Lifeless hair: causes, signs and suitable care

Devitalized hair is dull, dry, rough to the touch and breaks easily. It has lost its suppleness, most often because of repeated aggressors: heat, coloring, friction, sun or cold. The good news is that a suitable routine, with nourishing treatments, gentle habits and less heat, can restore its shine and suppleness.

In this article, we look at the causes of devitalised hair, the telltale signs and the treatments to adopt according to your texture.

What causes lifeless hair?

Several factors, often combined, damage the hair fibre:

• Heat: high-temperature dryer, straightener or curling iron used often and without protection.
• Coloring and bleaching: they open the hair cuticles, so the hair then retains hydration less well.
• Sun, chlorine and salt: in summer, they dry out the lengths and dull the colour.
• Cold and dry air: in winter, heating and temperature swings dry out the hair.
• Friction: dry detangling, washing by rubbing the lengths, ends rubbing against clothes or the pillow.
• Overly tight hairstyles: they weaken the hair and, over time, can cause traction alopecia at the temples and along the hairline.
• Fatigue, stress and diet: these can also show in the appearance of your hair.

Fine hair, as well as curly, coily and afro-textured hair, which is naturally drier, is often the most sensitive.

How to know if your hair is lifeless?

Look at them and touch them:

• it lacks shine and looks dull;
• it is rough and tangles easily;
• the ends are dry or split;
• it has lost its elasticity: a wet hair that is gently stretched breaks instead of returning to its shape;
• on textured hair, curls are less defined and frizz more.

Breakage or hair loss: how to tell the difference?

Look at the root of the hairs you lose. A hair that has fallen out naturally has a small white bulb at its base: that's normal renewal, and losing a few dozen hairs a day is normal. A broken hair has no bulb and is often shorter: it's a sign that the fiber is weakened.

If you are losing a lot of hair with the bulb attached, or if you notice thinning areas, see a doctor or a dermatologist to identify the cause.

How to revive lifeless hair?

• Nourish your lengths every week: apply the Intensive Nourishing Mask after shampooing, on towel-dried hair. For a deeper treatment, leave it on under the Heated Cap.
• Wash gently: choose a gentle shampoo, such as the Hydrating Shampoo or the Nourishing Shampoo, massage the scalp with your fingertips and don't rub the lengths.
• Always detangle wet hair: with the Conditioner, section by section, from the ends to the roots.
• Reduce the heat: choose air-drying or a moderate temperature, and always apply a protector such as the 10-in-1 Multiprotect Spray before using a heat tool. Don't apply oil right before using a straightener: the heat would make it heat up on the fiber.
• Space out colouring: give your hair time between two colourings or bleachings, and preferably entrust them to a hairdresser.
• Trim damaged ends: a split end cannot be repaired. Trimming the ends roughly every three to four months stops it from travelling up.
• Protect your hair at night: a satin bonnet or pillowcase limits friction.

Which treatments for your texture?

• Wavy (2A to 2C): go for light treatments so as not to weigh down your waves. The Hydrating Shampoo and the 10-in-1 Multiprotect Spray hydrate without leaving hair greasy.
• Curly (3A to 3C): on non-wash days, hydrate your lengths with the Hair Milk to put the spring back into your curls.
• Coily and afro-textured (4A to 4C): on wash day, make the Intensive Nourishing Mask your ritual. On other days,