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How do you treat extremely dry hair?
Dry hair is manageable with hair serum, conditioner, oil and lifestyle strategies.
Dull, frizzy and unmanageable hair haunts most of our hair care dreams. When hair is stripped of its moisture and becomes dry, it’s also more vulnerable to tangling, breakage and hair loss. Hair becomes dry due to several factors including
- Using heat too often on your hair for styling
- Excessive use of chemicals on your hair in the form of hair styling products or hair dyes and cleansers
- Shampooing your hair too often or using an anti-dandruff shampoo
- Using blow dryers too often
- Not using a conditioner after you shampoo
- Exposing your hair to harsh weather (such as cold or hot and dry weather, dry wind)
- Bleaching your hair
- Hormonal problems such as hypothyroidism
- A diet deficient in protein and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals)
Although dry and damaged hair is a bother, you can use simple tricks and lifestyle changes to restore your hair. Some of these tricks include
- Make eggs a staple for your hair care routine: Eggs are not just great to eat, they are also beneficial for your hair. Add some egg white to your shampoo and wash your hair with it for a nourishing wash. You can also prepare a hair mask at home using an egg. Crack an egg (both yolk and egg white) into a bowl. Add two teaspoons of yogurt and a teaspoon of honey to it. Mix the ingredients well. Apply this mask to your washed hair. Leave it on for about 30 minutes to one hour and wash your hair. This will make your hair smooth, voluminous and lustrous. Eating an egg daily will help fulfil your daily protein requirement, so include eggs in your diet.
- Give your hair a regular oil massage: Moisturize your scalp with a warm oil massage. It also stimulates the hair follicles to encourage hair growth. Do a gentle oil massage for 30 minutes to one hour before you wash your hair to help repair and prevent damage. You can use oils such as olive oil or coconut oil mixed with a few drops of an essential oil such as tea tree oil and peppermint oil to stimulate your hair follicles.
- Say goodbye to heat styling for your hair: Applying heat to your hair to curl, straighten or dry it can do a lot of damage. Refrain from using heat on your hair in any form. If possible, do not wash your hair with hot water. At least give it a final cold water rinse to lock in moisturizer.
- Apply hair conditioner often: Every time you wash your hair, it loses moisture and oils. Use a conditioner after you shampoo your hair to add moisture and to strengthen your hair. You can use both wash off and leave-in conditioners.
- Use hair serum: Hair serum doesn’t just moisturize your hair, it also protects it from damaging effects of sunlight, heat and dust. Apply a few drops of hair serum to your washed hair while it is still damp and you are good to go.
- Hydrate your hair from within: No matter what you apply to your hair, it is essential to hydrate your body from within. Drink plenty of water and nonalcoholic drinks. Coconut water is a good choice.
- Eat a healthy diet for healthy hair: A diet rich in protein, vitamins and minerals is essential for healthy hair. Some of the food items that you can include in your diet to get healthy hair include eggs, fish, berries, nuts, spinach and other leafy greens, and fruits such as avocados and oranges. Vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids are vital for healthy hair. You may take over-the-counter multivitamins or ask your doctor about which multivitamins and other supplements you can take for healthy hair. Micronutrients such as biotin, vitamin C and vitamin E can make your hair grow faster and thicker. You may also take omega-3 fatty acid supplements such as fish oil capsules to stimulate hair growth.
- Choose your hair products wisely: The fewer chemicals you expose your hair to, the better it becomes. Chemicals such as sulfates in your shampoo can strip away natural oils and moisture from your hair making it dry, frizzy and brittle. Choose mild and sulfate-free hair products to protect your hair from damage.
- Use a protective hair rinse: Dry brittle hair can be a big problem for swimmers. Use this simple hair rinse before you swim to protect your hair from harm. Add one quarter cup of apple cider vinegar (ACV) to three-fourths of a cup of water and rinse your hair with it. Apply a conditioner afterwards.