Dry Hair Changes: 5 Actionable Tips

Have you noticed your hair starting to lose its sheen and look dull and frizzy? Then, it could be a case of dryness. Dry hair is a common complaint among women regardless of age. It typically develops once your hair no longer receives adequate moisture or retains your hair’s natural moisture, just like when you are younger. 

Dry hair may happen to both men and women regardless of age, but there is a higher chance that you will face this problem as you get older, probably once you hit middle age. It is one of the changes you must embrace as you grow and mature, but it is also something you can fix. 

What Causes Dry Hair?

The human hair has three layers. If you have healthy hair, expect the natural oils in your hair’s outer layer to protect the inner ones. You can also expect this layer to reflect light, which is the reason behind the shine of your hair. Luster and sheen, therefore, are two of the primary indications that your hair is healthy. Dry hair happens when the outer layer begins to break down. This can lead to an unhealthy and dull look of your hair. 

If the dryness in your hair is already bothering you, then identifying the cause is the first step towards treating it. Note that several factors can cause this specific hair problem, including your present physical health, hair care habits, and environmental conditions:

• Hot and dry climate.

• Frequent swimming in salty or chlorinated water.

• Constant exposure to the sun and wind.

• Excessive washing.

• Frequent use of harsh styling products, shampoos, and conditioners.

• Constant use of chemical treatments and dyes.

• Regular exposure to blow-dryers, straighteners, and curling irons.

• Aging causes hair to grow drier and more brittle because our body produces less sebum.

Your dry hair may also be caused by a health problem, which hampers the ability of your hair to retain its moisture. One condition would be anorexia nervosa, which causes malnutrition and leads to too brittle and dry hair, together with other severe complications. 

It could also be because of hypothyroidism, which causes your thyroid glands to be unable to produce the right amount of thyroid hormones. This can result in your hair’s dryness and brittleness.

Quick Fixes to Dry Hair

Regardless of your age, there is still a way for you to fix dryness and brittleness in your hair. Here are five things you can do to resolve this common hair problem:

#1 – Prevent thermal abuse

The flat and curling irons, blow dryers, and hot rollers make your hair look fantastic but also cause it to dry eventually. Note that the high temperatures they emit can strip each hair strand of natural moisture. With that said, you should begin using them sparingly. 

It also helps to put on a thermal protective formula before applying heat – one great example is this heat protection and taming spray. Just spray it on your hair before curling, flat-ironing, and blow-drying to give each strand the protection it needs.

You may also want to use ionic thermal tools to rehydrate dry hair. Choosing a lower setting can also stop your hair from experiencing thermal abuse and becoming too dry. It also helps not to use styling products that expose your hair to heat.

Try experimenting with various hairstyles, such as buns, chignons, and braids, that will not require styling with heat. With that, you can let your hair take a short break from thermal tools that tend to strip them of moisture. 

#2 – Avoid washing your hair excessively

Hair thinning and dryness are inevitable changes you may encounter as you age. However, you can reverse that by correcting some habits that seem to aggravate the problem—using a shampoo with a harsh formula or shampooing too frequently. This habit may also diminish the natural oils of your hair.

Invest in a quality shampoo specifically made for dry hair to correct this habit. Most dry and damaged hair shampoos have ingredients that help retain and restore moisture, such as apricot kernel oil and aloe vera.

It is advisable not to shampoo your hair every day, though. A good recommendation would be shampooing every other day or every two days. This allows the natural oil in your scalp to replenish the dry strands. If your hair looks flat and your scalp becomes too oily, put a dry shampoo on the roots. It helps refresh and absorb excess oil. 

#3 – Do not skimp on the conditioner

Another effective fix for dry hair would be regularly using a conditioner. While daily shampooing is not advisable if your hair is excessively dry, conditioning it daily is necessary. You can use a high-quality conditioner to swap the daily shampoo.

Choose a rinse-out conditioner specifically designed for dry and damaged hair and use it several days within a week. It can make you feel like you have shampooed, even when you take a break from shampoo. You will also notice your dry hair benefiting from the additional dose of moisture and conditioning. 

#4 – Apply an oil treatment

Common hair care choices include coconut, castor, corn, jojoba, argan, Abyssinian, and almond oils. These are gentle and natural, with high levels of antioxidants and Vitamin E that are all good for the hair. Oil works wonders in sealing your hair’s outer layer or cuticle with sufficient moisture. This aids in repairing hair damage.

Our Second Chance Hair, Face & Body Nourishing Oil is lightweight, fast-drying, and packed with Abyssinian oil, one of nature's most potent antioxidants, rich in Omega-3 and 6, and fatty acids. It helps replenish your skin and hair's natural moisture barrier for smooth, shiny, and protected hair and skin.

#5 – Nourish your hair 

Ensure you nourish your hair by eating the right foods and following a healthy lifestyle. Remember that what you eat and drink significantly affects how your hair will appear. Nourish your body by eating foods guaranteed to benefit your hair. Your goal, therefore, should be to increase your intake of foods rich in Omega-3, iron, and protein. These foods include nuts, avocados, flax seeds, sardines, and salmon.

Foods that are rich in antioxidants, like walnuts, blueberries, tomatoes, broccoli, and kidney beans, should also be included in your diet. These antioxidants can fight oxidative stress that causes your hair to look old and dry. Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water, too, as it can prevent hair dryness. 

Conclusion

You can’t prevent your body from changing as you get older. The same is true when it comes to your hair. Eventually, you will notice it losing its luster and natural moisture, but it does not mean you can’t do something about it.

You can embrace the change, but you can also take action. Try incorporating the tips in this article into your daily routines, and you will surely notice a considerable improvement in your dry hair.

For more hair care solutions holistically designed for aging hair, visit our Shop page.