Male Hair With Very Dry Hair

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Question

Hi,

I am a 20s somthing male with hair that is very dry. I apply conditioner to it every time after I wash it, but it always returns to its previous dry state. I use Prell Shampoo or what I can buy the cheapest at the dollar store.  I wash it every day in the shower. I also apply a bit of styling gel and then blow dry my hair.

Any tips please?

George

Answer

Hi George,

There could be several factors contributing to your ongoing dry hair problem which are listed below:

1.  You are washing your hair in hot or very hot water.  Although hot water feels good on the head and skin, especially during the cold day of Fall and Winter, it can dehydrate your hair to the point that it will feel very dry.

2.  You are using a shampoo that can be drying.  While it's fine to use the cheapest shampoo you can find, they can be loaded with chemicals that are naturally harsh on most types of hair.  The way to get around that is to do a Diluted Shampoo (DS) wash.

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If your budget allows you to switch you may wish to look for shampoo formulas that state they are hydrating.  Or you can also use a diluted shampoo formula.

How To Do A Diluted Shampoo

Although there are several popular methods for creating a Diluted Shampoo mix, try the following steps:

A.  Mix a dime sized amount of your cheap shampoo with 12-14 ounces of lukewarm water in a clean plastic bottle, bowl or similar container.

B. Shake the shampoo/water mix to form a suds.

C. Get hair really wet under the shower and then dizzle the Diluted Shampoo mix over the top of your wet head.

D. Pat, don't rub, the formula into your hair.  Gently massage with the pads of your fingers to remove any oil or dirt.

E.  Rinse well will lukewarm water.  Only do this one time.  Apply a light rinse-out conditioner if desired.

F.  Finish your shower with a cool or cold water rinse which holds in moisture and prevents strands from becoming too dry.

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3.  You may need a heavier conditioner that what you're currently using.  Experiment with either applying a light rinse-out conditioner after you rinse out the diluted shampoo or try a heavier cream leave-in conditioner.   You may even want to experiment with using both.

The advantage of the rinse-out is that it will add back a little bit of moisture but will not make hair as hydrated as a leave-in conditioner.

4.  You may be able to shampoo your hair less often, even with a diluted mixture.  Try giving your hair a cleansing break over the weekends.  This will allow the natural oils to collect and prevent your hair and scalp from becoming overly dry.

5.  You may need a heat protection product to minimize the drying effect of your daily blow dryer sessions.  Instead of using a using a styling gel you might wish to switch to a styling cream which is less drying.  Or you may wish to spritz your hair with a heat protectant spray before blow drying.

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Other drying habits might include, but not be limited to:

a.  Drying your hair with a towel.  Instead of rubbing, gently pat your hair dry.  Rubbing causes friction with the hair and cause it to become dry or develop static cling.

b.  Use of any other heat styling tools.  If you use a flat iron to fine tune your blow out, this can cause hair to become more dry.

c.  Spending a lot of time out in the sun or wind can dry out strands.  If you find yourself in these situations consider wearing a cap to keep strand damage to a minimum.

Other options besides extending the time in-between cleansing times is to apply a tiny bit of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), jojoba oil or similar to the palms of your hands and massage well.  Apply just a tiny bit to your scalp to add moisture.

The danger with this practice is that your hair may become too oily which will make your hair greasy.  The other danger is that is might leave an oily residue on your pillow or bedclothes.

Ultimately you have several options you can try.  I hope they do the trick for you.  Please let me know if you have additional questions.

 Credits:  Image From Fantastic Sams & MTV

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