The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Dry Hair: What Works Best
Wondering what you can do to make your dull and dry hair look fabulously soft and glossy once again? Plenty! Read on as HerStyler shares the ultimate guide to caring for dry hair. We’ll only be talking about methods that actually work to save you from wasting time and money on products and techniques that aren’t going to make a difference.
Your Choice of Shampoo and Conditioner is Everything
Let’s start by discussing the most basic elements of any hair care routine; shampoo and conditioner. Since these are likely the products that you’ll be using most regularly, make sure that you pick high-quality formulas that are suitable for your hair type. This is often where people with dry hair go wrong, which only makes that dryness even worse.
There are a couple of key features to keep in mind when shopping for a shampoo and conditioner. First, avoid formulas that rely on harsh surfactants, such as sulfates. These are known for having a drying effect on the hair over time, which you definitely don’t need! There are far gentler surfactants out there and these would be much more beneficial for you.
You need to also ensure that you pick moisturizing formulas. Prioritize those that are infused with plant oils and other rich ingredients. They’ll not only hydrate your strands but will also lock that moisture in to provide a long-lasting shine.
If you’re looking for a new shampoo and conditioner combo to add to your hair care routine, you’ll find one included in the HerStyler Gift Set for Women. This set also includes a number of other hair care products that can really work wonders on dry hair.
Develop Healthy Hair-Washing Habits
Choosing the right shampoo and conditioner is only half of the battle. Once you have those products to hand, you need to make sure that you’re using them in the correct way.
Firstly, this involves making sure that you don’t use them too often. While you may think that washing your hair frequently will help to expel the feeling of dryness, the opposite is usually what actually happens. Each time you wash your hair, you remove the moisturizing oils that are produced by your scalp and then sent down your strands. You need to give your scalp enough time to replace that oil in between washes as that oil provides the perfect natural conditioner.
Hot water also has a detrimental effect on those oils. Research confirms that those oils melt when exposed to water that’s warmer than 86°F. Yes, this means that your steaming showers could be one of the causes of your dry hair! Start turning the temperature down each time you step into the shower and you’ll be encouraging a healthier and glossier finish.
Use Hair Serums to Boost Hydration
You’re probably aware of how beneficial facial serums can be when you’re trying to ramp up the hydrating power of your skincare routine. Well, the same applies to hair serums too. In the same way that face serums are lightweight enough to dive deeper down into the skin than heavier products, hair serums can often have a better hydrating effect on your mane than thicker hair care products.
At HerStyler, we have a few different hydrating hair serums for you to choose from. The first, and one of our most popular, is the HerStyler Advanced Argan Oil Hair Serum. Argan oil is known for being loaded with essential fatty acids that not only bump up moisture levels but also keep the hair feeling protected against environmental damage. This serum combines argan oil with aloe vera and vitamin E. Both are also revered for their hydrating properties.
Argan oil can be found in the HerStyler Castor Oil Hair Serum too. This formula features a blend of castor oil and argan oil to really enhance its hydrating and moisturizing capabilities. Again, it also boasts an infusion of vitamin E and aloe vera leaf extract. It’s a slightly richer formula that can work wonders on the look of severely damaged and dry hair.
For the best results, try to apply your hair serum to damp, rather than dry, hair. Your hair is most permeable when it’s wet, so this will allow more of the serum to soak into your strands.
Cut Back on Your Use of Heated Styling Tools
Love heat styling your hair? This could be one of the reasons why dry hair is an issue for you. The extreme temperatures that your hair is exposed to each time you use your flat iron or curling wand can quickly sap moisture from your locks. Not only will it dry your hair out but it can also cause damage. This isn’t helped by the fact that dry hair is already more vulnerable to damage!
