5 Reasons Your Natural Hair Is Dry

Nike Anderson
Mar 16, 2016
5 min read

I could hear the sound of my hair breaking into the comb. Immediately, I used a gentler hand to reduce the amount of tiny hairs that fell into my bathroom sink. My hair felt brittle, looked lifeless, and was chronically breaking. I used conditioners that targeted dry, damaged hair. But my hair was still brittle. I smothered pomades, hair creams, and shine boosters onto my strands. But my hair still looked lifeless. I stopped washing my hair every week to reduce detangling sessions. But my hair still broke off.

You’d think that I’d be full of despair over the poor condition of my natural hair, but I wasn’t. I’d internalized the misinformation that dry, brittle hair was a characteristic of kinky curly hair. So naturally I thought that all of these happenings were normal, that there was little hope for my natural hair to ever feel properly moisturized.

I’m glad I did my research! Doing so, I’ve found that dry hair is a treatable condition, not an inherent characteristic. There are many factors that can cause dry, damaged hair. But there are also a plethora of remedies to treat the condition. The following five reasons have contributed to the brittleness of my natural hair at different points of my ten-year natural hair journey.

So without further ado, here are five reasons your natural hair may be dry, lifeless, and breaking.

1. You don’t drink enough water.

It didn’t take long for me to correlate that my hair looked and felt better when my body was well hydrated. That’s because a scalp with an adequate water store sets the foundation for healthy, moisturized hair. Dehydration, whether mild or severe, is known to affect the condition of the hair and scalp. The hair may feel brittle or the scalp may feel itchy with dry patches. In some cases, dehydration may also prevent hair growth or cause hair loss altogether.

The solution? Don’t assume you’re not dehydrated just because you’re not thirsty or on the brink of passing out. One of the first signs of dehydration is dark colored urine, and many ignore this sign. Play it safe and drink the amount of water your body needs. According to the Institute of Medicine, this means women should consume 9 cups of water (2.2 liters) per day. Men should consume around 13 cups (3 liters). Yes, it seems impossible. But I’ve found that making water my beverage of choice, eliminating sugary alternatives, makes drinking the required amount attainable. Water-rich fruits and vegetables also count!

2. You have hard water.

Hard water is water with a high mineral content. If you have hard water, you’ll notice that, despite your best effort, your hair is still dry, brittle, and prone to breakage. This can be frustrating! Other telltale signs of hard water are soap scum buildup in showers and sinks, and brownish rings around the bathtub and toilet bowl.

The solution? Installing a showerhead water filter is probably the most ideal, and cost effective in the long run. You’ll find many affordable options at your local Home Depot or Lowes. If you’re looking for a quick fix, look no further than your kitchen cabinet and try an apple cider vinegar rinse. I’ve tried this one, it makes your hair feel amazing! Finally, chelating shampoos are specially designed to remove hard water minerals from the hair shaft. Check out your local Sally Beauty Supply for quality chelating shampoos, or you can click here.

3. You’ve got product buildup.

Many commercial products designed for kinky curly hair have got it all wrong. Some of these products contain ingredients like silicones, among others, that coat the hair shaft and is difficult to wash away. This process results in product buildup, which blocks moisture from penetrating the hair shaft. Not all silicones are created equal though. When it comes to product buildup, water insoluble silicones are typically the culprit because of their water-blocking capabilities. However, water soluble silicones can be easily washed away. Click here for a printable copy of the list of silicones that should be avoided.

The solution? I understand that, for many, commercial products are simply convenient. If you must use a water insoluble conditioner, it’s best to clarify your hair often. One of the most popular natural clarifying methods is the apple cider vinegar rinse. Bentonite clay masks are also popular. If you don’t like the idea of homemade treatments, you can purchase a good clarifying shampoo just about anywhere. Click here for printable instructions on the apple cider rinse and bentonite clay mask application.

4. You’re not sealing in moisture.

Failure to use products that seal in moisture makes moisture retention difficult for natural hair. Depending on your hair type and texture, your hair may need a combination of products to look and feel moisturized. Many refer to this practice as the L.O.C. method, which means a liquid, oil, and cream product are layered onto the hair to lock in moisture. When I didn’t practice this method, my hair usually dried out the day after applying my leave-in conditioner.

The solution? Now that I know better, my conditioner is layered with coconut oil and shea butter to maximize moisture retention that lasts for days. Don’t count on leave-in conditioners or creams alone to do the job if you’re struggling with dry hair. Invest in some natural oils to help seal the moisture content of your tresses. Coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, argon oil, and flaxseed oil are among the popular ones to try that have yielded great results among many naturals, including myself. Butters are also great for sealing in moisture. Shea Butter is probably the most popular, but cocoa, coffee, and mango butter are also worth a try.

5. You don’t deep condition.

I had to learn this the hard way. I didn’t think deep conditioning was all that important, even though my hair was super dry. However, regular deep conditioning treatments played a major role in relieving chronic dryness as well as reducing breakage. This is because quality deep conditioners are formulated for moisture retention and deep penetration of the hair strand, which provide the hair with long-lasting moisture.

The solution? The author of The Science of Black Hair recommends weekly deep conditioning treatments for damaged hair, or hair embarking on a new healthy haircare regimen. Once the health of the hair is restored, deep conditioning treatments can be practiced on an as-needed basis. Click on the link to see what deep conditioner I love to use: read Ten Products That Saved My Natural Hair

If you are truly concerned about the health of your hair, please visit your dermatologist for professional advice. The following information was gathered from The Science of Black Hair by Audrey Davis-Sivasothy and the Institute of Medicine.

Anything to add? Let me know down below!