How to Fix Dry, Brittle Hair| Expert Tips
If your hair is feeling dry and brittle, there’s plenty you can do to get it back in shape. All kinds of weather can be a challenge for our hair. For instance, sunshine provides our bodies with much-needed vitamin D. Vitamin D is vital for healthy hair growth. However, on the flip side, sun-drenched days can leave our hair feeling dry and brittle.
It’s not just the sun. In the summer, our hair may be damaged by chlorine or saltwater. Both can be drying. We create more challenges for our hair when we use heated styling tools.
The combination of weather and heated styling tools can leave our hair feeling frazzled.
I’ve been working with hair for over 35 years, and in this blog, I’ll be sharing my tips on how to fix dry, brittle hair.
Discover why a dry, damaged hair treatment is the perfect antidote to dry, brittle hair. Plus, you’ll find my expert tips for treating hair and fixing dry, brittle hair.
Restore and Shine Hair Masque
- Add Shine
- Smooth Hair
- Get Rid of Frizz
- Detangle
- Strengthen
How to Fix Dry, Brittle Hair | Content
Treating Dry, Brittle Hair | The Expert View
Working with hair for as long as I have, you get to see first-hand how taking a simple approach can make the most difference to dry, brittle hair.
That’s why I place so much emphasis on deep conditioning. You can easily add it to your weekly hair care routine and it makes the biggest difference.
Here’s why.
Hair is dry and brittle because it can’t retain moisture. The outer layer of the hair, the cuticle, is lifted or damaged. The cuticle is the protective layer of the hair, made up of tiny scales. Those scales lay flat when the hair is not damaged and enable the hair to retain moisture.
The job of a deep conditioner is to get moisture into the hair’s core and seal the cuticle to help the hair retain that moisture, making it the most effective treatment for dry, brittle hair.
So, if your hair is dry and brittle, adding deep conditioning into your weekly hair care routine will enable your hair to retain and build moisture.
Deep Conditioner to treat Dry, Brittle Hair
1. Deep Conditioner Smooths the Cuticle
When hair is dry and brittle, the cuticle (protective outer layer of the hair has lifted). The cuticle comprises lots of tiny scales. External factors such as the sun and heating styling can cause those scales to lift. That leaves your hair’s core (the cortex) vulnerable to dryness. Deep Conditioner is essential to smooth the cuticle and combat dryness.
2. Deep Conditioner Hydrates Dry Hair
Deep conditioner hydrates and smooths the cuticle. By smoothing and sealing the scales of the outer layer of hair, it helps the cortex to retain moisture.
3. Deep Conditioner improves Hair Elasticity
As moisture builds in the hair, it becomes more flexible and less prone to breakage. Top up moisture with regular deep conditioning to rid your hair of the dry, brittle texture and improve hair elasticity.
Kick Start Recovery in 4 Steps | Dry, Brittle Hair
1. Give your Hair More Treatment Time, not More Product
When hair is dry and brittle, it needs more treatment time, not more product. I recommend leaving Restore and Shine Hair Masque on for at least a couple of hours if your hair is fine, and for thicker hair types, leave it on overnight. (you might want to put a micro-fibre towel on your pillow to protect it). Rinse the next morning and style as normal.
2. A Shower Cap to Intensify Deep Conditioning Treatments
You can also put on a plastic shower cap over your hair masque. That will generate heat and intensify the deep conditioning treatment.
3. Treat your Hair Twice for the first Two Weeks
Use brittle hair treatment, Restore and Shine Hair Masque twice a week for the first two weeks and then revert to weekly treatments. Check the manufacturer’s instructions before doing this if you are using another brand of hair mask.
4. Build a Hair Care Routine that includes a Treatment
Treat your hair once a week, every week. Maintaining the moisture of hair is not a one-off endeavour! Routine and consistency are vital to getting your hair in the best condition. So taking the time to treat your hair every week is essential maintenance.
Maintenance | Condition Every Time You Wash your Hair
3. With Routine, Hair becomes Less Dry and Brittle
When hair is dry and brittle, the cuticle (protective outer layer of the hair has lifted). The cuticle comprises lots of tiny scales. Environmental factors such as the sun can cause those scales to lift. That leaves your hair’s core (the cortex) vulnerable to dryness.
2.Conditioner Smooths the Cuticle to Retain Moisture
I cannot stress enough how vital conditioners are to your hair care routine. Conditioner hydrates and smooths the cuticle. By smoothing and sealing the scales of the outer layer of hair, it helps the cortex to retain moisture.
