Dry hair treatment: Causes, Treatments and Care

Take inventory of all your styling equipment. Blow dryer, flat iron, curling iron, hot air brush.  Any others that I may have missed? Do your hairspray, mousse, gel or other hair styling products contain alcohol?  Do you chemically straighten or curl your hair? Do you color your hair? Do you use shampoos with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate? 

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you probably have dry hair.  However, there are many other causes of dry hair, in addition to those already named.  Environmental factors such as extreme cold or heat can cause dryness.  Washing your hair every day strips moisture from your hair. Exposing your hair to harsh chemicals such as chlorine from swimming in a pool will cause dry and lifeless hair. Following a poor diet and/ or having a vitamin deficiency can all be contributing reasons to having dry hair.

Dry hair doesn't make you feel as if you are healthy and it doesn't look so great aesthetically either, but don't panic because there are lots of remedies available. Some of the best dry hair treatments to repair hair condition are readily available in your local pharmacy or supermarket.  Here are a few that you should try to see which ones work best for your hair:

Arvazallia's Advanced Hair Care System consists of a shampoo, a conditioner and hair mask. It's called a system because the products were designed to be used together to hydrate and moisturize your dry hair while repairing the damage to your split ends.  These products contain Moroccan Argan and macadamia oil which will help to give your tired, dry hair a glossy sheen. Can be used on dyed, permed, natural and curly hair.

Vitamins Keratin Hair Mask is made with keratin, Moroccan Argan oil, wheat germ oil, and vitamin E to deeply condition and hydrate your damaged hair and transform it back to its nearly original healthy state.  Vitamins believe that one product does not fit all, so they have formulated a product for thin to normal hair and a different product for thick hair.  Both hair types can be damaged, but the formulations are tailored to the unique needs of the hair types.

Vitamins manufacture hair care products that are cruelty-free. The Keratin Hair Mask is also free of paraben and sulfates, so you can feel great about buying this product. 

Hairgurt.  Yes, its like yogurt for your hair.  Hairgurt is made with yogurt protein, prebiotics, quinoa and botanical oils.  It comes in different formulas such as coconut acai, almond honey and strawberry banana.  The botanicals differ among the various formulations, so they are not identical. The product smells so delicious, you will be tempted to eat it, but it isn't edible. Don't eat the Hairgurt!

The recommendation is to use Hairgurt twice a week. Apply the mask to wet hair. Distribute evenly from the follicle roots to the ends. Allow the product to stay in your hair a minimum of 10 minutes.  Then rinse until water runs through and is clear.

Some remedies for repairing dry hair use oil as the key ingredient. Argan, avocado and macadamia oils are commonly used because they nourish and revitalize brittle and dry hair. Using oil as a moisturizer leaves hair, shiny, glossy and revitalized. Most of the oil treatments are leave-in products, so that means you do not rinse it out. Here are a few of the best oil products for dry hair treatment.

Agadir Argan Oil Treatment is a leave-in type of product.  You do not rinse out the oil. It stays in your hair all day, moisturizing and hydrating while you are working and going about your daily routine. Although it is an oil, Agadir Argan Oil isn't greasy, and may be used every day. There is no oily buildup which can make your hair flat.  It has an added bonus of eliminating itchy, dry scalp.

Latinoil is a unique product because it's formulated with cold-pressed chia seeds, jojoba oil and omegas 3, 6 and 9. This combination of oils hydrates the hair and adds shine.  Chia oil protects your hair from sun damage and heat from hair styling tools. A small amount of Latinoil may be applied before and after using heat styling equipment.

Chia oil is light and can be used daily as a leave-in treatment.  It does not feel heavy or make your hair flat, and may be used on wet or dry hair.  Sold in packages of 6 10ml bottles. Each bottle has enough product for 20 applications.

Bali Secret is a hair serum made with argan, macadamia and avocado oil.  The serum is enrched with vitamins A, C, E and F to aid with revitalizing dry and over-processed hair.  Each bottle contains 40 capsules of serum, and every capsule is one application.

After washing your hair, open a capsule and pour serum onto your fingertips and massage through your hair.  The serum is lightweight and can be used daily.  It is a leave-in treatment. 

There is no shortage of dry hair treatments to buy, but purchasing a solution is not your only option.  If you are a DIY-er, you can whip up your own natural home remedies to care for your dry hair.  Here are a few recipes for you to try at home.

A little coconut oil goes a long way.  You do not need to use a lot of the oil, but it is tempting to do so because when you scoop the solid coconut oil, it starts to liquefy once it's in your hands.  First, use organic, extra virgin coconut oil.  You do not want to use the fractionated coconut oil, which is sold as a liquid.  You want the oil sold as a solid. 

Start with a dry head of hair. Scoop out 1/2 teaspoon of oil and put into your hands. As it liquefies, start massaging into your hair. Start with your scalp and work your way down to the ends. Using your fingers, comb through your hair getting the oil thoroughly incorporated.

If your hair is long, you may need additional coconut oil as you want to get every strand coated with it, but start slowly and you can add more as you need it.  When all of the hair is saturated, pile your hair on top of your head and secure with a clip. 

Warm a damp towel in the microwave for 45 seconds.  Wrap the towel around your head, and cover with a shower cap if you have one.  If you don't have a cap, use a plastic bag or plastic wrap around the towel. This will help to keep the heat in.  Allow to sit for 45 minutes.  Rinse with warm water and shampoo as usual.

Avocados are rich in antioxidants and olive oil nourishes and moisturizes. Avocado also has an added benefit of reducing dandruff, so why not combine these two products to make one badass moisturizing hair mask?

Get one ripe avocado, and make sure the skin gives when you squeeze it because that is how to tell it is ripe. Cut open the avocado and scrape the pulp into a bowl. Mash avocado until it is smooth.  Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 3 drops of your favorite essential oil.  I prefer lavender, but jasmine works well too. 

Mix thoroughly and then apply to your dry hair.  Cover with a shower cap or plastic bag and allow to sit at least 30 minutes.  Rinse completely and shampoo and condition as usual. 

Allow your eggs to reach room temperature, so let it sit out on your countertop for at least one hour. Separate the egg white from the yolk. You can freeze the egg whites to make an omelet another day.  Add two tablespoons of olive oil to the yolk and whisk together. 

Apply the mixture to your dry hair and scalp. Massage into your hair, taking care to reach the ends.  Put a shower cap on. Leave on for one hour.  Rinse several times with cool water to remove the mask, and shampoo is normal.

Overprocessed hair is our reality.  We are all coloring, straightening or curling our lovely locks and that is bound to create dry hair. If you take a little caution and avoid styling products with alcohol, and pamper yourself with deep moisturizing masks a few times a week, you should have no problem giving your dry hair the nourishment it require.