How To Fix Dry Hair

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The following products are rich in those beneficial compounds, and a person’s can include them in their diet:

Why Do I Have Dry Hair?

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You may develop brittle hair due to environmental conditions like dryness or heat, your styling method, and some medical conditions, including thyroid issues.

Dry hair develops when your hair doesn’t get or retain enough moisture. This reduces its sheen and can make it appear frizzy and dull.

Dry hair can affect men and women of any age, but you’re more likely to develop it as you get older.

Your hair consists of three layers. If your hair is healthy, natural oils in the outer layer help protect the inner layers. They also reflect light, making your hair appear shiny. Sheen and luster are two important signs of healthy hair.

When your hair is dry, the outer layer breaks down, causing it to appear dull and unhealthy.

A variety of factors can lead to dry hair, including environmental conditions, hair care habits, and your physical health.

Some of the environmental conditions that can cause dry hair include:

living in a dry, hot climate
spending a lot of time in the sun or wind
frequently swimming in chlorinated or salty water

Hair care practices that often contribute to dry hair include:

washing your hair too often
using harsh shampoos, conditioners, or styling products
dying or chemically treating your hair
regularly blow-drying your hair
using electric curling irons, straighteners, or curlers

In some cases, dry hair is the result of an underlying health problem that affects your hair’s ability to retain moisture. Examples include:

Anorexia nervosa: An eating disorder, anorexia nervosa can lead to malnutrition. It can cause dry and brittle hair, along with more serious complications.
Hypoparathyroidism: If you have hypoparathyroidism, the parathyroid gland in your neck produces too little parathyroid hormone, which decreases the level of calcium in your blood. Calcium is a key nutrient for healthy hair, as well as bones, teeth, and other tissue.
Hypothyroidism: With hypothyroidism, your thyroid glands don’t produce enough thyroid hormones. Dry and brittle hair is one of the early symptoms of this condition.
Menkes syndrome: If you have Menkes syndrome, a rare genetic condition, your cells don’t absorb enough copper. Low copper absorption affects the health of your hair, causing dryness.

If you have severely dry hair and it doesn’t get better with changes to your hair care routine, make an appointment with your doctor. They may be able to pinpoint the underlying cause. They may also refer you to a dermatologist, a doctor who specializes in skin and hair conditions.

During your appointment, your doctor or dermatologist may ask you questions about your symptoms, hair care routine, and lifestyle, such as:

How long have you had dry hair?
How often do you wash your hair?
What type of hair products do you use?
What tools do you use to style your hair?
What does your typical diet entail?
Do you have any other symptoms?

They will likely examine your hair and scalp. In some cases, they may order one or more tests. For example, they may collect a sample of your blood or urine to check for signs of certain medical conditions, such as hypothyroidism or hypoparathyroidism.

In many cases, you can treat dry hair through simple lifestyle changes. Here are a few you can try:

Avoid shampooing your hair every day.
Condition your hair every time you wash it.
Use a shampoo and conditioner that are meant for your hair type.
Use moisturizing styling products.
Avoid chemical hair treatments.
Blow-dry your hair less frequently.
Avoid flat irons, curling irons, and electric rollers.

Daily shampooing can rob your hair of its protective oils and lead to dryness. Try washing your hair once or twice a week instead. You can also apply hair oils or leave-in conditioners to add luster and softness.

Browse a selection of hair oils and leave-in conditioners online.

Protecting your hair from heat and sun exposure is also important. If you live in a dry climate, wear a hat when you go outdoors and avoid long-term exposure to dry or windy air. You should protect your hair from chlorine and salt water by wearing a bathing cap when swimming in a pool or the ocean.

How do I stop my hair from being dry?

Dry hair does not absorb or retain enough moisture to keep its texture and brightness. Ways of overcoming this include applying hot oils, making dietary changes, taking supplements, and choosing hair products that suit the hair type.

Dry hair can be caused by factors, including:

nutritional deficiencies
excessive sun exposure
contact with chlorinated water
excessive hair wash
use of styling products and tools
use of harsh hair products

Some possible medical causes of dry hair may be anorexia nervosa, Menkes disease, hypoparathyroidism, hypothyroidism, and other hormone abnormalities.

People can use home remedies to treat hair if it becomes dry and brittle. Listed below are 12 different home remedies that can be tried:

1. Using hot oils

Share on Pinterest Hot oils can be massaged into the scalp and add shine to dry hair.

Olive oil is one of the most popular home remedies for dry hair. Besides olive oil, the following can also be used with good results:

coconut oil
almond oil
castor oil
jojoba oil
corn oil

All of these oils are rich in vitamin E and antioxidants and help to seal the outer hair layer or cuticle with moisture, thus repairing the damage.

To prepare this home remedy:

Warm but do not boil around half a cup of oil.
Gently massage it into the hair for some minutes.
Cover the hair with a warm towel.
Leave for 30−45 minutes or overnight.
After this time, shampoo and rinse the hair.

This treatment will strengthen and add shine to dry hair.

2. Using good hair care products specific to your hair type

A person may want to try using gentle, sulfate-free shampoos and hair conditioners.

Also, they can shampoo less frequently, for example, only once or twice a week.

3. Using beer as a hair conditioner

Beer contains a protein that helps to repair the hair cuticles, making the hair smooth and shiny.

If someone shampoos their hair as usual and then sprays on some drops of beer, allowing it to dry naturally, it will work as a good conditioner without leaving any smell on the hair.

