A bad-hair day can cause distress to a great many people. Chronically dry hair can make everyday a bad-hair day. This may not be grounds to start intensive psychotherapy, but there is no reason to tolerate dry hair as if it is inevitable. There are steps you can take to reduce or prevent dry hair, and once you have it, there are actions you can take to improve it. So, you can't make every day a great hair day, but you can at least take dry hair out of the equation.
Why It Happens
Your hair becomes dry when it doesn't have enough moisture or oil to maintain a normal, healthy sheen and texture. Causes for dry hair can include a genetic tendency toward dry hair, environmental factors like dry air, behavior-based factors such as excessive washing, exposure to harsh soaps and chemical or exposure to chlorine, salt-water or too much sun and biological factors including malnutrition, underactive thyroid or underactive parathyroid.
Show Kindness
You may not be able to change your genes, but you can improve your behavior. Whether you've been cursed with sensitive hair or have been neglectful or abusive toward it, you can start amending your ways and mending your hair. Shampoo less frequently, perhaps only a couple of times a week and use cool water if possible. Avoid blow drying. When you do blow dry, set the dryer on a cool setting and don't dry your hair completely. Don't brush your hair when it's wet. Instead, use a comb.
Go Natural
Hair dryers, curling irons, hot curlers and heat styling all dry your hair. Likewise, color treatments, perms, bleaching and harsh chemicals dry and damage your hair. If you can find some natural cuts and styles that satisfy your inner style maven using your hairs natural tendencies. The irony is, people with curly hair spend time and money trying to get rid of curls, while others do the same to create more curls. If you suffer from dry hair, learn how to accept, love and work with your hair's natural curls or straightness. If you feel compelled to use colors, perms or other chemicals, use low ammonia, low peroxide colors and don't leave neutralizers on too long. Try to avoid relaxers.
Stage Interventions
Use a moisturizing shampoo with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5, recommends Hair Style City. A higher pH opens the outer layer of your hair, allowing it to dry out. Dry hair may require deep conditioning. Condition your hair every time you shampoo, plus do deep conditioning once or twice a week. Use conditioner with a pH of 2.5 to 3.5. This closes the outer layer of hair, the cuticle, locking in moisture. To deep condition your hair, put on conditioner, then put on a plastic cap and let it set for at least 30 minutes. Also, oil treat your hair with olive or coconut oil. Wet your hair, then massage two to four tablespoons of olive or coconut oil into your hair. Put on a cap and let the oil remain in your hair for three hours to overnight. Both of these oils can penetrate into the outer layer of your hair. Then, shower, use shampoo to remove the oil that hasn't been absorbed and condition as usual.
Take Care of Your Body
Review how the rest of your body is faring. If you have dry skin or scalp, you might be suffering from a poor diet or dehydration. Hydrate your self well, drinking at least 8 cups of fluid each day. Eat a balanced diet that includes proteins, fats and carbohydrate. Consume lots of fruits and vegetables, as well as essential fatty acids, such as found in fish oil and flaxseed oil. Consider supplementation with a good multivitamin. Calcium and vitamins A, C and E enhance hair health.
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