Why Is My Hair So Dry & Frizzy? How to Tell if Your Hair is Dehydrated
Dry, frizzy, dehydrated hair bumming you out? Ohhh girl, we feel your pain. You’re probably wondering, "why is my hair so dry and frizzy all of a sudden?"
But while it might feel like your only way out is to chop those straw-like strands and start anew, there are actually plenty of remedies for dry and frizzy hair that don’t require quite the emotional toll. We’re breaking it all down for you today.
What does dry hair look like?
Your hair has many ways of trying to tell you it’s deeply dehydrated. If you’re not sure what dry hair looks like, these are the most obvious signs:
- Coarse, straw-like texture
- Split ends
- Lackluster, dull color with absolutely no shine
- Lacks bounce and suppleness
- Won’t hold a style
- Major static and frizz
- Brittle, broken strands and lots of short hairs near your roots
Why is my hair so dry and frizzy?
Now that you’ve determined that your hair is asking for hydration, your next step is to find the culprit and remedy it. Dry hair can be the result of a lot of different factors ranging from how you take care of your hair to things completely out of your control.
Environmental factors (such as UV rays and lack of humidity) and genetics (such as your hair’s porosity) are prime examples of those things you can’t control. As for the things you can control… well, you might be dehydrating your strands without even realizing it.
1. EXCESSIVE HEAT STYLING
We’re just as emotionally attached to our flat irons, curling irons, and blow dryers, but it’s important to give your hair a break now and then.
Our suggestion? Chill out, and designate one or two days a week as heat-free styling days. On days when you shampoo and blow-dry, use a Color Wow Dream Cocktail to protect your hair from heat AND help repair your hair.
Our Coconut-Infused Dream Cocktail, with moisture-rich coconut oil, is a drink of heavenly hydration for your parched hair. Visit our guide on how to avoid heat-damaged hair for more information on minimizing damage without giving up your heat stylers, and check out our full range of heat protectants for dry hair.
2. CHEMICAL TREATMENTS
While Keratin and Brazilian treatments dramatically transform frizzy, unruly, dull hair, they require super high heat and harsh chemicals that suck the moisture out of hair, which can make it porous and seriously dehydrated, bringing up the question, “why is my hair so dry and frizzy all of a sudden?” Our advice? Kick the Keratin habit and try our safer, gentler, quicker solution to smoothing frizz: Dream Coat Anti-Humidity Spray.
Its lightweight formula wraps each strand in a waterproof seal, locking in essential moisture, while blocking out humidity that kicks hair into frizz mode. Dream Coat actually leaves your hair amazingly silky, glossy and supple…not to mention humidity-proofed for days.
And, if you have dehydrated, dry and curly or coily locks, Extra Strength Dream Coat may be the frizz-fighting savior you need. This powerful, ultra-moisturizing, anti-frizz treatment keeps dry, curly hair looking glassy-smooth, straight and frizz resistant through 3-4 shampoos.
3. HARSH PRODUCTS
Just like harsh chemical treatments can dry your hair out, so can harsh products. Shampoo affects it with sulfates, even stylers with alcohols… these are major moisture-stealers just waiting to suck your strands dry. Just because a product is made for hair doesn’t mean it’s safe for hair. So make sure to ALWAYS be vigilant about checking product ingredients before you buy them!
Every single ingredient we put into a Color Wow formula is tested for safety and efficacy. For example, our Color Security Shampoo contains no silicones, thickening, conditioning or anti-frizz ingredients that stay behind and can weigh hair down, dull it, cause scalp irritation and even hair loss.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT DRY FRIZZY HAIR?
There’s one key thing to bear in mind for a dry frizzy hair fix: hydrate, hydrate, hydrate at every step of your hair routine!
From conditioning in the shower to a hydrating blow-dry treatment to quick touch ups on dry hair – there are an endless amount of ways to restore your hair to its glossy, supple, bouncy, healthy self.
1. ADD A HYDRATING CONDITIONER TO YOUR WASHDAY ROUTINE
Color Security Conditioner is our super light hydrator and detangler, containing Argan oil to deliver silky-smooth, glossy hair.
It also has 3 levels of thermal protection built in to keep hair safe from dehydration and dulling. It also won't turn hair yellow or brassy so your color stays glossy and bright! Check out our Dream Clean Duo and buy both the shampoo and conditioner together!
2. APPLY A LEAVE-IN TREATMENT BEFORE YOUR BLOW-DRY
To quench your hair’s thirst, apply a leave-in hydrating treatment like Money Mist, specifically formulated to breathe life into dry hair with its deeply hydrating properties.
This luxurious, lightweight formula is a hydration powerhouse, designed to quench the thirst of even the driest strands, leaving hair looking glossy and feeling expensive. Read more about the science behind the product here.
3. USE A DEEP CONDITIONING HAIR MASK ONCE A WEEK
Give your hair a surge of moisture once a week (or every three shampoos) with Chris Appleton + Color Wow Money Masque.
It penetrates deep to help strengthen, repair and renew suppleness, and the weightless formula instantly absorbs without leaving behind any waxy, heavy buildup.
Check out Chris Appleton's Wash Day Faves here.
By understanding why your hair might be feeling dry and frizzy, and by investing in the right products and hair wash routine, you’ll soon be on your way to fixing dry and frizzy hair for good!
--
Read more about all things frizz with other Color Wow blogs:
