7 Reasons your Hair is Dry and Brittle

Everyone aims to have soft silky hair and the hair care industry is a multi-million pound business with brands such as Herbal Essences and Pantene leading the field.

Dry, brittle hair can be caused by something as simple as the weather or your hair care routine, but it can also be a sign that you are not getting the right nutrients in your diet, or may have an underlying health condition.

So here are our top 7 reasons your hair may be dry and brittle, helping you to change your lifestyle to ensure healthy and happy hair - because you're worth it!

Your Hair Care Habits

Hair care habits such as excessive shampooing can strip away the natural oils needed to keep your hair soft and moist. In addition to this, hair dyes containing harsh chemicals can instantly damage your hair and leave it dry and brittle. If you're a serial blow dryer or hair straightener, this can intensify the dryness of hair through prolonged heat exposure.

Environmental Factors

If you live in an area with extreme heat or extreme cold this can lead to dry and brittle hair. Constant exposure to the sun or wind can also cause dry hair and spending a lot of time in the water can also affect the state of your locks! Try wearing a hat if you're constantly out in the sun, or a swimming cap if you spend a lot of time in the water in order to keep your hair looking its best.

Malnutrition

Malnutrition occurs when the body doesn't receive enough nutrients due to poor diet. The level of nutrients in the body can play a big part in the health of your hair and in terms of damaging the hair, malnutrition ranks up there with heat and chemical damage.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia is an eating disorder causing people to lose more weight than is healthy. Linked to malnutrition, anorexia causes nutritional deficiency and dry skin and hair can be an early sign of this disorder. Recognising these signs is needed to get help to implement a diet containing the nutrients needed such as correct levels of Omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish and linked to a range of health benefits including healthier hair.

Menkes Syndrome

Menkes Syndrome is a serious disease caused by a genetic deficit. Menkes Syndrome prevents cells in the body from properly absorbing copper which affects the structure of bone, skin and hair. Dry hair is a minor but notable symptom of Menkes Syndrome

Hypothyroidism

The thyroid gland is located at the front of the neck and produces a hormone responsible for the way the body processes proteins and energy. Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland fails to produce enough of this hormone. Dry hair is one symptom along with fatigue, obesity, depression and muscle/joint pain

Hypoparathyroidism

The parathyroid glands help control calcium use and removal. Hypoparathyroidism occurs when the parathyroid glands do not produce enough of the parathyroid hormone. This can be caused by damage to the glands during head or neck surgery and symptoms include dry skin and hair, cataracts and muscle cramps/spasms.

To Sum Up

Dry hair can be due to simple environmental factors or your hair care routine and in these instances, lifestyle changes, a good diet and hair care supplements can get you back to having shiny and healthy hair. Dry and brittle hair can also be a sign of a larger internal problem as well however and so paying attention to the health of your hair can not only have you looking great, but also feeling great on the inside too.