View Full Version : My hair has turned to straw!
Anlbe
January 6th, 2010, 03:49 AM
We're having some rather chilly snowy weather here, which on the whole I'm loving (made a snow penguin this morning after clearing the front path) but one really hideous thing is what the minimal humidity does to my hair. It's incredibly dry and I have a huge birds nest at the nape of my neck - almost like I hadn't conditioned properly.
Does anyone have any good advice as to how to deal with this? My only idea at the moment is to essentially pour half a bottle of olive or coconut oil over my head and put my hair up in a scarf until it warms up!
Dars
January 6th, 2010, 03:53 AM
I don't have much of my adult life experience with snowy weather but I'd suggest an SMT or equivalent favourite moisture treatment of your choice.
Gothic Lolita
January 6th, 2010, 04:34 AM
I know exactly what you mean and the idea with the bottle of oil is a good one! A few days ago my hair turned into one big dreadlock and I just smeared tons of shea butter and coconut oil in it. After 1 day my hair was nice again! and be sure to place a humidifier on your central heating! for me, this does help a lot.
Hypnotica
January 6th, 2010, 05:24 AM
I damp my hair every night before bed and add some oil. Then I braid it. That seems to help with the everyday moisture loss.
Othala
January 6th, 2010, 05:31 AM
Do your washing! Seriously, go and do your laundry. I washed everything in the laundry bins and put it on the radiators to dry and th e humidity effect was great. My hair loved it, my skin loved it and the tropical jasmine plants I grow loved it.
If you have no laundry, go to Wilko's and get a sprat mister for 79p and mist your head (hair and face) through the day.
Madame J
January 6th, 2010, 05:59 AM
It sounds like your hair is literally dried out from the weather, so it needs moisture (i.e., water). Oil will help once you've moisturized a little, but wait until after you do a moisture treatment to dump oil on your head. I like SMTs, too, and they can be very rich with a super-moisturizing conditioner.
If you want a quick fix, try mixing aloe with the oil so you get moisture, and oil to hold the moisture in.
Isadora Lewie
January 6th, 2010, 06:26 AM
I'm having the same problem with the dryness, and I'm sure I was making it worse by using conditioners and leave-ins with glycerine in them, as the humectant properties of the glyecerine can draw moisture from the cortex of the hair if there isn't enough in the atmosphere.
Surely the honey in the SMT would cause the same problem in a dry cold climate, given that honey is a humectant?
I'm avoiding the SMTs in dry winter and sticking to sealing in moisture with heavy emollients and oils.
Good luck!
Gabriel
January 6th, 2010, 06:29 AM
A mister will help. If you really want to help your hair's moisture I'd suggest a humdifier placed where you sleep or where you spend the majority of your time indoors.
That's helped me so much because it seems really extremly dry this winter.
GlassEyes
January 6th, 2010, 06:30 AM
Are you using coconut oil? I suggest stopping--it doesn't do well in cold weather and WILL become stiff and solidify again on your hair.
Also, a leave-in of some kind, like a conditioner, might help--even just leaving in a small amount of your rinseout--or maybe, damp oiling with an oil that doesn't solidify.
Isadora Lewie
January 6th, 2010, 06:32 AM
having said that...
I did read something about people trying to counteract this problem by saturating the humectant with water while applying to the hair, then 'layering' an anti humectant product (like oil or sillicone) over it in an attempt to keep the humectant from drying out.
I'm not sure if that works or how long the anti humectant barrier lasts for. Maybe someone else has some better ideas. The Naturally Curly forum has some good information about humidity and humectants.
here's a link to a useful page I found by Pittsburg Curly (she might be a member here too...)
http://pittsburghcurly.wordpress.com/2009/01/23/its-not-the-humidity-its-the-humidity/
James in Ohio
January 6th, 2010, 06:54 AM
I've been having the same problem lately with the last 6-8 inches of my hair. It's been below thirty here for the last week so I really have to keep a big fire going and the house is so dry.
I saturate me hair after a shower with aloe and braid it and it seems to help.
Charentais
January 6th, 2010, 07:10 AM
Post-washing, coconut oiling my damp hair has helped.
I live in the brutally arid and snowy American Southwest/Rocky Mountain region. Nobody with skin or hair has any business living here.
Little_Bird
January 6th, 2010, 08:00 AM
I understand what you mean, since I've been to the north of the country a few weeks ago and I felt my hair froze up! I just tried not to touch it too much and keep it in a braid all the time.
I don't have any apecial advice, but if it feels that dry, then a heavy oiling sounds like a good idea... Worth a try I guess.... After all, oil can't do any harm right ?
Good luck :flower: Tell us how you managed!
