Awful dry hair

[fuzzyhell]

Hi - can anyone help me with what to do with my hair? I've always had lots of hair, very thick - slightly wavy. While it has always tended towards being dry, in recent years it's been awful - I suspect due to the age I am now (peri- meno 😩)
But it's just SO SO dry. When I wash it, this is what it looks like left to air dry. I v v rarely blow dry it, usually just leave to air dry as blow drying makes it worse... never use straighteners etc (I'm v lazy about these things!) I do colour it to cover grey / but tbh not as often as I should so it's not like it's been damaged by lots of treatment, it's just so so fuzzy and dry. I look like a scare crow. I use lots of conditioner...
please help, it used to be lovely when I was younger 😢 how can I get it to look less straw like?! I don't want to hack it all off as I know it doesn't suit me 😕 but it could do with a trim, but don't think it's just that!

Don't straighten your hair unless you really want to.

Others have said something similar but it looks to me like it could be really wavy if you dried it differently and didn't brush it while wet. See what happens if you wash and condition it as normal, then run your fingers through it with curl creme (I used to like the Boots one but it was discontinued - John Frieda do at least one sort in their curly hair range with purple branding), spray a little bit of salt spray on it, scrunch it up manually and either leave to dry naturally or gently half-dry it with a diffuser. If your hair is really thick you might not need the salt spray to get a good result. If you get a good wavy effect and you like it, consider having a few long layers, which will further encourage the waviness as well as getting rid of any damaged ends.

My own hair is wavy/curly but not very thick and I like it. I use the method I just described or I leave it to dry naturally but do not brush it wet - and when it's nearly dry I separate it with my fingers, using them as effectively a giant Afro comb (I do not have Afro hair, but Afro combs work well for me). This is obviously a lot easier to do if you use plenty of conditioner. As your hair is so very dry, it might be worth washing it with just conditioner every now and again, but only time will tell whether you can get away with doing it more often.

Agree that counter-intuitively, blow drying will help.

My hair looks like yours unless I blow dry it and follow up with Babyliss Big Hair to defrizz.

Although it's very wavy, it's bloody hard to get it looking 'done' and not bag lady frizzy with the curly methods/products.

It's possible your hair dye isn't helping - I found that decent quality hair dye worked wonders for the condition of my hair when I was only covering a smaller percentage of grey, but once it was over 50% grey it seemed to make it worse.

Hi OP, I’m also peri meno and my hair gets super dry. I’ve found that taking a collagen supplement with hyaluronic acid has helped enormously.

I’m white but my BFF is Jamaican and she recommended castor oil which she’s used all her life. I use a wide toothed comb to comb it through my hair a couple of times a week then I loosely tie it up and cover it with a silk bonnet. I leave it in overnight and wash / condition it as usual the next morning.

Castor oil is thick and gloopy but it really works! It’s also natural. Super cheap, too and lasts for aaages. I have tried coconut oil which my hair seemed to HATE! It made it even drier even though it smelled amazing.

Sorry! I’ve written that I use the castor oil a couple of times a week: I meant MONTH

I think you actually need to blow dry your hair and not leave it to dry.

This sounds good. Which supplement are you using?

I got a product from Tiktok its a water melon based treatment thatyou use before showering.

Olaplex no6 will be your friend put it on after washing/ conditioning and leave it on before blow drying or letting it dry naturally It’s amazing for dry course hair .

Hi @RhymesWithHaliborange, I use marine collagen with hyaluronic acid which I buy from Amazon. It was recommended on here loads. I tend to buy what’s on offer at the time.

Your user name is making me think fondly of my granny who always gave us halibut orange tablets. They were lush!

It sounds like you're dealing with quite a frustrating situation! Dry and frizzy hair can definitely be a challenge. Consider incorporating deep conditioning treatments into your routine. Look for products specifically formulated for dry and damaged hair, and use them once or twice a week. You can also try DIY treatments using natural ingredients like coconut oil, avocado, or honey.

It's so frustrating isn't it because what works for one doesn't always work for another and then you spend a fortune on products that don't work! When I had very bleached hair that was prone to drying out I used Palmers coconut formula shampoo and conditioner. I still use the protein mask once a month or so, on a nice day wash and towel dry hair and apply then sit in the sun for a bit for the warmth, leave on for 2-3hrs but don't let it get crispy. They also do an olive oil range that is far too rich for my hair but might work for you. Go for the curly hair section in Superdrug etc, they have products for thicker, coarser hair types. Shea butter might work well and if it's too heavy and makes your hair greasier use every other wash. Also using a hairdryer on a cool setting and drying upside down for the roots and then blasting down the shaft on a cool setting can make it look better than letting it dry naturally if your hair is prone to breakage.

The Babybliss Big hair brush I find smooths all the frizzy bits.
I use the Pantene Repair conditioner.

My hair went through a shocking weird dry straw stage before I started HRT. Things that helped were the HRT itself, taking omega 3 supplements and making sure I was eating plenty of protein and good fats.

Also, one day I happened to be in a giant Sainsbury’s that had a whole section for Afro Caribbean and textured hair. I remembered being taught years ago as a student nurse that this type of hair needs a lot of moisture so I tried a few bits from there. Game changer! Really great quality products. I like the ORS range with castor or olive oil. It’s rich but it works. I also use a silk pillow case and silk bonnet with helps prevent my hair rubbing and drying out.

I think you need to tackle the issue inside and out, if that makes sense?

My hair is fine but similarly dry. I get a keratin treatment every few months (two weeks before the next colour appt).

You have to use special salt-free shampoo - I use NYK1 from Amazon

I use Kerstase Masquintense once a week and Philip Kingsley Elasticizer once a week.

I think you need an oil/serum that will penetrate the hair shaft, something that coconut oil won't do. Something scientific I can't remember exactly, but the molecules in coconut oil are too big to penetrate the hair shaft, so just sort of sit on the hair surface like a slick.

I wash my hair every morning so before bed I usually smooth some oil through my hair (I use naishi). It creates a barrier so when you wash your hair it doesn’t strip your hair then on wet hair use a leave in conditioner. The olaplex no 3 one is decent.

I found coconut oil dried out my hair. The other one’s to try are the olaplex oil (I have greasy rots and dryish hair, it’s my favourite hair oil) and l’oreal hair oil (used on wet hair and air dried it does a pretty good job and they have one for very dry hair)

Honestly, try Davines All in One Milk (it’s a spray)
and try their conditioners or masks.

I have naturally wavy hair, and I had bleached it last year. Plus an iron & b12 deficiency. It resulted in severely dry, brittle and dehydrated hair.

The only products that worked for me were Davines clarifying shampoo, Davines “Love” smoothing conditioner and Davine’s All in one milk. I no longer dye my hair and I only wash my hair every 2-3 days, that includes use of heat styling tools.

Occasionally I’ll use an oil to seal the ends, but only a very small amount. The Davines shimmer mist to finish it off.

Don’t worry I don’t work for Davines 😂

here’s my hair

You need a good 4 inches off. Peroxide strips hair stop doing it. Buy a demi permanent with no ammonia such as nice n easy.

The colour you have now looks very wishy washy a nice brunette shade like medium golden brown would give you a glow not too light not too dark.

Dont use straightners they are terrible for hair.
Air stylers are good but steer clear of hot brushes they are as bad as straightners.
You dont have to have long hair to be attractive. Ask your hairdresser for advice.

I use coconut oil. Not so much that it makes my hair look greasy. Just a tiny amount makes it less frizzy.

@Boxofstars - I've literally never used peroxide on my hair or ammonia. As I said in my post that you quoted I don't use straighteners either....