Dry hair can be a source of emotional discomfort, unless you are part of a death metal rock band. For them, dry hair might be a statement. Unfortunately, dry hair really looks homely on the rest of the world, especially for those who like to have long hair.

There are many nicknames for people who have dry hair. Some are called walking broomsticks, while some who have intensely lifeless hair are thought to be wearing a badly maintained wig. “I wouldn’t mop the floor with one of those,” others may mock.

Many people with dry hair also suffer from a dry scalp. Their hair also becomes a conductor of static electricity, all frizzy and standing up like one of those Troll dolls or perhaps Paul Zaloom’s hair in the show “Beakman’s World.” Aside from the obvious unmanageable aspect, dry hair also tends to be very itchy. If you’re lucky, the dandruff won’t fall like a white Christmas. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean you are free from dandruff. The fact that your hair itches is a sign that your scalp is scaly. Since dry hair is associated with dry scalp, the influx of dandruff is something that you should expect.

To combat dry hair, you need to figure out the reason why the natural oils of your body don’t seem to reach the hair on your crown and temple. You need to find a way for the lack of scalp moisture to be replenished and replaced. Brush off your worries – the suggestions below will help rid you of dry hair.

Dry hair, scalp and dandruff are the end results of certain elements that rid the natural oils your body is producing so that the oils can reach your hair and skin. Nobody is born with damaged hair, so you must think about this when trying to recapture or get back your healthy scalp. This means making some changes to the daily regimen that brought you to this hair disaster. You must take better steps to shield yourself from factors that brought about your hair’s dryness. When all else fails, you must seek a hair care expert’s help.

Before any expert can demand your tens and twenties, refer to the information below to learn the common causes of dry hair and scalp. There’s a good possibility that some of them might be familiar to you.

Remember the phrase, “If you have a problem, deal with it!” Here are ways how to properly deal with both dry hair and scalp and look your best, even if you’re not facing the camera.

Too Much is More than Enough

Over-washing and over-brushing is hair overkill! Your scalp can get irritated if you overdo your hair styling routines. When the scalp is irritated, the natural oils that keep your hair shiny and happy (soft and moisturized) dry out very fast. Try not to wash your hair every day by cutting back to an every-other-day or every-two-days arrangement. If you live in a dusty place and you can’t stand not washing your hair daily, make sure you don’t vigorously scrub or scratch your scalp during shower time. Just rub your hair gently in circles using the tips of your fingers.

When you brush your hair, use a brush that has bristles made from natural fibers. It’s also nice to use the fingers to comb through your hair (not applicable for every hair type). Just keep in mind that brushing your hair too hard and too often also irritates the scalp and increases the static charges in your hair.

Change Your Hair’s Cleaning Agents

Go to the store and buy a shampoo and conditioner that’s specially formulated to treat dry hair and scalp. This may be very tricky because many hair care products use mis-advertising. You might want to invest more in quality shampoos and conditioners instead of the cheap ones. For your normal shampoo, look for products with a special dry hair formula such as Suave Dandruff Control. There are also shampoo products that are aimed to rejuvenate dry hair and scalp, such as Head & Shoulders or Selsum Blue. A good shampoo for dry hair must have the following ingredients written on its packaging: zinc pyrithione, coal tar or selenium sulfide.

Purchasing high-quality, salon grade shampoos is a great escape from dry hair meltdowns. These products can really dent your wallet, but staying beautiful costs a lot of money, so it shouldn’t be a surprise. Kidding aside, these salon grade products contain less “filler” ingredients, which is why they are very effective, not to mention they smell really good. It’s best if you ask a cosmetologist for some advice before you consider buying salon-grade products.

Moisturize!

The use of many styling products is like messing up your hair’s health. Volumizing mousses, hairsprays, hair gels, pomades - these products contain harmful chemicals that can damage your hair and irritate your scalp with frequent exposure. It’s really nice to have the spiky Gwen Stefani look, but when you do this more than once, you’ll be stuck in the Gwen Stefani look forever. Frequent use of styling agents will make you more dependent on the products.

Of course, there are moments that hair products are unavoidable, a predicament that many professional models face. Fortunately for them, the hair styling agents used on them are high-grade and of good quality, which is why with all the twisting and pulling, their hair seems to survive all the elements. Here’s a tip: look for products that contain more natural ingredients, such as those derived from plant extracts. These products are very gentle on your hair and scalp. Moisturize! Develop the habit of moisturizing your hair with conditioners. Try not shampooing your hair every day and use conditioners instead. Make it a habit to use leave-in conditioners as well, since they can help prevent dry hair.

Don’t Scald Your Scalp

Remember this line from a famous graduation speech: “Don’t mess too much with your hair: by the time you’re 40, it will look 85.” That’s so true, especially if you expose your hair to constant heat sources such as flat irons, curling irons, blow dryers and even constant washing of your hair using hot water. These kinds of hot exposures result in the drying of your scalp and burning off the natural oils produced by your body. You can resort to a more “electric-bill friendly” way of drying your hair by simply towel drying or air drying it. Wash your hair with lukewarm water. If you really need to use your hair iron, don’t forget to always apply a moisturizing product.

Take Cover!

Take cover during extreme weather conditions by using a cap or bandanna like the one Erykah Badu wears. Extreme cold, heat, dry air, sunshine and high winds can easily dry out and damage your scalp and hair. Wear a hat, hood, fedora or whatever protects your hair from the elements. It’s best if you can moisturize your hair before going outside to face the harsh weather conditions.

Eat Well, Like Samson

Legend has it that the beautiful long hair of Samson is due to his Herculean figure. This doesn’t mean that you have to lift weights to get beautiful hair. It’s only a metaphor that means that healthy hair is directly proportional to a healthy lifestyle.

Many experts say that a healthy diet can significantly influence a healthy head of hair and scalp (just like any other parts of the body). Eat more fresh fruits and green, leafy vegetables in at least two meals a day. Get some multivitamins, especially those that contain Vitamin B and C, which are needed by your scalp and hair.

Beautify? Humidify!

Add some moisture in your life and in your hair’s life by using a humidifier when the air inside your home is very dry. You can stop the dry atmosphere from drying out your hair by refilling your humidifier and leaving it on every night, during your sleep, so that your scalp and hair will get some relief from air dryness. Don’t forget to clean the humidifier after use to prevent bacterial contamination, which can affect your health.

The Magic of Cosmetologists

If you feel that the do-it-yourself treatment doesn’t yield the results you want, then it’s best to take the road en route to a cosmetologist (or a hair and scalp expert). Hair and scalp experts are not just in salons; they can also be found in spas.

There are many services available to help your dry hair get back to its top shape. There are scrubs, massages, oil treatments and many more hair pampering services that are sure to fit the budget that you have.

A good cosmetologist will also give you valuable information on how to keep your hair healthy after you leave the salon. Most of the time, he or she will recommend or provide certain hair care products to make sure your hair won’t get destroyed again.

If the trip to the hair doctor doesn’t change your dry hair dilemma, then it’s obvious that your dry hair is caused by something that’s internal and not from external elements. This is the best time to consult a physician because you might be suffering from a medical problem.

Anyone with beautiful hair is often the center of positive attention and attraction. Don’t let a bad hair day take control of your life because dry, unmanageable hair is like a mirage in the desert; it’s not as bad as it looks. With correct hair care habits and the use of the right products, your scalp will be an oasis and your hair will be healthy.