Very dry hair: what to moisturize with?

The condition of their scalp is of concern mainly to women, who often complain of very dry hair.

Excessive dryness of hair is a sign of damage. What are its causes and how to restore very dry hair, read on.

Causes very dry hair

Typically, the most common causes of this widespread problem are:

• with too frequent hair washing, especially with hot water;
• using aggressive detergents containing alkalis, sulfates, cationic surfactants (surface-active agents), etc.;
• with constant use of a hair dryer and other heat styling devices; [ 1 ]
• with regular hair coloring.

In addition, increased dryness of hair is caused by:

• reduction in the production of sebum or oil by the sebaceous glands of the scalp;
• deficiencies of nutrients, including proteins and omega-3 fatty acids; vitamins A, C, E, B7, B9, B12, as well as macronutrients (zinc, selenium, sulfur);
• iron deficiency anemia;
• hypothyroidism or hypoparathyroidism and associated deficiency of thyroid or parathyroid hormones;
• high levels of stress and increased anxiety, which increase the production of cortisol in the body and reduce blood flow to the scalp, which worsens the trophism of the hair follicles.

Risk factors

Known risk factors for excessively dry hair include:

• living in a dry, hot climate;
• prolonged exposure to sunlight in summer and cold wind in winter;
• chlorinated or salt water;
• excessive heating in rooms;
• malnutrition or anorexia;
• menopause period;
• hormonal contraception.

Pathogenesis

Since the main purpose of sebum is to protect the scalp and hair from moisture loss and adverse external influences, the pathogenesis of increased dryness of hair is explained by a violation of this protection.

Sebaceous glands are located near the hair follicles with an outlet into the follicular duct; a deficiency of sebum secreted by them can be caused by problems with the ovaries, testicles or adrenal glands and the associated imbalance of sex steroids - testosterone and estrogens, which regulate the work of the sebaceous glands.

Frequent washing, exposure to chemicals and high temperatures, and UV-induced photooxidation can deplete the hair's natural ceramides, which hold the scales of the cuticle surrounding the hair cortex together. It loses its homogeneity and becomes loose: its keratin horny scales no longer fit tightly around the hair shaft. Because of this, the hair loses moisture, i.e., it becomes very dry.

Also read – Hair structure

Symptoms very dry hair

The first signs of excessive dryness of hair are the loss of its normal shine (it becomes dull).

Also, symptoms of overdried hair are manifested by changes in its texture, which makes it appear loose (“unruly”, difficult to comb), and very dry colored hair – discolored.

Bleached hair is very dry, which causes it to lose its natural elasticity.

Complications and consequences

When hair is very dry, possible complications and consequences include hair breakage; split ends; hair loss; dry scalp with the formation of dry, keratinized scales (desquamation) in the form of dandruff.

Diagnostics very dry hair

Hair problems are treated by a trichologist or dermatologist. Diagnostics when contacting a doctor about excessively dry hair may consist of an examination of the scalp and examination of the hair shaft under a microscope.

The tests required include a blood chemistry test and a test for hormone levels (sex and thyroid) and iron.

To determine the true cause of the problem, differential diagnostics are carried out.

Treatment very dry hair

What to do if your hair is very dry? Experts advise starting with a "reboot" - a fresh haircut for very dry hair, which will remove split ends of the hair shafts.

If you have health problems, your hair condition may improve after treating the underlying condition.

It is necessary to select suitable hair and scalp care products, including shampoos, balms, conditioners, sprays for very dry hair, [ 2 ] which should include:

• fatty acids (oleic, palmitic, stearic, linoleic, linolenic, etc.);
• alpha hydroxy acids (lactic, malic);
• natural oils – coconut, olive, almond, castor (castor), safflower; avocado and macadamia oil, argan oil, grape seed oil;
• essential oils – jojoba and sandalwood oils, thyme, lavender, rose, clary sage, ylang-ylang;
• lanolin or glycerin (glycerol);
• ceramides, hydrolyzed collagen, sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid);
• vitamins A and E.

For washing your hair, it is recommended to use shampoos for very dry hair with collagen, ceramides, hyaluronic acid or hydrolyzed silk proteins (fibroin and sericin extracted from raw silk); with extracts of medicinal plants (burdock root, licorice and comfrey, hop cones, black elderberry flowers, stinging nettle leaves, peppermint, sage, horsetail herb).

It is also recommended to use moisturizing fillers with ceramides, which help restore shine and elasticity to hair.

How are oils for very dry hair used? Essentially, these are nourishing masks for very dry hair based on vitamin E and antioxidant-rich olive, coconut, almond, castor or corn oils that help strengthen the outer cuticle layer.

The simplest and most affordable homemade masks for very dry hair are made from oil (any of the above) slightly warmed up in a water bath, to which you can add a few drops of essential oil. For several minutes, gently rub the oil into the hair. After that, cover the hair with food PE film, then with a terry towel and leave for 30-45 minutes. Wash off the mask with shampoo, rinse the hair: you can use water with a small amount of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar added. This rinse “tightens” the cuticle and makes the hair smoother.

It is recommended to do the following masks for very dry hair once or twice a week:

• with olive or castor oil and raw egg yolk;
• with egg yolk and heavy cream;
• hair mask made from sour cream;
• with almond oil and gelatin (which is first soaked in warm water to swell);
• masks with glycerin;
• moisturizing masks with coconut oil and parsley root decoction, with natural yogurt and honey, with fresh avocado pulp and jojoba oil.

More information in the material - Dry Hair Care

Prevention

To avoid the problem of excessively dry hair, you should:

• avoid washing your hair frequently and do not use too hot water;
• dry and style your hair with a hair dryer as little as possible;
• protect your hair from the sun's rays - wear a hat;
• When visiting a pool with chlorinated water, wear a swimming cap;
• do not pull your hair into a ponytail too tightly and do not use metal hair accessories;
• use mild shampoos and suitable hair care products;
• drink enough water and add omega-3 fatty acids (found in salmon, mackerel, sardines) and vitamin E (from spinach, broccoli, avocado, nuts and seeds) to your diet;
• Regularly massage your scalp to stimulate blood circulation.

Forecast

Caring for and maintaining very dry hair – with the right products – will in most cases help to minimise damage to the hair and restore it to a healthy condition.