Dry, brittle hair? Yes! But what can we say? We all love to indulge in heat styling tools and salon treatment once in a while.
And if you’re asking why my hair is so dry and brittle, the most popular response is that it could be due to the overuse of heat styling tools like the flat iron, blow dryer, or hairdryer.
As we can’t really skip heat styling and chemical treatments for good, it is vital to know how to treat damaged hair or hair dryness.
Read on to find out!
5 Common Reasons Why Your Hair is Dry and Brittle
The first step to finding a treatment for your dry brittle is to determine its cause. As you know, it’s often an overlooked hair care routine that tends to create hair problems.
I have made a quick rundown on what causes dry and brittle hair:
Heat Styling
Heat styling is one of the main culprits of dry and brittle hair. Excessive heat can absorb hair moisture resulting in dry hair and sometimes heat damage when you overdo it.
Wrong Hair Products
Some hair products tend to dry your hair and scalp. These include shampoos and conditioners that contain sulfates, parabens, formaldehyde, and other harsh chemicals.
Overwashing
Overwashing can strip off hair’s natural oils and damages the protective layer of your tresses. When you wash your hair, the water enters the hair fiber which weakens the internal structure resulting in brittle and dry hair over time.
Lack of Protection
Lack of hair protection when using heated styling tools or when out in the sun can cause dry hair. Continuous heat exposure lift the hair cuticle and weakens its protective film. This can lead to keratin loss which makes the hair drier and prone to breakage. On top of that, styling soaking wet hair is also damaging to your tresses.
Overbleaching
Overbleaching can cause major damage to your hair (obviously). Bleach can lift the outer cuticle of your hair, allowing the bleaching agent to penetrate. As a result, rapid bleaching can cause moisture loss and dry hair.
Ways to Treat Dry and Brittle Hair
Wash hair less often.
Do not wash your hair every day. Give your scalp time to retain its moisture. Washing hair twice a week is ideal. As a bonus, if you don’t wash your hair often, you don’t need heat styling and blow drying, and that saves your hair from damage.
You can read more about how often you should wash your hair in our helpful guide.
Use natural oils.
Massage hair with natural oils such as coconut oil and jojoba oil. Natural hair oils contain moisturizing properties and can also combat dry scalp and dandruff. Also, natural hair oils can repair the hair shaft and hair follicles, making them an effective remedy for dry hair caused by heat styling and chemical treatment.
Trim off split ends.
Split ends can add to the frizziness and dryness of your hair. That said, trimming off unhealthy strands is a wise idea. This also helps in reviving the dry ends of your hair.
Use a conditioner.
Moisturizing conditioner can help retain the moisture of your dry and brittle hair. Look for hydrating ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, and keratin. Stay away from conditioners that contain alcohol and sulfates, in particular, as they’re too drying for your hair.
Deep condition your hair.
Deep condition your hair more often. Know your hair porosity to find out how often you should deep condition your hair. In addition, determine your hair type and texture to know the best natural deep conditioning treatment for your hair.
Summary
Hair tends to get dry and brittle due to certain hair care routines. This includes overuse of hot tools, pouring chemicals into your hair, and using the wrong hair styling products.
The good news is that there are natural ways to treat dry and brittle hair and keep your hair healthy. You don’t have to break the bank to hydrate your strands and keep them healthy.
Still, it is best to consult with a professional stylist for the right treatment. Of course, be sure to take care of your tresses in all aspects to maintain healthy hair.
Check this article to know the best treatment for dry hair.
