HOW TO MANAGE YOUR DRY HAIR
For those that constantly struggle with dry hair and can’t seem to figure out what it is that is causing it, we have put together our top 10 tips to help. As a professional hair stylist for over 30 years, I have seen the worst of the worst when it comes to dry hair. Client’s have come from other salons with misinformed information or have tried to self diagnose trying product after product and ultimately have in some cases, caused the issue themselves.
There are hundreds of products on the market that claim to fix dry hair, however without a true understanding of what the initial cause is, you could just be using the wrong product. We spend hours with our core suppliers educating ourselves on the latest products, techniques and learning the science of hair to ensure we, as professional hair specialists provide our clients with the correct information.
Unfortunately there is not just a magic fix for dry hair and it could be the result of a number of factors. Below are our top 10 tips to help manage your hair to ensure it stays nourished and beautiful for the foreseeable future.
Tip 10. Check your Vitamin levels.
We all know we need vitamins to keep us healthy, this can be through the foods we eat or taking supplements. As your body depletes its vitamin levels, this has a direct impact on your hair and scalp. The main vitamins required for healthy hair include Vitamin A, Vitamin C, biotin and the mineral iron. Always check with your doctor to ensure your vitamin and mineral levels are at healthy levels.
Tip 9. Avoid heat.
The constant use of hair dryers, hair straighteners or curling irons impact the hair and ultimately burn and dry out your hair. Ensure every time you use one of these tools, you use a heat protecting product like GHD bodyguardwhich is a stand alone protector to be used prior to starting your styling. There are also numerous styling products that include a heat protector within the product. Check out La Biosthetique anti frizz heat balm or a Kerastase Thermique .
Tip 8. Avoid daily washing.
Daily washing removes dirt and sweat from your hair, however the over use of shampoo and conditioner removes the natural sebum that your scalp produces. Hair sebum is the natural oil that makes your hair healthy and easy to maintain. Over production or lack of washing can result in a greasy hair appearance. By constantly washing, you ultimately strip this natural oil.
It’s fair to say you probably don’t need to wash your hair every day, you can most likely wash every 2-3 days which should provide a healthier result.
Tip 7. Repetitive use of hair colour and bleaching.
Strong chemicals used in hair colour will dry out your hair, but it can also cause your hair to become brittle and break. If you are regular colour refresher, ensure you ask your salon to use a deep mask treatment after your colour.
We also suggest only using professional hair colours, these have been designed for the best results and longer lasting colour. Although a salon colour may cost more than a home applied supermarket pack, the quality of the products used will result in healthier hair and a longer lasting result. A longer lasting colour means you are not constantly applying damaging chemicals to your hair regularly, which will stop drying out your hair.
Tip 6. Watch your diet.
Just like the rest of your body, your hair needs certain elements to keep it healthy. Although you can take supplements, ensuring your diet is healthy and eating foods that provide the nourishment your hair needs will help stop it from drying out.
Marine proteins like oily fish (salmon,mackerel, tuna or sardines) are all rich in peptides and omega-3 which will also help make your hair shinier.
Always discuss with your doctor or a nutritionist as to what’s best for you.
Tip 5. Use quality Shampoos and Conditioners.
After 30 years in the hair industry, I’ve seen the result of using cheap supermarket shampoo’s and conditioners. These generic products are designed mostly as a detergent to wash out the oils from your hair. We only sell premium brands, as the science behind these products are proven and are designed for specific hair types. I always encourage our clients to use a product based on their hair type and texture. As an example. If you have your hair bleached or have streaks, use something like Kerastase absolut blond range as this is specifically designed to provide the best results for your hair colour.
Always make sure you ask your stylist as to what’s the best shampoo for your hair.
Tip 4. Use regular treatments.
There are numerous types of treatments available from most brands and these are broken down into two categories.
Reconstructors – These are generally protein based and make the hair stronger. These are ideal if you have chemically damaged (bleached, coloured or permed) or breaking hair. These often have a combination of protein and moisture and work from the inside of your hair out.
Moisturisers – These are the most common types and help balance the cortex of your hair (the middle). These are best for hair that has been over dried from, heating (like with a hair straightener) or sun damaged.
If your hair is just slightly damaged using a treatment once a week is more than enough. If it is extremely damaged you may need to treat twice a week.
Tip 3. Try using a wide tooth comb instead of a brush.
The wrong hair brush can rip through tangles and can leave the hair looking frizzy and rough. Try combing your hair whilst still wet and use wide tooth comb along with a good moisturising serum as this will prevent breakage.
Tip 2. Don’t over use of products that are high in protein.
These products are fantastic for your hair and build strength and help re-bond your hair shaft. However, long term use just using a high protein product alone, without a moisture or hydrating based product may lead to it contributing to dry and brittle hair. Try alternating your washes between a protein based shampoo and a hydrating shampoo or use a protein shampoo and a hydrating conditioner.
Tip 1. Have a trim.
Most people with dry hair just need a little trim to remove the dry ends which will stop the hair splitting further up the hair shaft. Even if your hair isn’t very long, dry, split ends can make it a challenge in styling your dry, coarse hair.
Ask your stylist to trim off the unhealthy ends that is slowing the growth of healthy hair. Sometimes the simplest little things may provide all you need to help rejuvenate your hair.
If you feel you need some help in working through your challenging dry hair, please feel free to reach out for a chat. I’d be more than happy to discuss what products and tips would be best for your needs.
Shelley.