Causes of dry hair and how to treat them

Your hair shows off your personality and style. So when it suddenly turns dull-looking and brittle, it’s worth addressing. Dry hair is quite the opposite of oily hair and occurs when the hair does not receive an adequate supply of sebum oils or even its required amount of nutrients and vitamins.

How does dry hair occurs?

Dry hair develops when your hair doesn’t get or retain enough moisture. This reduces its sheen and can make it appear frizzy, lifeless, 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. Below are some of the causes of dry hair and tips in treating them.

Causes of dry hair

1. The Weather

The sun and humidity is the worst enemy of your hair’s cuticles, causing damage that results in split ends, dry hair, frizzy hair or brittle hair. In healthy conditions, hair’s moisture content is approximately 10%, but sunlight has the same damaging effect as a hot blow dryer on your hair.

Dry hair is typically the symptom of either environmental exposure or lack of adequate sebum production. Overactive or under-active production can cause oily or dry scalp, respectively. Warm, humid weather often excites sebaceous glands and increases hair oil; combined with increased wind and decreased humidity in offices or homes, hair can become excessively dry.

90% of us suffer with dry brittle or frizzy hair because our hair is deficient of moisture!

2. Over-Use of Heat Styling Tools

Whether you love blowouts or can’t go anywhere without your curling iron in tow, applying too much heat when styling is a major factor of dry, dull-looking hair.

Don’t use heat on your hair every day, which can strip the hair of its natural moisture. If heat is imperative, prep it with a heat protectant, prior to hair styling. Or embrace an air dry hairstyle with an air dry cream which can help with frizz control while you dry hair.

3. Use of Wrong Hair Care Products

Using a hair care product that’s not formulated for your hair type can have consequences, like dryness.

When selecting a shampoo and conditioner, always check the hair care product label before purchasing. Avoid those with alcohol, which can strip away your hair’s natural oils and moisture, and look for products formulated with nourishing hair care oils such as avocado oil, argan oil, or coconut oil.

4. Excessive Hair Washing

Maintaining proper hair hygiene is important, but washing your hair too often can strip it of its natural oils—so cut down washing. Curly hair can be more prone to dryness, so for those with curls, washing your hair once or twice a week is enough.

Use a gentle deep conditioner to keep hair looking and feeling nourished, too. After washing hair, pat—don’t rub—your hair dry. This helps prevent additional moisture loss