Dry hair has lost so much moisture and oil that it looks dull and is difficult to style and manage. The best way to help dry hair is to recognize what could be causing the inconvenience to begin with. Chances are your dry hair has to do with an external factor such as the shampoo you use or the low humidity level in your hometown, but sometimes dry hair is a symptom of an underlying health condition. In most cases, following some simple steps will help your hair retain its original sheen and make it easier to style.
Step 1
Apply a gentle shampoo a couple of times per week. Many shampoos contain ingredients that strip natural oils away from your hair, according to Discovery Health. Since natural oils help seal in moisture, avoid washing your hair more than twice per week if your hair is prone to dryness. However, occasionally using a gentle shampoo—typically, with a pH that is between 4.5 and 6.7--will stimulate your glands to produce those necessary oils, says Discovery Health.
Step 2
Condition regularly with a low-alcohol or alcohol-free product. Before you buy a conditioner, search the ingredient label for alcohol or sniff the conditioner to determine how much scent it contains. Typically, Discovery Health says, conditioners that contain little to no fragrance tend to have lower alcohol content or have no alcohol in them.
Step 3
Wear an overnight conditioner if your hair doesn’t respond to regular conditioning. Apply the alcohol-free overnight conditioner before you go to bed, don a shower cap, put a towel over your pillow and rinse it off when you wake up in the morning, suggests Discovery Health.
Step 4
Reduce or eliminate your use of heated tools. Blow-dryers, straightening irons and curlers often cause dry hair. If you want to use one from time to time, use the tool on a low setting and don’t pull or stretch your hair as you style it, says Discovery Health. To minimize damage, also apply a protective serum to your hair before you expose it to heat.
Step 5
Brush carefully. Excessive and improper brushing can cause dry hair to break easily. Never brush your hair when it is wet; use a broad-toothed comb instead. When you brush your hair, start gently at the end and move up to the roots. To minimize damage, use brushes with boar bristles or rubberized tips.
Step 6
Don a swim cap if you swim often. Salt and chlorine can dry out your hair and cause it to become brittle. To reduce your chances of damaging your hair by tugging the cap onto your head, coat your hair with conditioner, pull it into a loose bun or ponytail before you slide the cap over your head, suggests iVillage.com.
Step 7
Wear a hat or scarf in excessive cold, heat, wind and direct sun. The environment can undo all the effort you put into moisturizing your dry hair, says Women’s Healthcare Topics online, so keep an eye on weather conditions and plan your outfits accordingly.
Step 8
Call your health care provider if your hair doesn’t respond to home treatments or if you have any other unexplained signs or symptoms such as hair loss, says MedlinePlus. Dry and brittle hair can be signs of a medical problem such as hypothyroidism, or underproduction of the thyroid hormone, according to the Nemours Foundation.
Things You'll Need
- Gentle shampoo
- Conditioner
- Swim cap
- Scarf or hat
- Broad-toothed comb
- Brush with boar bristles or rubberized tips
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