What are the causes of dry and brittle hair?

It is often mistakenly believed that dry hair is simply unavoidable. However, behind this lack of elasticity and dreaded straw-like appearance lies a much more complex mechanism.

As a hair care enthusiast, I myself have long confused dry hair with damaged hair. However, understanding the distinction is essential for effective action.

The main causes lie in a lack of sebum: this fine lipid layer naturally produced by the scalp acts as a protective film. When it is insufficient or poorly distributed, the lengths of the hair become rough, dull, and prone to breakage.

In addition to this, there are repeated aggressions:

• Frequent use of straightening irons or curling irons
• Repeated chemical colorings
• Prolonged exposure to the sun, wind, or open air
• The use of harsh shampoos that are unsuitable for your hair type

Lifestyle also plays a central role. An unbalanced diet, deficiencies (in zinc, omega-3, or iron), chronic stress, or a lack of internal hydration can weaken the hair fiber in depth.

Finally, the hair's porosity (its ability to retain water) is often neglected. The more open the hair cuticles are, the faster they dehydrate, despite treatments.

 

 

What can you do to hydrate dry hair?

Addressing the dryness of your hair starts with a golden rule: never dry it out further. This seems obvious, but using a gentle shampoo is often the first forgotten step. Avoid sulfate-based formulas, and opt for shampoos for dry hair rich in natural active ingredients.

Next, it's time for deep treatments. A good hair mask, rich in shea butter, coconut oil, or vegetable avocado oil, should be applied generously, wrapped in a warm towel, and left on for at least twenty minutes. This simple ritual, inspired by spa protocols, makes all the difference.

Complete this ritual by also nourishing your hair from the inside. It is essential to drink enough water daily and to adopt a balanced diet rich in essential fatty acids:

• Avocado
• Nuts
• Grapeseed oil
• Fatty fish

 

Finally, nourishing dry hair also means respecting its rhythm. Don't wash it too often, and limit heat sources. Hair doesn't need to be tamed at all costs: it deserves to have its softness, suppleness, and natural shine restored.

 

How to repair brittle hair?

When brittle hair becomes the norm, it is no longer just an aesthetic inconvenience, but a warning sign that the hair fiber needs to be deeply regenerated. The key word here: repair, gently, with targeted treatments and respectful actions.

I always recommend to my clients, even the busiest ones, to incorporate an intense weekly treatment into their routine. It makes all the difference. The ideal mask should combine both nourishing and restructuring properties.

Among the most effective active ingredients, vegetable keratin is a valuable ally: it mimics the natural structure of the hair and fills internal gaps.

For those who enjoy DIY, here is a recipe that I personally use once a week:

• 2 tablespoons of jojoba oil (or avocado oil for very dry hair)
• 1 tablespoon of vegetable keratin
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil

Mix, apply to the lengths of your hair, wrap in a warm towel and leave on for 30 minutes. Then rinse with a gentle shampoo.

Applying a hair oil the day before shampooing is also a simple but remarkably effective way to strengthen the hair fiber. Coconut oil, when applied to the ends, creates a protective barrier against breakage.

And above all, never forget to trim your ends regularly. Hair that breaks doesn't grow back: it shortens. Beautiful hair is also hair that is consistently maintained.

 

 

What are the natural remedies for damaged hair?

The elegant thing about natural remedies is that they combine simplicity, effectiveness and respect for damaged hair. But you still have to choose the right ingredients, at the right time.

Here are two homemade mask recipes for dry hair that I recommend:

• Nourishing Mask with Honey and Coconut
  Ideal for very dry hair:
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon of cider vinegar (to smooth the cuticle)

Apply, leave on for 20 to 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

• Shea Butter and Avocado Mask
  Perfect for hair damaged by coloring:
• 1 tablespoon of melted shea butter
• 1/2 ripe avocado
• 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil (hazelnut or grapeseed)

These natural remedies are rich, gentle and deeply restorative.

Finally, avoid shampoos for hair containing sulfates as much as possible. Their cleansing power, although foamy, dries out the hair and compromises all the repair efforts undertaken. The beauty of damaged hair that is reborn comes first and foremost from gentleness.

 

How to prevent hair breakage?

Elegance and full, thick hair often go hand in hand. However, even the most beautiful hair can be weakened by repeated actions that seem harmless but are damaging in the long run.

To avoid hair breakage, the most important thing is to adopt a routine based on gentleness, consistency, and informed care.

It all starts in the shower. Forget harsh shampoos and opt instead for a gentle shampoo without sulfates or silicones. This is a golden rule. Washing your hair is important, but not too often.

Two to three times a week is enough, depending on your hair type. Washing your hair too much stimulates sebum production but dehydrates the lengths, which encourages hair breakage.

After rinsing, the key step is to detangle. Use a natural bristle brush or a wide-tooth comb on towel-dried hair, never when it's soaking wet. And most importantly, don't pull.