Cutting back on how often you heat style your hair should be your first move. However, it would also be worth checking that your heated styling tools are up-to-date in terms of the latest tech. Take the Colorful Seasons 8 hair straightener from HerStyler as an example. Dry hair is notorious for being frizzy but this device makes use of negative ion technology to reduce the appearance of frizz and static. It allows you to adjust its temperature too, meaning that you won’t need to scorch your strands each time you style them. The ceramic plates help with this as well, with ceramic known for producing a gentle heat that’s less likely to burn strands.
It goes without saying that applying a heat protectant is vital before you heat style your hair. This is important for all hair types but even more so for dry hair, which is highly prone to heat damage. Whether you use a dedicated heat protectant product or simply coat your strands with a hair serum, this will make a huge difference in how healthy your hair looks once you’re done styling it.
Be Gentle When Detangling
Since dry hair lacks moisture and oil, it doesn’t take much for those brittle strands to interlock with each other. They don’t contain enough lubrication to slip away when they come into contact with other hairs, which causes them to form knots instead. This is why tangles are extremely common among those with dry hair.
While you may be tempted to roughly yank a brush through those knots, working through both your tangles and the associated pain at the same time, this can often do more harm than good. With dry hair being so easily breakable, you’ll only end up snapping your strands.
Instead, be gentle when detangling your hair. Practice patience, even if this means that your detangling efforts take more time than usual. Rather than doing this while your hair is dry, wait until you’re in the shower and your locks are coated with a conditioner. This will give them more lubrication, making them easier to manipulate. Then, use your fingers to untangle any big knots before finishing the job with a detangling brush. These brushes have flexible bristles that are able to efficiently detangle without damaging.
Protect Your Locks From the Sun and Wind
The weather can have a huge impact on your hair. The sun, for example, has been shown to seriously damage the proteins within hair while also leading to hair color changes. UV rays can also affect the hair growth cycle, preventing your locks from growing as long and thick as they otherwise might have done.
The wind can also be very detrimental. It whips dry hair into a frenzy, forming tangles that you’ll then need to spend ages working through!
How can you keep your mane protected? While there are hair care products that promise to save strands from the effects of the sun and other elements, it can often be just as effective to keep your hair covered with a hat or a scarf. Protective hairstyles, such as a loose braid or a bun, will also help to minimize the surface area of hair that comes into contact with harsh weather conditions.
Consider Oiling Your Ends
As we discussed earlier, your hair’s natural oils play a key role in keeping your locks moisturized and conditioned. However, it can take a while for the oils produced by your scalp to make their way to the ends of your hair, especially if you wash your hair frequently (hence our earlier tip to cut back on how often you do so!). It’s usually the ends of the hair that miss out the most since these are farthest away from your scalp.
This is why oiling your ends can sometimes be very beneficial. In addition to hydrating and moisturizing dry ends, this will also reduce the appearance of split ends, which can often be much more noticeable on dry hair.
In terms of choosing an oil, we’ve already mentioned how helpful argan oil can be to dry hair. Coconut oil would be another good one to try. You could also mix an essential oil with one of those two carrier oils for even more hair-boosting benefits! Simply apply a small amount of whichever oil you choose to the ends of your hair. Your locks should immediately feel softer and healthier.
Eat More Omega-3s and Antioxidants
While following the right hair care practices is essential when trying to overcome dry hair, the food that you put into your body will have a huge influence on this too. A fresh and balanced diet will go a long way in keeping your locks looking fresh and balanced too.
With that said, certain nutrients are known to be particularly beneficial to the hair. Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants are among the best. Marine proteins are fantastic sources of omega-3s, as well as peptides. Meanwhile, consuming a wide range of fruits and vegetables in an assortment of colors will ensure that you’re taking in plenty of antioxidants.
Caring for Dry Hair With HerStyler
You don’t want to waste time following the wrong advice when it comes to your dry hair as this will only have your locks feeling even drier. Instead, go with what definitely works, which is where the tips that we’ve shared above can be a big game-changer. Implement as many as possible and it won’t be long before your hair starts to look silkier, softer, and much less dry!
Click here to treat your dry hair to more bestselling products from HerStyler.
