Raechele Cochran Gathers, MD Dry hair is a common issue, especially for people with very curly or coiled hair textures. The more curly your hair, the more likely it is to be prone to dryness, fragility and easy breakage. It might take a little more work to keep your head full of curls and coils hydrated and happy—but you can do it! Here are 5 easy ways to fix dry hair.
1. Moisturize Your Hair Regularly—With Water
Oils do not moisturize or hydrate the hair. Only water can do that. Oils do a great job of sealing the hair and can help to strengthen your strands. But water is the master of true hydration. You cannot have hydrated, elastic hair if you are avoiding water.
Make sure that you are washing or co-washing your hair regularly, at least every other week. Between washes, you can keep your hair hydrated by spritzing with water, and then sealing with oil. You can also use a water-based moisturizer. A good one is Camille Rose Almond Jai Twisting Butter. The key is to add moisture to your strands—between washes—whenever they are starting to feel parched.
2. Keep Up on Your Trims
Old split ends are likely to have higher porosity. That means that the hair’s cuticle is more open and ragged, and it’s harder for the hair to hold onto moisture. Trimming your ends regularly will help keep your ends healthy and less porous, and fewer old dry ends make your hair less likely to tangle and break off.
3. Use the Right Hair Products
Be an aggressive reader of ingredient lists. What you put on your matters. Don’t use too much petrolatum or mineral oil on your hair. And if you do, be sure that you’re washing and clarifying your hair to help remove buildup. If you’re looking for a moisturizing hair cream, look for water as a first ingredient. Products like lanolin, petrolatum and mineral oil make the hair look shiny, but they also keep out water. And if your hair is coated with products which block water, it will be harder for your hair to absorb the moisture that it needs to be hydrated and elastic.
4. Dial Down the Heat
There’s nothing wrong with a blow out or flat iron, but you have to be smart about how much heat you’re applying to your hair. Too much heat can suck the moisture out of your hair like a vacuum and leave it weak and brittle. Avoid heat damage by using heat no more than once weekly, and always use a good heat protectant on your hair when you plan to use heat. A good heat protectant is Creme of Nature Argan Oil Perfect 7-in-1 Leave-in Treatment.
Read this post for more on how to treat heat damaged hair.
5. Drink Enough Water
Drinking enough water will ensure that your hair and skin have the hydration they need for optimal health. A good place to start is drinking about eight 8oz. glasses of water a day. But this number can vary depending on your body and your activity level—so you may need more.
6. Sleep on Satin
Get yourself a cute satin or silk bonnet, and rock that thing every night. If a satin bonnet isn’t your style, trade up to satin sheets and pillowcases. Sleeping on cotton will wick moisture from your hair, making dryness issues worse.
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