Dry, flyaway hair can ruin an otherwise polished look. The causes of dry hair range from improper care to serious illness. By discovering the reasons behind dry, unruly hair, you can determine the proper treatment to solve the condition and prevent it from recurring. In some instances, dealing with dry hair will require a visit with a physician or other professional to treat the underlying disorder.
Improper Hair Care
Harsh shampoos and styling products, overuse of heat and general mistreatment can cause dry, static hair, including hair breakage. Use warm water instead of hot, add conditioners to your hair care routine and use blow dryers and other styling instruments sparingly, MayoClinic.com and Medline Plus advise. Try shampooing less often -- only very oily hair requires shampooing every day.
Black women often have extremely dry hair. Chemical relaxers exacerbate hair dryness, according to dermatologist Susan Taylor on the Society Hill Dermatology website. Using conditioners is especially important if you straighten your hair with chemical relaxers. Use a wide-toothed comb to minimize hair breakage. If you color your hair in addition to using chemical relaxers, consider using semi-permanent color, which may cause less damage than permanent dye.
Thyroid Problems
Dry, brittle hair is one symptom of potentially serious problems with the functioning of your thyroid and parathyroid glands, both located in the neck. Correcting dry hair in such cases requires treating the underlying thyroid disorder.
Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid -- the gland that controls your body's metabolism -- fails to produce enough hormone. Hypothyroidism results from two causes: inflammation of the thyroid gland or an autoimmune disorder where the body's immune function turns against itself, according to Medline Plus. Hypothyroidism is often treated with levothyroxine; however, "subclinical" cases of hypothyroidism may not benefit from treatment, MayoClinic.com warns.
Hypoparathyroidism is a related endocrine disorder where the parathyroid glands that control how the body uses calcium, fails to produce enough of the parathyroid, or PTH, hormone. Treatment requires taking calcium carbonate and vitamin D, usually for life, according to Medline Plus.
Eating Disorders and Malnutrition
Brittle, dry hair may be a symptom of improper eating habits or the result of a serious eating disorder. Treating the disorder will often correct dry hair symptoms.
The National Institute of Mental Health defines anorexia nervosa as deliberate starvation resulting in a body weight at least 15 percent below a person's normal body weight. Malnutrition occurs when someone does not get enough to eat or when the body fails to properly absorb nutrients from food.
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