Dry hair is a condition where your hair doesn't have enough natural oils to maintain moisturization. The condition occurs when your scalp doesn't make enough oil or your hair doesn't retain enough moisture. When you're experiencing dry hair, it can become dull, lifeless, brittle, and easily damaged.
Common Causes of Dry Hair
Dry hair has a variety of causes, including environmental factors, hair care habits, or health and diet.
Environmental Factors
Living in a dry, hot climate, excessive exposure to sun, wind, dry air, and other harsh environmental factors can strip moisture from your hair. Hard water with a high mineral content or frequent swimming in chlorinated or salt water can lead to dry, brittle, and easily damaged hair.
Hair Care Habits
Poor hair care habits can also cause your hair to become dry. Washing your hair too often can remove natural oils. The excessive use of hot styling tools such as hair dryers, curling irons, and straighteners can remove moisture and damage your hair. In addition, harsh chemical treatments, including frequent coloring, perming, or relaxing, can damage and dry hair.
Health and Diet
Nutritional deficiencies and dehydration can both lead to dry hair. A well-balanced, nutritional diet filled with essential vitamins and minerals and plenty of water is vital for maintaining healthy hair. In some cases, the cause of dry hair is an underlying medical condition such as:
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Anorexia nervosa
- Hypothyroidism
- Menkes syndrome
Treatments for Dry Hair
The first step in treating dry hair is determining the cause. If an underlying medical condition is the cause, your hair may improve as your doctor treats your ailment. You can often treat your dry hair by changing your lifestyle habits.
Adjusting Hair Care Routine
Avoid washing your hair too often. Unless you work out daily or sweat excessively, you should be able to wash your hair every two or three days instead of every day. Limiting how frequently you shampoo will help to retain the natural oils that protect your hair.
It would help if you also chose a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner designed for dry hair. Sulfate-free products specifically made to treat dry hair will have fewer drying detergents.
Finally, avoid or reduce the use of hot styling tools. Try to air dry your hair or use heat tools on a lower setting. If you must use hot tools like curling irons, straighteners, and hairdryers, use heat protectant spray.
Lifestyle and Environment
Lifestyle and environment play crucial roles in the health of your hair. It's vital to keep your body hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Staying hydrated from the inside out is crucial for healthy hair. You can also use a humidifier in your home to add moisture to the air.
If you enjoy spending time swimming, take precautions to protect your hair from salt water and chlorine. Thoroughly saturate your hair with fresh water before swimming to limit the amount of pool or ocean water your hair absorbs, and always rinse your hair after swimming to eliminate any residue that could dry your hair.
Health and Diet
Keeping your scalp and hair healthy requires a well-balanced, nutritious diet. Your body needs plenty of essential vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamins A, C, D, E, and omega-3 fatty acids, to produce your hair's natural oils.
A sudden change in your hair, such as dryness, is often one of the first symptoms of an undiagnosed medical issue and shouldn't be taken lightly. In addition, some medications and medical treatments can affect scalp health and lead to dry hair.
Get Help From the Experts
Dry hair can be challenging to deal with, especially if you're unsure of the cause or if there are several contributing factors. Determining the exact cause of your dry hair is critical to determining the best treatment to return the shine and body to your locks. At LH Hair, we can help.
Our team of experts can help identify what is causing your dry hair and offer solutions to meet your specific needs. To learn more about the causes and treatments for dry hair, contact us today to schedule your FREE initial consultation.
