How To Rejuvenate Dry Hair

Hello, Warriors! Welcome to The Breast Place blog and thank you for taking time out of your active schedule to visit! We appreciate our readers to the utmost degree, as we do our patients. If this is your first visit to The Breast Place blog, we welcome you. We cover a range of topics here. From breast cancer management to anti-aging skin treatments to helpful tips for maximizing your overall health and wellness—The Breast Place is committed to sharing the best health practices and treatment options with you! Our offices are open and our staff is prepared to answer any questions you may have about your health, your breast cancer risk, and how to reach your aesthetic goals. 

At The Breast Place, we offer several oncoplastic surgical procedures, such as natural reconstruction, nipple-sparing mastectomy, Hidden Scar™, implant reconstruction, and breast lift with or without reduction. Oncoplastic surgery is distinct from both breast cancer surgery and plastic surgery–though you initially assume oncoplastic surgery to be a mixture of both. Rather, the aim of oncoplastic breast surgery is “to achieve good aesthetic outcomes for women with breast cancers who would have unacceptable outcomes with other BCS techniques, and in addition, enable breast-conserving surgery for larger breast cancers.” While breast cancer surgery prioritizes the eradication of cancerous tissue and plastic surgery prioritizes the cosmetic appearance of the breasts, oncoplastic surgery takes both of these aspects into account when planning for the final outcome. You can find out more information about what to look for in an Oncoplastic surgeon here. 

In our last blog, we talked about laser hair removal.  Laser hair removal is a procedure that aims to reduce unwanted facial or body hair. It is one of the most common cosmetic procedures in the United States! Having hair in unwanted places can affect self confidence and mental well being, whether the hair occurs naturally or is affected by cancer treatments. The Breast Place is proud to offer laser hair removal with the latest laser technology. If you are interested in learning more about this procedure, check out our last post!

Before we continue with today’s topic, we’d like to make you aware of what we have to offer at The Breast Place this month. It’s August and the summer is already wrapping up! For many people, this means back to school. This month, we are offering 30% off all products and services for teachers and school support staff! If you or someone you know is an educator, be sure to take advantage of this offer. Here at The Breast Place, we have a wide range of products and services including facial rejuvenation, scar revision, dermal fillers, genetic testing, and more! We can even ship products directly to your door! You can learn more about the products we offer by visiting our website. 

Today, we’ll be talking about how to rejuvenate dry hair! Hair can become dry and damaged for a number of reasons, including age, environmental conditions, hair care habits, and even your physical health. Sometimes, certain cancer treatments such as chemotherapy can cause your hair to become dry and brittle. Luckily, there are things you can do to rejuvenate your hair and get it back to looking and feeling healthy! If you are interested in learning more about dry hair and ways you can combat it, you’re in the right place! Let’s get started.

Dry hair generally occurs when your scalp doesn’t make enough oil, or your hair lets that moisture escape. Healthy hair naturally produces sebum, an oily substance secreted from the sebaceous glands. The sebum is used to hydrate the scalp and protect the hair. It forms a sort of protective barrier and travels down the hair shaft to protect each strand. Everyone produces sebum throughout their lives, however, the amount of sebum produced can vary from person to person, based on their lifestyle, health, or even hormonal changes. Some people produce excess sebum, which leads to oily hair. Oily hair can also be caused by a buildup of sebum, which can happen in between washes. Other people may not produce enough sebum, which can lead to dry, frizzy, or brittle hair. 

One of the most common causes of dry hair is excessive heat styling. Heat styling includes the use of heat tools like blow dryers, flat irons, or curling irons. These methods of hair styling can be incredibly damaging to hair over time, no matter the condition your hair is in– This means it can be even more troublesome for people with hair that has a drier texture. Exposure to high heat can damage the keratin strands in hair. Keratin is a naturally occurring protein found in the skin, hair, and nails and works as a protectant. It is a structural building block of the hair and smooths down the cells that overlap to form your hair strands. Exposure to high heat can damage the keratin and change the shape of the strands, leading to weaker hair that is more prone to damage. With that being said, try cutting back on heat styling to keep your hair in shape. If heat styling is a must for your everyday routine, you should definitely use a heat-protectant spray to prep the hair and prevent damage.

Some of the other common causes of dry hair include washing your hair too often, using harsh shampoos or conditioners, chemically treating your hair, spending a lot of time in the sun, frequently swimming in chlorinated or salty water, and living in a dry and hot climate. Additionally, some cancer treatments can cause dry and brittle hair, and even hair loss. In some cases, underlying health conditions such as hypothyroidism can cause dry hair. If you have dry, damaged, or brittle hair, there are steps you can take to give it the hydration it needs! 

Besides cutting back on heat styling or using a good heat-protectant spray, there are other changes you can make to your hair care routine to ensure that your hair is healthy. For example, how often you wash your hair can play a large role in whether or not your hair is dry. Shampooing too frequently can throw off the natural oils on your scalp, which can not only make hair dry and brittle, but can also lead to scalp irritation. Additionally, the process of lathering shampoo or conditioner in your hair can damage the outer layer of the hair strands, known as the cuticle. Since everyone’s hair is different, how often you need to wash your hair can vary. However, a general rule of thumb is to go two to three days between washes. You should also make sure not to use harsh shampoos or conditioners, like ones that contain sulfates or alcohol, as these ingredients are known to dry out hair. Instead, opt for a super hydrating shampoo– Look for key ingredients such as argan oil, coconut oil, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid. If your hair is in need of some extra TLC, you can level up your hair care routine by adding hair masks. Hair masks are like face masks– But for your hair! They are essentially intense conditioners that help moisturize and nourish the hair. Using a hair mask at least once a week can make a big difference, especially if it contains ingredients like biotin, keratin, or argan oil. 

Perhaps the easiest and most well-known way to treat dry hair is by getting regular haircuts. Whether you go to the salon or are brave enough to grab the scissors yourself, getting your hair trimmed every six to eight weeks can result in healthier hair. Trimming your hair gets rid of split ends and breakage, makes your hair look thicker and healthier, and encourages hair growth. If heading to the salon isn’t in your budget, make sure you invest in a good pair of shears or hair scissors– These are specifically designed to cut hair and are generally sharper than, say, your average pair of kitchen scissors. This helps you get the right cut.

If you feel like you’ve tried everything but your hair is still in need of hydration, you may want to turn to your diet, because certain vitamins and nutrients can help produce healthy hair! For example, omega-3 fatty acids are known for making hair shiny and full. Your body does not produce these healthy fats, so you have to get them in your diet, whether from food or supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids are commonly found in certain types of fish like salmon and mackerel, and tuna, and in nuts and seeds like chia seeds and walnuts. If you are unable to incorporate these foods into your diet, you can look for supplements, which usually come in the form of softgels and can be taken along with your other daily vitamins. You can also try adding other vitamins and supplements to your daily routine, such as biotin, vitamins A and C, and iron to encourage healthier hair. 

These are just a few of the ways you can easily rejuvenate dry hair! We hope you found this article informative and we hope to see you back on the blog soon! Here at The Breast Place, we are dedicated to helping you feel more confident in your skin. We offer injectable treatments such as Botox, Juvéderm, and Dysport, as well as other facial rejuvenation services such as laser treatment and more! Additionally, we offer breast imaging services and provide consultations, clinical breast exams, and dedicated treatment plans. We strongly encourage you to reach out to us for a consultation if you have any questions or concerns pertaining to our service areas– We are committed to empowering women, and we are proud to offer treatments and products to help you look and feel your best. Thank you for taking the time to read today’s article and we hope you’ll check back in for future posts about treatments, wellness, and more!