Treat very dry hair

Video: HOW TO TREAT DRY HAIR | WITH DR. SANDRA LEE

Content

To step
Part 1 of 3: Using quick fixes
Part 2 of 3: Washing your hair properly
Part 3 of 3: Teaching good hair care habits
Tips
Necessities

Dry, straw-like hair can have many causes. Whether you've dyed your hair a lot, used warm tools to style it, or used the wrong hair care products, the problem is usually the same: you've let all the moisture out of your hair so it looks like straw and breaks down quickly . To ensure that your hair becomes silky smooth again, you have to be patient and use the right hair care products, but that does not mean that the coming period has to be a bad hair day every day. There are some things you can do to treat your straw hair right away so that you look better as soon as possible, as well as long-term changes you can make.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Using quick fixes

Get your hair cut. When you have very dry hair, your ends are usually the most damaged. Going to the hairdresser for a haircut will instantly make your hair look better. However, this does not mean that you should have your hair cut very short. Regularly cutting your straw hair will make it look healthier.
- Try to get your hair cut every six to eight weeks.
- You usually only need to get an inch of your hair cut to keep it looking healthier. Consider getting layers cut in your hair to remove the damaged areas without shortening your hair.
Apply a hair mask. Straw hair is dried out and therefore needs a lot of moisture. A hair mask contains more moisturizing ingredients than a regular conditioner and can therefore moisturize your hair better. Apply the mask after you wash and towel dry your hair and leave it on for as long as it says on the package. Rinse the mask from your hair with cool water.
- Look for a hair mask with ingredients that are good for damaged hair, such as jojoba oil, argan oil, wheat proteins, and keratin.
- Wrapping a warm towel made of microfibre cloth or plastic wrap around your head while allowing the mask to soak will help the mask penetrate your hair cuticles and restore your hair. However, do not do this if the mask contains proteins.
- If your hair is very dry and damaged, it may be a good idea to leave the mask in your hair overnight. Put on a shower cap or wrap plastic wrap around your head so that the mask doesn't stain your pillowcases and sheets.
- It is generally recommended to use a mask once a week. However, if your hair is badly damaged, it may be a good idea to use a mask twice a week.
Treat your hair with oil. Very dry hair can benefit greatly from hair oil as the oil moisturizes your hair in a similar way to the natural oils in the hair. Put four or five drops of the oil on your palm and rub your hands together. Spread the oil down your wet hair from ear level and then style your hair as usual.
- There are several oils that are good for the hair, such as argan oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, macadamia oil and almond oil. In the store you can also buy serums with a combination of two or more types of oil.
- How much oil to use depends on how long your hair is, how thick it is, and how badly damaged it is. Start with one or two drops and use more if necessary.
- You can also apply oil to the ends of your very dry hair. Only use one or two drops, however, or your hair may start to look greasy.
- If your hair is very dehydrated, you can treat it with hot oil. Heat the oil pack in a pan of hot water and soak all your hair with it. Put on a shower cap or wrap plastic wrap around your head and let the oil soak in your hair for at least half an hour. Then wash your hair with shampoo.

Part 2 of 3: Washing your hair properly

Wash your hair less often. If you have damaged hair, washing it too often can remove even more moisture from your hair and make it look even worse. Instead of washing your hair every day, wash it every two to three days to keep it hydrated.
- Apply the shampoo to your scalp and then massage the foam down into your hair to prevent your hair from losing too much moisture.
- Make sure to choose a moisturizing shampoo with ingredients like olive oil, argan oil, glycerine, sorbitol and shea butter. Do not use shampoos with mineral oil and petrolatum, as these can leave a film on your hair so that moisture cannot be absorbed.
After shampooing, use a deep conditioner. If your hair is very dry and damaged, a thin, watery conditioner is usually not enough to moisturize it. So, after shampooing, use a deep conditioner that moisturizes the hair strongly. Apply the product to your hair and leave it on for about ten minutes before rinsing your hair with cool water.
- Look for a thick conditioner sold in a tube or jar that has moisturizing ingredients like butters, oils, ceramides and glycerin, as well as fortifying ingredients like keratin, amino acids and hydrolyzed proteins.
- Make sure you apply the deep conditioner especially on your ends.
- It may be enough to use a deep conditioner once a week, but if your hair is very dry it may be a good idea to do this twice a week.
Then use a leave-in conditioner. Even if you use a deep conditioner while shampooing your hair, your hair may need even more moisture. A leave-in conditioner moisturizes your hair all day long because you don't rinse it out. Apply the leave-in conditioner to your still damp hair and comb it through your hair to cover all strands.
- If you have coarse or thick hair, it is best to use a leave-in conditioner in the form of a cream or lotion.

Part 3 of 3: Teaching good hair care habits

Use heat to style your hair as little as possible. Warm tools can make your hair look beautiful, but they also pull moisture out of your hair. That's why warm tools are particularly bad to use if you have very dry hair. Use your curling iron, flat iron and even your hair dryer as little as possible. After shampooing, let your hair air dry and learn to appreciate the natural texture of your hair instead of curling or straightening your hair.
- If you do style your hair with warm tools, always use a heat protectant first to minimize damage to your hair. If you have coarse and thick hair, it is best to use a heat protectant cream or lotion. A spray is more suitable if you have fine and thin hair.
- Use curlers and bobby pins to style your hair in a fun way without heat.
Don't over-dye your hair. If you have very dry hair, it is often because you bleached or dyed it. It's not bad to dye your hair every now and then, but make sure you don't bleach your hair as much as possible. Change your hair color slowly by dyeing it gradually instead of suddenly switching to a completely new color.
Protect your hair from the elements. Your hair is not only damaged by dyes and hot tools. Sun, salt water, chlorine and other environmental influences can also make your hair very dry. Wear a hat or cap to cover your hair if you are going to spend time in the sun. If you are going to swim in the sea or a pool, wet your hair with clean water to prevent it from absorbing the salt water or chlorine, and rinse your hair as soon as possible after swimming.
- Some leave-in conditioners and other hair styling products contain ingredients that protect your hair from UV rays so that your hair is not damaged by the sun.
- It is a good idea to apply a leave-in conditioner to your hair before swimming to prevent it from absorbing harmful chemicals and minerals from the water.
Do not use rough towels and pillow cases. If your hair is damaged, it can be damaged even more by drying it with a towel or sleeping on a linen or cotton pillowcase. To avoid this, dry your hair with a microfiber towel and sleep on a silk pillowcase.

Tips

Do not brush your straw hair with a synthetic bristle brush, as the bristles will catch on your hair more quickly and make it frizz. Opt for a brush with natural bristles, or opt for an even gentler treatment and use a wide tooth comb.
Good health can help repair very dry and damaged hair. Have a balanced diet that is high in lean proteins, omega 3 fatty acids, iron, vitamin A and vitamin C.
Sleeping on a silk pillowcase can be good if your hair is very dry, as there is less friction when you turn around at night and thus your hair becomes less frizzy.