The 10 Best All-Natural Home Remedies for Dry Hair and Split Ends

Split ends are annoying and unattractive and lead to frizzy hair that’s just a hot mess. Can you get rid of split ends without cutting your hair?

The key is to keep your hair well moisturized from the start. That’s why we’re addressing both problems today with the best home remedies for dry hair and split ends.

If your hair is kept well moisturized, then split ends will also be kept at bay. These home remedies work well if you keep them up as a regular part of your hair routine. They will work for any hair type whether curly, straight, processed, or natural.

Since my tresses are usually under some type of chemical colour treatment, I like to keep them well moisturized with ingredients that are as natural as possible.

This lessens the harsh effects on my hair from adding too many parabens and other foreign ingredients in my hair which themselves can lead to dryness.

Can Home Remedies Really Work on Dry Hair?

Yes, home remedies can be effective in treating dry hair. I’ve personally found them to be quite helpful. Dry hair occurs when the hair shaft doesn’t retain enough moisture, leading to brittleness, frizz, and a lackluster appearance. Home remedies offer natural solutions to replenish moisture, improve hair health, and enhance its shine.

While science is still studying the use of these remedies, many people claim that they have seen a difference in their hair after using them. If you are experiencing dryness and frizziness, it may be worth trying one of these home remedies to see if it helps improve your condition.

I know for sure when I use aloe vera in my hair, it is softer, shinier, and well-hydrated. It holds on to my leave-in conditioners better and keeps its curls much longer than when I let it dry out. So when it comes to home remedies for dry hair, the key really is to test out different things to see what your hair likes best.

How to Get The Most out of Home Remedies for Dry Hair and Split Ends

You want to use fresh ingredients as best you can and you want to use them right away as soon as you mix your concoction. It may sound tempting to make a batch of any of the below treatments and save some for your next wash. Unfortunately, the potency will not be the same if left for days even if you put them in the fridge.

Use organic ingredients when you can. Remember, you’re trying to avoid adding chemicals to the hair. You also want the most natural version of your ingredients without any unnecessary processing to strip any of the goodness from them. So if a treatment calls for olive oil, use extra virgin olive oil, the kind you’d eat on your salad, instead of searching beauty shops for olive oil for hair.

What Causes Split Ends?

Split ends are caused by a number of factors, including styling methods, chemical treatments, and environmental conditions. When the hair shaft is exposed to heat from styling tools, the cuticle can become damaged and lift up, allowing moisture and natural oils to escape.

This can lead to the hair becoming dry and brittle, and the tips of the strands splitting or breaking off. Chemical treatments, such as hair color or highlights, can also cause split ends by damaging the cuticle. And exposure to sun, wind and other weather conditions can make the hair brittle and more prone to splitting.

Split ends come from a number of places:

• Over-manipulation of hair – combing, brushing, or fussing with it too much
• Chemical treatments such as colour and relaxers without adequate moisture added back
• Dry hair
• Washing your hair too often
• Washing your hair with hot water (it’s always recommended to seal your hair follicle with cold water at the end of your wash cycle
• Exposure to the elements – dust, air pollution, and our environment affect our skin and hair
• Not trimming your hair
• Some products like gels and oil sheen sprays
• Chlorine from the pools and our water

Split Ends Remedies That Work

Your hair is made up of lots of protein and so it’s not surprising that natural ingredients rich in protein help to strengthen your hair follicle and seal any tiny cuts and splits. Here are several ways to treat your hair with protein:

Egg Yolks

Of course, egg yolks are rich in protein and have long been a favourite way of getting more protein in your hair. You can choose to use actual raw eggs or use mayonnaise in your hair since mayonnaise has a smoother consistency which will be easier to apply.

Eggs and mayonnaise both leave your hair smooth while building up resistance to breakage. If using eggs, you may want to mix them together with another ingredient from this list.

