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by Iris George
Strands feeling dry as a cactus – and looking just as rough? Fear not, my parched-haired friend. In this bumper article, we’ll address the causes of dry strands, the thirst-quenching hair heroes you need in your kit, and explain how to deep condition hair to ditch dryness at any time of year.
For everything you need to know about restoring moisture and boosting hydration for silky-smooth strands, read on.
While genetics play a part in hair dryness, most causes are environmental. Harsh winter weather and dry, brittle hair often go hand in hand, while your product choice and day-to-day treatment can also leave your strands high and dry, leaving your strands in a perfect position for a deep conditioner break.
Here are a few of the key contributors to parched hair.
Frequent use of heat-styling tools, such as flat irons and blow dryers, can cause significant damage to the hair cuticle. The high temperatures strip away the hair's natural oils, leaving it parched and prone to breakage. Over time, this can lead to split ends and overall dryness – so a heat protectant is essential!
2. Chemical Treatments
Slave to the bleach bottle? Colouring, perming and relaxing treatments mess with your hair’s mojo and trigger dryness. Chemical processes involve breaking and rearranging chemical bonds which weakens the internal structure of the hair. They break down natural proteins and lipids and open the hair cuticle – making it a struggle for your hair to hold onto moisture.
Slave to the bleach bottle? Colouring, perming and relaxing treatments mess with your hair’s mojo and trigger dryness. Chemical processes involve breaking and rearranging chemical bonds which weakens the internal structure of the hair. They break down natural proteins and lipids and open the hair cuticle – making it a struggle for your hair to hold onto moisture.
If your hair’s looking dull or feeling dry and frizzy, look to your haircare ingredients. As well as sulfates, alcohol-based products are known to be drying as they can strip away natural oils. Opting for products with moisturising agents like argan, avocado and coconut oils – all found in our Super Hydrating Duo! – can help combat dryness and improve overall hair health.
In winter, the air is drier, and those low humidity levels (and our reliance on heating and hot showers!) sap the hair's natural moisture. Additionally, exposure to harsh winds and cold temperatures can lead to cuticle damage, making it difficult for the hair to hold onto hydration. Yikes!
Your parched hair repair plan should start with a high-quality, hydrating shampoo and deep conditioner formulated especially for dry strands. Formulated with ResistHyal™ Hyaluronic Acid Technology to deliver 26 times more hydration, our Super Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner are your dryness-defeating dream team.
Infused with pineapple enzymes and nourishing natural oils for a super clean, foaming but non-stripping wash, the 7-in-1 formula delivers instant hydration, shine, softness, strength and volume while smoothing split ends and eliminating frizz.
Three times thicker than a regular conditioner for deep conditioning, the matching cream conditioner delivers hair mask results for dry strands. Instantly detangling for less breakage, it’s formulated with powerful pea proteins to repair and reduce damage by 65% while sealing unsightly split ends.
Pro-tip? Save on your anti-dryness routine when you buy the Super Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner Set. You’re welcome ☺.
As well as switching to a hydrating shampoo and conditioner, dry hair will benefit from an ultra-intensive conditioning treatment. While a regular conditioner detangles, softens and moisturises, a deep conditioner is a thicker, richer product – usually a mask – that intensely nourishes hair and repairs strands from within.
Read on to learn how to deep condition hair with our Like A Virgin Nourishing Hair Masque – formulated with coconut, fig, shea butter, linseed and argan oil to restore dry hair damaged by styling, colouring, sun and pollution back to ‘virgin’ good health.
Depending on your hair’s texture and degree of dryness, a deep conditioning mask can be used one to three times weekly.
Use after shampooing and apply a generous amount of deep conditioner to towel-dried hair, avoiding the roots. Comb the mask through and evenly distribute with a wide-tooth comb or tangle tamer.
Leave your mask on for 5 to 10 minutes, then rinse with warm water. OR keep the mask in overnight and wash out in the morning for an intense treatment for super dry or damaged hair.
It can be a good idea to deep condition after chemical treatments, like colouring or straightening, or when your hair is dry, as deep conditioning can restore moisture and repair damage. The most important part is to listen to your hair's needs; it will guide you to the right deep conditioning schedule!
While regular conditioners are great for daily use, they may not provide the intense nourishment and repair that a deep conditioner offers. Regular conditioners are formulated to condition the hair surface and provide immediate detangling. In contrast, deep conditioners are designed to penetrate deeper into the hair shaft, providing more profound moisturization and long-lasting benefits. However, if you're in a pinch, you can use a regular conditioner as a makeshift deep conditioner by leaving it on your hair for an extended period, though the results may not be as effective as a dedicated deep conditioning treatment.
Deep conditioning is a powerful step toward softness, but for an even more complete softness routine, explore our step-by-step soft hair guide.
For more haircare tips and routines, visit our blog.
Written By: Pip Jarvis
Edited By: Iris
