Dry Hair
Dry Hair
10 Solutions for a Manageable Mane
The average human head has 150,000 hairs, and, conformists that they are, when one's dry, they're all dry. But unlike a dry flower garden or polished rice, the solution is not simply to add water. Water, in fact, may be responsible for the hair's parched condition, particularly if we're talking about water of the salty, chlorinated, or sudsy variety.
Swimming and overshampooing are two common causes of arid, fly-away locks, says Jack Myers, director of the National Cosmetology Association. Other culprits, he says, can include colorings, permanents, electric curlers, excessive blow-drying, and too much exposure to wind and sun.
Whatever the culprit, your poor, abused hair needs help—badly. You can almost hear all 150,000 of them down on their little split ends, pleading, "Save me! Save me!" Here's a quick course on how to rescue dried-out hair.
Shampoo with care. "It's in vogue these days to shampoo every day, but shampooing doesn't only wash away dirt, it washes out the hair's protective oils," says Thomas Goodman, Jr., M.D., a dermatologist from Memphis, Tennessee, and assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences. If you've dried your hair out from too much lather, give your hair a needed break—try washing less often. And use only a mild shampoo, one labeled "for dry or damaged hair."
The Alternate Route
A Topical, Tropical Blend If you've ever wondered what the hairdresser to big Hollywood stars uses to condition her own hair, wonder no more. "I take old bananas, rotten and black, and mash the together with mushy, rotten avocado," says Hollywood hairdresser Joanne Harris. "I came back from the beach one day, and there was no conditioner in the house, but I did have an old banana and an old avocado. I tried it and I loved it! It has lots of nutrients, so it feeds my hair and nurses it," says Harris. She recommends you leave the tropical puree in your hair for 15 minutes, and then wash it out in the kitchen sink—preferably one with a garbage disposal to avoid clogging the pipes. |
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Use a conditioner. When hair becomes dry, the outer layers, called cuticles, peel off from the central shaft. Conditioners glue the cuticles back to the shaft, add lubricant to the hair, and prevent static electricity (which creates frizz). Pick a conditioner that works well for you and use it after every shampoo, says Dr. Goodman.
Go heavy on the mayo. "Mayonnaise makes an excellent conditioner," says Steven Docherty, senior art director at New York City's Vidal Sassoon Salon. He advises you to leave the oily white goo in your hair for anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour before washing it out.
Snip off those frayed ends. Dry hair tends to suffer most at the ends. The answer? Snip 'em off, says Anja Vaisanen, a hair stylist at New York City's stylish Suga Salon. Once every six weeks or so should keep those frayed ends under control.
Design your hair without heat. Heat is what makes the desert a desert; it also contributes to dried-out hair. Two of the most intense sources of heat are curling irons and electric curlers, says Joanne Harris, a hairdresser in Los Angeles whose clients include many Hollywood stars. She suggests you rediscover those (unheated) plastic cylinder rollers from years gone by. For straightening, wrap slightly moist hair under and around rollers (like a page boy hairdo) for about 10 minutes. For curling or adding wave, try using sponge rollers overnight or sleeping with moist braids.
Protect your hair from the elements. "Whipping wind can fray your hair just like a piece of fabric," says Docherty. Sun, too, takes a mighty toll. Solution: Wear a hat, both on breezy, balmy summer days, and gusty, frosty winter days.
Don't swim bare headed. "Chlorine is one of the most destructive things to hair," says Docherty. So make a rubber cap part of your regular swim attire. For extra protection, he says, first rub a little olive oil into your hair.
Have a beer. "Beer is a wonderful setting lotion. It gives a crisp, healthy, shiny look, even to dry hair," says Docherty. The trick is to spray the brew onto your hair using a pump bottle after you've shampooed and towel-dried, but before you blow-dry or style. And don't worry about smelling like a lush—the odor of the beer quickly disappears, says Docherty.
Consider a trip to the beauty parlor. Our experts agree that a professional moisturizing treatment can work wonders for your dried-out head of hair. "A real good steam treatment with oils and creams lasts about an hour, and afterward you can really tell the difference," says Claudia Buttaro, manager of the Watergate Beauty Salon in Washington, D.C. The cost at the Watergate is around $20.
PANEL OF ADVISERS
Claudia Buttaro is the manager of her family-owned salon, the Watergate Beauty Salon in Washington, D.C. She's been in the business for 20 years.
Steven Docherty is the senior art director of New York City's Vidal Sassoon Salon. He cares for the hair of some of New York's top magazine and television models.
Thomas Goodman, Jr., M.D., is a dermatologist in private practice and assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences in Memphis. He is author of Smart Face and The Skin Doctor's Skin Doctoring Book .
Joanne Harris is hairdresser to many of Hollywood's top actors and actresses, such as Angie Dickinson and Justine Bateman. She operates the Joanne Harris Salon in Los Angeles, California.
Jack Myers, a professional cosmetologist for the past 30 years, is director of the National Cosmetology Association. He is also the owner and operator of the Owensboro School of Hair Design and Jack Myers Hair Styles in Owensboro, Kentucky.
Anja Vaisanen is a hair stylist at New York City's well-known Suga Salon. Trained in Finland, she's been a stylist for ten years.
