Is your hair constantly dry? Check out these potential causes
Your hair goes through a lot daily. From exposure to pollution to the use of heat tools, your hair can suffer greatly. Furthermore, your self-image can be negatively affected when your hair becomes dry and rough. While you can't change your hair type, you can prevent damage by practicing proper hair care. Note these five main reasons for dry and damaged hair.
Excessive washing
Over-washing your hair can strip away natural oils, leaving your hair dry and dull. Additionally, most shampoos and conditioners contain sulfates to remove grease and debris, but they can make your hair dry and frizzy. Using these sulfate-based hair care products could remove the natural oils that our scalp secretes to keep the cuticles closed, safeguard the inner layers, and prevent moisture loss.
Environmental factors
Dry hair symptoms can be brought on by excessive sun exposure, intense heat or cold, or low humidity. Regular exposure to the sun, wind, and salty, hard or chlorinated water can make your hair dry. Be extremely careful while taking a bath in chlorinated water. Chlorine overexposure weakens the cuticles of the hair and eventually makes it brittle.
Heat styling products
The water within the strands evaporates as a result of heat from styling products. Blow dryers and flat irons we use to style our hair can reach temperatures as high as 148 degrees Celsius, damaging the cuticles and allowing all the moisture to escape. Similarly, frequent chemical treatments can also cause damage to the hair leading to more breakage, and dryness.
Aging and other health problems
Your hair produces less oil as you age. Dry hair can also be a result of hormone changes following menopause. It also happens due to various health problems including eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa/bulimia or hormonal problems like hypoparathyroidism and hypothyroidism. These hormonal issues often lead to hair loss as a result of hair drying.
Dry scalp
Your hair lacks a lubricant of its own. It is moisturized by oils produced in its roots. Dry scalp and dry hair are related since the roots are located beneath the epidermis. Dandruff flakes may appear as a result of a dry scalp that peels and sheds. Often people with dry skin are more prone to dry scalp, which further affects their hair quality.
