It isn’t hard to see why so many of us regard our hair as our pride and joy. In addition to complementing one’s desired look, hair can oftentimes serve as a reflection of your personality. Unfortunately, haircare isn’t always as easy as shampoo commercials make it seem. After all, everyone’s hair is different, and haircare rituals that work for some of us may not necessarily work for all of us. This is particularly true when it comes to dryness. While some people’s hair is nearly impossible to dry out, others have hair that becomes hopelessly dry at the drop of a hat. So, if you fall into the latter category, the following measures are likely to prove useful.
Chapter Overview
Condition Whenever You Shampoo
Although shampoo is an essential tool for keeping hair fresh and clean, it has a tendency to do its job too well. In cleansing hair of assorted contaminants, many shampoos strip it of essential oils, which often results in dry hair. Needless to say, if you shampoo your locks on a daily basis, perpetual hair dryness shouldn’t come as much of a shock.
With this in mind, make a point of following up every shampooing with a conditioning. A good conditioner will help replenish the moisture that was stripped away by shampoo. In essence, this is the haircare equivalent of following up every face-wash with a moisturizing. While using separate shampoos and conditioners is ideal, a combination shampoo-conditioner should do in a pinch.
Use Products Designed for Your Hair Type
Haircare product manufacturers realize that hair is far from a “one size fits all” affair. As such, many of them create shampoos, conditioners and other products for multiple hair types. So, if your hair tends to dry out easily, limit yourself to products intended for dry hair. In many cases, the specific hair type for which a product is intended will be listed on its packaging, so make sure to confirm the hair type before heading for the checkout.
You may also want to consider giving organic haircare products a try. Since many over-the-counter products contain ingredients that are conducive to dryness, seeking out all-natural alternatives may be in your best interest. For instance, grass fed collagen peptides can help facilitate long-term hair health. Similarly, massaging hair with natural oils can be a soothing – and highly effective – way to restore moisture.
Cut Back on Shampooing
Many of us would be hard-pressed to imagine a daily grooming routine that doesn’t include a good shampooing. Even those of us with hair types that are ill-suited to frequent washings have been conditioned to regard daily shampooing as a nonnegotiable part of proper hygiene. However, it’s important to remember that washing one’s hair on a daily basis didn’t become a societal norm until the 1960s – and in some cultures, it still hasn’t. In fact, prior to said decade, many women washed their hair only once a week. As such, it’s hardly surprising to see so many seniors carry on that practice to this day.
If you have supremely oily hair, you may very well need to shampoo your hair on a daily basis. If not, cutting back on the shampoo stands to reduce dryness and help your hair regain some of its natural luster. For people who have grown accustomed to washing their hair every day, this may seem like a far-out concept – and there will likely be an adjustment period in which your hair becomes extremely oily – but once you get used to shampooing less often, you may come to wonder why you ever did it on a daily basis. To start with, transition from washing every day to washing every second or third day. Depending on your hair type and general lifestyle, you may discover that one wash per week is perfectly sufficient for your haircare needs.
Although some of us have hair that never seems to dry out, others are perpetually locked in battle with dry hair. If you fall into the latter category, you’ve likely tried a wide variety of moisturizing solutions – and have spent a fair amount of money in the process. Fortunately, combating dry hair doesn’t have to be a drain on your time, energy or resources. When it comes to fighting back against dry hair, the measures discussed above are likely to serve you well.