Our hair is known to be our crowning glory. It can change how we feel about herself – like how a shiny, healthy hair can make you feel instantly beautiful and a dull, lifeless hair one make you feel ugly. Some even call it having a “bad hair day”, and their surly mood lasts from morning until night time. People who have bad hair day feel distressed and burdened; more so to those with dry hair who, more than often, feel that every day is a bad hair day.

The Causes of Limp, Dry Hair

Dry hair comes when moisture and oil escapes the hair and loses the soft and healthy texture you want it to have. Continuously unattended dry hair becomes brittle and dull, like straw: lifeless, unhealthy, and easily breaks. Just as there are as much causes to dry hair, there is no need to give up like there is no end to it. Causes of dry hair may range from improper hair care to serious illnesses. More often, finding out the main reason of your drying hair will give you the idea of how to properly treat it and prevent it from coming back. For serious illnesses causes, consulting your physician may be the best course of action.

Causes of drying hair mainly lie on improper hair care. Excessive using of styling products and harsh shampoos (containing damaging chemicals) will cause the hair to lose the elements that keep it moist. Overuse of heat like straightening irons, curling irons and blow dryers intensify dry hair. Undergoing salon treatments that involve using of products with damaging chemicals like hair perming and hair dying are also causes. Environment also contributes to the condition like residing in a humid area. Risks of developing dry hair increases with people who love to stay and play outdoors under the heat of the sun and those who love to jump in the cool waters of the swimming pool.

Eating disorders like anorexia is also a cause. The body is robbed of the vital nutrients it needs, including the hair as well, when you force yourself to vomit out the food you eat. The same as poor diet, the hair becomes dry and brittle as it lacks the vitamins and nutrients it needs. Medical conditions like hypothyroidism and hypoparathyroidism can also cause dry hair and produces too little of the thyroid and parathyroid hormone that can cause dry hair together with weakness, muscle pain and depression.

The hair’s moisture content must be between 8% and 10%, and if it falls below that level, it reduces the hairs ability to retain moisture. The sebaceous glands on the root of the hair also oftentimes do not produce natural oils, the oil that nourishes the hair and makes it look healthy. Whether your drying hair is caused by improper hair care or disorders, there are natural home remedies to get rid of a bad hair day.

• Avocado and Banana

Applying hair mask made of avocado and banana can help with the hair’s shine and beauty. Bananas have amino acids that protect the hair from environmental damages. Avocados have Vitamins A, B6 and rich oils that are easily absorbed by the scalp.

In a blender, mix half of each banana and avocado, a few cantaloupe and plain yogurt. Blend until smooth and rub unto hair and scalp. Cover your head with shower cap for 30 minutes and rinse out thoroughly, washing with shampoo and water.

• Olive Oil

  One of the most widely used over-all beauty aid is olive oil, especially in improving hair health. For dry hair, applying a small amount of oil, specifically olive oil, will make hair soft, silky and easy to manage. Rub the oil unto hair and cover it with shower cap. Leave it on overnight and when you awake, make sure to focus in removing the oil and taking the remedy out using shampoo. Using coconut oil is a good alternative as well.

• Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids

  Omega-3 Fatty Acids are found in abundance in fish. It is generally necessary for a wide range of purposes, including preventing drying of hair. Fish oil lubricates hair follicles, provides Vitamin A necessary for hair health and stimulates sebaceous glands that produce natural oils. According to Donald O. Rudin’s book Omega-3 Oils, fish oil helps keep the smooth and gloss of the hair and skin. Vitamin A, a nutrient highly found in fish oil, is necessary for healthy hair and deficiency causes dry, dull and falling hair, according to John D. Kirschmann’s Nutrition Almanac. Fish oil also stimulates the sebaceous glands to produce sebum, an oily substance that maintains the softness of hair and skin and deficiency causes dry skin and hair, according to James Forleo’sHealth is Simple, Disease is Complicated.

• Vinegar

  Residues from shampoos, conditioners and other styling products can leave hair dry and dull. These residue remains on the hair’s outer layer and are called cuticle. Refreshing dry hair with white or apple cider vinegar improves cleanliness and add shine, as vinegar’s properties remove hair residues.

  Mix ¼ cup of white distilled vinegar to 1 cup of water, or 1 cup of apple cider vinegar to 2 cups of water. Apply white vinegar after conditioning and apple cider vinegar before conditioning. Apply to scalp and leave of for 3-5 minutes and then rinse thoroughly. Avoid rinsing more than once for every one to two weeks, too much vinegar can bring the opposite of the desired effect.

• Vitamin-A Rich Foods

  Like omega-3 fatty acids and avocados, foods that highly contain Vitamin A or beta carotene help in improving hair heath. Vitamin A deficiency causes hair to become dry and dull. Fruits with orange color are those that are high in Vitamin A. These include cantaloupe, papaya, mangoes, carrots and sweet potatoes. Spinach and other dark green and leafy vegetables are also advised. Organ meat and cod liver oil may also satisfy your Vitamin A needs. Aside from eating Vitamin A rich foods, you can also resort to Vitamin A supplementation.

Sources
natural-cures-for.com
livestrong.com
beauty-and-nutrition.com