Whether you’ve colored your hair one too many times or spent too much time in the sun, the problem is usually the same: you've stripped all the moisture out of your hair, leaving it frayed and prone to breakage.[1] It takes patience and the right hair care products to get your locks as soft and silky as you'd like, but that doesn't mean you're doomed to bad hair days for the foreseeable future.

Here are 14 effective ways to treat fried hair and restore its natural softness and shine.

1

Apply a hair mask.

  1. Fried hair is dehydrated, so it requires serious moisture. A hair mask contains more moisturizing ingredients than regular conditioners so it can hydrate your hair more effectively. Use the mask after you’ve washed and towel dried your hair, and leave it on for however long the package says. Rinse it out with cool water. Use a hair mask once a week.[2]
    • Look for a hair mask with ingredients that can help damaged hair, such as jojoba oil, argan oil, wheat proteins, and keratin.
    • If your hair is extremely fried and damaged, you may want to leave the mask on overnight. Wear a shower cap or plastic wrap over the mask so it doesn’t stain your pillowcases or sheets.
    • To make your own hair mask, combine 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of coconut oil, 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of olive oil, and 1/2 cup (120 mL) of honey.
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2

Try an oil treatment.

  1. Adding more oil to your hair can help lock in hydration and moisture. Apply 4 to 5 drops of oil to your palm and rub it between your hands. Work it through the length of your hair from the ears down while it’s still wet, then rinse it out after about 30 minutes. Repeat once a week.[3]
    • A variety of oils work well for the hair, such as argan, coconut, jojoba, macadamia, and almond. You can also find serums that contain a blend of 2 or more oils.
    • You can also apply an oil to the ends of dry, fried hair. Only use one or two drops, though, or your hair may wind up looking greasy.
5

Strengthen your hair with a protein treatment.

  1. Protein treatments make your hair stronger so it can repair itself faster. Wash your hair and condition it, then apply the protein treatment while your hair is still wet. Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes before rinsing and drying your hair. You can do protein treatments once or twice a month to repair your damaged hair.[6]
    • Pick out a protein treatment that’s formulated for your hair type. You can usually see which hair type they’re meant for on the packaging.
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10

Limit your heat styling.

  1. Heat styling tends to dry out your hair, which can damage it more. That’s why it’s an especially bad idea when your hair is fried. Try to limit your use of curling irons, flat irons, and even blow dryers as much as possible. Let your hair air dry when you wash it, and play up your hair’s natural texture rather than curling or straightening it.[11]
    • When you do heat style your hair, always use a heat protectant first to limit the damage to your locks.[12] Cream or lotion heat protectant formulas are best for coarse or thick hair, while sprays work better for fine or thin hair.
    • Use curlers or bobby pins to create fun looks without the heat.
13

Protect your hair from the elements.

  1. Sun, saltwater, and chlorine can damage your hair further. Wear a hat if you’re going to be out in the sun all day to protect it from the UV rays. If you’re going swimming, wear a swim cap or rinse your hair out as soon as possible to limit the exposure to saltwater or chlorine.[15]
    • Some leave-in conditioners and other styling products contain ingredients that contain UV-ray protectants that keep your hair safe from the sun too.
    • Before you go swimming, it’s also a good idea to apply a leave-in conditioner to your hair to keep it from absorbing damaging chemicals and minerals that might be in the water.
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Expert Q&A
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  • Question
    How do you treat damaged hair?
    Laura Martin
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer

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    The most important thing is to prevent additional damage so you'll need to get regular trims and avoid heat styling or rough combing. Then treat hair with a combination of protein for strength and oils for moisture.
  • Question
    Can coconut oil help repair damaged hair?
    Laura Martin
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer

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    Coconut oil both moisturizes and protects damaged hair, so it is definitely beneficial. However, you cannot truly repair hair damage.
  • Question
    What does Olaplex do for the hair?
    Laura Martin
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer

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    Olaplex is a conditioner and an external binder. It strengthens the hair and adds shine. But, like all hair treatments, it requires consistent maintenance to work.
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  1. Patrick Evan. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 17 January 2019.
  2. Patrick Evan. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 17 January 2019.
  3. Patrick Evan. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 17 January 2019.
  4. Patrick Evan. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 17 January 2019.
  5. https://www.thehealthy.com/beauty/hair/sun-damaged-hair/
  6. https://www.aad.org/tips-healthy-hair
  7. https://hair.lovetoknow.com/How_to_Moisturize_Damaged_Hair
  8. https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/hair-loss-a-to-z

About This Article

Patrick Evan
Co-authored by:
Professional Hair Stylist
This article was co-authored by Patrick Evan and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Patrick Evan is the Owner of Patrick Evan Salon, a hair salon in San Francisco, California. He has been a hairstylist for over 25 years and is a Thermal Reconditioning Specialist, dedicated to transforming difficult curls and waves into sleek, straight hair. Patrick Evan Salon was rated the Best Hair Salon in San Francisco by Allure magazine, and Patrick's work has been featured in Woman’s Day, The Examiner, and 7x7. This article has been viewed 109,885 times.
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Co-authors: 7
Updated: September 15, 2021
Views: 109,885
Article SummaryX

To treat your fried hair, apply a hair mask once a week after you wash it to keep it moisturized. Look for a mask with ingredients that can help damaged hair, like jojoba oil, argan oil, and keratin. You can also apply the oils directly to your hair. Until your hair heals, only shampoo every 2-3 days to avoid stripping more moisture from it. As it’s only recommended to use a hair mask once a week, you can deep condition your hair the times you're not using a hair mask. Leave the conditioner in for 10 minutes, which will help to rehydrate it. If your hair is still damaged, you might want to consider getting a haircut to remove the damaged ends. For more tips from our Hair and Beauty co-author, including how to avoid frying your hair in the future, read on!

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