Sometimes I feel like my hair is so dry I could light a match on it. Lack of moisture in our strands is one of the main causes of breakage. Without adequate hydration, hair lacks the elasticity needed to withstand daily manipulation, causing it to snap off easily and eat into your length progress. But what causes dry hair and how can you fix it?

Weather and atmosphere

Very hot or very cold weather can wreak havoc with our hair. When the air around us is dry our strands can become dehydrated and dull. In winter we tend to crank up the central heating at home, which further diminishes any moisture in the atmosphere.

A humidifier can help counteract this by adding moisture back into the dry air indoors. Protective styles, such as weaves, braids and buns, can also help to guard your hair from the harsh elements and maintain moisture levels in your hair.

Hard water

Hard water can deposit minerals such as calcium and magnesium onto the hair, causing it to become it dry, dull and brittle. If you imagine the hair shaft to be like fish scales or shingles on a roof, hard water can cause the shaft to become raised rather than lie flat, making hair tangled and rough rather than smooth and soft - not a good look!

Installing a water softening system or a shower head filter could help reduce the mineral levels in your water, so that each time you wash your hair (and body - it affects the skin too!) you're not depositing drying minerals onto it.

Chelating shampoos are specifically designed to remove mineral buildup from the hair, and they're also good for removing chlorine after swimming. These shampoos will strip your hair and will likely make it feel dry (oh, the irony), but if mineral buildup is the cause of your dryness, this will remove the buildup and give hair a chance to start receiving all your conditioning efforts! I wouldn't use a chelating shampoo too often - try once a month and see how that works for you.

A shower head filter may help to reduce the effects of hard water

Product buildup

If you're heavy handed with your products or only wash your hair with sulfate-free shampoos, you might find that your favourite products "stop working" and your hair becomes dry.  Sulfate-free shampoos are great for regular washes, but they don't contain the harsh detergents that thoroughly cleanse the hair.

When you have a buildup on your hair or scalp, your products are unable to penetrate the hair strand and offer maximum benefits. Whether you're treating your tresses with oils, moisturisers or conditioners, they will simply 'sit' on the hair strand and not be absorbed, resulting in hair that may feel heavy, greasy or coated, but dry at the same time.

If you suspect product buildup, try using a clarifying shampoo to break down the products and thoroughly cleanse the hair. This should open the door for your products to start penetrating again. A clarifying shampoo, which aims to remove product buildup, is different from a chelating shampoo, which is designed to remove mineral deposits.

Cotton pillowcases

Did you know you could be damaging your hair while you sleep? Perhaps I'm being extreme, but cotton pillowcases are notoriously known for stripping moisture from the hair.

If you don't wrap your hair with a silky or satin scarf, or at least sleep on a silky pillowcase, start now! A silky material will help prevent moisture from being sucked away in the night, leaving your hair feeling soft and hydrated in the morning. This is especially beneficial if you moisturise your locks before bed - you don't want your hard work to go to waste!

Heat tools

Heat tools, like flat irons, blow dryers and curling irons, are a wonderful way to fry and frazzle your hair! They're a quick way to evaporate all the moisture content in your strands, so be sure to do a moisturising deep conditioning session before you're planning to use heat, and always use a heat protectant!

If you've followed my blog you'll know that I've had a habit for heat (and frankly, the habit's back!) Try hiding your heat tools for a month and see how your hair thanks you. I need to listen to my own advice here...

Too much protein

Regular conditioning is great, but it's important to be mindful of the ingredients in your products. Striking the right balance between moisturising and protein products is important, as too much moisture in the hair can cause it to become weak and gummy, whereas a protein overload can result in dry and brittle hair.

Have a quick look at the ingredients in your products. Anything with keratin or containing the words 'hydrolized' will contain protein, and the higher up in the list, the more concentrated the ingredient is.

I've already written a post on protein so I won't dive into details too much here, but a protein overload can easily be fixed with a series of moisturising treatments to restore the balance.

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