If you’ve struggled with hair that is overly dry or easily damaged, you’ll be happy to know that there are several natural and affordable ways to help give you healthier, silkier locks. We’ve done extensive research about the most common causes, as well as the best solutions, to help answer the question of how to fix brittle hair.

Don’t Over Wash & Watch Out for These Drying Ingredients

We all buy products to help improve the appearance of our hair, but sometimes we may inadvertently be doing more harm than good. For some of us, this can start in the shower, since many shampoos and conditioners may contain harsh ingredients that can ultimately dry your hair, which is one of the major causes of brittleness. We recommend checking the ingredients labels and avoiding hair products that contain sulfates or alcohol.

When it comes to how often you use your hair products, we also advise those who experience brittle hair to try and wash their hair less frequently. Washing with shampoo and conditioner every day can deplete your hair of its natural oils, which can lead to dryness. And as mentioned in our post about the benefits of using wooden hairbrushes, we also recommend regularly brushing your hair with a brush that features rounded tips, because this can keep your hair better moisturized by redistributing your natural oils and helping to stimulate your scalp.

Try Cooling the Heat

Blow dryers and curling irons are beauty tools that need to be used with caution, because they can easily cause hair to become damaged and brittle. For some people, even using the curling iron according to instructions can still contribute to overly dry hair. To be safe, we recommend that those with brittle hair use their heat treatment devices on lower settings and only do a maximum of two passes on any given section.  Additionally, it’s a good practice to make sure your hair is completely dry before using a curling iron, because any lingering moisture can instantly become steam when heat is applied, which can lead to brittleness. If you’re someone who uses the blow dryer or straightener on a daily basis, it may also be a good idea to try and take a few days off to see if that helps reduce brittleness.

Fight Back with Added Protection

Don’t let damaged, delicate locks get you down because there’s plenty of ways you can take action to help fix brittle hair. First, you can try applying natural products that help your hair retain its moisture, such as shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and argan oil. We also recommend that you try applying a protectant spray before using a blow dryer, hair straightener, or other hair treatment tools. According to Women’s Health, you can also help in the fight against brittle hair in the kitchen by choosing foods that support healthy hair. If you’re someone who uses supplements, you should consider those that contain beneficial vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, and selenium since these can also help keep your hair healthier.