If you’re looking for treatments for hair that feels like straw, you are probably experiencing hair dryness. This can happen for multiple reasons, from being out in the hot sun for too long to excessive heat styling to using hair products that contain harsh chemicals [1] [2]. However, regardless of the reasons behind your dry, brittle hair, you will be happy to know there are some great solutions to make your strands soft, happy and healthy once more.
Using some of the best essential oils for hair growth can keep your hair moisturised and well-nourished, returning its natural shine. Moreover, there are several clinically proven shampoos for dry hair. But the best and most long-lasting improvements to your hair quality always come from lifestyle changes that protect your hair from damage and keep it nourished and hydrated. This article will tell you all you need to know about:
There are many reasons why your hair may be dry, straw-like and lacklustre. Many people experience more of these at once, leading to even poorer strand quality. Here are some of the main causes:
There are many effective remedies for fixing dry, damaged hair. Some of them are all-natural, while others are developed by the hair care product industry. However, the most helpful ones are very simple and only require some adjustments to your lifestyle and the way you care for your hair. Here are some of the best ideas for restoring your soft, bouncy, luscious locks:
Hair growth oils such as pumpkin seed oil, rosemary oil, and black seed oil contain fatty acids that can nourish and hydrate your hair, restoring its softness and shine. They also contain antioxidants that protect it from oxidative stress damage. Coconut oil is also frequently used in deep conditioning hair masks, as it can prevent increases in hair porosity, strengthen your strands and decrease its breakage [3][4].
Rosemary oil for hair growth has been proven to be as effective as topical Minoxidil in treating androgenetic alopecia [5]. So, if you are experiencing pattern baldness alongside dry hair, this oil can help you with both problems.
Some of these oils, such as castor oil, are heavy and can cause significant buildup on your scalp. Be sure to avoid leaving them on overnight and wash your hair thoroughly with shampoo after using them.
A good way to repair damaged hair at home is to use shampoos, conditioners and hair masks that are specifically designed for dry hair and for your strand texture. For example, curly and Afro hair is coarser and more prone to frizziness than straight, fine type 1A hair. Dry hair shampoo is gentler and contains extra moisturising ingredients that can help smoothen and soften your locks. However, normal or oily hair shampoos can have more powerful detergents that can dry your hair even further.
Even if a shampoo or conditioner says it’s for dry hair, always check the ingredient list. Look for natural moisturisers, such as argan oil, coconut oil or shea butter, and soothing components, such as menthol (peppermint oil for hair is a good source of menthol). If you have scalp problems, try a medicated formula (such as a ketoconazole shampoo or Nizoral shampoo).
Always watch out for ingredients that can be harsh on dry hair, such as sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate, silicones, or parabens.
Many people with dry hair fear that washing it too frequently will strip off its natural oils, damaging it even further. However, research shows that this is not normally the case, as long as you use a gentle shampoo and conditioner suitable for your hair type (you can also try some of these effective dry scalp treatments). In fact, evidence suggests you should wash your hair often – doing so 5-6 times a week can improve scalp dryness and hair texture [6].
Be sure to condition and moisturise your hair after every wash to make up for the natural oils that may have been stripped from your strands.
It is a bad idea to vigorously rub your hair with a towel to dry it, as well as to try to brush your hair while it is still wet. Damp hair breaks more easily than dry strands and you can damage it by applying excessive mechanical tension.
Applying high heat to your hair can cause small air bubbles to form inside the hair shafts, making them very fragile and prone to breaking [7]. This is why excessive heat often leads to hair loss. It can also damage your cuticles, making your strands porous and giving them a straw-like look and feel.
It is best to let your hair air dry after washing it or to use the cool air setting on your blowdryer. Using a high heat setting can damage your hair [8], as can the friction from your strands rubbing against each other from the powerful air current.
Heat styling right after bleaching or dyeing your hair can expose it to additional stress, as this process can also cause cuticle damage. It is best to give your hair some heat-free time in between treatments that affect its structure and texture.
Bleach and permanent hair dye often contain substances such as ammonia or hydrogen peroxide. With frequent use, these can be very harmful to your strands, as they can damage their cuticles and penetrate the shafts, breaking down hair protein and causing the loss of essential lipids [9]. Moreover, excessive use of bleach and hair dye can even cause hair loss.
Using a toner or a semi-permanent hair dye is less damaging for your hair than bleach or permanent dye. So if you can use these alternatives at least some of the time, it could spare your hair some undue trauma.
Perming, rebonding or relaxing your hair too often can damage its cuticles and expose the hair cortex [10][11]. Avoid frequent use that doesn’t give your hair time to heal between treatments.
If you don’t drink enough water, especially on hot summer days, your scalp and hair can become dehydrated. It is a good idea to drink around 3 litres (6-8 cups) of water a day to ensure that you are getting all the hydration you need (however, this quantity may vary with temperature, physical activity levels and the amount of water in your diet) [12].
If you are having trouble remembering to drink enough water, there are apps that can help you monitor your intake and give you regular reminders. Juicy fruit and vegetables, such as watermelon or tomatoes, can also help you stay hydrated.
Alcohol [13] and sugary drinks [14] can have a dehydrating effect on your body so be sure not to consume them in large quantities, especially instead of water. Drinking a glass of water for every glass of the aforementioned beverages can keep you well-hydrated.
