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Dry Hair (Ugh.)


Every time I go to a new hairdresser, s/he inevitably says, “What kind of products do you use on your hair? It’s so dry!”

For some reason, it feels perpetually like pool hair (even though I stopped swimming competitively over ten years ago).

I was using Aveda’s Be Curly shampoo, but my newest hair dresser (at an organic salon in Houston!) recommended an organic shampoo called Mop. I just started trying it (I waited for my other stuff to run out), so we’ll see how it goes.

She also recommended that I get some Jojoba oil from oil foods and spread it into the ends of my hair when I get out of the shower.

Any other ideas for dealing with dry hair? Maybe I should be approaching it from the inside out, instead of the outside in…

12 Comments

  • Kelsey

    I saw some blog that mentioned only ever washing your hair with a paste of baking soda (or was it powder…) and maybe a vinegar rinse? Sounds like the making for a volcano but maybe something more natural along these lines…

  • Mallory

    Hey Kelsey, just to clear up your post, it is baking soda. I've done this before as well. I've also seen to make "a paste" but I can guarantee you this stuff works so well you do NOT need that much baking soda. I dissolve maybe a tablespoon in a cup of water or so and just pour it over my head (making sure to get all the greasier areas) and then scrub my scalp for a minute and it works very well. I don't use it regularly so I don't know how drying it would be long term but it definitely works well as a clarifying wash every so often. Also most of the vinegar rinses are diluted apple cider vinegar which is a bit more mild than regular vinegar. I've done that as well but I know some people don't like the smell at all.

  • Anonymous

    I also only wash my hair every second day. I found that my hair is alot less dry that way. I do rinse it with just water on the in between days though!

  • Ms Bear Cub

    have you tried biolage ultra hydrating shampoo?
    I wash my hair every other day (or every 3 days, depending on how busy I am), and I condition with kerastase conditioner once a week – that stuff will DEFINITELY hydrate your locks!

  • -trista-

    If your hair is super dry, try using pure aloe vera gel as a styling gel. Sounds crazy… but the stuff stiffens up, and it's pure moisture. Fruit of the Earth is good, you can get it at Wal-Mart, it has no added coloring or anything to make your hair look dull. I usually do a coat of that scrunched into heavily damp hair and then a curly hairspray. No more dry hair!

  • Carlee

    For the inside-out thing, try adding flax seed to your diet. You can add it to cereal or peanut butter sandwiches or anything. It's got kind of a mild nutty-ish taste.
    Also I really like Moroccan Argan Oil. Use it like a serum, after (or before) hair is dry. Some salons will sell you samples- and you don't need much, one little sample tube lasted me 6 months.

  • Kathleen

    Look for a shampoo that doesn't have sodium laureth sulfate – that ingredient dries out your hair a lot.

    Also, I love to do olive oil treatments on my hair. You take 1/2 a cup of olive oil and saturate your hair with it. Then tie a plastic bag over your hair, and let it sit for 1/2 an hour, then wash it out. This makes a huge difference for me.

  • Autumn Witt

    I agree on the inside-out hypothesis but I think you eat pretty healthy? Make sure you're getting enough good fats– almonds, peanut butter, flax seed, olive or canola oil, etc. A little goes a long way (12 almonds, 1 teaspoon of oil) but so many times women cut out so much fat it shows up in places like your hair, skin, or nails. I also only wash my hair every two-three days, and it looks better than it has in years.

  • Elisabeth

    The Curly Girl book mentioned above changed my life and my hair. Seriously. Read it.
    As a result, I shampoo only once or twice a week with organic shampoo. Conditioner Is a big deal!
    I'm also really tempted by the Idea from trista to try Aloe as hair gel… Intriguing.

  • Sarah

    I want to reiterate what some other commenters already said – if you have curly hair, do NOT wash it every day. Shampoo strips your hair of its natural oils. I have fine curly hair and shampoo maybe once a week, conditioner every day. Play around with how often you shampoo to get to a point where your hair isn't oily but also isn't dry. It makes a world of difference. (And the Curly Girl book mentioned by Elisabeth is awesome!)

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