Revitalize Dry Hair with Proven Home Remedies & Expert Tips

Dry hair can feel very brittle, unhealthy and rough to touch.  Additionally it is very difficult to style dry hair. However, in this article we are going to be discussing some amazing home remedies to combat dry hair. Read on to know more.

Dry hair is not a major health concern and it is more to do with the appearance, which can affect a person’s confidence. Dry hair can occur as a result of heat styling, sun exposure, smoking, humidity, bad diet, genetics and other reasons.

Some of the home remedies or tips to get rid of dry hair and get healthy tresses are:

Extreme dry hair can be an indication that your hair badly needs a trim or a haircut.⁽¹⁾ The hair needs a complete overhaul in the form of a new cut. The presence of split ends is common with dry hair and this can cause dryness and coarseness to the texture of the hair and looks very bad and makes it difficult to style hair. Therefore, it is highly recommended to get the dry and split ends trimmed, these are the hairs, which are not healthy and hinder your hair from growing and getting healthy. Your hair styling can also give you tips and recommend a hair cut or hairstyle, which can help prevent further hair dryness and damage.

This is an important tip with regards to heat styling, such as straightening or curling your hair using heat to make the hair more manageable and stylish. This is one of the major reasons for dry and brittle hair.

A study done on hair shaft before and after a session of heat styling, such as blow drying showed that there was considerable damage to the hair.⁽²⁾ If you have to blow dry your hair, then it is important to keep the hair dryer a minimum of 6 inches away from the hair shaft for better results and to cut down on the damage.⁽³⁾

Washing your hair with any hair cleanser, such as shampoo helps in cleaning the hair by removing the sweat and dirt from the hair; however, it also removes the natural oil of the hair produced by the scalp, which is known as sebum.⁽⁴⁾ Sebum helps in bettering the health of the hair and is a natural way to combat hair dryness, provide moisture and makes the hair shiny and easier to maintain. Excessive sebum, however, can cause hair to look greasy.

People with normal hair and especially those with dry hair should not wash their hair daily, as it strips the hair of sebum and makes it dry and brittle. Washing hair on alternative days is recommended for healthy hair. If you have to wash your hair daily, then it is recommended to use a shampoo, which is specifically made for dry hair. One can also use baby shampoo, as these are mild and gently clean the hair without excessively drying it.

Vitamins are an important part of your diet and are needed for healthy body as well as hair. There are some vitamins, which are directly beneficial for the hair and nails, as they both are made of keratin. Vitamins such as vitamin H (biotin) Vitamin A, vitamin C and also iron (a mineral) helps with hair growth, hair fall and in making the hair healthier.⁽⁵⁾

There are many people who take prenatal vitamins for their hair health, as it contains all the above vitamins. Taking the biotin supplement only is also a good way to help with your hair issues. However, recent studies have shown that biotin doesn’t make that big a difference.⁽²⁾ Other than this, marine protein supplements also help with the health of the hair.⁽⁵⁾

Hot water, especially very hot water should be avoided when showering as hot water also strips the natural oil from the hair making it drier and also from the skin of the body. Using cold water when showering has many health benefits, which include encouraging hair growth and preventing dryness.⁽⁶⁾ If you cannot use cold water for showering then after you have completed the shower with warm water (not hot) then make sure to give your hair a final rinse with a comparatively cold water for a couple of minutes. This will refresh your scalp and revitalize your hair.

Marine proteins have huge benefits for the hair and help in preventing thinning of the hair and make them shiny and healthy.⁽⁵⁾ If you don’t want to take supplements, then increase the amount of marine proteins intake in your diet to avail great benefits for hair. Marine proteins consist of: oysters, salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines. These are all full of omega-3s and peptides, which make your hairs shine with health.

For countering the oxidative stress, one should try to consume more antioxidants as this stress causes aging of the hair.⁽⁷⁾ Foods that are loaded with antioxidants are: kidney beans, walnuts, broccoli, blueberries and tomatoes. Healthy fats, such as present in canola oil and olive oil are also beneficial for hair health.

If you feel hair is feeling more dry and brittle and you are having problems in styling after washing it, the reason for this could be loss of excessive moisture from the hair and the culprit is most likely the way you are drying your hair. It is better to wrap your hair with a soft muslin cloth after washing, which will be gentle on the hair and helps in drying the hair by absorbing the water from the hair.

When sleeping also, it is recommended to use a silk or satin pillowcase to retain moisture in the hair strands and to prevent it from getting absorbed into the pillow cover. Silk or satin pillow cases are smooth on the hair and help in preventing frizz. A study from 2011 showed that leaving hair wet for long duration is causing equal damage as from blow drying.⁽⁸⁾

Coconut oil is one of the best natural emollients, which help the hair by filling the gaps in the hair strands and making it stronger. A study from 2005 revealed that coconut oil is especially helpful in penetrating the hair fibers and smoothing the hair strands and enhancing the overall appearance and health of the hair.⁽⁹⁾ One can also try hot oil treatment using coconut oil once a fortnight.

Sun exposure to the hair can cause damage as the UV rays can damage the hair shaft in the same manner as it does for the skin.⁽¹⁰⁾ Individuals having the problem of dry hair should strictly protect their hair from the harsh sun by wearing a hat or scarf to prevent hair damage from sun exposure.

One of the most popular oil for hair is Moroccan Argan oil, which is becoming a popular home remedy for combating dry hair. It is not yet clear how this oil is beneficial to hair.⁽¹¹⁾ however, there is no harm in trying it as it is easy to incorporate in your hair care routine by adding some drops of Argan oil to the ends of the hair, giving the hair a shiny and healthy appearance. Other essential oils, such as lavender oil, rosemary oil and peppermint oil also can help in halting hair fall and preventing hair breakage.^{(12, 13, 14, 15)}

Home remedies and these simple tips are extremely easy to follow in repairing the dry and brittle hair and what’s more, these remedies are not only effective, but also easy on the pocket and how amazing is that! However, if your hair continue to be persistently dry and brittle and you are suffering from hair fall and hair breakage, then it can be an indication of some underlying health issue and it is better to consult a dermatologist, especially when having these symptoms, such as: bald spots or bald patches; hair falling out in clumps and lot of hair breakage when brushing and combing.

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Also Read:

• What Causes Dry Hair & Treatments to Get Rid of it?
• What Causes Dry Hair & Which are the Natural Moisturizers For Dry Hair?