If you look in the mirror and notice brittle hair with frayed ends, hair breakage and split ends, now is the time to take action. Your damaged strands may not look the way you want them to, but there are ways to get back healthy hair you love so you can feel confident in any hairstyle. Here are 5 common causes and solutionsto help nourish your hair back to health.

Why are the ends of hair so dry?

If you have noticed that the ends of your hair are always dry and brittle, you may be wondering what could be the reason. The top 5 reasons are the sun's UV rays, harsh chemical shampoos, excessive washing, using heat appliances, and failing to cut your hair regularly.

Dry hair can occur because you wash your hair too often, use an aggressive shampoo, or expose your hair to UV rays that damage it over time. If you use heat styling tools, they can emit harmful heat despite having a heat protector.

Depending on how badly damaged your hair is, you may need to go to the barber to cut off dead ends. Heat damage often leads to an irreversible process that leaves your hair feeling dry and stringy. 

5 Tips to protect and repair your hair

1. Drink more water and eat nutritious food

An excellent way to improve the appearance of your hair is to drink more water and consume more of the nutrients it needs to grow strong. In addition to all the daily recommended vitamins and nutrients, try to include biotin in your diet to restore shine to your hair.

2. Reduce heating of hair

Setting your blow dryer to "cool" will get the job done, even if it takes a little longer (remember, it's even better if you can let your hair air dry).
Your curling iron or straightener is usually set at 400 degrees Fahrenheit or more, but if you can use it at 350 to 375 degrees, you are more likely to be able to style your hair without damaging your luscious locks.

3. Cut your hair regularly

Another way to help your hair is to have it cut regularly. It's normal for the ends of your hair to become dry from sun exposure, dry weather, the use of hot tools, harsh shampoos and other causes. By getting your hair trimmed every six to eight weeks, you can reduce the number of split ends and improve the overall health of your hair so that it's less damaged. When you cut split ends, you also protect the hair shaft, making it easier for your hair to grow longer instead of the damage moving upward.

4. Moisturizing for stronger strands

For dry hair, you need to focus on moisturizing and hydrating your strands. Your hair's natural oils are helpful You can do this by not overusing water, but by putting on a shower cap and washing your hair less frequently. The less often you wash your hair, the more likely it is to recover. 

So if your hair feels dry, it could be because it's been deprived of the oils it needs to protect itself. Fortunately, your body produces more of them, so all you have to do is not wash your hair for a few days to get it back to looking the way it should.

In the meantime, you can try some helpful conditioning and oil treatments to soothe dry follicles and help them stop looking so frizzy and out of control. Try coconut oil, argan oil, cocoa butter, and shea-containing conditioners that provide instant moisture.

5. Maintain your natural hair oils

While you can always incorporate oil into your hair care routine, one of the best options is to work with your natural oils instead. Each strand of hair naturally has oils that protect it from root to tip. You can lose these oils when you blow dry your hair or style it with heat styling tools. The same is true when you wash and scrub your hair to get rid of greasy roots or cleanse your scalp.

Keeping the natural oils will provide a better balance and minimize the risk of your hair looking dry and brittle. For example, depending on your hair type, you may want to wash your hair only every two to three days and use dry shampoo to draw out the oil near your scalp.

Products to use to protect your hair

You can use all kinds of products to protect your hair and ensure it gets the moisture it needs. A good hair oil protects the hair shaft while also providing deep nourishment. A deep conditioning treatment helps restore moisture to hair that has been stripped of hydration, making it feel softer and more resilient.

You can also try a hair mask, leave-in conditioner, and oil-based hair care products to minimize damage to your dry hair and help brittle hair recover. Oils like argan oil or coconut oil are a good place to start, but explore a variety of products to find what works best for you.

Silk pillowcases can help with your hair

Silk doesn't absorb moisture from your hair. This means that it helps you maintain your natural hair by retaining moisture while you sleep. It also promotes the natural movement of your hair while you sleep, causing less hair breakage.

100% Mulberry Silk is so smooth that your hair will glide over the material and not get caught in rougher textures. Switching to a silk pillowcase can help with hair loss, whether you sleep on silk after washing your hair or style your dry hair before bed.