Home Remedies For Over-Processed Permed Hair

Today we’ll be looking at home remedies for over-processed permed hair.

The truth is that getting a perm is always exciting. Why wouldn’t it be? You walk into a salon with lifeless hair and emerge with gorgeous, luscious curls with a perfect spiral pattern.

That’s the dream, alright.

But when your hair hasn’t been in its best state, and you continue to come in for chemical treatments like perms and coloring, you could end up with damaged hair.

That means you’ll have to work with a dry, tangly, frizzy mess for the weeks to come!

But not to worry – there are many things you can do to repair your fried, over-processed hair to nurse it back to health and get those defined curls you’d envisioned.

And sometimes, all you have to do to reverse the damage is take a peek at your kitchen pantry.

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How Do You Know If Your Hair Is Over-Processed?

If you’ve been going ham on your hair with frequent coloring jobs and perms every few months, your locks might be exhausted.

If you overdo treatments and abuse your hair, you may be dealing it enough damage to classify as over-processed hair.

Over-processed hair simply means you’ve damaged your locks to the point that it’s extremely porous, brittle, and dense.

When this happens, your hair will feel dry and fried up, like it has no more silkiness or shine left.

A few tell-tale signs of over-processed hair include too many flyaways – probably the result of split ends and uncontrollable breakage.

If your hair snaps off as you comb it, it could lead to cowlicks and hairs sticking out.

And when you have over-processed permed hair, your curls won’t be as pretty anymore.

Your texture and curl pattern might not be consistent either.

Some locks may look perfectly coily and spiral-like, while others just look limp and lazily wavy at best.

The bottom line is that over-processed hair looks unhealthy, and it’s going to need more than just shampoo and conditioner to restore it.

The Key To Restoring Permed Hair With Lots Of Damage

There’s no one miracle product to get rid of damage once and for all.

Healing and bringing your hair back to life is two-fold: repairing the damage in your highly porous hair and moisturizing your curls to try and salvage the perm’s curl pattern.

Incorporate protein

Let’s talk about repairing your fragile, overly damaged locks.

For this, protein is going to be your best friend.

Your hair strands are made of natural proteins.

So if chemical processes break down your hair cuticles and leave gaps in them, you’ll need to fill those in – with protein.

Proteins like keratin and hydrolyzed wheat fortify the hair by filling in the gaps in your cuticle, adding a protective layer around your locks.

Protein treatments restore your hair’s resilience and ability to retain moisture, so it’s a must for reversing over-processed hair.

Moisture

But too much protein will make your hair stiff and straw-like.

You’ll need to balance it out with moisture for some softness and conditioning.

Luckily, proper hydration is key when it comes to making curls look healthier and lusher.

Because of that, moisturizing your locks well is pertinent if you want to salvage your perm.

Properly moisturized hair will make your curls look more defined while taming frizz and poofiness simultaneously.

Protein and moisture work hand in hand to repair your damaged hair.

But above all things, what will make the biggest difference is allowing your hair to rest.

It needs to recuperate for a while, so that means no chemical treatments for as long as you can go.

To become healthy again, your hair needs only the good stuff that will nourish and restore it, not stress it out.

Five Home Remedies For Over-Processed Permed Hair

Deep conditioners and bond-repairing treatments are the usual go-to’s for getting dry and damaged hair fixed.

But these tiny bottles can be expensive, especially if they’re from a high-end salon brand.

Many of them also have questionable chemicals.

Plus, when you’re on a budget or don’t have the luxury of shelling out hundreds of dollars, you’re forced to be resourceful at home.

Fortunately, there are many natural superfoods that are probably already in your cupboards that can help repair and restore your over-processed hair.

DIY hair treatments are a lot of fun to whip up in the kitchen.

You also get the freedom to customize your concoction however you want, depending on your hair’s needs.

Here are five at-home remedies for restoring permed, over-processed hair.

Coconut or olive oil pre-poo

You can use a rich, nourishing oil like coconut or olive oil to give yourself an at-home oil treatment before your shower.

Heavy oils repair thick, porous hair by replenishing it with deep moisture.