3. Treat your Hair Twice for the first Two Weeks
As moisture builds in the hair, it becomes more flexible and less prone to breakage. Top up moisture with regular conditioning and deep conditioning to rid your hair of the dry, brittle texture.
4. Even Oily Hair needs Moisture at the Ends
Remember. Always use a conditioner. Even if you have oily roots, the ends still need moisture. In that case, avoid the base of the hair.
5. Give your Hair more time to soak up Nourishing Ingredients
Try leaving your deep conditioning treatment on for a few minutes longer than usual. Restore and Shine Hair Mask can even be left on the hair overnight. Leaving it in the hair longer, gives the hair the opportunity to soak up all those hair-nourishing moisturising ingredients.
Prevention | Take the Heat off your Hair
If you can, minimise your use of heated styling tools, this will seriously help your hair. I know that’s not easy for everyone to do, but if you can reduce the amount of heat to your hair, it will help. Here are some ideas to reduce the impact of heat on your hair.
1. Change the Hair Dryer Setting
Switch the hairdryer to a cool setting to reduce your hair’s exposure to excessive heat. You can experiment. You might start with a higher setting and then switch to a cooler setting. Reducing the heat is the goal here. See what works for your hair.
2. Air Dry Once a Week
Leave your hair to air dry once a week. If your job requires you to be fully styled, it may not be possible during the week. But opt for a more relaxed style at the weekend.
3. Rough Drying Hair can reduce Drying Time
Rough drying is a technique that can reduce drying time. Use your hands and turn your head upside down for extra volume. Use the hairdryer on a cooler setting and stop when your hair is almost dry. Following this you can style your hair with a brush, a comb or your fingers.
4. Prep your Hair with Leave in Conditioners
Use leave-in conditioners to prep the hair before styling. They are a great way of adding moisture to the hair, making them an excellent antidote to heated styling.
Leave in Conditioner | Styling Mist for Glossy Finish
- Add Shine
- Speed up Drying Time
- Target Split Ends
- Condition as you Style
Leave In Conditioner | A Hair Care Essential
Leave in conditioners are a great styling option for dry, brittle hair. Find out how they can improve hair condition in my blog, Leave In Hair Conditioner: We give you the Heads Up!
Prevention | Get Rid of Split Ends
Getting regular trims is the only permanent fix to split ends. You don’t have to cut a lot of the hair. Just enough to clean up the ends and keep on top of any breakage.
Regular trims are vital to preventing split ends riding up the hair shaft to cause more damage.
Split ends can be frustrating when styling hair: For a temporary fix to split ends, I’ve developed a range of hair styling products that temporarily seal split ends. My exclusive formula works by releasing tiny bubbles of keratin and argan oil onto the hair. They smooth the cuticle to give a sleek finish as you style.
Seal Split Ends | Styling Mist for Volume
- Add Volume
- Speed up Drying Time
- Target Split Ends
- Condition as you Style
Prevention | Choose a gentle approach to Hair Colour
Colour treatments and hair dyes, including bleach have to open up the cuticle for your hair to absorb colour. That means they cause the cuticle to lift and the hair loses moisture.
Over time this causes the hair to be drier than it would be naturally. In the summer months, the sun exacerbates this dryness.
If you keep layering on permanent colour to your hair, i.e. not just the roots but also through to the ends of the hair, it will become more brittle and you may even experience breakage.
Semi-permanent colours are a great alternative on the ends of hair. They provide great results and are much gentler on the hair.
I recommend always getting your hair coloured by a professional to get the best results.
Prevention |Hydrate Dry, Brittle Hair from Within
If I were to summarise my approach to fixing dry hair, I’d say it’s holistic. I believe a healthy balanced diet can support hair growth. Hair needs hydration from conditioning and deep conditioning, but it also benefits from good nutrition.
Drink plenty of water to grow healthy hair and, if you aren’t doing this already, try to eat more nutrient-rich foods such as nuts, seeds (pumpkin) and oily fish such as salmon and mackerel.
Choose foods high in B6 and vitamin E, including avocados, bananas and leafy greens.
Discover why an avocado hair mask has benefits for hair in my blog.
I’ve got some favourite foods that help to promote healthy hair growth. You can find out more in my blog, Healthy Hair: Choose the Best Food for Hair Growth.
How to Fix Dry Brittle Hair | Take Aways
You don’t need to accept dry, brittle hair. Here are the takeaways for how to fix dry, brittle hair.
- Regular conditioning and deep conditioning.
- Take measures to protect hair from heat damage.
- Get regular trims.
