By Nauman Akbar
I f you’ve started to notice your hair texture has changed and wondered, why is my hair so dry and brittle, chances are your tresses didn’t just become like that overnight. There could actually be a number of reasons why your hair looks fried, and it may be a result of things that you didn’t even realize you do. Even though hair seems pretty fragile, it’s not always just one thing done one time that causes dryness, breakage, and other damage. Usually, it’s a habit or combination of common haircare mistakes that lead to your tresses looking and feeling like straw.
Here are the possible reasons & solutions:
T he heat from using blow dryers, flat irons, and curling irons can really do a number on your strands. Try to keep track of how often you use hot tools, and air-dry your hair whenever you can. Even if you already use hot tools sparingly, the level of heat you set them to when you do could also be drying and damaging your hair. Those with fine hair should stay below 360 degrees, while medium and coarse hair should stay below 380 degrees and 410 degrees, respectively.
Shampooing is a necessity, but if not done properly, it can play a role in how dry and brittle your hair is. Over-washing can strip away the essential oils that your hair needs to retain moisture and overall shine, which can lead to an overly dry and irritated scalp. Conditioner helps replace moisture that was lost from shampooing. If you don’t let your conditioner sit in your hair long enough (or if you don’t use the right formula), your hair could be missing out on some much-needed nourishment
If you like dabbling in hair dye, you probably already know that it can be pretty damaging. And even though there are recommended amounts of time to wait between touchups and dye jobs to prevent as much of this damage as possible, stretching that time out as much as you can only help.
Your hair is most fragile and prone to damage when it’s wet. So, if the first thing you do out of the shower is try to run a brush through your hair or towel-dry it, you’re likely causing some breakage. Instead, gently squeeze out excess water, spritz in a detangling spray or leave-in conditioner to help protect your hair, and use a wide-tooth comb to work out any knots.
