If you’re suffering from dried-out feeling hair, it’s likely to be due to insufficient moisture. Dryness in the hair is a sign of inadequate hydration or an inability to retain it. Dry hair isn’t merely weakened and susceptible to damage; it can also appear lackluster and be prone to flyaways, split ends, and a noticeably straw-like texture.
The solution? Deep conditioning your hair!
In this guide, we’re going to take a look at why causes dry hair, and how deep conditioning can help you overcome it.
What Causes Dry Hair?
Dry hair isn’t just a superficial problem, but an issue with your hair’s structural integrity. The hair shaft comprises three layers: the cuticle, cortex, and medulla.
The cuticle, the outermost layer, is formed of overlapping, deceased cells, shielding the delicate inner layers from harm. A robust cuticle is sleek and level, preserving the hair’s moisture and resilience.
The cortex, the second layer, comprises lengthy keratin fibers bound by hydrogen bonds, furnishing the hair with strength, flexibility, and elasticity. Additionally, the cortex harbors melanin, which determines hair color.
Finally, the medulla, the innermost section of the shaft, contains air spaces and a slender core of cells.
Optimal hair health thrives on the nourishing and shielding properties of the innate oils residing within its outermost layer, the cuticle. These oils not only sustain and safeguard the inner layers but also amplify shine and radiance through light reflection. In dry hair, this moisturizing shield diminishes, resulting in a lackluster and less vibrant appearance.
Dry Hair and Hair Damage
According to the International Journal of Trichology, the hair is shielded by a lipid layer, which regulates moisture absorption and retention.
Chemical damage like hair dye, alongside other forms of damage from mechanical tearing or pollution, strips the strands of their natural oils and moisture, resulting in the depletion of this protective lipid layer. Consequently, the hair becomes excessively porous, leading to a lackluster appearance, dry texture, and reduced ability to retain moisture.
The NCBI explains that after hair damage, hair typically loses its shine and softness. You may also notice hair looks dull, and it can be more prone to tangling or breakage. You may notice more split ends, flyaways, baby hairs, or frizz, too. Plus, of course, that telltale dryness.
When hair undergoes initial damage, it commonly loses its shine and softness, manifesting in the dry and brittle texture you may notice. As damage persists, the dried-out hair may suffer from diminished strength and elasticity, leading to structural deterioration and breakage.
Signs such as lackluster appearance, dry and fragile feel, as well as breakage, split ends, and unruly flyaways, could indicate damage. Dry and brittle hair might serve as an early warning sign of potential future breakage.
Deep Conditioning For Dry Hair
If your hair is feeling a bit stressed, it’s the perfect opportunity to indulge in a deep-conditioning hair treatment, ensuring it’s in peak condition for the summer.
There are a whole host of deep conditioning treatments on the market that can help to rejuvenate, hydrate, and nourish your hair. A good-quality deep conditioning treatment can help to smooth and to diminish the visibility of your split ends and other damage.
What Is Deep Conditioning?
Regular conditioners function to moisturize and strengthen the outer surface of your hair, boasting a thinner consistency and requiring only 1-2 minutes to take effect.
In contrast, deep conditioners and hair masks work to fortify and moisturize the inner cuticles of your hair, featuring a thicker consistency and necessitating a duration of 5-15 minutes to achieve optimal results.
A deep conditioning treatment provides hair with more intensive nourishment compared to regular conditioners. Whether you’re addressing dryness, damage, or split ends, incorporating a deep conditioner into your hair care routine can significantly enhance your hair’s health.
Depending on your hair’s condition, it’s recommended to use a deep conditioning treatment approximately once a week. However, if your hair feels particularly dry and stressed, you can increase usage to 2-3 times per week.
Benefits Of A Deep Conditioner
Deep conditioning treatments offer a range of benefits.
These include hydrating and softening hair damaged by dyeing, heat styling, or bleaching, improving hair elasticity and restoring moisture, and preventing and reducing the appearance of hair breakage.