4. Applying a coconut oil mask

Share on Pinterest A coconut oil mask has a moisturizing effect when applied to the hair.

Coconut oil has a soothing and moisturizing effect when applied to the hair.

People can prepare a simple hair mask by boiling curry leaves with coconut oil for 2–3 minutes and leaving it to rest in a cool place for a few days.

When the mixture has cooled, it can be gently rubbed into the hair and scalp with the fingertips and covered with a warm towel. It should then be left on for a few minutes before being rinsed.

5. Applying a gelatin preparation

Plain gelatin is a good protein source for the hair. It coats the hair strands and moisturizes them, making the hair smooth and shiny.

To prepare this home remedy:

Mix 1 tablespoon of gelatin with 1 cup of warm water.
Leave it aside for 5 minutes to partially set the gelatin.
Add 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and 6 drops of an essential oil, such as jasmine, lavender, clary sage, or rosemary to the preparation and stir.
Apply the mixture to clean hair.

Finally, leave the preparation on the hair for 10 minutes and rinse with tepid water.

6. Using egg and mayonnaise-based mixtures

Eggs and mayonnaise contain lots of protein, which helps to fortify and strengthen the hair and restore moisture to brittle or very dry hair.

People can prepare one of these protein-based mixtures at home in the following ways:

Whip an egg white with 2 tablespoons of tepid water.
Apply the mixture to the hair and scalp.
Massage with the fingertips in circular movements for a few minutes.
Rinse the hair with cool water and then shampoo.

Mix three eggs in a bowl.
Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of honey.
Apply the mixture to hair and scalp.
Cover the head with a plastic covering or shower cap for about 30 minutes.
Rinse the hair with cool water and shampoo.

Wet the hair with warm water and gently apply to it a thick layer of mayonnaise.
Gently massage the hair and scalp, working it through the hair strands to the ends.
Cover the head with a plastic cap for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Rinse the hair with cool water and shampoo.

7. Applying a yogurt and oil mask

Yogurt and oil together can make an effective home treatment for dry hair.

To prepare this home remedy:

Add half-a-cup of plain yogurt to 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 6 drops of an essential oil.
Mix together thoroughly.
Apply the mixture to shampooed hair.
Cover with plastic or a shower cap and leave for 1520 minutes.
Rinse the hair thoroughly with warm water.

8. Applying an avocado paste

The avocado fruit is rich in vitamins A and E, saturated fats, and minerals, which all nourish damaged and dry hair, helping to moisturize and strengthen it.

To prepare an avocado paste, mash a ripe, peeled avocado with one egg and apply the mixture to wet hair for 20 minutes. Then rinse the hair several times.

9. Using a banana mask

Bananas are high in potassium and have high moisture content, which makes them suitable for treating dry hair.

Because of their beneficial properties, bananas may prevent split ends, soften the hair, and improve elasticity.

To take advantage of these benefits, mash one banana and thoroughly spread it on the hair, from roots to ends. Leave it on for 1 hour and rinse with lukewarm water.

10. Make dietary changes

Eating healthfully, and including omega-3s and antioxidants to a person’s diet can make hair look healthier and shinier.

The following products are rich in those beneficial compounds, and a person’s can include them in their diet:

fatty fish, including salmon, mackerel, sardines, and tuna
oysters
blueberries
tomatoes
walnuts
broccoli
kidney beans

11. Take supplements

Share on Pinterest Omega-3 supplements may help to reduce hair dryness.

Taking the right supplements can also help to restore luster to hair. Helpful supplements include:

Omega-3: This is a fatty acid that is good for keeping hair moisturized. People can get omega-3 by taking one to three 250-milligrams (mg) capsules of borage oil, flaxseed oil, or evening primrose oil, one to three times a day.

Vitamins: Taking vitamin A and C, biotin (sometimes called vitamin H), and iron supplements can help make hair look healthier and shinier.

12. Take preventive measures

Making some lifestyle changes and taking preventive measures can help alleviate dry hair. Tips include:

Avoid overuse of hair styling products, including hair dye and heated styling tools, such as a blow dryer, curling iron, and flat iron.
Avoid excessive sun exposure.
Avoid excessive contact with chlorinated water in swimming pools.
Wear loose hairstyles instead of tight ponytails.
Do not sleep with accessories in the hair.
Apply a weekly moisturizing hair mask.
Use soft and padded hair accessories and avoid metal clips and other metal accessories.
Avoid washing hair too often, only washing it every few days instead.
Use mild shampoos, such as herbal or sulfate-free shampoos.
Use cold or tepid water instead, of hot water when washing hair. Cold water helps to seal the cuticles and reduces moisture loss.
Use moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, such as those with softening oils that can include sweet almond, Argan, sunflower, and soybean.
Protect the hair from harsh elements and chemicals at the beach or swimming pool by rinsing hair with 1/4 cup of apple cider mixed with 3/4 cup of water before going to the beach or after a swim.
Trim the hair frequently to prevent split ends showing.
Wear hats and scarves to protect the hair from the sun.
Drink plenty of water and follow a healthful, balanced diet, as what a person consumes will directly impact their hair’s health

Dry hair can be tackled with some dietary and lifestyle adjustments, and with several home remedies that offer inexpensive and effective ways to bring back smoothness, moisture, and shine.

Last medically reviewed on May 18, 2018

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Public Health
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How we reviewed this article:

Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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How To Fix Dry Hair

Why Do I Have Dry Hair?

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