Dry Hair Changes: 5 Actionable Tips

Have you noticed your hair starting to lose its sheen and looking 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 actually 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 have to embrace as you grow and mature but it is also something that you can fix. 

What Causes Dry Hair?

The human hair has three layers. If you have healthy hair, then 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 on your hair. Luster and sheen, therefore, are two of the major 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, as our bodies produce less sebum, causing hair to grow out drier and more brittle

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 all contribute to making your hair look fantastic, but they are also causing your hair to become 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 prior to the application of heat – one great example is this heat protection and taming spray. Just spray it on your hair before curling, flat-ironing, and blow-drying, so you can give each strand the protection it needs.

You may also want to use ionic thermal tools that can rehydrate dry hair. You can also stop your hair from experiencing thermal abuse and becoming too dry along the process by choosing a lower setting. It also helps to not use styling products that expose your hair to heat every now and then. 

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

#2 – Avoid washing your hair excessively

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

To correct this habit, invest in a quality shampoo specifically made for dry hair. Most of the shampoos for dry and damaged hair have ingredients that help in retaining and restoring 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. In case you notice your hair looking flat and scalp becoming too oily, put on a dry shampoo on the roots. It helps in refreshing and absorbing excess oil. 

#3 – Do not skimp on the conditioner

Another effective fix for dry hair would be the regular use of a conditioner. While daily shampooing is not advisable if your hair is excessively dry, conditioning it every day is a must. 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 during those days when you took a break from shampoo. You will also notice your dry hair benefiting from the additional dose of moisture and conditioning. 

#4 – Apply hot oil treatment

You may also want to make your own hot oil treatment using the natural oils you can find in your kitchen. You can massage a gentle hot oil into your scalp so you can add shine to your dry hair. A popular home remedy that you can use for your hot oil treatment is olive oil. 

You may also use coconut, castor, corn, jojoba, and almond oils. These are gentle and natural oils with high levels of antioxidants and Vitamin E that are all good for the hair. The oils also work wonders in sealing your hair’s outer layer or cuticle with sufficient moisture. This aids in repairing hair damage. 

You can prepare your own natural hot oil treatment with these guidelines:

• Prepare half a cup of your chosen oil. Warm it a bit. 
• Massage the oil gently to your hair for a few minutes. 
• Prepare a warm towel and use it to cover your hair then leave for around half an hour to forty-five minutes. You may also want to leave the treatment on your hair overnight. 
• After that, you can shampoo and rinse your hair. 

This hot oil treatment is effective in making your hair stronger while bringing back the shine of your locks. 

#5 – Nourish your hair 

Make sure to nourish your hair by eating the right foods and sticking to a healthy lifestyle. Keep in mind that what you eat and drink contributes a lot to 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. Some of these foods are 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 also contribute to preventing 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 huge improvement in your dry hair.

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