Anje
January 6th, 2010, 08:02 AM
Two more easy things to do:
1) Mist your hair. Seriously, go fill a little spray bottle with water (distilled is ideal) or some concoction of your own fancy, and mist your hair as often as you think about it. (I don't recommend adding coconut or other oils that solidify anywhere near room temperature, though. They tend to clog up the works more than an oil that stays liquid.)
2) Get a humidifier! I broke down and purchased a Vicks warm steam thing for $15. I already like it better than the cool mist ultrasonic varieties -- it doesn't put a white dust all over everything! Dangling my hair in the mist coming out (make sure it's not too hot with the warm varieties) seems to make my ends extremely happy.
Jannike
January 6th, 2010, 08:34 AM
having said that...
The Naturally Curly forum has some good information about humidity and humectants.
here's a link to a useful page I found by Pittsburg Curly (she might be a member here too...)
http://pittsburghcurly.wordpress.com/2009/01/23/its-not-the-humidity-its-the-humidity/
I just read this article and checked my local weather station for the dewpoint and it's currently -2.2 F :disbelief That is low!
When I woke up this morning it was -4 F and it's going to be much colder.
But my hair isn't that bad...I have stopped using cones and humectants ...well, I didn't know I stopped using humectants until now when I found out what they were :D Maybe it does make a difference.
walkinglady
January 6th, 2010, 10:16 AM
I use a warm air steamer, mist my hair, and CO almost everyday in the winter. All of these have helped keep my hair moisturized. The warm air steamer or a humidifier will help your skin as well, I can't live without one in the winter.
You can put a pot of water on the stove to simmer. Add spices to make the house smell good! Just add water every once in awhile so it doesn't all simmer away. You can also place cans of water on or in front of your heat registers. My grandparents used to do this years ago. This isn't quite as effective as a steamer/humidifier but it does help.
SlightlySoprano
January 6th, 2010, 10:23 AM
I'm home for a bit (Long Island, NY) and I don't know what is worse!!! My parents don't like to use heat, so the house is at 60F (because if it was any colder I think I would die) AND the air is so dry, my skin and my hair are just suffering. I'll be watching this thread!
Its strange, as it gets drier, my curls die out. My hair is almost straight. What?!?
burns_erin
January 6th, 2010, 10:24 AM
I have recently been playing with putting on glycerin, then covering it with wet fabric and keeping it warm. I have not yet had long term trials but thus far (past 2 weeks) it has seems effective. Unfortunately with the house remodeling going on, a humidifier proved to be extremely ineffective.
Boudicca
January 6th, 2010, 10:28 AM
A good moisturising treatment, and a weekly protein treatment is helping mine in the cold weather. Also, has to be bunned - it seems to dry out a bazillion times faster if I leave it down.
Anlbe
January 6th, 2010, 04:39 PM
I took a very steamy shower (which meant skin needed much lotion afterwards) and then oiled with virgin olive oil quite heavily and put it up in a bun. Definitely an improvement - when I took it down before going to bed it didn't have any tangles. The real test however will be tomorrow morning, for the last three days it's been a birds nest every morning!
Lamb
January 6th, 2010, 07:54 PM
I suggest a leave-in, my hair always needs that in cold weather.
Avoid glycerin (sadly, most brands of AG have it), it makes dryness worse in dry weather.
Isadora Lewie
January 7th, 2010, 08:10 AM
I'm home for a bit (Long Island, NY) and I don't know what is worse!!! My parents don't like to use heat, so the house is at 60F (because if it was any colder I think I would die) AND the air is so dry, my skin and my hair are just suffering. I'll be watching this thread!
Its strange, as it gets drier, my curls die out. My hair is almost straight. What?!?
Me too... Lots of curlies report a loss of curl in the winter, due to the lack of moisture in the air.
I'm usually a 3a and I seem to be rocking a 2c and even a 2b on some days!
I'm currently sitting in my cold victorian house, scarf and hat on, typing with fingerless gloves. Its like A Christmas Carol here... :-)
pepperminttea
January 7th, 2010, 02:06 PM
I feel your pain (this snow is madness, Norfolk only got most of it last night), but I'm afraid I'm no help since I'm doing exactly what it sounds like you're doing; oiling heavily and wearing it up all the time. I'll be watching this thread for ideas; thanks for making it. :)
Coriander
January 7th, 2010, 02:32 PM
I haven't read the three pages of responses :p so please forgive me if this has already been suggested:
We've had severely low humidity here (under 10%) recently, and I did a full-fat coconut milk soak yesterday. I saturated my hair in the coconut milk, put it in a plastic bag and then wrapped a warm towel around my head. I let this mess sit there for about four hours, then washed my scalp with a moisturizing shampoo and finished with a moisturizing coney conditioner. I jojoba-oiled the ends and put it up. It feels incredibly soft today.
