Dry and brittle hair can look dull instead of vibrant, and it is more likely to break. Hair becomes dry due to lack of moisture through environmental causes or personal lifestyle choices such as the way you choose to wear your hair. Illness can also contribute to dry and brittle hair. Most cases of damaged hair can be remedied through simple treatments.
Low Sebum Production
Sebum is a natural oil that moisturizes your hair and skin. Everyone makes sebum, a product of your sebaceous glands. Low sebum production, for various reasons, can cause your hair to become dry and brittle due to the loss of this natural emollient. According to KidsHealth from the Nemours Foundation, adolescents typically produce more sebum than people in other age groups. You could find as you age that your oil production slows down, leading to drier locks. Cool, dry weather can also signal your body to produce less sebum; for this reason, many people have dry, more fragile hair in the winter.
Product Overuse
Shampoos, hair gels, sprays, mousses and colorings, especially those that contain alcohol, can be drying and make your hair more at risk for breakage, according to Disabled World. Heat-activated styling aids can also cause damage to your hair and rob you of much-needed moisture. Use hair products sparingly and choose brands that do not contain alcohol to improve the look and feel of your dried-out tresses.
Intricate Hairstyles
Even if you are careful about the styling products you use and have normal levels of sebum production, you could experience dry, brittle hair if you routinely opt for hairstyles that include high levels of manipulation. Braids, dreads, cornrows and wearing tight elastics in your hair can all damage the hair shafts. Damage from your hairstyle and related accessories can include split ends, brittle hair shafts and even hair loss.
Illness
Your hair, like other organs, depends on a healthy body in order to thrive. Illness can cause your hair to appear lackluster, dry and limp. Malnutrition, as the result of an eating disorder or gastrointestinal disease, is one type of illness that shows itself in your hair's condition. Holistic-online.com, a resource for natural and alternative healing, explains that proper nutrition is essential for hair health, especially in the form of B vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids. Thyroid disease is another medical condition that can cause dry, brittle hair, according to MayoClinic.com. An under-active thyroid can wreak havoc on your entire body, and may affect the amount of sebum you produce to keep your hair nourished.
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