When hair feels dry to the trace, it can also become brittle and difficult to style. Modifying your hair care routine and increasing your intake of certain nutrients can help restore the health and appearance of your hair.
Having dry hair does not necessarily mean you have an original health condition or that your hair is unhealthy. Sun exposure, heat styling, humidity, smoking, and other factors can contribute to hair damage and dryness.
1. Get a Haircut
If your hair is excessively dry, it may need a “reset” in the procedure of a fresh cut. Even if your hair isn’t very long, divided ends can make styling difficult and contribute to a dry or coarse texture.
A stylist can trim away damaged hair that is hindering the growth of new hair. You can also ask them for explicit tips tailored to your hair type and length. They will be able to recommend a new styling routine to help prevent future hair damage.
2. Take Vitamins
You know that you need exact vitamins to nourish your body, but sure vitamins also directly effect the health of your hair and nails. These include:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B-12
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Biotin
- Iron
- Zinc
Since prenatal vitamins contain all the vitamins listed above, some people take them simply for the positive effects they have on their hair.
It is also common to take biotin supplements alone to improve hair appearance. However, recent research does not support the idea that biotin makes a significant difference.
Additionally, you might consider marine protein supplements, which have remained shown to indorse healthier hair growth.
3. Incorporate Omega-3s and Antioxidants into Your Diet
Marine proteins help prevent hair thinning and can make your hair look shinier. To achieve similar results without the need for supplements, you can increase the amount of marine proteins in your diet. These include:
- salmon
- oysters
- mackerel
- tuna
- sardines
All of these foods are rich in peptides and omega-3s—nutrients that can add extra shine to your hair.
You might also consider consuming more antioxidants to combat oxidative stress, which can underwrite to hair appearing aged. Some antioxidant-rich foods include:
- walnuts
- kidney beans
- blueberries
- broccoli
- tomatoes
4. Avoid washing your hair every day
Shampoo removes dirt, sweat, and sebum from your hair. Sebum is the natural oil that helps keep hair healthy and, when present in the right amount, gives it shine. Excess sebum results in oily hair.
However, you likely don’t need to strip the sebum from your hair every day; you can probably wash it every other day and notice that your hair looks healthier.
If you can’t go a day among washes, at least use a shampoo specifically formulated for dry hair or try a baby shampoo. Both are gentle cleansers that do not strip the hair of its natural oils.
5. Wrap your hair instead of letting it air dry
If you notice that your hair develops brittle and difficult to comb after washing, it may be losing too much moisture during drying. Instead of letting it air dry, try wrapping it in a cloth or towel.
If you tend to sleep through wet hair, use a silk pillowcase to prevent moisture from being absorbed into the pillow. A 2011 study found that leaving hair wet for prolonged periods causes damage comparable to that from blow-drying.
6. Reduce the Use of Heat Tools
Using heat tools to curl, uncurl, or add volume to your hair may have been part of your daily routine for years. It could also be the reason why your hair is dry.
A 2011 study on hair shafts—examined before and after blow-drying—revealed significant damage to the participants’ hair. If you choose to blow-dry your hair, keep the device at least 15 centimeters (6 inches) away for best results.
7. Try a Cooler Shower
The hot water you usage to rinse your body in the shower can too damage your hair. Cold showers offer various health benefits, and accelerating hair growth could be one of them.
After washing and habituation your hair in the shower, rinse it with cooler water for one or two minutes to revitalize the strands and refresh your scalp.
8. Use Essential Oils
Moroccan argan oil has become a general home remedy for dry hair. We still don’t know much about how—or if—this remedy actually works, but it is easy to try. Just be indisputable to perform a patch test before you begin.
Smearing a few drops of argan oil to the tops of your hair can give it a smoother, softer appearance. Essential oils, such as peppermint gum and lavender, may help prevent hair loss and breakage.
Socializing peppermint oil, lavender oil, and a carrier oil—such as argan or coconut oil—to create a quick hair spray can make your hair feel softer over time.
9. Avoid Sun Exposure
Ultraviolet rays can damage your hair—according to reliable sources—in the same way they can damage your skin. If you have dry hair, edge your hair’s experience to these rays.
Wear a hat during your daily doings and avoid prolonged sun introduction. If your hair has already been visible to UV rays, applying a little pure aloe vera gel can help repair the damage.
10. Try Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a natural conditioner. This means it fills in gaps in hair strands that have been damaged by heat or sun exposure. A 2005 study demonstrated that coconut oil is particularly effective at penetrating the hair shaft.
Coconut oil improves the overall arrival of the hair by smoothing it strand by strand. You can give your hair a deep conditioning treatment using warm coconut oil once a week:
- Start with dry hair and coconut oil at room temperature.
- Rub a small total of coconut oil between your palms before smearing it, focusing on the ends, the crown, and the roots of your hair.
- Saturate—but do not drench—your hair with coconut oil as you repeat this process, and leave it on for about 20 minutes.
- Rinse thoroughly.
In Conclusion
It is easy to try home remedies for dry hair without taking any risks. However, long-term hair loss and breakage could be signs of an underlying health condition. Consult a dermatologist if you experience the following:
- hair falling out in clumps
- bald patches or patterns of baldness
- hair breakage while combing