- Eat a healthy balanced diet and drink water to maintain hydration.
How to Fix Dry, Brittle Hair | About the Author
Norris Ogario
Norris Ogario is founder and Creative Director of Ogario London. Developed in his London salon, the Ogario London haircare products reflect his belief that hydration is the key to fixing most hair problems. Hydrated hair can be styled with ease. Plus, hydration leaves hair shiny and healthy. Norris has over 35 years of hair know-how. With expertise in all hair types; from dry hair to fine or grey hair, from frizzy to damaged or bleached hair, curly hair and afro hair, Norris offers his expert advice.
How to Fix Dry, Brittle Hair | Shop the Blog
Restore and Shine Hair Masque
- Add Shine
- Smooth Hair
- Get Rid of Frizz
- Detangle
- Strengthen
Styling Mist for Volume
- Add Volume
- Speed up Drying Time
- Target Split Ends
- Condition as you Style
Styling Mist for Glossy Finish
- Add Shine
- Speed up Drying Time
- Target Split Ends
- Condition as you Style
Recommended Reading
Shiny Hair | How to Get Shiny Hair | 8 Ways to Shine Hair
Dry Brittle Hair | How To Fix Dry Brittle Hair
Add Volume with Lift at the Crown in 4 Easy Steps
How to Keep Dyed Hair Healthy | Expert Advice
Bleached Hair | How to Take Care of Bleached Hair and Fix Damage
Hair Elasticity | Do the Stretch Test
Over the years, I’ve helped many customers with dry hair concerns. I write about all aspects of healthy hair, from understanding how to stop frizzy hair to sharing tips on how to get rid of split ends. Plus I share salon tips and techniques for looking after all hair types.
I’ve suggested some further reading below. Discover more articles on my Healthy Hair Care Blog.
The way we style and care for our hair is not the only factor determining hair health and shine. Good nutrition is vital.
Discover how you can improve your healthy hair diet with my blog, Healthy Hair: Choose the Best Foods for Hair Growth.
How To Improve Scalp Healthy Naturally
Learn how to improve your scalp health in my blog. I share expert tips for getting your scalp in good health.
Pro Vitamin B5 Benefits for Hair
Discover the benefits of Pro Vitamin B5 for Hair. I share my LOVE for this haircare ingredient and why I include it in all of my hair care products.
How to Stop Frizzy Hair –Tame and Smooth Frizzy Hair
My frizzy hair guide covers ground such as the causes frizzy hair, the best products for frizzy hair and how to stop or get rid of frizzy hair, with our frizzy hair treatment.
Discover More Hair Styling Tips
Short bob haircuts are seriously versatile. Discover how you can style your short bob haircut with 3 easy to achieve hairstyles using the Denman Hairbrush.
How to Look After Grey Hair
Discover how to enhance grey hair in my Ultimate Guide for Caring Grey Hair. I’ve put together a list of the most common questions for everything you need to know about how to look after grey hair and enhance what you’ve got.
Take Care of Bleached Hair and Fix Damage
If you have bleached hair and want to regain your shine, read my blog, How to take care of Bleached Hair. You’ll find everything you need to know about taking care of bleached hair, from the best hair mask for bleached hair to how to fix hair bleach-damaged hair.
Discover what makes hair dry and how you can add moisture to your in my blog, How to Moisturise Dry Hair.
Adapt the Application of Deep Conditioner to Hair Type
Get the best out of your from your deep conditioning treatment by adapting the application to suit your hair type. Discover how you can get the most from your deep conditioning hair mask in my blog, Deep Conditioning Hair Mask | Essential Hair Care.
Discover more about preventing and getting rid of split ends in my blog, How to Get Rid of Split Ends and Prevent their Return.
Leave in conditioners are a great styling option for dry, brittle hair. Find out how they can improve hair condition in my blog, Leave In Hair Conditioner: We give you the Heads Up!
About Us
Ogario London is a salon developed range of natural hair care products. Because we are passionate about our products, delivering the best results is at the heart of what we do. Do you have questions about our products? Or, would you like advice on the best products for your hair type? Maybe have another question about how to look after your hair? If you do, please get in touch at info@ogariolondon.com.
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Beauty Bible Recommends Ogario London Hair Masque Hair Treatment
Restore and Shine Hair Masque was awarded best hair mask in the Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible Awards. As an independent hair care brand, we are incredibly proud to be recognised alongside some of the industry’s biggest haircare brands. Because I spend time ensuring that our products deliver the best results, I couldn’t be happier to get this review and win this prestigious award.
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