Yogurt

Yogurt is also rich in protein and will help to repair split ends while leaving hair smooth and manageable. Use plain yogurt without any added flavourings or sweeteners. You can mix this with eggs if your hair is particularly dry and in need of repair. If not, use only one of the ingredients listed so far, egg, mayonnaise, or yogurt as too much protein can have a negative effect on the hair follicle.

Beer

Who knew? Beer is also rich in protein and the sugars in the beer will bond to damaged follicles leaving you with smooth hair that won’t tangle as easily. You want to use flat beer as frizz will have the exact opposite effect you’re looking for.

Simply apply the beer to your hair after shampooing and allow it to penetrate the hair for a couple of minutes before rinsing thoroughly and styling as usual.

Bananas

Bananas moisturize your hair well, aiding its elasticity so that it won’t break as easily when being handled. The potassium plus all the vitamins in a banana will also strengthen your hair and add shine and softness. After shampooing, mash a well-ripe banana with coconut or avocado oil and apply it to your hair. Leave in for 15 minutes, covered with a plastic cap or hair steamer, and then rinse with warm water and style as usual.

Avocado

Avocados are also filled with proteins and fatty acids that moisturize hair as well as vitamins A, D, and E which all help to restore your hair health. I love to use ripe avocados in my hair treatment along with honey and aloe vera.

That combination always leaves my hair smooth, soft, and well-manageable when it’s time to style. Mix all ingredients together by hand or with a personal blender and apply to clean hair. Allow it to sit in your hair for at least 20 minutes before rinsing and conditioning your hair.

Related: Avocado Oil for Hair: One of the Best Hair Oils to Use

Aloe Vera

As mentioned above, aloe vera is my secret ingredient, especially for dry hair. Aloe vera softens my hair so much it’s incredible plus it’s antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory which makes it great for use on your scalp.

This helps to keep your scalp fresh and free from flakes and itchiness. This aloe vera mask works wonders for dry, damaged hair. Aloe vera oil or gel will work too if you’re not able to find the leaf.

Honey

I have to give honey its own line even though it again was mentioned above because on its own it is also a powerhouse ingredient for your hair. Honey is a humectant which means it draws in moisture from the hair to help prevent it from getting dry.

It’s also antibacterial which will again help your scalp health. An awesome split ends hair treatment from this list would be to combine an egg with a banana and some honey. Apply this to your clean hair and allow it to penetrate for at least 20 minutes before conditioning.

Related: Transitioning to Natural Hair? These Products Will Help

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is one of those oils that have the ability to penetrate the hair shaft, moisturizing it from the inside out. It does take time to do this however so you may want to pre-poo overnight with this oil for maximum benefit.

To do this, saturate your hair with extra virgin coconut oil at night. Cover with a plastic cap then an old t-shirt or cotton wrap. Place cotton balls behind your ears to catch any dripping as you sleep.

Your body heat combined with time will help the oil to penetrate your hair. When you wake, cleanse and style your hair and enjoy well-moisturized, smooth, and repaired hair. If you’re like me and not a fan of coconut oil because of skin irritations, all-natural avocado oil is amazing for this as well.

Hot Oil Treatment

If you’re not a fan of the overnight pre-poo method, perhaps a hot oil treatment will be more up your alley. Combine coconut or avocado oil with a few drops of lavender oil which promotes hair growth.

Warm this mixture in the microwave till very warm but not too hot to touch. Massage it into your scalp and work it down your hair shaft. Cover with a warm towel or preferably a thermal treatment cap and allow it to penetrate for 20 minutes before going through your wash cycle.

Papaya

Papaya is a fruit I love to include not only in my healthy smoothies but also in my hair and skin regimen because of its high concentration of Vitamin A and folic acid. This vitamin promotes the production of the natural sebum your skin and scalp produces to keep itself moisturized.

Folic acid also promotes hair growth. Papaya is also great to use on your skin in a weekly face mask, simply mix it with a bit of yogurt for a smooth and even skin tone.

These home remedies for dry hair won’t help severely damaged hair. If your hair has a lot of split ends then you will need a trim. Then keep up with the above home remedies to avoid getting back to a place of dry hair and split ends.

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