Hair Care Tips To Treating your Dry Hair in a Hot Desert Climate
7 ways to care for your hair in a dry hot desert climate.
Using Right Shampoo:
Use a Shampoo within a pH range of 4.5 to 5.5.
Lower pH shampoos closes the cuticle of the hair to keep moisture within the hair shaft that helps keep hair flexible.
Be careful of Balanced Shampoos, they might not be a neutral pH or a lower pH.
Hair at a normal balanced level is around pH level 4.5 to 5.5,
pH measures acidity or lack of in a substance on a scale from 0 (most acidic) and 14 (most alkalin) and 7.0 being neutral.
If using a Shampoo at a pH level of 7.0 or higher, the shampoo will open the cuticle of the hair and strip the hair of moisture and hair can appear dull, frizzy, and dry.
Clarifying Shampoos have a pH of 7.0 or higher.
Not sure about pH level of your shampoo?
Contact the Customer Hotline that is on the back of the shampoo bottle and ask them.
Unfortunately many companies do not display the pH levels of their shampoos.
If you would prefer doing your own pH testing of your shampoo can try Hydrion pH testing strips or a pH testing meter.
I personally like Serie Expert Nutrifier Shampoo by L'Oreal Professionnel.Unfortunately L'Oreal has discontinued making Serie Expert Nutrrifier Shampoo and Masque.I have been looking for a new shampoo and conditioner to replace the previous, and unfortunately, I have not found anything that is a good replacement. I have tried Shu Uemura "Urban Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner" and Wella "Invigo Nutri-Enrich Shampoo, Masque, and Leave In Anti Static Spray".
Do Not Shampoo Hair Everyday
If your scalp is dry, Shampooing hair everyday will strip any natural moisture that is on the scalp and hair and create dry flakes that you think is dandruff but whatever you do, do not use a dandruff shampoo, instead still wet your hair and use conditioner, and in a couple of days, if you feel that your hair is dirty due to dust or product build up etc, than shampoo your hair.
Always use a Conditioner - Moisturizing Masque
Use a Conditioner - Moisturizing Masque Daily
This is a must daily especially in the dry hot desert climate that zaps moisture out of your hair. Using a conditioner - masque refortifies the cuticle and to keep mositure in the hair.
Before applying conditioner or masque. Remove excess water from your hair by squeezing your strands.
Excess water dilutes conditioner and prevents hair from absorbing the ingredients.
Apply conditioner - masque from roots to ends. Always comb thru after applying with a comb. Leave on hair 3 to 5 minutes. Some masques can leave on up to 15 mins. Rinse hair.
I personally like Serie Expert Nutrifier Masque by L'Oreal Professionnel.Unfortunately L'Oreal has discontinued making Serie Expert Nutrrifier Shampoo and Masque.I have been looking for a new shampoo and conditioner to replace the previous, and unfortunately, I have not found anything that is a good replacement. I have tried Shu Uemura "Urban Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner" and Wella "Invigo Nutri-Enrich Shampoo, Masque, and Leave In Anti Static Spray". My hair feels softer, more manageable, smooth, and shinier after using. Also it does not feel like it weighs the hair down or heavy after using. This masque also has a UV filter for color treated hair, which is great for living in Tucson.
Deep Condition Hair 1X a Week
Use a deep conditioner or a hair mask once a week for more intense hydration. Remove excess water from your hair. Apply deep conditioner or masque from roots to ends. Always comb thru after applying with a comb. Some masques can leave on up to 15 minutes. Follow directions for timing. Rinse hair.
Can use the deep conditioner or masque daily if your hair is extremely dry, have thick coarse hair. I personally use the Serie Expert Nutrifier Masque by L'Oreal Professionnel daily due to I have dry thick coarse hair, and once a week I will use it as a deep conditioner and leave in my hair overnight and then rinse. Unfortunately L'Oreal has discontinued making Serie Expert Nutrrifier Shampoo and Masque.
Always Apply a Thermal Protectant Before Blow Dry Styling Hair
Always apply a thermal protectant such as a leave in conditioner or any styling product to hair, after Shampooing and conditioning hair, and comb thru from roots to ends to protect hair from the heat of the blow dryer and to protect the cuticle.
Also make sure you blow dry your hair correctly. In all my years as a stylist I have found that most clients do not know how, or try to take shortcuts on blow drying their hair. Also most people think blow drying everyday will make the hair dry. I have clients that blow dry their hair everyday correctly versus the ones that do not, and their hair feels the same.
Post Coming Soon about how to blow dry hair correctly.
Tip from one of our stylists, is after rinsing the masque out, apply just a little of the masque to towel dried hair, comb thru from roots to ends and proceed to styling your hair.
Avoid Using Flat Irons / Curling Irons on Hair Everyday
Do not use hot tools on hair everyday, such as curling irons or flat irons on the hair. Everyday use of these tools can strip the hair of its natural moisture causing dryness, frizzinies that goes all the up your hair shaft, dullness, brittleness, and breakage.
In my experience clients do not use these tools correctly at home. They try to straighten their curly hair from wet to dry with a flat iron. The correct way is to blow dry hair completely 100% first, use a round brush to smooth frizz and starighten, next use a flat iron to enhance the blow dry style. Reason is you will not keep going over the same section 10 times when wet versus 2 times after blow dry styling. Post Coming Soon about how to blow dry hair correctly.
Avoid Getting Hair Wet When Swimming
When using a swimming pool in the summer time, avoid getting your hair wet, you can use a swimming cap or wet your hair down before swimming to avoid chlorine being absorded into hair. I had a client that was using someone else's swimming pool that had a pH problem and it created a lot of problems, dry, brittle hair, not retaining hair color etc.
Post Coming Soon about how to care for your hair when swimming
About the Author:
Is a licensed and practicing cosmetologist in Arizona, with 24 years of experience.
Posted By:
David F13
Date: September 27, 2024
