How to treat dry and damaged hair

                                                                    Hi there!
Today I am going to share my bit of knowledge and experience about combating dry hair.

                                  Oily hair is a drag, but dry hair is no picnic, either.

                                           BUT HEY! WE NEVER GIVE UP!! ;P

             Dry hair is dull hair, and it looks the same after you wash it as it did before.

        Everyone has bad hair days, but with dry hair you may have those days more often.

Along with dry hair, you may also have a dandruff problem. Although it's more often a condition associated with oily hair, people with dry hair get dandruff, too. I have very long hair and they were fine until recently when they became extremely dry due to some reason.

 Then I started doing some research and analysis for my hair through various sources.

           




              This is what I realized; it is always important to listen to your body first!

         Observe the way it reacts to internal and external changes. Your body will tell you what

                                                       works best and worst for you!

For example, you might be allergic to certain foods or drinks which would result in skin rashes or acne or even hair fall. Also, if your body is unable to resist to pollution or stress, etc, it may result in hair fall.

     So, let’s first find out what are the possible causes of dry hair?

 Dry hair can result from external factors, such as exposure to harsh chemicals, or from internal causes, such as an illness. These are the primary external factors are:

1)     Harsh shampoo

2)     Shampooing too often

3)     Hair dye

4)     Hair perms

5)     Chlorine in swimming pools and hot tubs

6)     Overuse of the blow dryer or curling iron

7)     Too much exposure to sun and wind

8)     High mineral content in local water supplies

9)     Pollution

  Internal factors, though, don't have quite such a quick fix and is advisable to consult your physician.

  Internal factors that cause dry hair include:

1)     Cancer treatment

2)     Certain medications

3)     Nutritional deficiency

4)     Prolonged illness

5)     Stress

                                         What is the Remedy?

 External factors are easy to remedy. You just need to be careful about how you treat your hair, cutting back on activities that cause it to become dry.

            1)     Switch products and find out what suits you best and then make sure to stick to it.

2)     Always wear a cap when swimming.

3)     Cover your head when you're outside in the sun for prolonged periods. 

4)     Be careful with the shampoo. Shampooing too often is one of the most common causes of dry hair. Many people believe that squeaky-clean hair is healthy hair, so they wash it one or more times every day. But shampoos often contain harsh cleaning agents that can strip away your hair's natural oils, which help hold in moisture. On the other hand, a gentle shampoo will stimulate the oil glands, so you probably should take good lather every two to three days.

 

5)     Be Kind to Your Hair. Dry hair is the most fragile type of hair and is subject to breakage, so it must be handled with care. When lathering, be gentle. Avoid any pulling or yanking on your hair in any way, which strains the hair shafts. Don't scrub with your fingernails, which can not only break the hair but irritate your scalp. Work up a lather using your fingertips, instead.  Gently rubbing your scalp with your fingertips will also stimulate the oil glands.

 

6)     Pour on the Conditioner. Dry hair needs conditioning. Look for products that contain little or no alcohol, which will dry out hair even more. Reading labels will help, but it might be simpler just to take a whiff before you buy. Conditioners with little or no fragrance tend to be low in alcohol or contain none at all. If your hair is really dry, consider using an overnight conditioner, which you apply before going to bed wearing a shower cap and rinse off in the morning.

7)     Use Hot Oil. Hot-oil treatment works best to repair dry, damaged hair. You can take warm coconut or olive oil and gently massage into the scalp. Wear a plastic bag or shower cap over your hair while the hot oil is on for 30 minutes, then wash the hair thoroughly with a gentle shampoo.

8)     Hold the Heat. Using hot combs, hot rollers, and blow-dryers can only lead to hair fall and damaged hair. Hot rollers are the worst because they stretch the hair while the heat shrinks it. If you must use artificial heat, keep your blow-dryer on a low setting and avoid pulling or stretching the hair while drying.

9)     Pace your hair treatments. If you perm on Sunday, dye your hair on Monday, and put it in hot rollers on Wednesday, your hair is destined to be dry and damaged. You don't have to abandon styling practices, just keep in mind that it's important to space those treatments out as much as possible.

       

     10)    Drink plenty of water and eat healthy diet for great hair.

                                   That’s all about dealing with dry hair gals!!!

     You can read my next post for some of the effective and easy homemade hair masks

                                that works amazing for dry and damaged hair!

~Love