Dry, brittle hair can be maddening when no matter what you do, it seems you end up with a frizzy, flyaway mop. Beauty companies build entire brands around miracle solutions to dryness and breakage, but in reality, you can solve your dry hair problems at home.
Washing
When it comes to washing dry hair, more is less. Daily Glow, a health and beauty blog, recommends washing your hair only once or twice a week to preserve its natural oils and "give your hair a rest." A KidsHealth article reviewed by dermatologist Patrice Hyde, MD, agrees that some people only need to wash their hair once a week. Both sources also suggest that you use a milder shampoo that is specifically designed for dry hair; Daily Glow recommends sticking with an all-natural product without harsh chemicals.
Conditioning
According to Daily Glow, even on days when you don't shampoo, you can still wet your hair and apply conditioner. Daily Glow also recommends using leave-in conditioning formulas that moisturize throughout the day, and doing deep-conditioning treatments weekly or monthly. Daily Glow recommends heating olive oil or an oil specifically made for hair, massaging it into your hair and scalp, then wrapping your head in a hot towel and letting the oil soak in for half an hour.
Styling
Combs, brushes, blow-dryers, dyes and chemical treatments can severely damage your hair. Daily Glow and KidsHealth agree that you should avoid harsh treatments such as perms and dyes, particularly when your hair is in bad shape. KidsHealth also notes that too much brushing and combing can lead to breakage. When your hair is wet, KidsHealth says, it can stretch. Using a blow-dryer or another heat styling product on very wet hair can cause damage. If you want to look stylish and still have healthy hair, KidsHealth recommends getting regular haircuts to protect yourself from split ends and the frizzies.
Diet and Health
According to KidsHealth, breakage and dry, brittle hair can be signs of a medical problem. This can include hypothyroidism, eating disorders and other imbalances in your system. In fact, WrongDiagnosis.com lists 61 medical causes for brittle hair and 53 causes for dry hair. If you take excellent care of your hair and body and still have problems with hair breakage, it could be a clue that something else is wrong. Poper nutrition can actually improve the overall condition of your hair.
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