Chemical cutting: what is it? How to avoid and care for damaged hair

FGZ Cosmetics 

Suddenly you notice a chemical cut: what now? If you recently had a chemical procedure and, shortly afterwards, noticed that your hair was extremely fragile, rough, elastic and brittle, it’s time to turn on the red flag: these symptoms could indicate that there really was a chemical cut.

What is chemical cutting? 

A chemical cut is severe hair breakage or sudden breakage of the strands as a result of the action of many chemical procedures on the hair. It is caused by: excessive straightening, bleaching already fragile strands or even carrying out more than one procedure on the hair without respecting the hair restoration time.

Making mistakes when applying products or taking breaks also presents dangers. All of these factors can make the hair very fragile to the point of breaking or even falling out.

And be aware: the chemical cut is not always visible when the chemical is applied to the hair. In other words, your hair may break a few days after you straighten it again.

The excessive use of chemicals, coloring and mega hair has also caused chemical cuts in some celebrities. Singers Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish have publicly stated that they have already faced this problem. In Brazil, influencers such as Flávia Pavanelli, Camila Loures, Karen Bachini and singer Luísa Sonza also dealt with chemical hair cuts.



Symptoms of chemical cutting

It’s easy to notice when it happens:

• The strands become opaque, rough and porous.
• Hair can still have double and even triple ends.
• They break easily.
• They are elastic, with the famous “rubbery” effect. When you pull the thread, it stretches like a rubber band and, when it is released, it does not return to normal.

How to treat hair that has been chemically cut? 

• Take a good break from chemical procedures. The hairs are already quite damaged and repeating the dose could make the situation even worse.

• Cut your hair to reduce visible damage. Removing a few tips can help improve your appearance.
   
• Invest in quality professional products to provide hydration, nutrition and reconstruction to your hair, returning all the nutrients your hair needs. Our Nutrition Dr Therapy line will bring everything your hair needs.
   
• Moisturizing with oils can also help a lot with hair recovery. You can do it both during the day and at night, before bed (also known as nighttime wetting).
   
• Avoid excessive use of hairdryers, straighteners and curling irons as much as possible during this recovery period. These heat tools further damage hair that is already fragile, so it’s best to always use a thermal protector like our Essential Use .

How to avoid chemical cutting?

The first step is to get to know the type of chemistry that already exists in your hair, in addition to the chemical that will be applied. The hairdresser must also carry out an assessment of the strands to see if the strands will resist the new lightening or straightening, for example.

Do a strand test on the hair. It consists of applying the product to a strand of hair approximately 48 hours before applying it to the entire length. This way, it is possible to know whether the hair will withstand new chemicals or not.

Give a gap of months between one chemical and another. In the meantime, invest in hydrating, nourishing and reconstructive masks to restore your hair.
Choose a trusted professional who knows the chemistry you already have in your hair. If you don’t have experience, don’t do bleaching or straightening at home.



How long does it take to recover chemically cut hair?

Recovery from chemically cut hair can take around 2 years. It’s a long time, but there are ways to treat the hair and speed up the process of rebuilding the hair fiber, and of course, self-esteem.

Can you dye your hair with a chemical cut?

No. In addition to being recommended to take a break from chemical procedures, conventional dyes have a formula that can further damage the strands, however, it is possible to tone the hair.

Toners are less aggressive to the hair, the pigment is deposited in the outer layer of the hair, not reaching the inside of the strands. However, before carrying out any other procedure, it is worth consulting a trusted hairdresser.

Can chemically cut hair be straightened?

No! If your hair has suffered a chemical cut, it is recommended that you undergo treatments that restore the lost keratin and nutrients, and only then carry out a chemical process. It is important to emphasize that, before doing something new to your hair, you need to find out about all the pros and cons.

Product suggestion

The Dr Therapy Nutrition KitIt was designed especially for all hair types, especially hair that has been extremely damaged by coloring, bleaching, straightening and other chemical procedures, restoring its health and nourishing the strands for a new beginning.

Magnun Filgueiras
Hair Technical Coordinator

FGZ
Cosmetics