This is a habit I had for a long time, before realizing how much my ends were visibly thinning.

Before each exposure to heat—whether from a hair dryer, straightening iron, or curling iron—apply a protective product. This invisible barrier makes all the difference. Finally, avoid repeated exposure to the sun without hair protection: UV rays weaken the hair fiber as much as a poorly executed blow-dry.

 

 

What kind of care should you give to frizzy, curly, and wavy hair?

Frizzy, curly, and wavy hair have specific needs that cannot be ignored. Their spiral structure slows down the natural distribution of sebum, which makes them naturally drier. The watchwords here are: hydrate, nourish, protect.

Here are the fundamentals of a suitable routine:

• Use a very mild shampoo enriched with botanical ingredients
• Always apply a conditioner rich in vegetable butter (such as shea butter or mango butter)
• Once or twice a week, apply a nourishing mask based on avocado or grapeseed oil
• Seal in moisture with a vegetable oil (jojoba, argan, or coconut) as a finishing touch
• Choose leave-in products to maintain hydration between washes
• Space out shampoos to avoid further weakening the hair fiber

These treatments help nourish and protect the hair, preserving the natural structure of the curls while respecting the sensitivity of the hair. In the long term, these repeated, almost ritualistic actions help to restore supple, luminous, and healthy hair.

 

How to improve hair health on a daily basis

Hair health is not accidental. It is maintained with rigor, patience, and a certain attention to detail. Too often, we seek immediate results with miracle treatments, when strong, shiny hair comes from a well-thought-out routine and a balanced lifestyle.

First of all, it's important to remember the obvious: beautiful hair comes from a well-nourished body. A diet rich in zinc, biotin, and iron promotes hair growth and strengthens its resistance.

Leafy green vegetables, oilseeds, legumes, and oily fish are valuable allies.

Personally, I have seen a real transformation by incorporating a daily mix of almonds, ground flax seeds, and a spoonful of rapeseed oil into my meals.

Hydration is the other essential pillar: two liters of water per day is not an option, but a necessity. Hot water, heating, or air conditioning silently damage dry hair, which must therefore be hydrated from the inside and out.

In terms of care, choose products free of silicone and parabens, which weigh hair down without nourishing it. Opt for concentrated formulas enriched with plant-based active ingredients, with a silky texture and a discreet but elegant fragrance.

Finally, establish a simple yet effective weekly routine:

• A nourishing mask once a week
• A gentle shampoo suited to your hair type
• A leave-in moisturizing treatment based on aloe vera
• And, if possible, a scalp massage to stimulate microcirculation

These regularly repeated steps are often enough to visibly improve hair health without artificial aids.

 

Example of a hair care routine for dry and brittle hair

When dry hair and damaged hair take over, you need to offer them a restorative routine that is both targeted and sensory. Here is a tried and tested suggestion that I have often recommended to my most demanding clients.

Day 1:

• Wash with a gentle shampoo
• Application of a nourishing hair mask
• Air drying or, if necessary, using a protective product before heat styling

Day 3:

• Vegetable oil bath (coconut, avocado, jojoba) applied under a warm towel
• Rinsing with apple cider vinegar to close the hair cuticles

Day 5:

• Moisturizing treatment based on aloe vera or flaxseed gel, applied to damp hair

Following week:

• Scalp massage with a fortifying lotion
• Hair mask with plant-based keratin to strengthen the hair fiber

By respecting this rhythm, we observe a real metamorphosis: brittle hair regains its suppleness, its shine, and above all a more resistant structure.

Because luxury today no longer lies in artifice, but in the regularity of a treatment perfectly suited to the nature of your hair.

 

What can be done for persistently dry and brittle hair?

There is no miracle solution, but a truth that we rediscover at each stage of care: hair beauty is cultivated over time, with consistency and dedication. Knowing what to do for dry and brittle hair means first taking the time to listen to your hair, to recognize its weaknesses and to respond with targeted actions, without excess or brutality.

Deeply moisturize, nourish dry hair with suitable hair care products, protect the lengths from external aggressions: this is the basis of a precious, almost intimate routine.

Transformation is achieved by applying masks enriched with plant-based keratin, alternating oil treatments, scalp massages, and using gentle shampoos. Little by little, brittle hair regains its structure, becoming shiny, supple, and almost weightless.

Then there's that moment—often around the fifth or sixth week—when you notice the hair fiber thickening and hair growth returning to a healthy pace.

Yesterday's damaged hair gives way to beautiful hair that feels confident, vibrant, and free-flowing. It's at this moment that you understand: true luxury isn't measured in instant promises but in the lasting quality of the results.

For those who dream of reviving radiant hair and watching their long hair flourish with vitality, the path is clear: targeted care, a consistent routine, and a sincere commitment to hair health.

What if this routine, demanding yet sensory, is what truly revitalizes our hair and reveals its true beauty?