9 Tips to Conquer Dryness For Silky, Smooth Hair

Struggling with hair that looks dry, dull, and frizzy?

This is a very common problem due to how there are so many contributing factors to dryness, many of which are environmental and hard to avoid. 

The good news is that there are plenty of steps that you can take to conquer the dryness that has taken over your strands and restore soft, silky, and beautifully smooth hair once again. Read on as HerStyler shares nine tips that will soon have you on the path to achieving the smooth hair of your dreams!

1. Don’t Shampoo Your Hair Too Often

People often respond to dryness by ramping up their shampooing efforts. However, this will usually have the opposite effect, making your dryness even worse. This is down to how shampooing your locks strips them of their natural oils, with those oils playing a key role in keeping your hair naturally moisturized and hydrated. The more you shampoo your hair, the more oils you lose and, therefore, the drier your hair will be.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a set figure for how often people should be washing their hair. It all depends on your hair type as well as how dry your hair actually is. So, start by leaving an extra day or two in between washes and seeing how your hair copes. Ideally, you want to give your natural oils enough time to travel from your roots to your tips before you wash them away.

2. Always Use a Conditioner

Even if you give your hair more time to recover in between wash days, shampooing your hair will still leave it lacking in natural oils and more vulnerable to dryness. To counter this, a conditioner is a must.

Conditioners work by replenishing the hair with oils and other moisturizing ingredients. They’ll help to make up for some of the natural oils that your hair has lost, giving you the glossy and smooth hair you’re seeking.

Since dryness is already an issue for you, choose a conditioner that’s as rich and as moisturizing as possible. Take the HerStyler Argan Oil & Biotin Conditioner as an example. Argan oil has been proven to be extremely effective at reducing the look of damage and dryness. Meanwhile, biotin, which is a form of vitamin B, will leave your hair feeling stronger and less brittle. 

When applying your conditioner, focus the majority of it on the ends of your hair. This is the oldest part of your hair, meaning that it’s most prone to dryness and damage. For maximum benefits, try to leave your conditioner to soak in for a few minutes before rinsing it away.

3. Lock in Moisture With Oils

If your hair is dry, then this means that the outer layer of each strand has started to break down. To counter the look of dryness, you need to seal your strands back up while filling in any gaps that have formed in each dry and brittle hair. 

The best way to do this is with emollients, with oils being some of the most effective emollients around. This is why many people apply warm oils to their hair, saturating their strands for about 20 minutes before rinsing the oils off. It works well but it’s a time-consuming, and often messy, process.

One way to get around this is by opting for hair care products that have been infused with oils, saving you from having to separately oil your strands. The HerStyler Marula Hair Nourishing Serum would be a great place to start. As you can tell from its name, this formula is all about marula oil. This oil is packed with fatty acids, which are what you need if soft and smooth hair is your aim. Applying marula oil on a regular basis will leave your hair looking thicker and healthier, making it a must-have in every hair care regimen. 

4. Turn Down the Heat

Many people depend on heat styling to whip their locks into a manageable and presentable state. However, each time you subject your hair to excessive heat, you’ll be leaving it more susceptible to damage and dryness.

If you want silky, smooth hair, cutting back on heat is essential. This doesn’t mean that you have to completely give up your heat styling efforts. Instead, look for heated styling tools that allow you to be in control of how much heat is emitted. This way, you can simply turn the dial down to an acceptable level before styling your strands.

At HerStyler, we have many styling tools that come with an adjustable temperature dial. From our Colorful Seasons hair straighteners to our Beach Curler, you won’t have to worry about drying your hair out when you use these tools.

Of course, heat doesn’t only come from heated styling tools – washing your hair with hot water will have the same drying effect. Try turning the temperature down the next time you’re in the shower. Not only will your hair look more lustrous and shiny, but the cooler temperature will be of huge benefit to your skin as well.

