Dry and brittle hair is common in men and women of all ages. In fact, dry hair doesn’t differ between men and women. Although dry hair may be annoying, it’s usually not a sign of a serious health condition. A few simple changes to your hair care routine should reduce dryness.
Sebaceous glands in your hair follicles produce a natural oil called sebum that moisturizes and protects your hair. As you age, your body produces less sebum, and your hair becomes more prone to dryness.
Men with curly or coily hair are especially prone to dry hair. This is because the sebum isn’t able to reach the ends of the hair as easily as it can in straight or wavy hair.
Keep reading to find out what might be causing your dry hair. We’ll also cover how you can treat dry and brittle hair and keep it from coming back.
What causes dry hair and dry scalp in men
Environmental factors, your hair care routine, and your hormonal health can all play a role in keeping your hair moist and healthy.
Here are some reasons your hair might be dry:
Excessive shampooing
Frequent shampooing can strip your hair of its protective oils and lead to dryness. People with curly and coily hair are especially prone to dryness.
How often you need to use shampoo depends on your hair. If your hair tends to be dry, you may want to try shampooing it every third day.
Sun exposure
Exposure to UV light from sunlight or indoor tanning can damage your skin. However, prolonged exposure to UV light can also damage the outer layer of your hair, called the cuticle.
The cuticle protects the inner layers of your hair and helps lock in moisture. When the cuticle is damaged, your hair can become dry or brittle.
Blow-drying and using hot water
Exposing your hair to heat when blow-drying or showering can dry out your hair.
A 2011 studyTrusted Source found that the amount of hair damage when blow-drying your hair increases as the temperature increases.
Thyroid dysfunction
Your thyroid gland is located on the front of your neck and produces hormones that control your metabolism.
ResearchTrusted Source has found that thyroid hormones stimulate hair growth by acting on stem cells in your hair follicles.
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can negatively affect your hair growth and lead to dry and brittle hair.
Chlorinated water
Repeated exposure to chlorinated water can decrease the amount of natural oil in your hair.
Hair products
Certain hair products that contain harsh ingredients can dry out your hair.
You may want to avoid products that contain short-chain alcohols like:
- isopropyl alcohol
- propanol
- propyl alcohol
Source: healthline.com
