Tips to fight dull and dry hair
Beautiful, shiny and healthy hair - we all want that. Unfortunately, this is not always possible for everyone. In fact, many people suffer from dull and dry hair. In this blog, we give you tips to make your hair shine again. Do not wash your hair too often, rinse with cold water after washing, avoid heat, use a moisturising mask and massage your scalp regularly.
What causes dull hair?
There are several reasons why your hair becomes dull and dry. Hair that quickly becomes dull is often damaged, for instance by using heat styling tools, washing (too much) with the wrong shampoo, setting a perm, being in the cold, wind, too much sun or seawater, or a lack of nutrients. Damage causes your hair cuticles not to close together properly any more; thus, moisture can escape from your hair more easily. As a result, your hair loses its shine and can feel dry and coarse. Shiny hair is, in fact, a matter of closed cuticles, which then lie smoothly on top of each other. And light simply reflects better on a smooth surface. The result: a shiny effect!
Having dull and dry hair is also often a sign of insufficient sebum production. Beneath your skin there are sebaceous glands, which produce sebum. Tallow keeps your scalp and hair supple. Your hands, your brush or comb spread it further through your hair, making your hair healthier and less dry. When you produce too much sebum, your hair quickly becomes oily. But when you produce too little sebum, your hair becomes dull and dry. How much sebum you shed depends on several factors, including heredity, hormones, diet, medication use, having an irritated scalp or using the wrong products.
What can you do to make your hair less dull?
If you suffer from dull and dry hair, of course, it is very unpleasant. Fortunately, there are plenty of tips to make your hair shiny again and to prevent it from further damage. We put them together for you.
- Do not wash your hair too often
Often, just rinsing your hair with water is enough. If you wash your hair too often with an (aggressive) shampoo, you remove not only the dirt but also the natural oils that keep your hair and scalp healthy. It can also have a negative impact on the production of sebum. Such a shame! When washing your hair, choose a shampoo that is as natural as possible. Try WECOLOUR shampoo. It is free of SLS, silicones and parabens.
- After shampooing, rinse your hair with cold water.
When you wash your hair with warm (not too hot!) water, your hair cuticles open up and the shampoo can reach your hair deeply. After shampooing, rinse your hair with cold water to close your cuticles again. This way, they keep the nourishing ingredients of your conditioning shampoo in your hair, so to speak. Do you also use a conditioner after shampooing? Even then, it is wise to turn on the cold water tap.
- Avoid heat & treat your (wet) hair with love.
It's actually something we all know: use as few heat styling tools as possible, such as blow-dryers, styling or curling irons. This actually dries out your hair a lot and can damage it, making it dull. If you do want to use heat, make sure your hair is protected by, for example, applying Argan Silk before styling and set the temperature of your hair dryer or straightener to a low-heat setting.
But preferably let your wet hair dry naturally, without a hairdryer, as much as possible. Also, try not to rub your hair dry with a towel, this can cause it to split due to the rough fabric! Gently pat your hair dry with a cotton T-shirt after washing or rinsing. Do not brush or comb your hair when it is wet. Wet hair is extra vulnerable and can break more easily. Wait until your hair has dried. If you really cannot wait that long, detangle your hair carefully with a wide-tooth comb.
- Make sure you eat a diverse diet.
Healthy eating is, of course, critical. It is also good for the health of your hair to pay extra attention to your diet. Make sure you get enough vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, such as iron, zinc and copper. If you eat a sufficiently varied diet, you will soon get all the nutrients you need. Foods that can boost your hair include nuts and seeds, oily fish, eggs, legumes, green vegetables and whole-grain products.
- Drink enough water in a day.
Drinking water is not only good for your body, but also for your hair. After all, your hair is partly made up of water. If your hair is dehydrated, you can tell by your split ends and it loses shine. Therefore, try to drink at least 1.5 to 2 litres of water every day.
- Use a moisturising and conditioning hair mask regularly.
A good hair mask puts a protective layer on your hair, making it nice and smooth and shiny. It will also protect you from damage by, for instance, sunlight or the hair dryer (if you still use it ;-)).
- Massage your scalp regularly.
When you massage your scalp regularly, you stimulate your sebum production, making it produce more sebum. This makes your hair less dull and dry. Brushing your hair also gives your scalp a kind of massage and stimulates sebum production. Just make sure you clean your brush regularly. Besides being good for your sebum production, a massage also stimulates your blood circulation, which promotes hair growth. So, a win-win situation!
Conclusion
Hair damaged by washing it too much, using too much heat or due to temperature changes, for example, is often dull and dry. Who doesn't dream of having shiny and healthy hair? Fortunately, you can try to combat and prevent dull and dry hair with the right tips.
