Dry Hair Care

Dry hair can occur at any time of the year but it's often more noticeable during the Winter months.

Cold air, wind and other weather related changes can cause hair to become dry and brittle due to a variety of factors which all are primarily related to loss of moisture in the hair.

When hair is lacking in moisture it can become dry and brittle. A side effect of dry hair is frizziness and/or static cling.

All hair needs to have the proper water content (moisture) combined with the right amount of protein and natural oils (sebum).

What can you do to counter the effects of dry hair?

Listed below are some known cures:

1. Add moisture from the inside out.

Make sure that you drink 8-10 glasses of water every day to keep necessary moisture flowing to your hair roots and to your cuticles.

2. Shampoo hair only when necessary.

It is always better to shampoo less often then more often. When possible shampoo only once or twice a week. The longer you wait between shampoo periods the more time the natural sebum has to build up on the scalp. Except when absolutely necessary only apply one round of shampoo.

3. Shampoo only with lukewarm water.

Although it feels great in cold weather, hot water will strip the natural oils. When the natural oils are stripped it can make hair feel even more dry and brittle.

4. Shampoo with moisturizing formulas

Cleanse with products which advertise they are moisturizing, smoothing or prominently list humectants (natural when possible) on the label. To be healthy hair generally needs a 8-10% moisture level. Humectant or similar ingredients will help attract and hold moisture in the hair.

5. Cleanse with moisturizing products rather than shampoo

Unless you dip your hair into a daily pile of coal or dirt, you may be able to cleanse your hair with water and a rinse-out conditioner. The trick to this tip is to get hair very wet to make sure all loose debris is washed out from the scalp and the strands. Mix 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of a light rinse out conditioner with a quart of lukewarm water and shake to make a sudsy mixture.

Drizzle over wet strands. Pat suds into hair as you would with a diluted shampoo products. Do not rub or scrub. Use pads of fingertips to lightly massage the scalp. Rinse well and apply an undiluted rinse out conditioner as well as a leave-in. If appropriate apply a deep conditioning mask.

6. Opt for diluting shampoo formula to minimize drying out the strands.

Combine 1/4 to 1/2 of shampoo with 1 quart of water in a clean bottle. Shake until a suds forms. Wet hair well and then drizzle foam down the head from the scalp to the ends. Pat the suds into the hair to help remove dirt or grime but to not rub. Do not pull hair up onto the top of the head which can cause damage.

7. Apply consistent and regular conditioning treatments.

Conditioning treatments may include, but not be limited to, a rinse out conditioner, a leave-in conditioner and when appropriate deep conditioning masks. Look for conditioning products that contain wheat, rice and/or corn proteins that repair and strengthen dry or damaged cuticle. It will also improve the hair's overall porosity and elasticity while minimizing frizz, brittleness and other dry hair symptoms.

8. In between cleansing treatments use jojoba or other essential oils on ends and dry areas to replace moisture.

If the ends of your hair get dry in-between cleansing treatments use a little jojoba oil (or a product with a jojoba base) warmed in the palms of your hands and applied to the dry ends. If other sections of the hair get dry you can also apply a little bit of hair oil to the palms of your hands and lightly brushed over the top of the dry sections.

9.  Air Dry Instead of Blow Drying

Hot blow dryer air will definitely add to hair that is dry and moisture robbed.  When possible shampoo hair, towel blot to remove maximum moisture.  Consider rolling hair in "hair friendly" rollers, wet bunning hair or using a blow dryer only when the hair is 85% dry set to the lowest speed and coolest temperature.

10.  Add oil naturally to the diet. Consider eating olive oil drizzled on salads.  Add healthy proteins such as fish and grilled chicken.  Healthy hair requires good proteins to thrive.

Consider the option to take hair vitamins and supplement with flaxseed or other essential fatty acids.

11.  Protect hair from the elements. Whether in Winter or Summer it's important to keep hair protected from the wind, the sun and other environmental toxins.  Consider wearing a cute hat, cap or scarf.

Avoid riding in convertibles with hair flowing free  Always keep hair securely clipped or pinned up.