Many women suffer from having extremely dry hair, which in turn can cause hair damage. It is important to understand the causes and treatments for this condition. Unlike the once beautiful flowers outside my bedroom window that are dying slowly from lack of rain and water, the solution for dry hair is not simply to add water. In fact for hair, water is often the culprit. Swimming and over shampooing are two common reasons for dry hair. Other enemies include the sun, wind, chemical treatments, heat from curling irons or blow dryers, and even genetics.
Basic Home Remedy for Dry Hair
Dry hair looks dull, is hard to style and can make you look older. You have to be careful with treating it, because too much treatment can actually make your hair drier. Your hair care professional may suggest hot oil treatments, which you can buy at any beauty supply shop, but you can also make your own oil treatments with olive or coconut oil.
Measure out three tablespoons of olive oil into a heat-resistant bowl and place the bowl in boiled water, thus heating it slowly. You can also heat it in the microwave. Either way, monitor it so that it won’t burn your scalp on application. Divide your hair into sections and work the oil in gently, beginning at the scalp and massaging down through the ends. When your hair is thoroughly saturated, put a plastic cap over it and let it sit for half an hour before rinsing out with lukewarm water. That may sound too cold, but hot water is very drying and may strip too much oil away.
Home Remedy for Dry Hair
Whether your dry locks are caused by weather, heat sources, or lack of natural oils; there are ways to remedy dry hair.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a time tested remedy for dry hair. Take few curry leaves and boil them with coconut oil for at least 2-3 minutes. You can keep this mixture for some days in a cool place. Apply it with the finger tips gently on your scalp and cover the hair with a warm towel. This will nourish the hair follicles, remove dryness and also make them strong.
Lemon
Lemon juice act like a natural moisturizer for hair. Take a mug of water and mix some lemon extract to it. Now wash your hair with it right after applying a shampoo.
Water
Water is a great home remedy for many health problems including dry hair. Often various waste elements get stored inside the body and it results in dryness of hair. Water flushes out these elements and also increases the glow of your hair. So it is advisable to drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. You can also drink water in the form of juices and liquids.
Henna
Henna is an herbal remedy that you can use at home to moisturize dry hair. Take about three spoons full of henna powder and mix it with some tea liquor. Now add some fresh yoghurt to it and make a paste mixing them well. Leave it to stand overnight and in the morning apply it on the hair. Leave it to dry for 2 hours and then gently rinse with a soft shampoo. Regular application of henna improves the quality of hair.
Shampoos
Shampoos containing harsh chemicals can make the hair dry. This is why you should go for mild herbal shampoos which are prepared from all natural ingredients. They clean the hair gently and you get normal silky hair over a short period.
Home Made Hair Pack
Make a hair pack with some almond or olive oil mixed with egg yolk. Apply this pack on your hair and leave it till dry. This will moisturize the hair and reduce dryness if used regularly.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a great herbal product that treats dryness of hair completely. The extracts of the aloe plants contain elements that moisturize the hair follicles and make your hair lustrous. You can take a glass of Aloe juice every morning to keep the hair and also your internal system healthy. A number of Aloe Vera hair gel, hair cream and shampoos are available in the stores which can help you get rid of dry hair completely.
Use Herbal Products
Now-a-days there are lots of herbal products available in the market that can help you treat the dryness of hair. The good quality herbal teas and creams work really well on dry hair. Take the herbal teas at least twice a day. You can also wash the hair with teal liquor as it is a time-tested remedy for keeping hair healthy and free from dryness.
Other Remedy for Dry Hair
What are in store bought products that make our hair feel so soft and healthy? You can make your own dry hair treatments at home with better ingredients, better results, at better prices.
For example, Urban Detox Hair Hospital Oil Treatment, which is close to $20 for a tiny 250ml bottle, contains the following essential oils:
- Safflower oil
- Jojoba seed oil
- Shea butter oil
- Rosemary oil
- Lavender oil
- Tocopherol (vitamin E)
You can buy these ingredients at most herbal stores, if not at the grocery store, in larger quantities and for less money. Making your own essential oil treatments is not only enjoyable, but allows for complete control over ingredient quality and quantity (for instance, using cold-pressed olive oil ensures that vitamin E naturally found in olive oil is still present).
Ingredients for Hot Oil Treatment
- 1/2 cup cold pressed olive oil (or any combination of oils listed above).
- Ziploc baggie
- Hot water
- Mild baby shampoo
- Applicator bottle
Directions for Hot Oil Treatment
- Fill a small bowl with hot water.
- Pour oil into Ziploc baggie and seal.
- Place baggie in hot water for 2 minutes.
- Empty oil into applicator bottle.
- Apply oil to dry hair.
- Leave treatment in hair for at least 30 minutes.
- Wash hair with mild shampoo and condition as usual.
Tip
Use baby shampoo when rinsing, as regular shampoo strips your hair of oils (moisture). Shampoo contains a detergent that breaks the oil up into tiny droplets that can be easily washed away, so keeping some oil in your hair is beneficial for people with dry hair.
Ingredients for Deep Conditioning Treatment
- 1/4 cup high quality hair conditioner
- 1/4 cup essential oil
- Applicator bottle
- Mild shampoo
Directions For Deep Conditioning Treatment
- Mix equal parts conditioner with choice oil.
- Fill applicator bottle with mixture and apply to hair.
- Leave treatment on hair for at least 30 minutes.
- Rinse (use mild shampoo if needed).
Ingredients for Hair Masque
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons additional essential oil
- Mild shampoo
Directions for Hair Masque
- In a small bowl, mix mayonaise with oil.
- Apply to hair liberally.
- Leave treatment on hair for at least 30 minutes.
- Rinse using cool water with mild shampoo if needed.
Tip
Brushing your hair can help maintain moisture levels. Natural oils, which are released at the scalp area, are distributed to the rest of the hair’s surface by brushing.
Ingredients for Hair Placenta
- 12 egg whites
- Mild shampoo
Directions for Hair Placenta
- Place egg whites in a small bowl.
- Apply egg whites to dry hair.
- Allow egg whites to sit for 30 minutes.
- Rinse using cool water and mild shampoo (warm water will cook the egg in your hair).
Tip
Store bought hair placenta, which contains extracts from actual cow placenta, can condition skin and hair. Vital to a growing baby in the womb, these same extracts in cosmetics give the body hormones that may be enough to spur breast growth in toddlers according to a few recent case studies.