The Best Ways to Repair Damaged Hair and Split Ends Ahead of Your Wedding

While a great wedding hairstylist can do a lot of things, they can’t fix damaged hair or split ends on the spot. To ensure your hair looks its very best on your wedding day, it's important to give your stylist a strong, healthy base to work with. In the same way that you plan to prep your skin in the months and weeks leading up to your nuptials, it's important to pay extra attention to your hair—this is especially true if it’s brittle, damaged, and weak. 

Stressed hair can be distressing, particularly when you want to look and feel your best. Fortunately, split ends can be repaired and damage reversed—as long as you put in a little legwork. Here, learn how to restore your hair to its healthiest, shiniest state before the wedding and get tips on how to avoid split ends and damage in the first place.

What Causes Split Ends and Hair Damage?

Split ends occur when the outer layer of hair, the cuticle, becomes damaged, exposing the inner parts of the hair shaft and making it more prone to splitting and breakage. It’s never a clean break, either. There are several different types of split ends, and they all involve damage to the hair shaft. Hair tools, particularly heated ones, certain styling methods, some products, and even weather conditions can all cause split ends.

While they're certainly pesky, split ends aren’t the only types of damage that hair endures. Hair can also appear dull, fragile, and prone to breakage or tangling. This damage can be either thermal, chemical, or mechanical, and is caused by the overuse of heat styling tools, too much friction on the hair, or chemical straighteners, bleach, and color. 

How to Repair Split Ends and Damaged Hair Ahead of Your Wedding

The first step in repairing damaged hair is investing a good, salon-quality shampoo and conditioner. This is especially important if you color your hair. Be sure to comb your conditioner through wet hair in the shower to ensure every strand is coated. Beyond using the right products, there are other things you can do to help repair split ends and damage before you say "I do."

Get a Trim 

While you can temporarily seal the hair shaft, there is no real fix to split ends beyond cutting them. Your best bet is getting a healthy trim—you shouldn't do anything drastic, and it's best to visit a professional you trust. That way your hair is still your desired length for your wedding hairstyle, but the ends are healthy. Another bonus? A trim will also make your hair look thicker, which is a nice plus if you’re wearing it down.

Stop Heat Exposure 

If you typically style your hair each day, avoiding heat can be tough, but it’s one of your hair’s best defenses against damage and split ends. Plus, it’s easier to do than you think—whether that means using a satin heatless curling set, rinsing out your conditioner in cold water to seal your hair’s cuticle, or taming frizz and flyaways with a lightweight, nourishing oil or cream. 

Apply a Hair Mask

Unlike deep conditioners, which restore damaged hair at the cuticle level, a good hair mask penetrates deeper. Hair masks can be purchased or made at home using easy to find, hydrating and protein-building ingredients like avocado, coconut oil, greek yogurt, and honey. A weekly hair mask will strengthen hair and return life and luster to dull, damaged locks. 

Use a Hair Bonder

Hair bonders are a relatively new invention that work to repair the broken disulfide and peptide bonds on hair damaged from chemicals and heat. Treatments like Olaplex and K18 work in a matter of minutes to not only repair hair but to safeguard it against future damage. You can use bonding treatments once or twice a week until your wedding day. 

How to Prevent Hair Damage and Split Ends in the Months Leading Up to Your Wedding

All of the above methods work for both repairing and preventing damage, especially when done on a regular basis. Trimming your hair consistently every few months is most important because it removes split ends, de-tangles hair, and promotes hair growth. 

To nourish and strengthen your hair on a daily basis—or whenever you wash your hair—consider incorporating a leave-in conditioner. Leave-ins act as a barrier on your cuticle to prevent moisture loss while also shielding it from heat and environmental stressors. The best of them, like Kerastase Chroma Absolu, also prevent color fading and tamp down frizz for silky smoothness, reducing the need for heat styling.