Don’t let dry hair ruin your fun
For Jenny, combing her hair is always a struggle. In winters and in summers, her dry hair and scalp don’t support her efforts to look good. As a result, she resorts to simply keeping her hair in a bun or a plait all day long.
Like Jenny, many women suffer from dry hair and scalp. Contrary to what the label on the shampoo bottle tells you, dry hair is not a natural scalp type. It is one that has been created by an excessive onslaught of chemicals on your hair follicles. Hair sprays, dyes, gels, and hair treatment devices like tongs all work by opening tiny hair cuticles. Constant use of these products leads to loss of moisture and causes what we call a dry scalp.
Managing a dry scalp can be tricky but it’s not impossible. With the right balance of external and internal health measures, you can restore your hair back to its normal, healthy nature. Here are the top tips on managing dry hair.
Don’t avoid the shampoo
Like most people with a dry scalp, you might shampoo just once a week to retain a little moisture in your hair. If a single shampoo dries out your scalp you’re probably using the wrong one. Look for words such as ‘hydrating’ on the bottle and ingredients such as argan oil or shea butter. A good dry hair shampoo should allow you to wash at least once every three days without leaving your scalp dry and itchy.
Understand product alcohol content
Many hair blogs advise you to avoid shampoos with alcohol. However, it would be very difficult to find a shampoo brand that doesn’t contain alcohol. Moreover, fatty alcohols are actually good at maintaining the moisture in your hair. Alcohol ingredients that are good for your hair are cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol and cetearyl alcohol. These are the ingredients which prevent the shampoo from completely drying out your scalp. The alcohol names to avoid are ethanol, propanol, propyl, and isopropyl.
Massage your scalp
A scalp massage is the best natural hair treatment to stimulate healthy blood circulation. You can use a bit of warm oil in your massage to prevent any stress to your dry scalp. A massage helps evenly distribute moisture through your hair and even prevents hair problems such as dandruff. Head to your local salon at least once a month to get a professionally done head massage that will leave you feeling fresh and your hair rejuvenated.
Style with care
Dry hair is more easily prone to breakage. Avoid tying tight pony tails or hair buns as these could leave you with bald patches on the long run. Don’t use styling tongs or hair curlers daily. Minimize dependence on hair sprays, mousse, or gel for setting your hair.
Protect from the glare
UV rays can do a lot of slow damage over the years to your hair and scalp. If you travel a lot always cover your hair with a scarf or a cap. Even if you are bald, you need to protect the delicate follicles on your head by wearing a cap. If you run or jog in the daytime, use a hair spray-on sunscreen.
Minimise chemical treatments
Dry hair often results from your scalp being exposed to chemicals in the air andin your hair products daily. Try to skip blow drying your hair every time you wash. Invest in a diffuser to minimise the damage to your hair. Avoid heat based hair treatments as much as you can. If you see a few grey hairs, don’t go for a global colour. Simply touch up the areas that are grey.
Go natural
Dry hair isn’t a genetic condition. Its caused due to our lifestyle and dependency on a multitude of products. Don’t be afraid to go natural in your hair treatment. The internet has many recipes for easy-to-make dry hair masks that you can try out. Some of the best natural ingredients to treat dry hair are apple cider vinegar, banana, eggs, and honey. Figure out which recipe is the easiest for you and let your hair breathe and heal naturally.
Eat what’s right for you
We’ve all heard that saying: you are what you eat. In the modern day and age where diet plans are ruled by chemically processed foods, this saying holds true. Minimize your dependence on white bread, pastries, breakfast cereal, canned vegetables, and ready-to-eat foods. Eat at least 5 portions of fruits and vegetables daily. If you feel weak, get your blood tested for any nutritional deficiencies. Drink at least 3 litres of water daily.
