How to deal with dry or frizzy hair

Dry, frizzy hair is one of the most common concerns we hear about at the salon. The good news is that it usually comes down to a handful of causes, and a few changes to your routine, along with the right professional treatments, can make a real difference.

What causes dry hair?

Hair looks and feels dry when it isn’t holding enough moisture. Common causes include:

• Heat styling. Blow dryers, flat irons and curling irons dry out hair, especially when they’re used often or at high temperatures.

• Chemical services. Bleaching, coloring, relaxing and perming can all leave hair drier, particularly when services are repeated close together.

• Sun, wind, chlorine and salt water. Time outdoors and in the pool can strip moisture from the hair.

• Washing too often or using harsh shampoos. Both can remove the natural oils that keep hair soft and conditioned.

• Rough handling. Rubbing hair with a towel or brushing it aggressively when it’s wet can roughen the surface and cause breakage.

What causes frizz?

Frizz happens when the outer layer of the hair, the cuticle, is raised. Hair then absorbs moisture from the air and swells, which is why frizz often gets worse in humid weather. Dry or damaged hair has more gaps in its surface, so it picks up humidity more easily. Straight, wavy and curly hair can all frizz. Dry or damaged hair often frizzes more easily, but frizz can also simply be part of your natural texture.

Everyday habits that help

You don’t need a complicated routine. These steps are realistic for most people:

• Get regular trims. Trimming removes dry, split ends before the damage travels further up the hair.

• Use less heat. Style with heat tools less often, use the lowest setting that works, and apply a heat protectant first. Letting hair air-dry partway before blow-drying also helps.

• Wash less often. Use a gentle, moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, focusing shampoo on the scalp and conditioner on the mid-lengths and ends.

• Add a deep conditioning treatment. A hair mask or deep conditioner once a week can help replenish moisture, especially if your hair is colored or heat-styled.

• Dry gently. Squeeze water out with a soft towel instead of rubbing, and detangle with a wide-tooth comb, starting at the ends.

• Protect your hair outdoors. Wear a hat in strong sun, and rinse out chlorine or salt water after swimming.

When at-home care isn’t enough

If your hair still feels dry or frizzy after a few weeks of better habits, it may be time for professional help. A professional conditioning treatment can help replenish moisture and improve softness, and your stylist can recommend how often to have one based on your hair.

If frizz is your biggest concern, a smoothing treatment can help control it for weeks at a time. Not sure whether a Brazilian Blowout or a keratin treatment is the better fit? Our comparison walks through the differences. If your hair is heavily lightened or very damaged, talk with your stylist first so they can tell you what your hair can handle.

Not sure where to start?

The easiest way to find out what your hair needs is to let us take a look at it. Book an appointment online or call us at 402-423-3616, and we’ll help you build a plan for softer, smoother, more manageable hair at House of Holloway Salon in Lincoln, NE.