Experiencing Dry Hair? Why Your Shampoo May Be To Blame
Dryness Can Cause Major Problems For Your Hair.
When your hair gets dried out, you can quickly start dealing with uncomfortable side effects. The impact of dryness on your hair affects not just its appearance, but the way your hair feels as well. Dry hair can make your scalp feel uncomfortable and make your hair look noticeably more lifeless and dull. If your hair is constantly getting dried out, feeling irritated, and looking less vibrant than it used to, your shampoo may have a role to play.
In this post, we’ll outline the different ways that shampoo can cause your hair to dry out. In addition, we’ll cover some of the best steps you can take to increase your hair’s moisture by choosing the right shampoo. Dry hair can be frustrating, but it’s not a problem that you have to deal with forever. With the right shampoo and a comprehensive hair care regimen, you can get your hair nourished, hydrated, and looking and feeling great again.
Sulfates: How They Cause Dry Hair
Sulfates are a type of emulsifier – substances that can attract both oil and water to themselves. They’re the ingredients in many soaps and shampoos that allow for the creation of a foamy, sudsy lather. However, some people may experience dryness and irritation when their hair is exposed to sulfates in hair products. This dryness can be caused by the sulfates in your shampoo stripping your hair of its natural oils. Since emulsifiers attract oil, they can leave your hair feeling squeaky-clean, but also take away the oils that keep it hydrated.
Your hair needs its natural oils to maintain volume, texture, strength, and more. That’s why dry hair can be so problematic – without enough oils, your hair can become brittle, weak, and lifeless. These changes to your hair can mess with your confidence and make it hard to get the look that you are going for. Dry hair is tough to work with, and even large amounts of gel or pomade can’t compensate for the dryness. It’s better to treat dryness by making changes to your hair care regimen rather than trying to mask the dryness by putting lots of product in your hair.
While not everyone’s hair has the same reaction to sulfates, choosing a sulfate-free shampoo can be beneficial for everyone. Your hair may respond better to these ingredients than others’ hair might, but no one needs sulfates in their shampoo. All types of hair benefit from their natural oils, and using a sulfate-free shampoo lowers the risk of losing some of these oils to the drying effects of sulfates.
Some people may have more significant problems with dryness and irritation when using shampoo with sulfates. If any of the following apply to you, it may be especially important to choose a sulfate-free shampoo.
- If you dye your hair, the sulfates in your shampoo may strip the color from your hair. The emulsifying power of sulfates makes these ingredients powerful cleansers, but it also means that oil-based hair dyes may not last long in your hair when you wash with shampoo with sulfates in it. If you want to preserve your hair dye for as long as possible, opt for a shampoo that is free of sulfates.
- If your hair is curly or wavy, sulfates can strip your hair of its natural oils and alter its texture. Curly and wavy hair gets its volume and texture when it is hydrated, so it’s especially important to use a shampoo that will not take any of the moisture out of your hair. A sulfate-free shampoo is a great choice for anyone, but kinky, coily, wavy, and curly hair has an even greater need for the moisture that sulfates can strip away.
- If your hair tends to get frizzy, dryness may be the culprit. Switching to a sulfate-free shampoo can help you get the hydration that your hair needs to stay de-frizzed all day long. In addition, the way you dry your hair after you wash it can also cause frizz. To avoid frizziness, patting your hair dry with a gentle microfiber towel may be helpful.
- People with sensitive skin may also benefit from switching to a sulfate-free shampoo. Dryness can often cause even more severe irritation for anyone with sensitive skin, and sulfates can contribute to this dryness. If your skin tends to get red, raw, or irritated easily, avoiding sulfates in the products you use on your hair and skin may help.
How Dryness Can Sabotage Your Hair Loss Prevention Efforts
Dryness can interfere with healthy hair in a number of ways, but did you know that it can also contribute to hair loss?
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Dry hair can fall out more easily due to the fact that it is more vulnerable to breakage. If you are dealing with thinning hair, hydration can make a big difference in your hair’s strength, resilience, and responsiveness to topical hair loss prevention treatments.
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If you use topical treatments on dry, weak hair, the treatments may not be as effective – topical hair loss treatments ike minoxidil can sometimes even cause more dryness and irritation without proper use of moisturizing ingredients.
- When your hair is dried out, your scalp may also be more irritated. Scalp irritation can interfere with your hair’s natural growth cycle. Irritation can even cause a condition called folliculitis, which can cause hair loss on affected parts of your head. The hair loss caused by irritation is usually reversible with the help of moisturizing, growth-boosting ingredients.
Use GroMD Shampoo To Boost Hair Growth And Combat Dryness
GroMD’s growth-boosting, DHT-blocking shampoo is sulfate-free and ideal for all hair types. Thanks to the use of high-quality ingredients that hydrate and nourish your hair, our shampoo is an excellent treatment for a dry and irritated scalp. If you are looking for a simple way to level up your hair care routine, give our shampoo a try. You can find it by clicking here.
In addition to cleansing and nourishing your hair, our shampoo also conditions your hair – it’s two essential aspects of your hair care routine in one. GroMD’s shampoo and conditioner combo make it easy to wash and condition your hair, providing all the nutrients that your follicles need for healthy growth and optimal hydration.
- GroMD shampoo contains argan oil, a powerful natural moisturizer. Argan oil can help prevent your scalp from getting dry and irritated, especially while using a topical hair loss prevention treatment like minoxidil. Minoxidil can be highly effective, but it often causes side effects like dryness and irritation. Argan oil is also packed with antioxidants and fatty acids, which can help to nourish your hair and scalp.
- Our shampoo and conditioner combo also contains a blend of DHT-blocking, growth-boosting herbs, all of which can benefit your hair and scalp in different ways. Several of the ingredients in our proprietary blend of DHT blockers can also reduce scalp irritation, soothing your head and preventing dryness from negatively affecting the way your hair looks and feels. Our blend of herbs includes stinging nettle, saw palmetto, and more.
- You can pair GroMD shampoo and conditioner with our follicle activator spray for an additional boost of DHT-blocking power. Click here to grab a bottle of follicle activator spray.
If you have other questions about hair loss prevention, check out our blog. There, you’ll find helpful articles about how to choose and use products that can hydrate and nourish your hair, preventing dryness while boosting growth.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
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