How do we define dry hair?
The appearance of "dry hair" occurs when the hair does not receive or retain enough moisture. This reduces its luster and can make it dull, brittle, and harsh to the touch. Dry hair problems can affect both women and men of any age, but they are increasingly present as you age. In many cases, dry hair is passed down genetically from one (or both) of your parents' side of the family, but there are also some external factors that contribute to its degradation.
Dry Hair Causes
There are a variety of factors that can lead to dry and damaged hair, including environmental and genetic factors (as mentioned above), your hair care routine, and your physical health. Here are the causes that lead to the appearance of this type of hair!
Environmental Factors
Some of the environmental conditions that can cause dry and damaged hair include:
- A dry and warm climate
- Exposure to UV radiation and/or wind
- Swimming in chlorinated or saltwater
Hair Care Routine
Hair care practices often contribute to dry and damaged hair. Among these, we can count:
- Washing your hair too frequently
- Using harsh hair care products that are not suitable for your hair type, including shampoo, conditioner, or styling products
- Dyeing and chemically treating your hair
- Blow-drying your hair
- Using curling irons and hair straighteners
Health Problems
In some cases, dry and damaged hair is the result of health problems that affect the hair's ability to retain moisture. Among these, we mention:
- Anorexia, an eating disorder that can cause dry and fragile hair
- Hypoparathyroidism, in which the parathyroid gland, located in the neck, produces too little parathyroid hormone, leading to a decrease in the level of calcium in the blood. Calcium is an essential nutrient for healthy hair.
- Hypothyroidism, in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones, causing dry and fragile hair, among other symptoms.
Dry Hair Treatment
The best way to maintain healthy hair is by regularly trimming it and preventing hair damage from heat or other habits that might affect your hair. As soon as your hair splits at the tips, it’s necessary to trim it. By trimming your hair, you can also say goodbye to the unsightly dry ends! If you don’t remove the split ends, the split will continue up the length of the hair shaft, leading to further damage.
When your hair shows early signs of damage, treatment methods can help smooth the hair follicles, which can then help repair dry and damaged hair.
Application of Conditioner
Hair Masks Hair conditioners contain a lot of lubricating and antistatic substances. These personal care products lubricate the hair cuticles and prevent the hair from absorbing too much water. For people with dry and deeply damaged hair, we recommend conditioner treatments that will act on the hair for a longer time.
Of course, there are many products available, but if you have this type of hair, you should leave the conditioner on your hair for about 20 to 30 minutes. Deep hair conditioning helps smooth the hair cuticles, allowing them to maintain the ideal moisture levels. From the category of hair and scalp care products intended to help treat dry and damaged hair, you may find hair masks dedicated to this type of hair very useful, as it requires careful treatment that requires hydration and nutrition.
Dermatocosmetic products that contain keratin, ceramides, collagen, and vitamins are recommended in order to rebuild the hair cuticle. Keratin, a protective protein that makes up the resistant part of the hair, is why it is recommended to use conditioners and hair masks with keratin. They provide the hair with smoothness, hydration, and nourishment while also acting as a stimulator of growth and healing of the hair structure. Collagen provides useful amino acids for hair regeneration, helps combat hair follicle damage, can prevent hair thinning, and delay the loss of hair color. Consider a collagen hair treatment and enjoy its effects on your hair!
Protection against heat
Heat can considerably damage the structure of the hair. The sun can damage the hair by reducing the protein and resistance of the hair fiber, making the hair weak, dry, and fragile. If you like spending a long time under the sun, it would be advisable to wear a hat or apply a product with UV protection. Additionally, dry and damaged hair needs appropriate thermal protection when using the hairdryer, curling iron, or hair straightener.
Application of oil-based products
Applying certain oils can help regenerate hair. According to a 2015 article, oils can help prevent further hair damage. They penetrate the hair and help reduce the amount of water absorbed. Moreover, applying a hair treatment based on hair oils can help fill the gaps that appear between the cuticles and protect the hair from aggressive substances, ensuring its lubrication.
Dermatocosmetic hair products ingredients include:
- Coconut oil
- Argan oil
- Avocado oil
- Jojoba oil
- Macadamia oil
- Olive oil
- Passion fruit oil
Home remedies
There are a few tips and tricks that you can try in combination with the above-mentioned treatments:
Take cold showers
Cold showers have multiple health benefits, and rapid hair growth can be one of them. After shampooing your hair and applying the conditioner and mask, rinse your hair with water at a lower temperature for 1-2 minutes to revitalize the hair and refresh your scalp.
Provide your body with the nutrients it needs
Vitamins and nutrients are essential for healthy hair, growth, and shine. A diet lacking in vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and proteins can lead to structural abnormalities of the hair shaft and even hair loss. Therefore, it is important to eat a balanced diet that includes proteins, fruits, vegetables, grains, and healthy fats. You can also provide the body with the necessary nutrients through food supplements designed to contribute to the health and beauty of your hair. While factors such as age, genetics, and hormones definitely play a role in affecting your hair’s growth, nutrients are essential. Among the most important food supplements for hair, we can mention:
- Vitamin A supplements - your hair needs vitamin A to stay hydrated and to grow.
- Vitamin B supplements - one of the most well-known vitamins for hair growth is biotin, a vitamin from the B vitamin complex. Other B vitamins transport oxygen and nutrients to the scalp and hair follicles, which play an important part in hair growth.
- Vitamin C supplements - this vitamin is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect against oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Moreover, the body needs vitamin C for collagen production, which is an important part of the hair structure.
- Vitamin D supplements - low levels of vitamin D have been associated with alopecia (a disease that happens when the immune system attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss), which is why this vitamin is essential for hair health.
- Vitamin E supplements - Similar to vitamin C, vitamin E is an antioxidant that can prevent oxidative stress. Therefore, supplementing the body with vitamin E is beneficial for hair growth.
Last but not least, I recommend adding Omega-3 and antioxidants to your diet. Marine proteins can prevent hair from thinning and make it look shinier. To achieve similar results, you can increase the amount of marine protein in your diet. This may include:
- Salmon (one of the best sources of protein)
- Oysters
- Mackerel
- Tuna
- Sardines.