I hope you are able to find what works for you! :flower:
Fractalsofhair
January 7th, 2010, 04:24 PM
Oiling works well, as does just spritzing your hair at least daily.
Anlbe
January 14th, 2010, 05:47 AM
update: spritzing and heavy olive oil soaking have turn hair from straw to fluffy. It's still tangling like crazy but at least it isn't rough anymore. Am going to try coconut milk next and see if that's an improvement.
Chamomile betty
January 14th, 2010, 06:03 AM
I can't use coconut oil in this weather but it works well in the summer. I prefer olive oil in the cool weather.
I try to keep my hair damp and braided at night. During the day I'll wear my hair in a low damp bun. Keep washings at a minimum. Lustrasilk has been a very good and inexpensive leave in for me.
I will use a detangler, like Infusium 23, and mist my underneath layer of hair. It really seems to help also.
Don't get frustrated. You just need to find out what will work for your hair and have a good time trying new things.
lovelylaura
January 14th, 2010, 07:02 AM
Thank you so much for starting this thread! I tried to search for "straw like hair" and couldn't find anything!
My sister was touching my hair a few weeks ago and her reaction was NOT GOOD. She was "oh your hair feels rough, I like mine to be soft and smooth". barg.
Especially the underside of my hair (the bottom layer) is dried out and FUZZY. The whole thing feels like straw. The only other thing I've experienced is when I colored it blonde and worked on a farm all day... that was a real straw feeling. ugh.
I have gotten some advice and have had some success. Even though my hair is straight and somewhat fine I have had success with washing it only 1-2 times a week and i've only been showering 2 or 3 times a week. And really, i'm not gross! :P I work in a professional environment and I will bun my hair on the greasiest days and do some nice makeup and I look fine. Ok, I know it sounds crazy and I have oily hair too, but it really has improved the condition of my hair. But still, it wasn't working perfectly. Another thing that I didn't expect to work well was CO. My mom used Suave religiously (and has beautiful hair) so I snagged some of that and did a CO, which worked well. Hair came clean but looked great for the day until the evening starts to appear a bit greasy, but would still look great bunned. I am a bit skeptical of the 'cones though, don't they coat your hair and kind of mask the real problem? I need to do some more research, which is actually what I was doing before I got distracted by this thread :)
I am trying to Coconut Oil, but haven't seen much results yet. My hair is a bit more greasy this week, but that could also be attributed to that I have been exercising (running) more.
I live in New England and it has been between 0F-30F here, I am unsure of the humidity level but we also run a wood stove pretty much 24/7.
Tangles
January 14th, 2010, 09:35 AM
I wish I knew the answer; cold, dry weather has been pulverizing and crushing my hair into pieces. Literally.
bumblebums
January 14th, 2010, 09:43 AM
I'm home for a bit (Long Island, NY) and I don't know what is worse!!! My parents don't like to use heat, so the house is at 60F (because if it was any colder I think I would die) AND the air is so dry, my skin and my hair are just suffering. I'll be watching this thread!
Its strange, as it gets drier, my curls die out. My hair is almost straight. What?!?
Nothing strange about it... You'll probably notice that your hair gets much curlier when it's humid outside, too. Curliness and humidity are in a direct relationship.
To the OP--if you are into natural remedies, I find flaxseed mucilage to be quite moisturizing. You can wear it as a hair gel (1 tbsp flaxseed to 1 cup water, boil for 5 minutes, strain seeds out, cool). You can also use it as a conditioner.
jojo
January 17th, 2010, 07:42 PM
We're having some rather chilly snowy weather here, which on the whole I'm loving (made a snow penguin this morning after clearing the front path) but one really hideous thing is what the minimal humidity does to my hair. It's incredibly dry and I have a huge birds nest at the nape of my neck - almost like I hadn't conditioned properly.
Does anyone have any good advice as to how to deal with this? My only idea at the moment is to essentially pour half a bottle of olive or coconut oil over my head and put my hair up in a scarf until it warms up!
I live in the Uk too and this snowy weather has done the same to my hair. I have swapped my coconut oil for mustard oil as I was told it worked better than coconut oil in cold weather, it smells though! but it does help condition and get my hair back to its natural softness, I also hide it under a hat or my wide scarf which i swe up the middle and make a pixie hat out of! x
lovelylaura
January 20th, 2010, 09:43 AM
I haven't read the three pages of responses :p so please forgive me if this has already been suggested:
We've had severely low humidity here (under 10%) recently, and I did a full-fat coconut milk soak yesterday. I saturated my hair in the coconut milk, put it in a plastic bag and then wrapped a warm towel around my head. I let this mess sit there for about four hours, then washed my scalp with a moisturizing shampoo and finished with a moisturizing coney conditioner. I jojoba-oiled the ends and put it up. It feels incredibly soft today.
