Why Is My Hair Dry & How Do I Fix It?

Wondering why your hair is dry can mean you don’t love your tresses. Whether you have curly hair, or not, dryness can lead to dullness. You may have been wondering ‘why is my hair dry?’. Our expert guide shares signs and symptoms, common causes, and how to fix dry hair to get it back to its best.

Table of Contents:

• What Does it Mean to Have Dry Hair?
• 7 Signs of Dry Hair
• Why is My Curly Hair Dry?
• 7 Causes of Dry Hair
• How to Fix Dry Hair with Moisture

What Does it Mean to Have Dry Hair?

Dry hair can affect your hair, no matter your curly hair type. Dry curly hair causes your locks to look dull, and can ultimately lead to dreaded hair breakage. When hair becomes dry, it means that it’s either not receiving enough moisture or it is struggling to retain the right amount. The reason behind this can be down to a number of factors, from simply not drinking enough water, to clarifying your hair too often. Remedying your dry curly hair can help you prevent hair breakage and see your tresses restored to their natural beauty.

7 Signs of Dry Hair

There are many signs and symptoms that are typical of dry curly hair. Whether you have only just noticed dryness or you are fed up with lackluster locks. You could be experience one or several of the following:

1. Hair appears lifeless and dull
2. Frizzy hair
3. Hair loses its shine
4. Split ends
5. Strands become brittle
6. Prone to hair breakage
7. Hair tangles more easily

For those suffering with these symptoms, it is more than likely you have dry hair. Understanding why your hair is so dry is an important step in tackling the problem head on, and returning you to healthy, shiny hair.

Why is My Curly Hair Dry?

Genetics also play the biggest role in how prone we are to dry curly hair. Curly hair is more likely to suffer from dry hair due to the structure of their strands. The twists and turns in curly hair and coily hair make it more difficult for the natural scalp oils to move down the hair shaft. The curlier the hair, the drier it can be. This makes these types more susceptible to dry curly hair. It’s especially important to hydrate curly hair and lock in moisture to prevent this from happening. It’s fundamental to treat dry curly hair to hydration, in order to supply the natural moisture it lacks.

Wavy hair has a looser curl pattern, and so oils can coat the strands more easily. Meaning this hair type may be more likely to suffer from oily hair, rather than dryness. However, this doesn’t mean that waves are completely safe from getting dry. Regardless of curl pattern, a focus on supplying your tresses with the right levels of moisture is a crucial step to happy, healthy hair.

7 Causes of Dry Hair

Our daily life and routines can have a significant impact on the health of your hair. This, alongside your genetics, can cause dry curly hair. Some of the more common causes that make you ask ‘why is my hair dry?’ include:

1. Using harsh products - Cleansing products that contain sulfates can strip the hair of its natural oils. Using a gentler shampoo or co-wash can help reduce this harshness.
2. Washing too frequently - How often you wash your hair can be a contributing cause to dry hair. How often you should wash your hair depends on your hair type. Washing your hair too often may result in vital oils not reaching parts of the hair shaft in between cleanses, leaving you with dry curly hair.
3. Frequent use of heat tools - Applying heat to your hair weakens the hair bonds and shaft, meaning moisture can leave far more easily.
4. Porosity - Hair porosity, which determines how much moisture can enter or leave your hair, also plays a part in causing dry curly hair. Those with low porosity hair have tightly packed cuticles, making it difficult for hydration to enter the strands. On the other hand, high porosity hair has a more open cuticle structure. Whilst moisture can enter easily, it will leave at just the same rate, making this hair type constantly thirsty.
5. Protein overload - Hair that’s in protein overload will often feel dry. This is because it is lacking in moisture due to the high levels of protein. Determining a health protein-moisture balance for your locks can help you combat this cause of dry curly hair.
6. Overuse of chemicals - Using bleach, dye, and relaxers too much can damage the hair, making it more prone to moisture loss.
7. The weather - This can also have an impact on how dry your hair is. Cold weather can cause the hair’s cuticles to lift every so slightly, allowing moisture to leave the strands more easily.

On a daily basis we expose our tresses to so much. Your dry hair may be the result of one singular cause or a combination of a few. Minor routine alterations could help restore your locks back to full health, and have you saying goodbye to dry curly hair.

How to Fix Dry Hair with Moisture

Fixing dry curly hair can be straight-forward if you’re using the best products to fix dry hair. With Curlsmith nourishing, moisturizing hair products, your haircare routine can transform your tresses back to their bouncy, natural texture. If experiencing dry hair, don’t worry, there are simple steps you can take to restore your hair to its former glory.

• Focus on hydration - Rather than harsh shampoos, try switching to a co-wash. This is a conditioner with a small amount of cleansing ingredients that help to melt away build-up, whilst hydrating the hair.
• Hydrate hair between washes - A leave-in conditioner can provide needed moisture and bring your curls back to life without a wash.
• Skip the bleach session - Experimenting with different hair colors is fun. But bleach and dye use can cause dry curly hair. Our hair makeup is one way to combat this and our temporary hair color is designed so you can experiment, damage free!
• Give you hair a treat - Moisture will always be the key to combating dry hair. A deep conditioner is vital for providing hair with an intense moisture boost. With our moisture recipes range you can hydrate your dry curly hair.
• Cut down on washes - If you’re washing your hair frequently, or even daily, you may wish to try going longer between washes. How often you need to wash your hair depends on whether you have type 2 hair, type 3 hair, or type 4 hair. How often you wash your hair can impact dryness and you need to allow time for oils to move through your lengths.
• Check ingredients - Products have a big impact on your tresses. Using gentle products, such as sulfate free shampoo that do not strip the hair of its oils can help to reduce dryness.
• Lock in moisture - An occlusive like coconut oil on your hair can help seal in moisture. Our Oil-in-Cream is a standout solution to provide oils for curly hair as part of a nourishing formula.
• Use heat tools less often - Straighteners and curlers can cause damage. Leaving them and embracing your gorgeous natural texture can help you better protect your hair. If you do need to use heated tools, try a hair dryer and diffuser which minimizes damage thanks to gentle heating.

All good things take time, so when trying these tips give them time to work their magic. To determine which type of hair you have, and the best products for your hair type, try out our curl quiz. You’ll identify aspects of your tresses, and will be better equipped to tackle dry curly hair.

Treat Your Hair to Curlsmith

Our gourmet haircare products were designed in collaboration with curly hair stylists and trichologists to combat curly problems! From volumizing products for a boost to stylers to perfect your hair-do. Transform your locks with our vegan and cruelty-free formulas.