How should I care for dry hair?
Asked by: Anonymous
Answers (2)
A great way to replenish dry summer hair is to saturate clean, damp hair with a heavy moisturizer or reconstructor, twist your hair into a bun or braid, and wear it to the beach under a hat. The heat from the sun will open the cuticles of the hair and allow the hair to better absorb the moisturizer or reconstructor.
- Be sure to choose a reconstructor or heavy moisturizer that is different from your daily conditioner. Most salons and beauty supply stores will have an assortment of these types of products. This same treatment can be accomplished year round in a steam room or dry sauna at your local gym or spa. Once the treatment is done, simply rinse the hair clean. There's no need to re-shampoo.
- If your hair is curly or wavy, please remember that it will require more moisture than straight hair, simply because it's the nature of the hair. Therefore, wavy and curly hair may need to be conditioned more often to avoid fuzziness. If this doesn't help, consider using a milder shampoo that is for color-treated hair. Even if your hair isn't color treated, it is ok to use a color-safe shampoo because it's a milder product.
- Another trick for dry hair is to skip daily shampoos. On days two and three, rinse the hair thoroughly in the shower, and recondition the ends. However, on day four, the hair should be shampooed to both stimulate the scalp and remove oily build-up on the scalp that can clog pores or cause odor.
- Leave-in moisturizers are another great way to help add shine and bounce to naturally curly hair. If you're someone who uses a heavy gel on your curls to 'lock' the curl into place, a leave-in conditioner can help act as a buffer to protect the hair from the alcohol in the gel. When it comes to curly and wavy hair: moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.
If you're like most women, you have dry hair from time to time. But did you know that the causes of that dryness changes depending on the season? You should, because each seasonal cycle has its own problems and preferred treatments. So here are the Beauty Brains' tips for dealing with dessicated tresses in the winter and summer.
Winter Dry Hair
1. Low humidity causes increased moisture loss and makes hair brittle
- Use a good rinse out conditioner with dimethicone, if your hair can tolerate silicones. (Some women don't like them but they're really the most effective moisturizer for hair.) And if your scalp gets dry and itchy you may also need to use a dry scalp shampoo.
2. Cold, dry weather creates greater static flyway
- Add a leave in treatment to your regimen (use a cream instead of a spray for extra conditioning).
3. Increased heat styling physically damages hair
- Since you're less likely to go outside with your hair wet when it's cold outside, you're probably blow drying more. And that's hard on your hair. Use a leave in cream or spray that coats your hair to protect from heat appliances. (That'll help with flyaways too.)
Summer Dry Hair
1. High heat increases moisture loss
- Summer dryness is all about heat, which evaporates moisture. Again, using a good rinse out is crucial. But you might want to find a lighter weight conditioner in the summer since high humidity and sweat will make your locks go limp a lot quicker.
2. Exposure to sunlight can also dry hair by damaging protein (and can help fade your color too)
- Extreme sun can actually melt your hair! Be sure you're using conditioner to fight the effects of damage. A popular myth is that shampoos and conditioners with UV absorbers will help, but as we previously showed, sunscreens don't do much for your hair. Of course, wearing a hat or staying out of the sun is the best protection!
3. Drying from over-shampooing
- Sweaty summer activities can lead to more frequent shampooing which can be harder on your hair. Try alternating your regular shampoo with a 2 in 1 or even a baby shampoo if you feel your hair and scalp are being overly stripped from too much washing.
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