When our hair is healthy, we feel more confident and revel in its swing and shine. Still, some days (weeks? months?), our hair just refuses to cooperate, despite the attention we give it...which, ironically, is often the problem. Straightening and curling, coloring and highlighting, spritzing and scrunching—primping does a lot of damage over time.

The first step for reversing hair damage is "assessing what kind of shape the hair is in so you can treat it properly," says styling guru Ted Gibson, owner of the Ted Gibson Salon in New York City. Find the symptoms of damaged hair that describe the state of your hair's health, then remedy the situation with the right Rx.