Home Remedies for Dry Hair

Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN on October 19, 2017 — Written
by Kathryn Watson

When your hair feels dry to the touch, it may also be brittle and hard to
style. But having dry hair doesn’t mean that you have a larger health
problem, or that there’s anything wrong with the hair that you have.

Sun exposure, heat styling, humidity, smoking, and more can all
contribute to hair that’s damaged and dry.
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The good news is that there are a few things you can do if you feel like
reducing the dryness of your hair.

1. Get a trim
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If your hair is too dry, it might need a reset in the form of a fresh cut. Even
if your hair isn’t very long, split ends can make hair hard to style and
contribute to it feeling dry or coarse.

Visit your stylist and trim off hair that’s unhealthy and weighing down
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fresh hair growth. While you’re there, ask the stylist if they have any tips
for your particular hair type and length. They may recommend a new
styling routine that can keep your hair from being damaged.

2. Take vitamins
You know that you need certain vitamins to nourish your body, but certain
vitamins directly impact the health of your hair and nails, too. Vitamin A,
vitamin C, biotin (sometimes called vitamin H), and the mineral iron will all
contribute to hair that looks healthier.

Because prenatal vitamins contain all of the above vitamins, some people
take them just for the way they affect their hair. It’s also popular at the
moment to take supplements that contain only biotin to make your hair
look better. However, recent research  doesn’t support the idea that
biotin makes a big difference. You might also look into marine protein
supplements, which have been shown  to help hair be healthier.
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3. Add omega-3s and antioxidants to your diet

Marine proteins  keep your hair from thinning out and can make hair look
shinier. To get similar results without taking a supplement, increase the
amount of marine proteins in your diet. This includes:
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salmon
 oysters
mackerel

tuna
sardines

These are all rich in peptides and omega-3s, which can make your hair
shinier.

You might also consider eating more antioxidants to combat oxidative

stress, which makes hair look older  . Some foods that are rich in
antioxidants include:

walnuts
kidney beans

blueberries

broccoli
tomatoes

The Mayo Clinic emphasizes healthy fats, like those found in canola oil,
for better hair health.

4. Avoid washing your hair every day

Shampoo removes dirt and sweat from your hair, but it also strips your
hair of sebum  . Sebum is the natural oil that makes your hair easier to
maintain and, when you have the right amount, shiny. Too much sebum
leads to a greasy hair appearance.
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But you probably don’t need to be stripping your hair of sebum every day
— you can most likely wash your hair every other day and see your hair
appear healthier as a result. If you can’t go a day in between washing, at
least use a shampoo specifically for dry hair or even try a baby shampoo.
Both are mildly cleansing without stripping hair completely of its natural
oil.

5. Wrap your hair instead of air drying

If your hair is brittle and difficult to style after you wash it, it could be
losing too much moisture during the drying process. Try wrapping your
hair with a cloth or towel after you wash it instead of letting it air dry.

If you sleep with your hair wet, use a silk pillowcase to keep your hair’s
moisture from getting absorbed into your pillows. If you leave your hair
wet for long periods of time, one study from 2011  observed damage that
was comparable to blow drying.

6. Cut down on heat styling

Heat styling to curl, straighten, or add volume to your hair might have
been a part of your daily routine for years. It may also be the reason that
your hair is drying out.

A study  of the hair shaft before and after blow drying showed significant
damage to participant’s hair. If you’re going to blow dry your hair, keep
the dryer at least 6 inches away  from your hair shaft for best results.
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7. Try colder showers
The hot water that you use to rinse your body in the shower might also be
scalding your hair. Cold showers have some health benefits, and making
hair grow faster could be among them. After you shampoo and condition
your hair in the shower, rinse your hair under a cooler temperature of
water for a minute or two to revitalize strands and refresh your scalp.

8. Use essential oils

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Moroccan argan oil has become a popular home remedy for dry hair. We
don’t know much about how or if this remedy conclusively works  , but it
is easy to try. Using a few drops of argan oil on the ends of your hair may
give it a more finished and supple appearance. Other essential oils, like
peppermint oil and lavender oil, may help stop hair loss and prevent
breakage.

Mixing argan oil, peppermint oil, lavender oil, and a carrier oil like coconut
oil together to make a quick spritz hair perfume may make your hair feel
less dry over time. 
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9. Wear a hat
Ultraviolet rays can damage  your hair shaft the same way they can
damage your skin. If you have dry hair, limit your hair’s exposure to these
rays. Wear a hat during your daily activities, and avoid prolonged sun
exposure. If your hair has already been exposed to UV rays, smoothing
some pure aloe vera gel on your hair might help repair the damage.

10. Try coconut oil

Coconut oil is a natural emollient. That means that it fills in the gaps in
your hair strands if they’ve been damaged by heat or the sun. One study
from 2005  , showed that coconut oil is particularly good at penetrating
hair fibers.
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By smoothing your hair strand-by-strand, coconut oil improves the overall

appearance of your hair. You can treat your hair to a deep-conditioning
treatment of warmed coconut oil once every week.

Start off with dry hair and coconut oil that’s room temperature.
Rub some coconut oil in between your palms before applying it,
focusing on the ends, the crown of your head, and the root of your
hair.

Saturate — but don’t soak — your hair in the coconut oil as you
repeat this process, and leave the oil on your hair for about 20
minutes. 
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Rinse thoroughly.
Takeaway
Trying home remedies for your dry hair is easy enough, with no risk to
you. But long-term hair loss and breakage can be a sign of other health
issues. Speak to a dermatologist if you have any of these symptoms:

hair that comes out in clumps

bald spots or patterns of baldness

hair that breaks when you brush it

 10 sources

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