Restoring Dry Hair

For most people, dry hair is an inability to produce enough sebum. Sebum is a natural oil made by the sebaceous glands to keep skin and hair moisturized. Dry hair can also be brittle and damaged---which results in frizzy hair or hair that easily breaks. To restore dry hair, the most important thing is to start taking better care of the hair and scalp. There are products and remedies for treating dry hair that are easy to do. The hard part is making the commitment to care for your hair on a regular basis.

1. Avoiding Extreme Temperatures

   • Hot water removes the oils on the head and makes hair drier. When washing the hair with a shampoo made for dry hair, it is important to use only lukewarm or cool water when rinsing. Also, use cool temperatures when rinsing out hair conditioners. The blow dryer also makes hair drier. If possible, air dry or towel dry the wet hair. If a blow dryer must be used, try it on the lowest setting available to protect the fragile, dry hair. Hair appliances like electric rollers and curling wands also add damaging heat. These appliances should be used on a lower setting. Another option is to use heat-protecting lotions. These products coat the hair and act as a barrier between the high temperatures and the hair. In the cold weather always wear a hat. Covering the hair is also recommended on windy days. Avoiding heat and cold will help to restore and maintain the hair's natural oils.
     

   Adding Lubricants to the Hair

   • Dry hair does not have enough natural oils. You can add moisturizers to dry hair to make it more manageable. The moisturizers also make hair smoother and shiner and less prone to breakage. There are a several essential oils that you can apply to the hair and scalp. Try rose, lavender, sandalwood, rosemary and chamomile oil for dry hair. Only apply a small amount to the hair to prevent greasiness. Camellia oil is also useful for the hair. This oil has a natural sunscreen. It protects hair against UVB light. Other good hair oils often suggesting by holistic healers are olive oil and coconut oil.
     

   Using a Deep Conditioner

   • A hot oil treatment is very good for dry hair. The heat allows the oil to deeply penetrate the hair shaft. To do a hot oil treatment, heat a small amount of any oil (such as lavender, olive or camellia) on the stove and let it get warm. Then apply oil to entire head. Put on a conditioning cap if you have one. Leave on for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Then shampoo and condition as usual. (Use shampoos and conditioners formulated for dry hair.)