I hope you are able to find what works for you! :flower:
Where'd you get Full-fat coconut milk? I'm really intrigued. You just soaked your hair in it? Anything special?
I live in the Uk too and this snowy weather has done the same to my hair. I have swapped my coconut oil for mustard oil as I was told it worked better than coconut oil in cold weather, it smells though! but it does help condition and get my hair back to its natural softness, I also hide it under a hat or my wide scarf which i swe up the middle and make a pixie hat out of! x
Hilarious! We have mustard oil at my house, my mom bought it for an indian recipe and it just sits there. I can imagine it must stink! Maybe the little person inside me who hates wasting things will end up using it. Did it work well and does it smell so bad you wouldn't recommend it? Who recommended it in the first place?
Update:
My neighbor and good friend of mine both did a CO leave-in treatment the other night that was recommended by someone on a CO thread which included (I think 1/3 cup cheapy conditioner, 2 T honey, a few drops jojoba, and some amount of shea butter (I used a few T of coconut oil). It seemed to work really well and was fun to boot. We also gave ourselves facials with egg white. :)
To cure the strawness, ideally, I'd like to be able to CO 2x a week and avoid washing because I feel like that would be the most moisturizing option for my hair right now with periodic oiling (i am going to switch from coconut oil to jojoba for the winter). I want to try some VO5 for my CO instead of Suave. I've heard it works better. I'm open to any recommendations though and thats why i'm following this thread!
Some questions I have though:
Glycerin and possibly 'cones are actually drying for the hair? I feel like surfactants are better than harsh detergents, but I am still looking for a better idea than CO.
Misting the hair with water makes sense, but for some reason I feel like that would be drying. Why does our skin dry out of we shower too often or with too hot of water? How is hair different?
I'm interested in learning about more deep treatment options. Maybe my neighbor and I will make a weekly "date" of deep conditioning ;)
Sorry this post is so long and I don't intend to sabotage! I'm just so happy to find this thread because this is my problem!!
Gilly
January 20th, 2010, 11:40 PM
I have just ordered 3 pots of the whipped shea butter from Chagrin Valley to make sure I can keep some moisture in my ends, I plan on putting some on before bed each night (I am a daily washer)
suicides_eve
January 22nd, 2010, 05:21 AM
HAHA I logged in with intent on finding a soultion to the very same problem! My HG of conditioners Nexxus Humcantress is no longer doing the job, my ends are hideous and I look like I slept out in the barn.
One big help is running several small humidifiers on high all the time. I do this for dd4 who has breathing problems. I never noticed but with out them running my hair dries out super quick. My hair and oils don't mix. I can't wait to try out some of these suggestions.
AS for curlies who are loosing their curl: that is also something I was concerned about. I thought my hair was getting longer super fast, but it's just my curls flatting out! grrr.
jojo
January 25th, 2010, 05:22 PM
[quote=lovelylaura;942889]Where'd you get Full-fat coconut milk? I'm really intrigued. You just soaked your hair in it? Anything special?
Hilarious! We have mustard oil at my house, my mom bought it for an indian recipe and it just sits there. I can imagine it must stink! Maybe the little person inside me who hates wasting things will end up using it. Did it work well and does it smell so bad you wouldn't recommend it? Who recommended it in the first place?
It was an Indian girl who reccomended it to me, apparently its very popular in northern India and is better in colder weather than coconut. I have noticed a lot less breakage and splits plus my hair is a lot softer since using it. Yes it smells for the first hour its on, but then this goes but I highly reccomend it, plus its very cheap. I will still use coconut oil in summer, its a case of dont knock it until you have tried it!!:) there is actually lots of research available on the web which suggests mustard seed oil is excellent for the hair too xx
gnegirl
January 25th, 2010, 06:59 PM
Making bagels is great for adding humidity to the home...not to mention that homemade bagels are yummy. And your house will smell like bread, which is always nice :)
lovelylaura
January 26th, 2010, 10:20 AM
It was an Indian girl who reccomended it to me, apparently its very popular in northern India and is better in colder weather than coconut. I have noticed a lot less breakage and splits plus my hair is a lot softer since using it. Yes it smells for the first hour its on, but then this goes but I highly reccomend it, plus its very cheap. I will still use coconut oil in summer, its a case of dont knock it until you have tried it!!:) there is actually lots of research available on the web which suggests mustard seed oil is excellent for the hair too xx[/quote]
Wow, great! I will probably oil before bed anyways and I sleep alone so sounds like a good idea to me, thanks for getting back to me, i'm going to pull it out of the cabinet :)
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