5 ways to tell if your hair is frizzy, dry, damaged (or all three)

Some of us could spend our lives avoiding sun exposure, heat styling, chlorine and pillow friction, but still have frizzy hair. If you love your effortless texture, great! But if you prefer a smoother finish, reach for products designed to enhance and rehydrate naturally-textured hair types, like Dove Amplified Textures Hydrating Cleanse Shampoo and Super Slip Detangling Conditioner.

Although most hair damage can only be seen at a microscopic level, some indicators can be spotted by taking a closer look at your tips. Split ends are pretty easy to spot: one strand that splits into two at the end. Use products that visibly seal them, such as the ceramide-infused, shine-boosting Dove Brilliant Gloss & Repair Serum.

When hair is damaged by heat or chemical exposure, its protective cuticle layer lifts, making it more porous (quick to absorb water). You can check your hair’s porosity by taking a strand from your brush and dropping it into a glass of water. If it sinks, it’s porous. If it floats or sinks slowly, the waterproof cuticle layer has not been compromised.

When hair is dry, it lacks moisture. When hair is damaged, the cuticle has been compromised and as a result, essential proteins have been lost. Try stretching the wet strand you did your porosity test on. If it snaps, it’s likely to be damaged. Hair that’s dry and lacking elasticity may stretch without snapping, but is unlikely to return to its original length.

Dry hair makes itself known with a stiff, brittle texture (which leads to it being more prone to breakage and frizz – see how they’re all interlinked?) The first rule of any good hair care routine is to ensure maximum hydration. Dove Daily Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner is a staple system for all hair types – once moisture levels are restored, damage and flyaways will visibly decrease, too.