August 10th, 2023

Written by Sarah Heath

Of all the hair maladies that are out there, dry hair seems the least prejudicial. It doesn’t matter if the hair is long, short, curly, or straight, dry hair is often a commonality and crosses ethnic backgrounds and socioeconomic status. The causes can be genetic, environmental, or sadly it can be from your own two hands. So, let’s start our investigation and see if we can help narrow it down for you.

Dry hair is like an unwelcome guest that just won't leave the party and there are various factors at play which can cause hair to dry up or look damaged. So let's figure out what the the culprits are that have been leaving your hair high and dry.

1. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Let’s being with environmental factors. Dryness in the air can easily mean dry hair. As temperatures begin to cool the air has less humidity, and the dew point gets lower and lower. That can be the time when hair begins to become dry, brittle and the split ends begin to reveal themselves. When the humidity drops to nothing, that’s when static begins to take its ugly grip. Take heart though, these situations are not something you can control.
2. OVER-WASHING HAIR: Now, jumping straight into something you definitely CAN control! If you are shampooing your hair too often, you can strip away the natural oils and hydration your hair has, leading to a lack of moisture. Once those oils are gone, you may be left with dull, lackluster hair. It doesn’t stop there, you can begin to notice signs of dry scalp, flakes and itchiness. If you are someone who needs to wash their everyday, invest in a good dry shampoo for oily hair, and try take at least a day in between hair washing. Scaling back on washing your hair may help things fall into place.
3. LIFESTYLE CHANGES: Even though hair health is often based on genetics, you shouldn’t discount how much your overall physical health effects your hair. If you have never had dry hair before but have recently started a new medication or been under a lot of stress, your hair can very much be affected. A good piece of advice can be to look at any new medication’s side effects and familiarize yourself with them. Another good practice is to take note of any new habits that are causing stress. Once you have this knowledge, you are in a better position to change some habits to help offset your predicament.
4. HEAT STYLING OVERLOAD: Lastly, we can look at the dryness that comes from using excess heat on our hair. While our hot styling tools give us the look that we’re going for, we must protect our hair from the heat we subject it to. As a stylist this is probably the #1 reason for dry hair. If your curling iron or flat iron does not have an adjustable heat setting, it may be worthwhile to invest in one that does. Not all hot tools are going to be ideal for your hair type. Finer hair needs a lower heat temperature, while thicker, coarser hair can handle more. Your blow dryer might be on “low” heat, but that may still be upwards of 190 degrees Fahrenheit. As an experiment, try holding your blow dryer to your skin….3 inches or less away. How long is that comfortable? Probably not very long. Hence, I’ll say it louder for the back: HEAT PROTECTION SAVES HAIR!

All is not lost and there are some things that can you can do that can help to alleviate and prevent dryness. So here are some easy suggestions and remedies for dry hair:

• Use a good hydrating shampoo and conditioner as these are specially formulated to hydrate dry hair.
• Apply a lightweight leave-in conditioner after showering to help keep the moisture in the hair. like
• Replace your traditional conditioner with a hydrating hair mask and treatment once a week to repair dry hair.
• Wash your hair less frequently - aim for 2-3 times a week at best.
• Turn down the heat on your styling tools to minimize heat damage & drynes. If you want to use heat then don't forget to use products with heat protection!
• Refresh your dry ends with a nourishing hair serum such as the GLOSS.ME hair serum.
• Drink more water. That's true, hydrating your body is key to hydrating your hair. The ideal daily intake should be half your weight in ounces.
• Don’t scald your hair with super-hot water when showering. Using lukewarm or cold water is better for hair health.

There you have it! Now that you know the causes and some treatments, dry hair doesn't stand a chance. Armed with hydrating shampoo & conditioner, a trusty leave-in conditioner, and the occasional hair repair treatment, you're on your way to unveiling the glossiest, healthiest version of your hair.

Sarah Heath is from Boston, Massachusetts and is a true hair enthusiast. Throughout her 14 years as a salon professional, she has mastered the art of balancing a behind-the-chair career while sharing professional education around the country for leading industry brands. Her love for DESIGNME was instant and she is so excited to share the love and bring accessible education to all.

Check out our hydrating hair products including hydrating shampoo, hydrating conditioner, and other products to combat dry hair!