From heat tools, slicked-back ponytails (ouch), and chemical styling – everyday life can be pretty brutal on your hair.
If you don’t switch up your routine, give your hair the chance to replenish itself, or are simply not using products that can help to nourish your strands deep down, sooner or later you’re going to notice that your hair is beginning to look and feel straw-like.
If your hair is regularly bleached or dyed, then this process will begin to weaken your hair due to the way that it alters your hair’s natural composition.
Eventually, the pigment of your hair can break and the cuticles can swell, which will not only lead to damaged strands but will also leave your hair feeling dry to the touch.
The same goes for regular use of straighteners or other types of heat products, which can cause your hair to lose water and in turn, lose its softness and elasticity.
So, what can you do? The answer to that is pretty simple – you’re going to need to make sure that your hair is regularly getting all of the hydrating nourishment it needs to stay soft and bouncy. The only problem, however, is figuring out how to go about doing it, and that’s where we come in to lend you (and your hair) a helping hand.
Below, we’re going to be going into a little bit more detail about the main causes of brittle hair, as well as how to restore it back to its silky and shiny self.
So, without further ado, read on for some of the best ways that you can quench your thirsty hair today, and turn those locks of yours from lackluster to luscious!
What are the main causes of dry hair?
Dry, brittle hair can be caused by a number of different factors, and it’s important to note that these can be both internal and external.
Though brittle hair can most commonly be caused by heat (cold water for your hair in the shower can help and be careful with the hairdryer), chemical treatments, and even air pollution within cities, sometimes the biggest cause of brittle hair can be down to a hormonal imbalance or lack of a specific nutrient.
If you suspect that your hair is brittle and damaged but aren’t too sure, then the biggest indicator that your hair is in need of some TLC is a lack of volume, frizziness, and, of course, if it is feeling dry when you touch it.
Brittle hair is also known to knot and tangle very easily, and more often than not has split ends caused by breakages within the middle of the strands, which can also lead to thinning.
Here’s what you should do to help get your hair back on track:
Heat protection!
Using a heat protection product is one of the best ways that you can protect your hair from becoming brittle, and you should use it if you live in a hot climate, or if you regularly find yourself using heat styling tools, such as curling irons or hair straighteners.
When in use, a heat protectant will be able to form a protective barrier between the surface of your hair and the hot temperature of the tool.
This will then ensure that you are able to style your hair the way you want without causing any snagging or damage to the fibers of your hair.
Not just that, but a heat protectant will also be able to reduce water loss by lowering the conduction of heat from the styling tool, which will ensure that the water volume and proteins within your hair stay intact.
Need a recommendation? Ingredients such as wheat protein and PVP acrylates copolymer are just the ticket for heat-styled hair and then treating your hair to a fortifying protein mask at least once a week.
Regularly change hairstyles
Like we mentioned earlier, hairstyles such as tight ponytails can lead to brittle hair due to the way it pulls on your roots, and this can then lead to breakage.
So, if you like to wear your hair up in a pony or tight braids each day, then we recommend considering wearing your hair down or in a loose bun from time to time, as these hairstyles are far less likely to cause stress on the follicles of your hair.
Steer clear of texturizers and shine serums
Though it can be tempting to opt for hair-enhancing products such as texturizers and shine serums, these types of products can more often than not lead to dryness and breakage due to the salt and alcohol content that is often included within the formula.
However, if you want to continue using these types of products, we recommend going for all-natural products that don’t contain any of these ingredients – or simply restricting your usage of them.
Use a strengthening shampoo and conditioner
Last but certainly not least, one surefire way to make sure that your hair is getting all of the thirst-quenching hydration it needs is by making sure that you are using the correct shampoo and conditioner.
Ideally, if your hair is brittle, then we recommend looking for shampoo and conditioning products that are enriched with pro-keratin, as this ingredient is able to penetrate deep into the strands of your hair to moisturize, replenish and help restore elasticity.
Plus, if you’re already big on your skincare, then we’re sure that you’ll already be aware of the hydrating powers of hyaluronic acid! Not just for your complexion, this moisturizing humectant offers plenty of moisturizing benefits to the hair, so it’s worth incorporating a HA product into your hair care routine, too.
Not only will it help to replenish lost water, but it will help to nourish the dermal layer of your scalp, which needs hyaluronic acid in order to prevent dryness.
