From Dry to Juicy!
Ah, Dry hair! The eternal foe of every curly girl. Although most of us have dealt with dryness at some point in our hair journey, for some, lack of moisture retention remains a perpetual issue. Curly and coily hair requires a lot of hydration in order to flourish, and when your hair struggles to retain any, it can feel like your crown isn’t reaching its full potential!
So, how do you tackle this issue? The following article will give you a step by step guide on how to overcome dryness and finally obtain the luscious, moisturized locks of your dreams!
So, What is dry hair?
The first step to dealing with dryness is understanding what it is.
When your hair is dry, it means that your strands lack sufficient moisture and natural oils, making them rough and brittle to the touch. Unfortunately for us curly girls, the natural structure of our strands makes our hair more prone to dryness than straighter hair types. Normally, sebum, a natural oil that is produced by our scalp, should glide down our hair strands in order to coat them which helps to keep our hair moisturized and healthy.
However, because of the structure of curly hair, sebum has a harder time traveling down our hair shaft. This results in drier and more brittle hair. Usually, the curlier your hair is, the less likely it is for the sebum to be able to completely coat your strands from root to ends. This means that, generally, type 4 girls will naturally have drier hair than type 2 girls.
Why is having dry hair such a bad thing?
Apart from the more obvious reasons such as dullness, roughness and excessive frizz, having dry hair is detrimental for a number of reasons.
Breaking Bad..
First of all, dry strands are way more fragile and break easier than moisturized hair strands. Think of it this way…If you try to bend something that is flexible, its shape will change and adapt but if you try to bend an object that isn’t pliable or elastic, it will break.
The same goes for your hair strands. When you manipulate moisturized locks, they won’t break as easily because they’re “flexible”. On the other hand, manipulating and styling dry, rough hair will result in excessive breakage because your strands aren’t pliable enough to bend. Hence, the main reason dry hair is such a nuisance is because it can set you back in your journey and stop you from retaining length.
Oh god.. The Tangles!
Another reason that dry hair can really be a pain is because it is more prone to tangles. When your hair lacks moisture, your cuticles (the outer layer of your hair shaft) will raise and open. This will cause your hair strands to latch onto each other which will eventually lead to more tangles and knots.
Style me not
Last but not least, dry hair is very difficult to manage and trying to style it can be frustrating. When your hair is dry, it lacks the flexibility needed to hold styles well. So, it can be challenging to achieve certain looks and hairstyles, especially if the hair is brittle and weak.
The Main causes of dry, brittle hair
There are a number of reasons why your hair might be drier than usual. Here is a list of the most common causes of dry locks!
You're using the wrong shampoo
Washing your hair with shampoos that contain harsh ingredients like sulfates will leave your hair feeling dry and brittle. So, when choosing a shampoo, watch out for the following ingredients:
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate and other derivatives.
Silicones and Mineral Oils
These ingredients coat your hair strands and over time lead to build up. They are very difficult to remove, even with shampoo so they create a barrier between your hair shaft and the products you apply. So, if you have a lot of build up, no matter how many time deep condition or apply leave in, your hair will remain dry because the products are not actually penetrating your hair.
Heat Styling
I’m sure this surprises no one, but using heat tools (such as blow dryers, flat irons & curlers) too often will also lead to dryness.
Your environment
Oftentimes, exposure to environmental factors such as Uv rays, cold weather, and dry air can cause your hair to become drier than usual.
Chemical Damage
Once your locks become exposed to certain chemicals (for example bleach), your crown become extremely prone to dryness.
Remember...
In order to achieve healthy, hydrated curls and coils, the most important thing is developing a good hair routine and being CONSISTENT with it! If you do this, over time, you're crown will reward you with luscious, bouncy locks!
How to treat dryness?
Avoid Harmful Ingredients
Avoid using products that contain harmful ingredients likes sulfates, silicones, mineral oil and parabens. Instead, choose products that are made with safe, healthy and natural alternatives. Your crown will thank you for it!
