Much like your skin, your hair needs moisture to be happy. Even if it’s not dry, but especially if it is. Dry hair can cause split ends, frizz, brittle strands, and hair damage. The key to healthy hair is moisture, and everyday things like weather, excessive heat styling, harsh hair products, and even diet can suck that moisture from your strands. Dry hair can be a frustrating and challenging issue to tackle, but we’ve got you covered. We’re breaking down the common causes of dry hair ahead, plus why and how to moisturize your hair. Keep reading to say goodbye to dry hair!
When it comes to hair growth and maintaining healthy strands, a major factor that’s often overlooked is moisture. Without proper moisture, your hair can become dry, brittle and prone to breakage. Moisture helps to prevent split ends, reduce frizz, and enhance the overall manageability of your hair. Whether you're dealing with parched strands or just want to step up your hair care game and optimize your hair's health, moisture is the key to strong, shiny, beautiful hair.
Understanding the common causes behind dry hair is the first step toward restoring moisture to your strands. Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes of dry hair.
Overwashing your strands strips them of the natural oils produced by your scalp. These oils are essential for healthy hair growth and directly affect your hair's moisture. So if you're washing your hair every day, it could be one of the reasons you're experiencing dry hair.
Another factor to consider is your hair care routine. Using hair care products not formulated for your hair type is another leading cause of dry hair. Especially using products with sulfates, can strip your hair of its natural oils, making it dry and brittle.
If you’re dealing with dry hair, it might be time for a trim. If it’s been more than three or four months since you last trimmed your strands, this could be the reason they’re dry. Especially if you've noticed split ends and frizz, in addition to general hair dryness.
Your age is also something to consider when it comes to dry hair. The natural oils in your scalp get scarcer as you age, plus hormonal changes can cause your hair to become dry.
One of the biggest culprits behind dry hair is excessive heat styling. Dry strands are a key sign of heat damage. Regardless of the length of your hair, evidence of damage can be found close to the scalp or throughout the lengths.
Excessively chemically treating your hair can also dry it out. In addition it can lead to increased breakage, and overall damage. Bleach can be especially harsh if you're not drenching your strands with moisture in between appointments.
Dry hair isn’t necessarily related to your hair care choices. In fact, environmental factors like the sun, wind, and pollution can also contribute to dryness. If you live in a dry climate, swim in chlorinated pools or salt water, or are exposed to harsh elements, this could be why your strands are dry.
Hair types can range from straight and wavy to curly and coily. In general, the curlier the hair, the drier it tends to be. Because of the bends and curves in curly hair, it takes longer for the scalp oils to travel down the strand.
Dry strands can also be a sign that you're lacking certain nutrients. A biotin deficiency can cause thinning and dry hair. Similarly, lacking protein, omega-3 fatty acids or iron can lead to hair issues, including dryness and hair loss.
Certain health conditions, like a thyroid imbalance could also be the cause of your dry hair. Consult your doctor if you suspect nutritional deficiencies or health concerns, as dry hair can be the result of many other things.
Wondering how to put moisture into dry hair? These are the best ways to keep your hair hydrated.
One of the best ways to keep your hair hydrated is by choosing the right shampoo and conditioner. And finding the right products for your hair type starts with identifying your scalp type. A scalp that feels tight after washing or a scalp that is itchy are signs of a dry scalp. An oily scalp may be shinier, or can have flakes that clump together. A combination scalp refers to a scalp that's neither dry nor oily. Understanding your scalp and hair type, then choosing shampoos and conditioners that address these issues is essential to maintaining healthy, hydrated hair.
But shampoo and conditioner alone aren’t enough to restore your hair back to its full health. Looking for more on how to lock moisture in? Try incorporating deep conditioning treatments and hair masks into your regular hair care routine. In addition to adding moisture, these treatments offer lots of benefits that can transform the way your strands look and feel. Whether you have curly, straight, or wavy hair, deep conditioning can work wonders for improving its overall health and condition. At least once a week, apply a hair mask to your clean and damp lengths and ends. Leave on for 5 minutes, then comb and rinse thoroughly.
Using heat styling tools like flat irons, curling wands, and hairdryers is one of the most common culprits of dry hair. And though these tools can work wonders in transforming your hair into sleek, shiny, bouncy strands, they can also wreak havoc on your hair when used excessively. Not only can heat-styling damage result in hair breakage, split ends and other hair damage, it's also possible that extreme heat can lead to hair thinning or hair falling out, which is known as traction alopecia.Avoid excessive heat styling if your hair is dry and always prep with heat protectants before using hot tools.
Protecting your hair from environmental factors is essential for locking in moisture and keeping your hair healthy. Your strands are exposed to a variety of elements every day, from harsh UV rays to pollution and extreme weather conditions. Investing in a quality UV-protectant hair product for covering your hair when outdoors can go a long way in preventing these issues.
It’s a well known fact that stress affects hair health. Adjusting your diet and hydration habits is a crucial step towards limiting stress and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Incorporate lots of fruits and vegetables into your daily meals to provide essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. In addition, drink an adequate amount of water throughout the day to keep your hair healthy and moisturized.
Maintaining healthy, hydrated hair isn't just about using the right products or following a strict hair care routine. Split ends are a common hair woe that can make your strands look frizzy and unkempt. When you trim your hair every 6-8 weeks, you remove the damaged ends, preventing split ends from traveling up the hair shaft and causing more damage.
Your hair needs moisture to be healthy, just like your skin. Even if it’s not dry, but especially if it is. Lots of things can strip your strands of moisture, including harsh weather and environmental issues, excessively chemical-treating and over-heat styling, harsh hair products, health concerns- even your diet. That’s why it’s important to add moisture back into your hair every chance you get. If you’re dealing with dry hair, it’s important to first understand the cause, and then do your best to correct it. Hydrated hair is happy hair, and we’re here to help. Keep our expert tips in your rotation and use only the highest quality hair care products in your routine, like the ones from Davines. Still have questions about adding moisture back into your strands? Time to book an appointment with one of our stylists for an assessment and custom treatment plan.
by Jaclyn LaBadia, featured contributor
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