Hair feels like straw - which tips/products do you recommend?

[OrangeBananaFish]

The title really says it all.

Most likely after dying my hair and/or using heat on it too much it has started to feel like straw. Especially at the front.

Any products that you recommend? I've had a search over the internet, but I'm none the wiser which I should be looking out for.

I only wash it once or twice a week anyway and have only been drying it the last few months or so. I used to just go to bed with wet hair, but I'd still straighten it the next morning.

I do have heat protect spray, but is the one I've got any good (frizz eaze). Although I must admit, until recently I did forget to use it. I have got better at this in the last couple of weeks or so.

Perhaps I need to go back to washing it once a week and just letting it dry naturally?

I want nice hair again so any tips and product recommendations will be greatly received.

The best bit of advice is just leave it alone. No heat, as rare shampooing and washing as you can get away and step away from the products aside from maybe a weekly deep conditioning mask.

Coconut oil on dry hair, then wrap hair in clingfilm. Leave for a few hours although overnight is preferable. To shampoo out, apply the shampoo to 'dry' hair and add water as you work it into a lather.

Do this once a week for a month and there will be a noticeable difference.

Also, stop going to bed with wet hair. And if you must, buy one of those microfibre hair turbans.

Btw I find coconut oil a superb treatment on my hair, slather it on and leave it for as long as you can as a mask then wash off.

Thanks. This week is the first time in about 6 weeks when I've given it an extra wash. I will stick to just once a week.

Also will look for some coconut oil products. A quick google says that there is plenty about for all budgets or do you mean actual coconut oil that you would use for cooking?

I like L'Oréal Vitamino- made for coloured hair. My hairdresser recommended it and its definitely improved the condition of my hair. Plus not over hair drying it. Just a quick blow dry at the roots with my head upside down, and then leaving the ends to dry naturally

Coconut oil is an aged myth. It repels water and any good products you use, so in the end it’s only going to be more dry in time. It cannot penetrate the hair in the way people think it does.

I oil my hair before a couple of hours before washing too. Not too much as it can stay greasy.
I've started using more natural shampoo and conditioner and I rub a tiny bit of the conditioner over my wet hair at the end and just leave it in.
Makes such a difference.

Try co-washing. It really works, although it may take a little while to get the technique/product spot on for you. I'm menopausal and my hair looks as shiny and healthy as it always did.
Consider a hair vitamin too. Biotin is good.

I purchased the rosemary oil that everyone is going mad over. I didn't think it would work tbh because nothing ever does. But my hair feels amazing when I've used it & it's grown so much. It's also much thicker.

Try tigi hair rehab shampoo and conditioner when you do wash it as it'll really help.

My hair was like straw and tried various shampoos and conditioners. I refused to be defeated so after more attempts I bought Dove intensive shampoo and conditioner and my hair is soft and more manageable. To boot it's cheap too, worth giving those a go!

I sleep with coconut oil on my hair once a week in a towling turban. I put it on my dry hair and in the morning wash it in the normal way and I can't begin to tell you the difference it's made to my hair.

I massage sweet almond oil into my scalp and through the length of my hair weekly. I do this on dry hair, the night before I need to wash it and just tie it back in a loose braid (it’s quite long). It’s made a huge difference. Got the oil from a local health food shop.

I'm still looking for the holy grail of products however one thing that's really helped has been using silk pillowcases.

I was previously using a brushed cotton set for the winter which I found was really 'roughing up' my hair. The silk has helped smooth it back out.

Are you sure this isn't the myth?

Why would it matter if it repels water and you wouldn't need to use 'any good products' if your hair was improved by the coconut oil.

I can understand why manufacturers of hair masks for twenty quid wouldn't want people to use it but people have been using it for generations. My MIL has used it her whole life, seventy years, and she has lustrous hair. As have my teenagers who she has trained up to use it.

I also use coconut oil (just the solid jar pure coconut cooking one from Aldi) & I’ve noticed a big difference.

Olaplex is good but expensive.

John Frieda Rehab and Revive is really good.

I use Tweak'd By Nature cleansing balm. Natural ingredients, all-in-one formula, but you need to follow the instructions. Feels weird to not have separate shampoo and conditioner, let alone treatment mask, but it does work. Some "flavours" are heavier than others. You may need to test a few options.

Hair is made up of protein called keratin, and if your hair has broken keratin bonds, you need to get amino acids into the hair shaft. Coating your hair in oil stops them, and moisturising treatments from penetrating. As a PP has said, oil repels water.

Coconut oil seeps into every tiny hole in your hair shaft and disguises the real problem to act as a quick-fix, it doesn't actually improve the condition of the hair, it just gives the impression it has.

@hoover12345 What is the Rosemary oil that you are using please?

Second this! My hair is always shiny and super soft after. Wash my hair twice a week.

Olaplex worked for my bleached hair plus letting it dry naturally. Some good tips on here re oil if olaplex is out of your budget

Tresemme moisture rich or salon silk. Only shampoo and conditioner that works.

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer.

I agree with olaplex. It's on offer for the no3, shampoo, conditioner and a spray for £48 on look fantastic right now.