Your hair needs a variety of vitamins and minerals to grow healthily, such as vitamins A, B, C, D and E, iron, zinc, magnesium, selenium and more. Protein also helps hair growth and makes your strands stronger and smoother. Some nutritional deficiencies (e.g. iron, vitamin D) are known to cause hair thinning and texture changes, making your hair rough and dull. So be sure to eat a varied diet that provides all the nutrients your hair needs to thrive.
If your hair texture changes suddenly and apparently without any cause, it is a good idea to test your blood iron levels. That’s because iron deficiency anaemia can alter your hair texture, making it go from smooth and silky to coarse, frizzy, dry and brittle.
If you’re planning to start a weight loss diet, make sure it’s not too restrictive and that you’re getting all the necessary nutrients. Crash dieting can cause hair shedding alongside changes in strand texture, so it is best to get a nutritionist’s advice to prevent hair loss during weight loss.
If you notice symptoms such as inflammation, tenderness, itching, pustules and/or flaking on your scalp, don’t hesitate to see your GP or a dermatologist. Many scalp conditions can be treated or kept under control with the right medication, such as seborrheic dermatitis, scalp ringworm, scalp psoriasis, eczema, scalp folliculitis and more.
However, left untreated, they can dry your scalp and impact the quality and appearance of your hair. Moreover, they can sometimes cause more serious complications (e.g. infection, hair loss, scarring alopecia)
While medicated shampoos can help certain scalp problems such as dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis, they cannot treat all conditions. It is always best to see a dermatologist or trichologist if your symptoms do not improve with home treatment. An accurate diagnosis and effective treatment can prevent complications.
While yeast infections on the scalp may be itchy, scratching is a bad idea. It can cause lesions on your skin that may become infected, as well as leading to hair breakage. Using a soothing lotion (e.g. peppermint oil) or taking an antihistamine can help provide some relief.
Excessive sunlight is not good for your hair. The heat can dry out your strands, make them dull and give them that straw-like texture. While the rest of your body is protected by sunscreen, your hair isn’t — prolonged UV exposure can increase oxidative stress which is damaging to your hair.
Caps and small-brimmed hats only cover the top part of your head, leaving your hair exposed, especially if you have long hair. Try wearing a wide-brimmed sun hat or a scarf that covers the entirety of your hair to prevent it from drying out.
If your summer activities include spending time in the pool or bathing in the sea, don’t forget to wash your hair afterwards. The chlorine or salt can make your hair feel dry and straw-like.
Dry, damaged hair tends to split, leading to a frizzy, rough appearance and increasing the chances of breakage. So it is a good idea to nip those split ends in the bud. Moreover, while severe heat damage cannot always be reversed, trimming your ends regularly can help get rid of the damaged portion of hair a few inches at a time.
If you want to get rid of split ends without cutting your hair, ask your hairdresser to dust them. This involves running scissors parallel to your hair and only trimming the split strays, leaving the bulk of your hair intact.
It’s not a good idea to pick at your split ends, as it can cause your strands to break or crack even further. So it’s best to either trim them with scissors through your preferred technique or leave them be and try a keratin treatment for hair to improve their appearance.
The fact that your hair feels like straw is just one of several signs of dry, damaged locks. Here are some other tell-tale elements to look out for:
While simply being dry does not cause your hair to fall out, there is a link between hair damage and hair loss. Dry hair is significantly more brittle and can break off easily. It can also develop split ends, increasing the chances of hair breakage.
Furthermore, harsh chemicals found in bleach or hair dye can damage the structural integrity of your hair strands, causing them to snap more easily.
Finally, a dry scalp can be itchy and scratching it can break off more of your fragile hair. If too much of your hair breaks off, it can give the impression of thinning.
It is natural to be concerned if your hair doesn’t look or feel the way it should. And the best thing you can do in this situation is to book a consultation with a trichologist. They will carefully examine your locks, get a detailed account of your health history and haircare routine and provide you with the exact reason why your hair feels like straw.
If you are also experiencing hair thinning alongside the changes in texture, they will diagnose your hair loss and recommend the best hair growth tips and treatments, such as Minoxidil.
If your alopecia is advanced, they will assess whether you would be a good candidate for a hair transplant. Moreover, they can help you develop your own personalised hair care routine for thinning hair, based on your strand type, condition and your particular needs and preferences.
If you’re curious to discover more about dry hair that feels like straw, check out the answers to these common questions:
If you only notice that your hair feels like straw after you’ve washed it, you may want to look for a gentler shampoo or a conditioner that provides better moisturising. A hair mask can also help replenish some of the natural oils which can get stripped with frequent shampooing.
The amount of time needed to repair dry and damaged hair depends on the extent of the damage it suffered. If the texture changes are small, you may simply need a few weeks of proper moisturising and conditioning. However, if the damage is severe, it can take several months to repair it, or it may even be irreversible.
Unfortunately, you cannot always fix heat-damaged hair, especially if it is advanced. That is because it can crack your hair cuticles and cause air bubbles to form and become trapped inside the shafts, making them coarse and brittle.
The safe temperature to style your hair depends on its characteristics – dryness, strength, texture, etc. Science shows that your cuticles begin to lift and crack even when blow-drying your hair at 47C [15].
So, while some hairstylists say it’s safe to heat style using temperatures of up to 170-200C, doing so frequently will likely significantly damage your hair in the long run.
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