Raechele Cochran Gathers, MD If your hair lacks elasticity and breaks easily, there’s a good chance that it’s dry. While cold dry air can wreak havoc on your skin, it can also do a number on your hair! When it’s cold out, your hair can become dry, crunchy, brittle and prone to breakage. And this will make it hard to retain length.
Why Does Natural Hair Get Dry?
African American hair, whether natural or relaxed, is much more likely to be dry than naturally straight hair types. This is due, in part, to the natural twists, curls and coils of natural hair. Hair follicles normally make a natural oil called sebum. On straight hair, the sebum moves directly from the scalp down the hair shaft without much interruption. That is why women with straight hair often complain of oily hair if they don’t shampoo frequently.
In African American natural hair, and other textured hair types, sebum must travel numerous coils and twists to get from the scalp to the ends of the hair. This is one reason that natural hair and highly textured hair may be naturally drier. Aside from being naturally prone to some degree of dryness, here are other reasons why natural hair may be dry.
Three Reasons For Dry Hair
1. Not Adding Enough Moisture to your Hair.
When your hair is naturally dry, water is a necessity. To be properly moisturized, your hair needs water. Co-washing, water rinsing every few days, and nightly spritzing and sealing are all wonderful for keeping natural hair hydrated. Many people find that when they start to co-wash a few days a week, the hair feels more hydrated and grows longer faster. When properly hydrated, your hair will feel better, have greater elasticity, and be more likely to grow without breaking off.
2. Using the Wrong Styling Products
Hair products with petrolatum and mineral oil can coat the hair, making it less able to absorb water. It’s important to use the right products for your hair type. Products with mineral oil, lanolin, petrolatum and silicone make it very difficult for your hair shaft to absorb the moisture that it needs to be hydrated and elastic. So, if you frequently use products with these ingredients, and then only wash your hair every 2 or 3 weeks, your hair has literally been starving for water for weeks! This can result in dry brittle hair that has trouble retaining length. As an alternative to occlusive hair products, consider natural oils such as baobab or shea. Here are some ingredients in hair care products to look out for.
3. Too Much Heat
As a general rule, you should try not to apply heat to your hair more frequently than once weekly. When applying heat, you should never allow your hair straightener to go above 350 degrees. Only clean and dry hair should be straightened with heat, and you should always use a device with dialed temperature control. Also, always use a heat protectant. Without one, you run the risk of heat damage, which will make your dryness worse! Check out this post on how to stretch your natural hair with heat safely!
Conclusion
Besides the three causes of dry hair mentioned here, there can be other causes of excessive dryness, some quite serious. Certain infections, vitamin deficiencies and illnesses can cause your hair to be dry. So if you’re experiencing dry hair, it’s a good idea to see a dermatologist to make sure that you’re on the right track