Use a moisturizing shampoo
When you do decide to cleanse your locks, try replacing your regular shampoo with a moisturizing one. Most regular shampoos use harsh ingredients that completely strip your hair, leaving your strands dry and rough to the touch. Using a moisturizing shampoo will gently cleanse your scalp and hair without stripping and drying out your curls!
Try our Curl Renew Shampoo, a sulfate free product that will gently cleanse your hair whilst leaving your crown feeling hydrated and nourished! Made with Rose of Jericho and Ginseng extract, this shampoo will transform lifeless, dull hair into bouncy, hydrated curls!
Detox Once a Month
Consider adding a chelating/cleansing shampoo to your routine once a month. This step will ensure that you're really removing all the buildup from your hair, giving it a fresh start. Try our Curl Renaissance Chelating Shampoo for the ultimate curl revival experience!
Use a moisturizing Conditioner
Another very important step is to make sure that your conditioner is actually moisturizing your strands. In fact, most conditioners aren’t actually doing ANYTHING for your hair. Excluding the fact that most products are full of silicone and other not so great ingredients, using the right conditioner for your hair can be the difference between a great wash day and another week battling dryness and frizz!
If you have low porosity hair, most conditioners won’t even penetrate your hair cuticles. On the other hand, with high porosity hair, the moisture will leave your hair just as fast as it was absorbed!
It's important to use products that will actually penetrate your strands and deeply nourish them. For high porosity girls, a few extra steps are needed to ensure that the hydration actually STAYS. Rinsing the conditioner out with cold water and making sure to use oils and pomades during the styling process can help seal in all that moisture.
If you want healthy, hydrated hair, try our new Moisture Rescue conditioner! Made with a lightweight formula, this conditioner will penetrate even the smallest of cuticles and deeply revitalize your hair from the inside out.
Deep condition weekly
💭 "Deep conditioning is important…"
💭 "Make sure to deep condition every wash day..."
As curly girls, we’ve all heard this a million times! But as much as we’re all tired of hearing it, that doesn’t make it any less true. There is no going around it. you truly want to combat dryness, then it's time to actually be consistent with your deep conditioning routine!
If you already deep condition on a weekly basis and your hair is STILL drier than the Sahara desert, then the issue is not your routine but the products you’re using. Not all products are made equal and it's important to research whether the ingredients in your products are causing your crown more harm than good.
If you want a product that will actually leave your hair hydrated and juicy, then try our Unconditional Love deep conditioner. Our deep conditioner is made to revitalize even the driest of curls. The Baobab protein is meant to restore your hair shaft while the Rose of Jericho provides deep hydration to your strands. Additionally, the Ginseng works to enhance blood circulation to your scalp, promoting overall hair health and faster growth!
Girl, put down the flat iron!
In order to maintain your hair’s moisture and prevent it from drying out, it’s crucial to minimize your heat. Avoid excessive heat styling and remember to use heat protectant when you use heat on your hair!
Protect your hair from the environment
Try to protect your hair from harsh elements. For example, in the summer, wear a hat to protect your curls from the UV rays. You can also use products that contain UV protection.
Eat a balanced diet & drink more water
Make sure you’re eating a balanced diet rich in nutrients that will help support your hair health! Eat foods that are rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D and E as well as fatty acids. Also, don’t forget to drink plenty of water! Remember when your body is properly nourished and hydrated internally, it will reflect externally.
Limit the use of harsh chemicals
Avoid using harsh products that will dry out your strands and make your hair brittle and rough. Coloring or bleaching your hair too often can result in damaged, dry hair. So, if you do color your hair, make sure you’re giving your crown the extra love, care and attention that it needs by deep conditioning more often and using quality products!
For your crown to truly thrive, keeping your locks hydrated is key. By following the tips in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to achieving moisturized, juicy curls and coils in no time! 💜
