Brittle Hair Causes

Dry, brittle hair lacks the sheen and the texture of normal, healthy hair. Moreover, brittle hair symptoms include hair which is prone to damage and can break quite easily. There are a range of brittle hair causes which range from exposure to environmental irritants to certain underlying health problems and can even be attributed to poor hair care. Here are some of the causes for brittle hair.

What Causes Dry Brittle Hair?

Excessive Washing of Hair: One of the primary causes of dry brittle hair is washing your hair with shampoos containing harsh chemicals. These can strip away the moisture and luster of the hair. Although shampooing your hair everyday might be in vogue as regards hair care, most dermatologists state that it can result in your hair losing the natural protective oils which are secreted from the pores of the hair. So if you have dry hair, wash it two to three times a day using mild herbal shampoos. Also make sure that you invest in a good quality conditioner. Massaging your hair with mayonnaise is one of the effective home remedies for dry hair. Read more on hair mask recipes for dry damaged hair.

Styling Products: Excessive using of styling products like flat irons, relaxers, perms or overusing blow dryers can lead to brittle dry hair. Read more on damaged hair home remedies.

Environmental Factors: The cause of all your hair woes might actually be the climate. Places with lots of sunlight, little humidity and dry heat may make your hair drier and brittle. Exposure to extreme wind or sunlight or the chlorine in the swimming pool can do a tons of damage to your hair, causing it to lose nutrients and become brittle. You can restrict the damage to your hair from the environmental elements by wearing a hat or a scarf while outdoors and using a swim cap when swimming in chlorinated water.

Malnutrition: Malnutrition is one of the primary causes for hair loss and dry hair. This is because in absence of essential nutrients necessary to maintain healthy hair, our crowning glory ends up becoming dry, brittle and damaged. Lack of iodine, vitamin B and copper in the diet are one of the key causes for dry brittle hair. A healthy balanced diet containing omega-3 essential fatty acids, found in salmon and fish oil, walnuts and flaxseed is essential for retaining the moisture of the hair.

Underlying Medical Problems: In addition to the external causes of dry brittle hair, there are certain medical conditions which might trigger off hair loss and damage to your hair. These health problems may include:

Anorexia Nervosa: Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder where a person limits the amount of food he/she eats for the fear of gaining weight. Thus, an inability to retain the minimum anorexic body weight due to denial of essential nutrients, leads to self starvation and even death. Dry brittle hair and hairloss is one of the most common side effects of this health problem.

Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the body is incapable of producing the adequate thyroid hormones. Along with weakness, fatigue and depression, dry, brittle and thin hair is also an early symptom of hypothyroidism. If left untreated, the condition causes the body to slow its functions, leading to mental and physical fatigue and other symptoms.

Trichorrhexis Nodosa: This genetic problem results in thickened or weak points along the hair shaft which cause your hair to break off easily. Along with this trichorrhexis nodosa may also be the result of certain chemical treatments or excessive blow drying of the hair.

Hypoparathyroidism: Too little of the parathyroid hormone, causes levels of calcium to fall and phosphorus to rise, leading to a condition known as Hypoparathyroidism. This can lead to dry brittle hair, rough skin, muscles spasms, seizures and many more problems. The most common cause of this problem is an injury to the parathyroid glands during head and neck surgery.

For effective brittle hair treatment, read more on:

• Home Remedies for Dry Damaged Hair
• Treatment for Dry Hair

The brittle hair causes can lead to frizziness, hair breakage and split ends. If you are constantly plagued with problems of dry hair then try fixing the problem by moisturizing and conditioning your hair. You can use olive and other essential oils or just get a great leave in conditioner for you hair. Wash your hair every other day and never ever comb them when they are wet. A balanced diet rich in proteins, fats and carbohydrates and plenty of water can also help restore the shine to your locks.