As the summer sun scorches Dubai, your hair may be feeling dryer than normal. And while Hair salons like Nooora offer deep moisturizing treatments, there are tips for keeping your hair healthy in the first place.
You might be surprised when you find out how to prevent dry hair, because what makes hair dry isn’t as straight forward as it may seem.
You may also want to have a home remedy for dry hair to turn to as well. Your very own DIY dry hair treatment. So we’re giving you a couple of tips—both for how to treat dry hair and how to prevent it becoming dry in the first place.
Why Does Hair Get Dry?
Some people have naturally more dry hair, but things that can cause hair dryness include:
- Exposure to heat, such as using hair dryers, hair straighteners, curlers, or simply spending time in the sun
- Bleaching and dying your hair
- Other hair treatments, such as a perm
- Spending a lot of time in a pool with bleach, or in salt water
- Using the wrong shampoo, or shampooing your hair too often
- Eating an unbalanced diet
- Smoking
- Humidity
Try to limit the above, but also read on to get more tips on how to prevent your hair from becoming dry and what to do if it’s already dry!
Watch the Washing
Washing your hair feels wonderful and leaves it looking glowing and healthy, but washing your hair too often can actually cause damage.
Every time you wash your hair you remove some sebum—the oil found in your scalp that keeps your hair healthy and happy. If you wash your hair often, your body tries to adjust by producing more, which is why your hair may look fatty if you suddenly wash it less often. However, if you wash your hair every day, chances are your body can’t keep up. So try to only wash your hair once or twice a week.
If you’re currently washing your hair every day, gradually trap it down—washing it every second day first and then every third day.
Note: That hot water also rinses off oil, so try not to scorch your scalp.
Lastly, beware what shampoo you’re using—if your hair is too dry, try a shampoo specifically designed for dry hair. A baby shampoo may also work well for this purpose.
Use a Hat
If you spend a lot of time in the sun, then wear a hat, or a scarves, to protect your hair.
Avoid Getting Your Hair Wet in a Pool or at the Beach
If you love to swim, try to avoid getting your hair wet. Both salt and bleach can lead to dry and damaged hair.
Eat Well
Getting your essential vitamins and minerals is important for all bodily functions. If your hair is looking a bit sad, try taking a multivitamin a couple of times a week. When it comes to hair, it’s also important to eat plenty of antioxidants (found in most foods, but particularly in fruit and veg, herbs and tea), as well as omega-3 fatty acids. These are found in marine proteins (fish) and you can also buy them in supplements. Just be sure to get the right balance of omega 3, 6 and 9. And beware that vegan sources of omega-3s may not have the same effect on your hair as the ones coming from fish.
Create Your Own Treatment
Olive oil, argan oil and coconut oil, have all been touted as home remedies for dry hair. Coconut oil, specifically seems to penetrate hair fibers and help cover up damage.
Simply gently warm up the oil you choose to use, massage it into your hair and scalp and leave it in for 20 minutes before rinsing. Some even wrap their hair up and sleep with the oil in it (beware it will damage your pillows if it gets out of the wrap!). Depending on the amount of oil used and if your hair is fine, or thick and coarse, you need to rinse it with either warm water, or properly shampoo it. You may even have to use shampoo twice or three times to be able to get it out. If that’s the case, try using much less oil next time!
Essential oils, like lavender and peppermint are rumored to prevent hair damage and hair loss. Tea tree oil may further help cure and/or prevent an itchy scalp. So if you want to add some drops each of these oils to your oil treatment, go for it. But first do a skin patch test 24 hours beforehand to check you aren’t allergic.
Don’t do this too often—maximum once a week.
Cut Off Split Ends
Unfortunately there’s no way of treating split ends but to cut them off. If your hair is starting to look tired, consult a hairdresser about how much of the ends have been damaged and need to be cut off.
