How to Treat Dry Hair

Is your hair dull, feels like straw and lacks shine? Is it also unmanageable, tangles easily and is hard to style? If you have answered yes to all these questions, then you have dry hair, a common condition that affects lots of women (and men). Dealing with dry hair can be a pain, but once you understand what causes it, making your hair look good won’t be so difficult anymore.

What causes dry hair?

Dry hair lacks moisture. There are several reasons why this happens. Some people may have fewer sebaceous glandes than normal or their glands may not produce enough sebum, which is hair’s natural moisturizer. Also, hair cuticles may be damaged and porous so that hair isn’t able to retain enough moisture, causing it to become dry.

Overuse of styling tools like blow-dryers, straightening or curling irons, treatments like hair dye or perming, sun damage, frequent shampooing (especially with harsh products) are all factors that can damage hair by depleting it of moisture. But dry hair can also be caused by some diseases or nutritional deficiencies.

How to treat dry hair

Treating dry hair is possible and requires a dual approach: you need to keep your hair well moisturized while avoiding dehydrating activities that will dry hair even more:

Don’t wash your hair too often
Washing dry hair too often, especially if you use harsh products, only makes things worse. If you can, try to wash your hair every couple of days (or at least every other day), with lukewarm water and make sure you use hair care products designed for this hair type. Also, dry hair is very fragile and breaks easily, so lather gently by using your fingertips (not your fingernails!) to rub the scalp.

Bad and Good Shampoo Ingredients for Dry Hair
Avoid shampoos that contain harsh cleansing agents like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and TEA-Lauryl Sulfate that could strip not only dirt and product build-up from your hair but also your natural oil (which is what keeps hair moisturized), and irritating ingredients like Peppermint Oil, Menthol and Spearmint. Instead, opt for moisturizing shampoos that include silicones (like Dimethicone and Cyclopentasiloxane), humectants (like Glycerin, Urea and Sorbitol), or emollients (like Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Shea Butter and Aloe Vera.)

Condition, Condition and Deep Condition
Dry hair needs moisture, so every time you wash your hair, it’s important to apply conditioner after shampoo to restore it. Also, use a deep conditioning treatment about twice a week. You can also apply Olive Oil or Coconut Oil, which have very moisturizing properties, to your hair.

Avoid the heat
Using styling tools like blow-dryers and curling and straightening irons is just asking for trouble if you have dry air. Of course, avoiding to use them is not always possible. Let your hair air dry whenever you have the chance but if you don’t have time, just keep the blow-dryer far away from your head and set it on low levels. As for other styling tools, try to use them only for special occasions and in conjunction with heat protectant products, which contain ingredients like silicones, that will reduce the damage heat causes to hair.

Brush Less
Because dry hair is prone to breakage, it needs to be treated with care. Brushing hair too often, especially when hair is wet, only worsen things: it fractures hair, which then falls out. Boar-bristles brushes are a good choice for those with dry hair because their rubbery tips don’t pull the hair too much. Also, remember that wet hair is extremely fragile and delicate. So, when your hair is wet forget brushes and opt for a comb instead.

Have you got any more tips to deal with dry hair?

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