Coconut oil is a fine choice for this because of its fatty acids that work to penetrate deep into the hair shaft, moisturizing your hair from the inside out.

On the other hand, olive oil has lush conditioning properties that can leave your hair silky smooth and protected from the elements.

All you have to do is warm up a bowl of the oil of your choice and apply it to your hair, saturating the most damaged areas (usually the ends).

Put on a plastic cap to trap the heat in and let your damaged hair absorb everything for 45 minutes before hopping in the shower to shampoo everything out.

Avocado, banana, and honey deep conditioner

Giving your hair an intensive treatment with mashed avocados and bananas with just a bit of honey helps quench your hair’s thirst, resulting in hydrated, defined curls.

Avocados are rich in fatty acids and vitamins A and E, all of which work to moisturize and add shine to the hair.

The B-vitamins in bananas also moisturize the hair but soothe the scalp as a bonus.

Meanwhile, honey seals in all of that hydrating goodness while adding luminosity.

Add a bit of shea butter or coconut milk if you have extra thick, coily hair.

It adds even more moisture and definition to your tresses.

Half an avocado, half a banana, and a tablespoon each of honey, shea butter, and coconut milk should be enough for this recipe.

Use it to replace your usual deep conditioner on your next wash day and watch your hair come back to life.

Egg yolk and yogurt protein mask

Round up some of your favorite breakfast foods to create a fantastic strengthening protein mask for your over-processed locks.

Whisk together one egg yolk, half a cup of yogurt, and a dash of coconut oil to make your locks go from parched and brittle to fortified and resilient.

Egg yolks are rich in protein, which is perfect for overly processed and porous hair.

Pairing it together with yogurt, another protein-rich superfood, makes it a shoo-in for repairing hair slowly but surely.

The coconut oil binds everything together and adds deep hydration, thanks to its fatty acids and excellent penetrative properties.

Use this mask once or twice a week to fill in the gaps and holes in your hair shaft. It will leave your hair stronger, bouncier, and hopefully not so straw-like anymore!

Aloe vera leave-in treatment

Aloe vera gel is a humectant that hydrates the hair deeply, allowing for more defined and luscious curls.

It’s also rich in vitamins C, E, and A that strengthen and add shine to the hair, so it’s perfect for bringing back that life and luminosity to over-processed locks.

Because aloe vera gel isn’t greasy or heavy, it makes a terrific leave-in.

Just mix it with equal parts water and pour your combination into a spray bottle.

Add a few drops of your favorite oil too, like argan oil, for added moisture and shine.

Spray this cocktail into your hair while it’s still damp from the shower to help lock in hydration.

It also provides a light hold for your curls without feeling stiff or crunchy.

Instead, it leaves your hair soft and glossy.

Jojoba and sweet almond oil finishing serum

Using an oil you have lying around at home as a finisher for your routine can do wonders for your damaged hair.

Oils add hydration and seal in all the healthy moisture from your routine into your cuticles, helping them retain more of it.

A mixture of light oils like jojoba and sweet almond oil works great for this.

Jojoba oil is very similar to the hair and scalp’s natural oils, so it’s a no-brainer for hydration.

Meanwhile, sweet almond oil is rich in vitamin E, protein, and antioxidants to strengthen and protect your hair from harsh elements.

Combine these oils and apply a few drops of the mix to your hair after your styling routine.

It seals the cuticle, promoting smoothness and curl definition.

It prevents frizz, breakage, and split ends too.

You can also work in a couple of drops of your light oil concoction into your hair throughout the day if it’s feeling a little parched, especially by the ends.

Conclusion

When you get creative in the kitchen, you’ll always find ways to fix your hair and bring out its beauty from the comforts of your home.

Try out these home remedies for over-processed permed hair and kickstart your journey to healthy hair.

No more panicky calls to the salon for even more treatments!

Remember, your over-processed hair needs to rest and have downtime, not be put under the spotlight by your stylist yet again.

Check your kitchen cupboards to see what superfoods and supplies you have lying around to give your hair the ultimate refresh, repair, and nourishment.

Before you know it, you’ll be back to bouncy, healthy hair with luscious and defined curls!