How to Manage Dry and Brittle Hair
A healthy head of hair can instantly boost your self-esteem. The health of your hair is determined by internal and external factors -- your diet, excessive hairstyling, using the wrong products and exposure to windy and sunny environments all affect what your hair looks like. Sometimes an underlying medical condition, such as an eating disorder or hypothyroidism, can cause hair to dry and break. To best manage your damaged hair, avoid over-treating it; handle it gently and use the right products. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Eat a well-balanced diet and avoid diets that exclude entire food groups. Include protein sources, such as eggs, turkey and chicken, because these help combat brittle, dry hair. Eat whole-grain products such as fortified breakfast cereals and whole-grain bread to get B vitamins, iron and zinc, which are essential to healthy hair. Mix a tablespoon of ground flax seeds into a cup of low-fat yogurt to get a dose of omega-3 fatty acids and calcium. Get vitamin A and C from vegetables, such as spinach and broccoli, because these vitamins are essential to the production of natural scalp oils.
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Wash your hair with a mild shampoo once a week. Look for shampoos formulated for dry hair. These often contain humectants, such as propylene glycol, elastin, beeswax and triethylene glycol. These moisturizing agents promote moisture retention. Focus mainly on cleansing your scalp and roots. Avoid washing your hair too often because this may have an adverse effect and dry it out even more.
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Condition your hair after each washing. Dry your washed hair with a clean towel. Apply a moisturizing conditioner to your hair. Focus mainly on the ends of your hair and the roots. Comb the conditioner through your hair with a wide-tooth comb, so the product is evenly distributed. Leave the conditioner on your hair for two to three minutes. Rinse off the conditioner with warm water. Make your final rinse a cool-water rinse to close up the hair cuticle.
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Give yourself a deep conditioning treatment once a week. Purchase a commercial deep conditioning treatment geared toward dry, brittle hair. Often protein, which strengthens your hair, is the main ingredient in these. Follow packaging instructions to apply the conditioner. Avoid using a deep conditioner more than once a week because this may create product buildup. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise throughout your hair, as an alternative. Leave the mayonnaise on your hair for as long as one hour before thoroughly rinsing it out.
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Drink at least eight glasses of water throughout the day. If your body is dehydrated, it cannot function optimally, and it may also be the cause of your dry, brittle tresses.
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Avoid using heat styling tools, such as straightening and curling irons, because these can damage your already brittle, dry hair even more. If you must blow-dry your hair, use the lowest setting on your hairdryer. Handle your hair gently; avoid brushing or combing it roughly. Take your time.
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Get regular haircuts. Regularly cutting your hair eliminates dead, dulling ends and keeps your overall hair healthy.
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Tips & Warnings
Consult a professional hairstylist about chemical treatments, as perms, coloring and relaxing treatments can all damage your hair.
Consult your doctor if your dry, brittle hair doesn't improve, as a medical condition may be to blame for the condition of your hair.
References
- Medline Plus; Dry Hair; Linda J. Vorvick; October 2010
- Mother Nature: Dry Hair
- Naturally Curly; Humidity, Humectants and Hair; Tonya McKay; August 2007
- Hair Boutique; Hair Vitamins & Hairstyling Tips -- 8 Hair Growth Secrets; Karen Marie Shelton; June 2006
- WebMD: Top 10 Foods For Healthy Hair; Hilary Parker
- Photo Credit Pixland/Pixland/Getty Images