Steps For Deep Conditioning Your Hair
After shampooing your hair with your regular shampoo, rinse it thoroughly with lukewarm water. Generously apply the deep conditioning treatment to the lengths of your hair using your fingers.
Allow the treatment to absorb into your hair for the duration specified in the product’s instructions.
For added effectiveness, consider wearing a shower cap to contain the treatment. Rinse your hair with lukewarm water until the water runs clear.
Wrap your hair in a microfiber turban and gently pat it dry. Finally, style your hair as usual.
Some Of Our Favorite Deep Conditioning Treatments
Davines Nounou Nourishing Repair Mask
The Davines Nounou Nourishing Repair Mask stands out for several reasons. First, its notably thick consistency ensures you only need a small amount per treatment, making a single purchase last for months. Additionally, its lush, almost buttery texture allows it to seamlessly penetrate every strand, providing a nourishing hydration boost.
After rinsing, you’ll immediately notice a sleeker, softer feel to your hair. These benefits continue to accumulate over time with regular use.
The Davines Nounou Mask not only offers instant hydration but also works to enhance the overall condition of your hair with each application. It’s a remarkable two-in-one solution, delivering immediate results while simultaneously improving the long-term health of your hair.
Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food Banana 3-in-1 Dry Hair Mask
For an affordable hair treatment option, the Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food Masks are simply amazing. While all variants are worth trying, the Banana option is my personal favourite.
Not only does it swiftly revitalize dry and rough hair, leaving it bouncy and soft, but it also boasts a delightful banana candy scent that evokes nostalgia and is utterly delicious.
The versatility of the Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food Banana is impressive. It can be used as a traditional mask, left to absorb into the hair for a few minutes before rinsing. Alternatively, it doubles as a quick hydrating conditioner for those rushed hair-washing days.
Moreover, you can even use a small amount as a leave-in treatment on towel-dried hair before styling. With this mask in your beauty arsenal, you’ll find it’s all you need for fantastic hair days.
Bleach London Reincarnation Mask
Bleach London is renowned for its expertise in repairing damaged hair, alongside its vibrant range of at-home dyes. Among its standout products is the iconic Reincarnation Mask, a saviour for overprocessed hair in need of moisture infusion.
This mask, thick and buttery in texture, exudes luxury and reassures effectiveness on dried-out and damaged hair. It’s the go-to treatment for hair in dire need, offering extreme moisturisation precisely when it’s needed most.
Infused with sunflower seed extract and wheat proteins, it not only replenishes moisture on the hair’s surface but also restores the hair’s elasticity from within. The outcome? Hair that not only appears healthier but is genuinely revitalized on a strand-by-strand basis.
DIY Solutions for Deep Conditioning Hair
When you find yourself in need of a conditioning treatment but without a store-bought hair mask on hand, your kitchen can provide valuable solutions to address dryness and brittleness. Utilizing food-based ingredients, rich in fats and proteins, can nourish and repair your hair strands without straining your budget.
Natural oils offer some of the most effective treatments to strengthen and nourish damaged hair post-bleaching. Coconut oil, almond oil, castor oil, argan oil, and olive oil are renowned for their potent reparative and hydrating properties.
Serving as emollients, these oils form a protective shield around the hair shaft, sealing the cuticle and locking in moisture.
Additionally, their lubricating qualities enhance slip between hair strands, aiding in detangling and smoothing the cuticle surface, thereby improving the overall health and appearance of the hair.
With their low molecular weight and straight linear chain structure, natural oils penetrate deeply into the hair shaft, preventing protein loss and promoting hair strength and resilience.
You can also combine oils with other hair-loving food ingredients to create your own deep-conditioning masks at home.
For a replenishing coconut oil treatment, warm two tablespoons of coconut oil and apply it to damp or dry hair. Wrap your hair in a microfiber towel or an old t-shirt and leave it overnight for maximum hydration. Rinse out the mask in the morning using your preferred shampoo.
Avocado and olive oil are also excellent for treating split ends. Mash half an avocado with half a cup of olive oil, apply the mixture to the ends of your hair and leave it on for 30 minutes before rinsing.