When your hair feels dry to the touch, it may also be brittle and hard to style. But having dry hair doesn’t mean that you have a larger health problem, or that there’s anything wrong with the hair that you have.
Sun exposure, heat styling, humidity, smoking, and more can all contribute to hair that’s damaged and dry.
The good news is that there are a few things you can do if you feel like reducing the dryness of your hair.
Get a Trim
If your hair is too dry, it might need a reset in the form of a fresh cut. Even if your hair isn’t very long, split ends can make hair hard to style and contribute to it feeling dry or coarse.
Visit your stylist and trim off the hair that’s unhealthy and weighing down fresh hair growth. While you’re there, ask the stylist if they have any tips for your particular hair type and length. They may recommend a new styling routine that can keep your hair from being damaged.
Take Vitamins
You know that you need certain vitamins to nourish your body. But certain vitamins directly impact the health of your hair and nails, too. Vitamin A, vitamin C, biotin (sometimes called vitamin H). And the mineral iron will all contribute to hair that looks healthier.
Because prenatal vitamins contain all of the above vitamins, some people take them just for the way they affect their hair. It’s also popular at the moment to take supplements that contain only biotin to make your hair look better.
Avoid Washing Your Hair Every Day
Shampoo removes dirt and sweat from your hair, but it also strips your hair of sebumTrusted Source. Sebum is the natural oil that makes your hair easier to maintain and when you have the right amount, shiny. Too much sebum leads to a greasy hair appearance.
But you probably don’t need to be stripping your hair of sebum every day you can most likely wash your hair every other day. And see your hair appear healthier as a result. If you can’t go a day in between washing, at least use a shampoo specifically for dry hair or even try baby shampoo. Both are mildly cleansing without stripping hair completely of its natural oil.
Wrap Your Hair Instead of Air Drying
If your hair is brittle and difficult to style after you wash it, it could be losing too much moisture during the drying process. Try wrapping your hair with a cloth or towel after you wash it instead of letting it air dry.
If you sleep with your hair wet, use a silk pillowcase to keep your hair’s moisture from getting absorbed into your pillows.
Try Colder Showers
The hot water that you use to rinse your body in the shower might also be scalding your hair. Cold showers have some health benefits, and making hair grow faster could be among them.
After you shampoo and condition your hair in the shower, rinse. Your hair is under a cooler temperature of water for a minute or two. To revitalize strands and refresh your scalp.
Use Essential Oils
Moroccan argan oil has become a popular home remedy for dry hair. Using a few drops of argan oil on the ends of your hair may give it a more finished and supple appearance. Other essential oils, like peppermint oil and lavender oil. May help stop hair loss and prevent breakage.
Mixing argan oil, peppermint oil, lavender oil, and a carrier oil like coconut oil together to make a quick spritz hair perfume. May make your hair feel less dry over time.
Are You Washing your Hair too Much?
The shampoo is designed to clean the scalp and remove excess oil. But if it’s overused or if you work it all the way down the length of your hair, shampoo can damage your hair. Shampoo strips the important oils the scalp produces and can leave the hair and scalp too dry. To prevent this, only shampoo the roots of your hair. The ends will be cleaned when you rinse the shampoo out of your roots.
“If people didn’t rely on these detergents so much the quality of people’s skin would probably be better. Especially as people get older. People in their 40s and 50s who are still washing their hair. And scrubbing themselves as if they were teenagers are really damaging their skin. It takes a long time to fix that.”
Dandruff and Shampoo
Your dandruff may actually be a sign of overwashing. Dry hair, itching, and persistent flaking or dandruff are all symptoms of an overly dry scalp. But that doesn’t mean we should all banish washing our hair forever.
There’s a feeling out there that some of the natural hair oils are helpful for the hair. And that’s certainly true, especially for people with curly hair. But you don’t need all of the oil you are producing on the hair all the time.
Shampooing less often is more of a personal preference. Some people may experience itching when they wash less frequently. But for the most part, shampooing less will only change the appearance and feel of the hair. In extreme cases, you can get clogged pores or dandruff. Some people benefit from skipping traditional detergent-based shampoo altogether or using it rarely.
Dry Shampoo
Unlike the name suggests, the powder or spray cleaner isn’t actually cleaning your hair. Instead, it’s absorbing some of the oil and prevents your hair from clumping. But dry shampoo certainly has its place. Hughes recommends it for people who physically can’t wash their hair. Or who want to extend the time between washes.
Water-only fans of water-only washing tout gorgeous locks and bouncy curls. But there isn’t research on the benefits or downsides of only using water. But the water-only method also leaves out any moisturizing. You get from conditioner or hydrating shampoos.
Read More: Best ideas hair cutting style for females in 2021
Risks and Warnings
Adding more biotin-rich foods to your diet doesn’t carry any risks. However, you should always check with your doctor before adding a new supplement to your routine.
Biotin doesn’t have any known interactions, but your doctor should still confirm supplement use alongside any other medications you may be taking.
Your doctor can also provide more individual information about dosage and potential side effects.
Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin, so any extra biotin in your body will flush out through your urine. This makes a potential overdose unlikely.
If you develop any unusual or unexpected skin rash after increasing your biotin intake, see your doctor immediately. In rare cases, this is a sign of a biotin overdose.
Your doctor will check for the following to confirm an overdose:
- low vitamin C levels
- low vitamin B6 levels
- high blood sugar levels
- the decline in insulin production
If your doctor confirms that you’re getting too much biotin, they will reduce your recommended dosage.