn more about Natomy, visit natomycare.com. And if you’re in the Chicago area, Tryst Beauty Salon and Spa is located at 587 Elm Place in Highland Park.