Dry hair is strands that lack enough oil or moisture to maintain normal texture and sheen. A person has dry hair when the scalp fails to produce enough natural oil to hydrate hair or the strands let water escape. While dry hair is due to genetics in some people, it may occur due to hair styling, aging, and pollution.
Causes of dry hair.
Chemical Treatments
Chemical straightening and keratin treatments can make hair more manageable. However, they can make your hair dry and brittle. Chemical treatments strip oil or moisture from the hair. Harsh ingredients like formaldehyde that change hair from textured and curly to straight and smooth can dry your hair.
Bleaching
Hair color and bleach draw moisture from the strands, causing dryness. Occasional bleaching or coloring is not awful for your hair. However, it can make it drier over time, especially if exposed to heat when styling, chemical treatment, and dry weather.
Hot Tools
Most people use hot tools to achieve a trendy, voluminous blowout. However, these tools draw moisture from the hair. Like hair color and bleach, moderate your use of hot tools. When using them, shield your hair from high temperatures. Use a heat protectant to safeguard your strands, and limit using the tools to once per week.
Weather
Dry weather can cause dry hair. Most people get dry hair during winter because their strands lack sufficient moisture. Consequently, strands become dehydrated, and an uptick of frizz and flyaways may occur.
Excess washing, using alcohol-based and harsh soaps, malnutrition, and hormone abnormalities can also cause dry hair.
10 Tips to Moisturize Your Hair
Dry hair is dull, frizzy, and brittle. However, you can moisturize your strands by following these tips.
1. Use a Moisturizing Shampoo
Avoid letting the outer appearance of shampoo bottles attract you when shopping for haircare products. Instead, look for a moisturizing shampoo if your hair is dry. Read the package labels to ensure you only buy a shampoo for dry hair. Friendly shampoos for dry hair have natural ingredients like argan and coconut oil. Also, they are paraben- and sulfate-free.
2. Trim if Necessary
Resetting your hair with a fresh cut may be necessary when your hair becomes too dry. Even if your strands are short, their split ends can complicate styling, leading to coarse or dry hair. Your stylist can trim the unhealthy hair that may hinder the growth of fresh strands.
3. Take Vitamins
Nourishing your body requires specific vitamins. However, some vitamins affect your hair health directly. For instance, vitamins A, C, biotin, and iron make hair healthier. While you can get these vitamins from foods, you may consider vitamin supplements, especially if your hair is dry.
4. Add Antioxidants and Omega-3s to Your Diet
Antioxidants and omega-3s can prevent hair thinning. Also, they can make your strands look shinier. Oysters, salmon, tuna, mackerel, and sardines are rich in omega-3s and peptides, which lead to more lustrous hair. Foods like walnuts, blueberries, kidney beans, tomatoes, and broccoli have antioxidants that combat oxidative stress, making hair healthy and shiny.
5. Avoid Shampooing Frequently
Shampooing your strands daily with harsh products will further harm your dry hair. Hair moisture level depends on your scalp’s health. Your scalp should retain a favorable level of natural oils to moisturize your hair. Frequent shampooing rinses natural oils, leaving the scalp dry. Therefore, choose products that replenish moisture after washing your hair. Also, use a shampoo that helps with dry scalp and hair. You may consult your hair stylist for assistance.
6. Avoid Extreme Weather
Extreme wind and sunlight can harm your hair. Frequent exposure to strong winds or harsh sunlight can make your hair brittle and dry. Therefore, wear leave-in UV protection treatments to retain moisture. These products cover the cuticles, locking moisture inside your hair.
7. Use Essential Oils
Argan oil is among the most popular essential oils these days. A few drops of essential oils give hair a supple and finished appearance. Lavender and peppermint oils can also prevent hair breakage and loss. You can mix lavender, peppermint, and carrier oil like coconut or argan oil to make a spritz hair perfume less dry.
8. Avoid Brushing Hair Too Often
Brushing hair too often can cause split ends and breakage. Although you can massage the scalp regularly, be careful with your strands. Avoid being too harsh on the hair tips when brushing.
9. Avoid Using a Conditioner on the Hair Roots
Only some people have thick hair. Therefore, be careful with moisturizer application because fine hair typically has dry roots. Ensure you do not cover dry bases with moisturizing products unless you use oil to massage the scalp.
10. Stick to a Hair Routine
Sticking to a hair routine is challenging for people with tight schedules. However, knowing the best products for your hair can make a significant difference when you want to restore moisture. Besides shampooing, use a matching leave-in conditioner before drying and styling your strands. That way, your hair will have a base layer of hairspray or mousse, providing extra protection.
Conclusion
Most remedies for dry hair are easy to try at home. However, dry hair could signify a health issue. Therefore, talk to a healthcare expert if you have clump hair, bald spots, or hair that breaks when brushing. Nevertheless, try these tips to moisturize your hair before seeing a dermatologist.
