Maintaining healthy and gorgeous hair requires staying on top of your hair's health. Before considering new hair products, it’s important to take stock of your hair's current state and evaluate how your haircare routine affects it.

We all know how a healthy head of hair should look, but do you know what damaged hair really looks like? We prepared a checklist to help you test your hair's condition. This will help you determine the best time to start a healthy hair regimen. Remember — Hair La Vie^® is here for you every step of the way.

Hair tests to try at home

Wrap small sections of your hair around your finger. Any small, uneven strands sticking out indicate that you have split ends. Healthy vibrant hair might have a few split ends but any more than a few could indicate your hair is damaged. If your hair is splitting fast, then something is wrong. The minimum time for healthy hair to split is a month to eight weeks. This is the typical time frame for a hair trim to happen.

Split end test

Wrap small sections of your hair around your finger. Any small, uneven strands sticking out indicate that you may have split ends. Healthy, vibrant hair might have a few split ends, but any more than a few could indicate your hair is damaged. The minimum time for healthy hair to split is a month to eight weeks. This is the typical time frame for hair trimming or cuts. Don’t worry, there are also several things you can do at home to curtail your split-end woes.

The feel test

Choose a strand of hair and run it through your fingers. Check if it feels rough or smooth at the end. Roughness is a sign of dryness and damage. If you notice a substantial difference in the texture from one strand to another or from roots to ends, your hair may be damaged. Also, if you frequently color your hair, the chemicals in dyes can leave your hair even drier. It’s a good idea to try a hair conditioner, or better yet, our Hair La Vie^® Mask is formulated with 11 botanical ingredients designed to not only moisturize your hair but continue to work into your roots to help your hair maintain its hydration and frizz-free strands.

Hairbrush Test

Your hair has definitely been weakened if you see shedding on the floor or sink and when you comb, brush, or style your locks. Check if your hair is breaking off in the middle or on the ends. In that case, it is damaged at various points on the strand. Breakage shows weakening in the hair, meaning your hair is not getting enough antioxidants and nutrients. If this is the case, it’s probably time to incorporate more superfoods into your diet. Food is the best way to ensure you get the nutrients you need to stay on top of your gorgeous hair and overall health. We know how hard a busy schedule can be on our diets, which is exactly why we came up with Clinical Formula Hair Vitamins. Just one serving contains everything you need for scalp and hair health while also supporting a healthy immune system. That’s 20 comprehensive ingredients, including 5,000 mcg of biotin to support hair, skin, and nails!

Porosity test

How much liquid can your hair hold, and how quickly does it absorb water? This determines the porosity of hair. Knowing your hair’s porosity is the key to stronger strands. Put some strands of hair in some water. If the water is absorbed quickly and the hair sinks, it is porous. The cuticle layer is likely damaged, causing the hair to lose its natural moisture. In this case, the best solution is to use a daily Pure Argan Oil to help moisturize and hydrate your hair on a daily basis.

Final thoughts

So if at least two of these situations are an issue for you, your hair has definitely been weakened. But don't worry, it's not too late to fix it and have healthy, vibrant hair. First, immediately begin drinking a lot more water. This will help hydrate your scalp and body and is the first step to the new you. Next, we recommend our botanical, naturally-derived Clinical Formula Hair Vitamins that help support healthy hair follicles, promote hair length, and nourish and strengthen the appearance of your existing hair. 

Being consistent will help lead you to fuller-looking, healthier hair. You can do this! And we've got your back.