If you’re wondering why your hair is still dry despite not washing it, then you’ve come to the right place! I’ve done some research into this and here’s what I found.
If you do not wash your hair after a prolonged period of time, you may experience buildup on your scalp, causing damage to your hair and irritation and flakiness on your scalp. This can also clog your hair follicles, causing dryness and possible hair loss. To avoid this, it is always best to wash your hair at least 2-3 times a week.
Keep reading to find out how to remedy your dry hair, as well as how you can prevent this from happening in the future!
How To Fix Dry Hair After Washing
Logically, if your hair is feeling really dry after not washing it, the first thing you should do is give it a wash! Your scalp is likely covered with grime and oil, and this needs to be washed away as soon as possible. But, you need to make sure you do this properly and use the right products, or you could do more harm than good.
The best way to fix dry hair after washing is to use a deep conditioner on your hair’s end’s and length to restore moisture that’s been stripped away by your shampoo. You can apply a rinse-out or a leave-in deep-conditioner. Just ensure that you only use cool or lukewarm on your hair to prevent dry hair.
Step 01. Invest in The Right Products.
Before you do anything, you need to go and purchase a shampoo and conditioner that will help your hair rather than make it worse. Since your hair is likely full of grunge and oil, you’ll need a shampoo that is designed especially do remove this and soothe your scalp.
If you’re anything like me, when my hair is super dry and dirty, it becomes itchy and flaky. Often the temptation becomes too much, and I end up scratching my head all the time, leaving your scalp feeling tender, red, and painful.
I recommend BIOLAGE Cooling Mint Scalpsync Shampoo, as it has anti-bacterial and calming properties that cleanse excess oil from the scalp and hair and gives relief from the itching and burning sensation you are experiencing.
Step 02. Wash Hair With Cool Water.
Make sure that when you wash your hair that you are using cool water. Hot water will only irritate your dry scalp even more, and won’t do flaky and dry hair any favors.
Coldwater also helps shut the hair cuticle, which in turn locks in much-needed moisture. Hot water, on the other hand, opens the hair cuticle which means even after you get out the shower, your hair is rapidly losing moisture (not ideal)!
Step 03. Apply a Leave-in Conditioner.
Since your hair is super dry, you’ll most likely need to use a good leave-in conditioning treatment to restore some much-needed moisture to your hair. Apply it to your hair when it is slightly damp and allow your hair to airdry.
If you want, you can leave the conditioner in overnight if you find your hair is super-dry. But usually, for mildly dry hair, 30-45 minutes should do the trick.
I recommend PURA D’OR Healing Argan Oil Conditioner for Dry, Damaged, Frizzy Hair for the best results!
Step 04. Detangle The Hair.
Since your hair is probably a little knotty after not washing it for a prolonged period, you’ll need to give it a good brush to remove them as well as any dead hairs or residual dead skin on the scalp.
Make sure that you use a proper detangling brush that is safe to use on wet hair, as you should ideally brush the hair out while it is damp and has some conditioner in which will help loosen the knots and get them out faster.
However, if you use the wrong brush you could end up damaging your strands and pulling them. Hair is also especially vulnerable when it is wet, and the hair is more likely to pull and break.
I recommend Tangle Teezer The Original, Wet or Dry Detangling Hairbrush as it is ideal for removing tough knots and is super gentle on your strands.
Step 05. Avoid Heat-Styling Tools.
By the time you have completed the above steps, your hair should be well on the way to recovery! However, you don’t want to ruin all the effort you’ve put into reviving your hair by damaging it yet again with a hot styling tool.
Rather give your hair some time to recover and leave the blow-dryer and straightener for a day or two. That will give your hair some time to replenish its natural oils. Then, you can go ahead and use hot tools again.
Just remember to always use a heat-protector spray before you use hot tools, especially straighteners. Another good tip is to buy a diffuser for your blow-dryer, which will protect your hair from the majority of the heat and will help distribute the heat more evenly on your hair.
How To Prevent Dry Hair After Not Washing
The easiest way to prevent dry hair after not washing is to get into the habit of washing your hair 2-3 times a week and always following up on your shampoo routine with a conditioner. That said, if your hair is really dry between washes, then try a dry shampoo and avoid using heat styling tools on your hair.
Step 01. Wash Hair 2-3 Times Per Week.
This one may seem obvious, and that’s because it is! You really should be washing your hair at least 2-3 times per week to make sure that your hair is free from grime and oil.
A build-up of grime and oil can actually cause infection if left, especially if you find yourself scratching constantly. Also, washing your hair once in a blue moon actually causes more hair loss at once, and this is made worse by all the dead skin cells, bacteria, and product residue.
This time frame is recommended by almost every salon specialist, and for good reason. If you wash your hair more than this, it could also cause severe dryness as you are constantly stripping your hair of its natural oils. If you wash it less than this, well, you know what happens.
Although it is important to mention that how often you wash your hair is also dependant on your hair type. Some people can get away with washing their hair once or twice a week, while others find their hair gets oily again after one day.
Step 02. Use Dry Shampoo.
Before I continue, I cannot reiterate enough that dry shampoo is not, and I repeat not, a replacement for washing and conditioning your hair regularly!
Dry shampoo is perfect for those days where you simply don’t have the time, and it also helps absorb excess sweat and dirt which can lead to problems down the line.
My absolute favorite pick is OGX Refresh Revitalize Extra Strength Argan Oil of Morocco Dry Shampoo, as it both refreshes your hair and moisturizes it at the same time, so you are killing two birds with one stone! This will also prevent dry scalp problems as a result of a lack of washing.
Step 03. Don’t Heat Style Dirty Hair.
If you’ve been using your curling or straightening iron on your dirty hair, shame on you!
Using hot tools on dirty hair with only amplify the damage done to the hair from the heat. Even if you are using hairspray or any kind of product commonly used on hair when you style it, you are doing serious damage. The ingredients found in these styling products are not meant to be combined with excessive heat and build-up.
Instead, rather choose products that are designed specifically to hydrate and protect your strands in-between washes. I recommend Heat Protector for Hair a Lightweight Gel/Cream Leave-in That Hydrates, Nourishes, Detangles, Restores Hair, as it is an awesome all-in-one product that will do wonders for your hair!
Final Thoughts
Dry hair can be a lot more painful than many people think, especially when it starts to irritate your scalp and cause redness and itching. The good news is that if you wash your hair regularly and use the right products as I have explained above, you should always have a healthy head of hair and a healthy scalp!