Dry Hair

Dry hair in a nutshell is hair without enough moisture or oil to maintain its natural sheen and texture. It is dull and looks just about the same before and after you wash it. The ends are dry and split and head feels itchy.

Most afro-naturals fall in this category by default, because dry hair is a natural occurrence in kinky coily tresses. Dry hair can eventually lead to dandruff problems. Although it's more associated with oily hair, people with dry hair get dandruff as well.

Dandruff is simply a layer of skin shedding from your scalp. When the skin cells get trapped on your scalp by your hair and clump together, you have dandruff which can make your hair look dull. This can result from a variety of factors, both internal and external.

Dry Hair Factors

Internal

*Diet deficiency: iron (anemia), calcium, anorexia, insufficient water intake

*Illness: cancer, grave's disease, hair disorders, hypothyroidism, and scurvy

*Medication: antidepressants, birth control pills, blood thinners and chemotherapy,

External

*Abuse: excessive washing, blow-drying, or curling, harsh/wrong products

*Environment: sun/wind/ocean or pool, dry heat, low humidity,

*Knowledge: lack of knowledge about your tender tresses leads to poor decisions which generally reflect in your hair by drying, breaking, or thinning.

Regardless of the reason for your dry hair, you need to be mindful of how you're treating and taking care of your hair. Cutting back or eliminating activities that causes it to become dry will definitely reduce its dehydrated state. Below are some methods you can use to alleviate your dull and dreary hair.

Improve Your Dry Hair

*To deep-treat damaged hair, give it a healthy sheen, and cure dryness right down to the roots, use this pre-poo conditioning treatment: Mix together 3 eggs, 2 tablespoons olive oil or safflower oil, and 1 teaspoon vinegar. Apply it to your tresses, cover with a plastic cap, and leave it on for 30 minutes. Then shampoo as usual. After your shampoo, rinse your hair with a little beer. This can help restore shine.

*Shampoo only once a week, and condition your hair and scalp often. Look for products containing Humectants like honey and offer a low pH level between 4.5 and 6.7.

*Conditioners are the KEY to eliminating dry hair and choosing the right one will make a world of difference on your hair. Look for an ultra moisturizing conditioner to add every bit of moisture to your lackluster hair. If your hair is really dry, consider overnight conditioning. NEVER ever skip the conditioning step, especially in the winter months when hair is most vulnerable due to the harsh weather.

*An alternative to traditional conditioners is to use Mayo. Mayonnaise makes a great conditioner for dry hair, you will need the full fat one and not a diet or low-fat version. Slather a good amount onto your hair leaving it on for about 30 minutes to an hour before washing it out. When rinsing conditioners out of your hair, rinse with tepid to cool water, this will help the cuticles to close and lock allowing for maximum longer lasting benefits.

*Do a hot oil treatment. it's fairly easy to do this at home with the many over-the-counter hot-oil products available on the market. Simply warm it up in the microwave and place it on your hair. Leave it in according to package instructions and wear a plastic bag or shower cap over your hair while the oil is on. Wash your hair thoroughly with a gentle shampoo.

*Hair Tonic Recipe: Simmer young nettle leaves in 10 cups of hot water. Once cooled, wash your hair with the tonic, scrubbing the scalp vigorously to help improve circulation, which in turn produces natural oils that make your hair healthy

*Use vinegar to make dandruff disappear. Massage full-strength vinegar into your scalp several times a week before or after you shampoo.

-Mix 2 cups water and 1/2 cup vinegar apply this rinse after your shampoo. Let it stay on your hair for a few minutes before rinsing thoroughly with water. A brief soak in vinegar and water can help control dandruff as well as remove the dulling buildup from sprays, shampoos, and conditioners. This also gives your hair a healthy shine.

*To soften dry hair use a little moisturizer or hair balm after drying your hair; lightly apply the moisturizer or balm to the ends of your hair to help close the hair shaft and create a protective film around it. If you have short hair, using a greater amount of hair balm should improve the overall look of your hair and give it lots of shine

*When using gels or lotions on your hair, look for those made for dry hair with moisturizing ingredients. Often times items that have fruit extracts and natural oils like flaxseed and almond oil are great for dry hair.

There are several alternative treatments to eliminating dry hair simply follow the suggested methods above regularly to help reduce your hair's vulnerability to the chemical and environmental hazards.

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