Quick Fixes For Dry, Brittle Hair

We all remember a time in our lives when our hair was long, luscious, and seemingly infinitely flexible. However, over the years, it can change. Eventually, our locks can become bone dry, brittle, and even unpleasant for us to run our fingers through.

There are all sorts of things that can cause brittle hair – heat exposure, humidity, smoking, and bad hair products – but there are also many ways to solve the problem, too. Here’s what you need to do to reduce dryness:

Reduce Heat Styling

Heat styling is a major cause of brittle hair. Styling irons and even blow dryers can damage hair, leaving it looking brittle and unloved.

Avoid irons unless it is a special occasion. And if you must blow-dry your hair, hold the blow dryer at least six inches away from the shafts themselves to stop them from drying out. It should be a gentle experience, not an exercise in getting the water to evaporate as quickly as possible.

Go for a Cold Shower

Hot showers are another heat-related cause of dry hair. Sometimes, showers are so hot that it actually scalds the hair, damaging it in the process.

Cold showers, on the other hand, have some benefits. Firstly, they won’t damage your hair. And, secondly, they may help it to grow faster by changing the way your scalp functions. Cold stress may enable follicles to build new hair faster.

Add Essential Oils

Some hairstyles, particularly long wavy hairstyles, can benefit from essential oils. Just adding a few drops of argan oil to hair ends can give them a more finished and supple appearance. In addition, there are certain types of essential oil, including lavender and peppermint, that may prevent hair loss from occurring at all.

Trim Your Hair

Sometimes, the best policy for dry hair is to reset it and start again. A fresh cut gets rid of all the split ends and provides you with an opportunity to nourish your locks from scratch instead of trying to undo all the damage already done.

Take Your Vitamins

The quality of your diet also has a powerful effect on your hair. If you are eating junk food and your body lacks the proper vitamins and minerals it needs to produce high-quality hair, you’ll wind up with lackluster results.

If cooking isn’t your strong point, you can take a multivitamin supplement. Look for products that contain biotin, vitamin C, vitamin A, and iron. These nutrients are important for proper hair growth but are sometimes in short supply in a regular diet.

Add Flax and Antioxidants to Your Diet

Flaxseed is one of the most powerful anti-aging ingredients on the market. What’s more, because it is high in omega-3s, it is also exceptionally good for your hair. You’ll notice that, over time, it starts to look shinier and healthier. It will also stretch more when you pull it, thanks to the effect of the increased collagen fibers.

Hair can also become brittle if subjected to excessive oxidative stress. You can bring this down by adding highly anti-inflammatory foods to your diet, including broccoli, tomatoes, blueberries, and kidney beans.

Don’t Wash Your Hair Every Day

Even if your hair has a habit of getting greasy, it’s a bad idea to wash it every day. Instead, leave the shampoo for the weekend and allow your hair’s natural oils to nourish your scalp and strands throughout the week. You’ll notice how, over time, the quality of your hair improves.

If you really must use shampoo, try using formulas designed for babies. These tend to be significantly gentler on the hair and less likely to dry it out.

Wrap Your Hair Instead

Wrapping your hair in a towel and waiting for it to dry might not be as rapid as using a hair dryer, but it is certainly a lot kinder. Allowing your hair to dry passively avoids exposing it to excessive heat which can damage the delicate sheath that surrounds the main hair shaft.

Use Coconut Oil

Lastly, you might want to add coconut oil to your hair care regimen. Coconut oil is effective because it is a natural emollient, filling the gaps in your hair strands damaged by heat or the sun. Coconut oil has a unique ability to penetrate hair fibers and nourish them from the outside in.

Applying coconut oil is easy. Make sure that your hair is dry and at room temperature. Then rub a blob of coconut oil between your fingers until it melts before massaging it into your hair, crown first. Leave it in for 20 minutes and then rinse it out with lukewarm water.