4 Reasons Why Your Hair Is Dry

Hair can take a lot of maintenance. Most women spend a lot of time on their hair to make it look appealing. However, one of the struggles of hair care is keeping hair soft and healthy. Does your hair look dull and unhealthy due to dryness? Here are four reasons why your hair may be dry and how to fix it.

The Water That You’re Using

Do you know if the water you use is considered “hard water?” Water that has a high concentration of minerals such as calcium and magnesium is called hard water. The higher the concentration, the harder it becomes, leaving stains on your fixtures and potentially damaging your skin and hair.

The minerals in the water create a film over hair, making it harder for moisture to enter the strands. This leaves your hair and scalp feeling dry. If you’re looking for a way to get rid of hard water in all your plumbing fixtures, invest in a water softener, which replaces the calcium and magnesium and creates healthier water. You can also try using a lemon or vinegar rinse on your hair once a week to get rid of the film.

The Place Where You’re Living

The environment can do just as much damage as hard water can. Do you live in a dry, hot place? These factors can take the moisture out of your hair faster than you put it in. This can be fixed by hydrating your hair (and skin) more often. Wash and hydrate your hair more often, but don’t use too much shampoo, and drink lots of water. Don’t put too much styling oil on your hair, since oil doesn’t hydrate.

Along with the heat, heavy pollution can have a great effect on the appearance of hair as smoke and dust settle on the scalp. Use shampoo and conditioner that removes these pollutants and strengthens the hair and scalp.

How Frequently You Wash Your Hair

Hair that is cleaned too often can easily become dry and dull. The ingredients in your shampoo may do a good job removing oils, but when used too often, they can remove the natural, healthy oils that your hair creates. Sulfates can especially cause more dryness. How often you wash your hair really depends on you. If you have very fine hair or live in a humid environment, shampooing daily can be a great option. Keep an eye on how your hair looks and feels as you change the frequency of your washes.

The Styling Products You Use

Some chemicals are just not the right fit for your hair type. Using too harsh of styling products can strip your hair of important oils and make your hair dry and brittle. Avoid harsher products and learn more about what kind of hair you have and what can best help you.

Along with products, using excessive heat can damage the hair and create dryness. If you use curling irons, straighteners and blow dryers often, this may be the cause of your dry hair. A few signs of heat-damaged hair include split ends, rough hair texture and easily tangled hair. To help restore your hair, use hair masks or treatments that restore the natural proteins in the hair. Also start using heat protectant spray and lower the temperature of your heat products.

Because there are so many factors that can cause dry hair, it’s important to take the right preventative measures. Use styling products that match your hair type and environment. Use heat spray and invest in a water softener to prevent external things from damaging your hair and do your best to restore what you can.

With a little work and effort, you can see changes in the physical appearance of your hair. Healthier hair will look shinier and smoother, and your scalp can feel better too. Seek ways to hydrate, protect and care for your hair.