Dry hair, how to effectively deal with it?

Causes of dry hair

Before knowing what are the ways to deal with dry hair, first identify why this hair condition can occur. Dry hair is a condition that occurs when the scalp doesn't produce enough oil to moisturize the hair.

This hair condition also occurs because the hair shaft cannot absorb or retain its natural moisture. As a result, hair becomes branched and breaks easily.

There are many things that cause dry hair, including the following.

Dry and flaking scalp which can cause dandruff.
Age and hormonal changes that affect oil production in the scalp.
Exposure to sunlight and chemicals, such as chlorine in swimming pools.
Too often use hair styling tools, such as hair dryer and vise.
Use of shampoo and conditioner that is not suitable for your hair type.
Hair is damaged by hair dyes and other hair care products.

Apart from the factors above, another cause of this hair condition is a damaged cuticle layer. In healthy hair, the hair cuticle protects the hair from heat and sun damage.

How to deal with dry hair

For those of you who have dry hair, you don't need to worry. You can do the following ways to treat dry hair.

1. Choose shampoo according to hair type

One way to deal with dry hair is to choose a shampoo product that suits your hair type. In this case, you need to be careful when choosing a shampoo for dry hair.

First of all, of course you have to identify what ingredients are good for your hair. Well, here are some ingredients that are claimed to be effective in treating dry hair.

Shea butter

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One of the ingredients that should be in the shampoo to treat dry hair is shea butter . This cream, derived from the fat of the Vitellaria paradoxa tree, is rich in vitamins, protein, minerals and good antioxidant compounds.

Besides being beneficial for the body, shea butter It is also often found in hair care products, including shampoos and hair conditioners for this condition. The reason is, the content of vitamins A and E in it keeps the scalp moist.

Not only that, this cream made from shea nut fat also prevents split ends.

Oil

The more oil content in the hair in the shampoo, the higher the chances of having healthy and shiny hair. It is also very helpful in treating this hair condition.

One type of oil that is good for dry hair is olive oil and avocado. This is probably because vegetable oils can prevent damage to the roots of the hair and reduce the risk of hair breakage.

In fact, the oil content in the shampoo can penetrate the hair layer and reduce the amount of water absorbed. As a result, the hair is no longer fluffy because the moisture is maintained thanks to the oil in the shampoo for hair with this condition.

Low pH

The low pH content in a shampoo is great for treating dry hair. This is evidenced by research from International Journal of Trichology .

Researchers report that a pH that is too high can increase the negative electric charge on the surface of the hair. As a result, the friction between the hair fibers increases and causes damage to the cuticles and fibers.

That's why shampoo with a low pH (less than 5.5) is more suitable for dry hair because it helps keep hair moisturized.

Certain types of alcohol

Apart from low pH, it turns out that there are certain types of alcohol that also help keep the scalp moisturised so that the hair does not dry out quickly. The types of alcohol that will be mentioned later do not have an electric charge that causes frizz.

In addition, the alcohols below are also believed to not change their compounds in aqueous solutions because of their inseparable (hydrophilic) properties.

Cetearyl alcohol
Cetyl alcohol
Stearyl alcohol

2. Use natural ingredients for dry scalp

Not only choosing shampoo and conditioner, there are ways to deal with dry scalp by utilizing natural ingredients. Some of the natural ingredients below are believed to keep the hair moisturized and can be used as hair masks.

Coconut oil

It has been explained before that oil is a natural ingredient that is useful in the treatment of this hair condition. Well, one of them is coconut oil.

You see, the ingredients in coconut oil are antifungal and antibacterial which help reduce the risk of scalp infections. In fact, these two properties also help keep the scalp moist and make hair smoother.

How to use it

Behind the fishy smell, eggs can actually be used as a way to treat this hair condition. The lecithin and protein content in eggs are claimed to help strengthen and repair damaged hair. This makes hair look shiny and moisturized.

How to use it

Olive oil has been known for a long time as a natural hair care ingredient. This is probably because the content of oleic acid, palmitic acid, and squaline in it is a moisturizing emollient.

Although research is still lacking, olive oil has been shown to penetrate the hair shaft. This way, the hair will be more moisturized, stronger, and softer. In addition, olive oil is also believed to smooth hair cuticles, so hair looks shinier.

3. Eat omega-3

Not only is it useful for body health, changing your diet to be healthier also affects your hair. One of the foods that are found to be good for treating hair conditions is omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega 3 fatty acids can actually help restore the natural shine of hair that is lost due to dryness. Meanwhile, the antioxidants in it also help fight oxidative stress that makes hair look dull.

Therefore, consumption of omega 3 can be one way to deal with this hair condition. You can get omega-3 properties from the following foods.

Mackerel, sardines, tuna and salmon
Kidney beans and walnuts
Broccoli and tomatoes

4. Do not wash your hair frequently

Washing your hair is one way to keep your hair clean. However, shampooing too often is not good for the owner of this hair condition. This is because shampooing every day can remove natural oils from the hair.

If there is too much hair, it will become greasy. However, when the scalp lacks oil, the hair will become dry. For owners of dry hair, of course this can be a nightmare because dry hair will look dull.

That is why, you should not wash it too often when treating this hair condition. In addition, choose a shampoo and conditioner specifically for dry hair that does not "strip" the natural oils on the scalp too much.

5. Limit use

One of the causes of this hair condition is frequent exposure to heat from hair styling tools, such as hair dryers, curling irons, or hair straighteners. Well, how to deal with dry hair, of course, by avoiding it all.

A study revealed about the health of the hair shaft before and after drying the hair. The result, participants who dry their hair with hair dryer suffered enough visible damage and made it dry.

Instead of using a hairdryer frequently, you can cover wet hair with a cloth or towel and wait for it to dry.

How to deal with dry hair means the same as caring for hair and scalp. Always pay attention to the hair care products used to avoid serious scalp problems.

If you have further questions, ask a dermatologist or dermatologist for a more appropriate solution.