How to care for dry hair is one question that comes back regularly.
Whatever the nature of your hair, every woman (me included!) dreams of having beautiful, shiny, healthy hair.
Unfortunately, dry hair is inevitable when your hair is constantly battered by heat styling tools, chemical treatments, sun, salt and pollution.
Last week, I became blonde (literally!).
While I’m now used to this new colour and I’m starting to like it, I also noticed that my hair got really dry following the dye.
It was time to take matters into my own hands and put as much care into my hair the way I do it with my face and skin.
I first tried a DIY hair mask: 2ggs, 1 tbsp of honey, 2 tbsp of yogurt.
Egg yolk is rich in fats and proteins and is also naturally moisturizing while the white contains the bacteria-eating enzymes that remove unwanted oils. So it supposed to moisturize dry and brittle hair.
Frankly, it wasn’t a success.
I mixed a whole pot but it was super cold so make sure you take it out of the fridge a few hours before so it gets to room temperature.
Second, it was a messy job. The whole thing ran down my neck and sweatshirt.
Third, I didn’t feel it had a major positive effect on my hair so until I find an efficient DIY hair mask, I decided to go back to off-the-shelf products.
When I was living in London, my brand of predilection was plant-based Aveda.
The smell of their protein-packed Shampure shampoo is totally gorgeous and I used to pair it with their Damage Remedy restructuring conditioner.
I noticed they deliver in Europe, so I’ve just re-ordered the Shampure shampoo and this Damage Remedy intensive restructuring treatment.
If new to Aveda, you can get 15% OFF & get free delivery.
MY FAVOURITE AVEDA PRODUCTS
I also asked several of my friends what their favourite products are to care for dry hair and here what they recommended:
- Kerastase Nutritive hair mask
- Leonor Greyl palm oil
- Furterer Karité Nutri Nourishing Ritual Intense Nourishing Mask
- Alep shampoo
- Amika nourishing mask (I didn’t know this brand but it has good reviews)
- Moroccanoil. I haven’t tried their shampoo but since I attended a press day in London where I was taught how to style my hair in 10 minutes, I’m using this Moroccanoil treatment (the large bottle comes with a pump) and this heat styling protector.
- Shu Uemera “Essence Absolue”
So…what is the best way to care for dry hair?
Once you have found a product you like and that works for you, get into a weekly routine to apply a mask on your hair once a week.
Use preferably plant-based shampoos. I love Aveda but John Masters Organics is great too.
Eat healthy, whole foods and protein-based meals (read Glamour article here). Salmon, oysters, chicken, eggs, broccoli, spinach are packed with nutrients your hair, skin and nails will benefit from.
Take some supplements every day. I put a hyaluronic acid tablet every morning in my smoothie. However, I will switch to these marine collagen tablets soon once I’ve finished the other ones.
Have you enjoyed this article?
What are your tips to look after your hair? What products do you swear by? I would love to know…
You can follow me on Bloglovin’ or sign up to my E-news to be updated on the latest blog posts.
I do a hot oil treatment with olive oil which most everyone has on hand..a couple of tablespoons warmed up and put it on top to ends all over your hair. Cover with shower cap and wrap in a towel and leave on for about an hour.Rinse it out and will have to wash a few times to get it all out but does the job.
Have you ever tried 100% pure coconut oil. Take a spoon filled with this oil, aply to the dry areas, leave in for about one hour and rince off. Works wonders!
I will try that over the weekend. I have some coconut oil at home and the DIY mask I did on Wednesday wasn’t a success thanks
Thanks ! Je transmets à mes girls…!!
super!
Hello Karine!
I use coconut oil, the one that is 100% pure coconut oil. I knead it into my hair and leave it in for at least a couple of hours (even overnight). It works well, although I need to be more consistent and do it more often because my hair is REALLY dry lately (menopause, sun, dying it and hairdyring it doesn’t help…).
Thanks for the article, I always really enjoy reading you :)
Besos from Mexico!
Susana
yes I did that a while ago, I should have a go at it again as I have a jar in my kitchen. It’s supposed to be good for teeth and gum too
Thanks for the article Karine, it’s great. I use Shampure but I haven’t tried Damage Remedy. Will give it a go. I like Christophe Robin prickly pear mask. His products are free of parabens, silicones and SLS. Philip Kingsley’s Elasticizer is fantastic as a pre-shampoo treatment and can be left on overnight if needed.
And please could I ask if you can recommend a diary for next year? This year I bought the Marjolein Delhaas one which I love but I find the writing a little small for my failing eyes!
Have you checked the ones from Juniqe? I wrote a post them in January this year
https://www.bodieandfou.com/2018/01/positive-personal-planners-to-match-your-mindset/
Castor oil is a great mask and very good for your scalp too. Washing out really well with no residue. Also you can put a tiny tiny bit in dry ends or smooth over flyaways. Leaves a lovely shine
Never heard of it. Does it smell nice?
Ooo, thank you.
Hair gets drier with age, all the colouring, hard water, silicones in the shampoos and conditioners… I have thick long hair and tried Co-wash, it takes some getting used to but I have used it for 9 months and my hair is much better – softer, shinier, less frizz.
Aveda does one, but the Palmers Coconut one is great and really inexpensive (£6) in comparison to the cost of all the conditioning masks I used to use. You need to rub it in liberally (watch the New Wash clips by Hairstory) and leave it while you shower, then add some water to lather/mousse it up before rinsing. Give it a go and try it for a few washes to decide. I bought the New Wash one first and Palmers is 1/5 of the price.
Thank you for the tip Sarah!
I find the sun znd limescaley water so drying here in France. Until I found Davines Natural Haircare…absolutely fab products. My saviours for dyed hair are Nounou Shampoo and Nounou Hair Mask that goes with it. Im also sleeping on a Mulberry Silk Pillow…moi…diva?! Mais non hee hee x