5. Apply a Heat Protectant Before Heat Styling

Even if you turn down the temperature of your heated styling tools, holding sections of your hair against a hot barrel or plate for any period of time will still contribute to dryness and damage. The only way to prevent this is by applying a heat protectant before you get started.

These products work by coating each strand of hair, essentially forming an extra layer between your hair and the environment. When you come to heat style your hair, the brute force of the heat emitted from your styling tool will come into contact with your heat protectant first, rather than your hair itself. Your strands will still feel the heat enough to be quickly styled, but the outer layer of your hair will be much safer from harm. 

There are so many different types of heat protectants out there, so pick one that works well for your tresses. Whether this may be a spray, a mousse, a serum, or anything else, taking the time to apply a heat protectant will go a long way in helping you to achieve soft and smooth hair.

6. Indulge in Essential Oils

We’ve already talked about how plant oils act as emollients, making them a useful tool in your quest for smooth hair. However, essential oils can be extremely beneficial too. 

Unlike regular oils, which largely consist of fatty acids, essential oils are distilled from various parts of a plant. They’re much more concentrated, which is why they’re known for having a powerful aroma. This concentration also means that essential oils are jam-packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and other beneficial plant compounds. These can often work wonders when it comes to transforming the look and feel of the hair.

Take sage oil, for example. Obtained from various parts of the sage plant, this oil is known for how it leaves the hair looking thicker and softer thanks to its density of vitamins and minerals. It’s one of the best essential oils to use on the hair, especially if your hair is dry. This is why we’ve included sage oil in our Rosehip & Sage Conditioner. It also contains oils from rose and jojoba, along with vitamin E for some extra moisturizing power.

7. Protect Your Hair From the Sun

You’re probably aware of how damaging the sun can be for your skin, but did you know that it has a similar effect on your hair too?

UV rays have been shown to be extremely detrimental to the hair shaft. Each time your strands are exposed to UV rays, damage occurs, much of which will leave your hair feeling dry, rough, and brittle.

To prevent this, sun protection is vital. While you could use an SPF hair product for this, a simpler solution would be to simply don a hat whenever you’re outside. Wrapping your mane in a scarf can be just as helpful. 

If you think that your hair has already been harmed by the sun, aloe vera would be a great ingredient to turn to to repair the look of damage. You’ll find the ingredient in the HerStyler Argan Oil Hair Serum. This formula is also infused with other ingredients that will help to reduce the appearance of damage and give you the smooth hair that you’re seeking.

8. Get a Trim

Dry strands can sometimes be traced back to split ends. If the tips of your hair start to fray, it doesn’t take long for those splits to work their way up each strand. This then leaves even more of your hair frayed and dry, giving your entire mane a rough and dull appearance.

While certain hair care products can help you to mask the look of split ends, the only way to get rid of them completely is to have them trimmed off. By removing those dry ends, you’ll be able to prevent the rest of your hair from splitting, leaving you with locks that look healthier and less dry.

Once you’ve had your split ends trimmed away, make an effort to prevent more from developing. Be gentle with your hair and choose low-tension hairstyles that aren’t going to damage those vulnerable tips. 

9. Cut Back on Your Hair Dye Usage

Chemical treatments, such as the use of hair dye, can be extremely damaging to your hair. If you want silky, smooth hair, cutting back on those treatments is a must.

Ideally, take some time to avoid them altogether so that your strands have a chance to heal. If this isn’t an option for you, extend the length of time between each chemical treatment. Sticking to one shade instead of going for a different color each time can be beneficial too, as can choosing semi-permanent dye formulas over permanent ones. 

Achieve Silky, Smooth Hair With HerStyler

It can sometimes be difficult to change your hair care and styling habits, but a few tweaks could be all that you need to counter the feeling of dryness in your strands. Whether this means leaving it a little longer in between washes, investing in heat styling tools that come with an adjustable temperature setting, or treating yourself to some oil-infused hair care products, get started with the tips above as soon as possible and it won’t be long before you’re confidently rocking silky, shiny, and smooth hair!

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